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Show u N I I T y Top students to be honored here totnorrow James Sorenson Beverley Sorenson G. Donald Gale Commencement set for June 6 James eiJ Be,verley Sorenson, Don Gale to receive honorary degrees A most "opinionated" speaker, a pioneer in the field of medical advancement and an admired woman of business and education, two individuals who together comprise one of the lntermountain West's most recognized and respected philanthropic couples, will be awarded honorary doctorate degrees June 6 as part of the annual commencement exercises at Southern Utah University. The 1998 Commencement will feature a record number of both bachelor and master's degree candidates and a host of receptions and other graduation-related activities. Set for Saturday, June 6 at 9 a.m. in the Centrum arena, the first Commencement exercises of the university's second century will feature an address by G. Donald Gale, Vice President for News and Public Affairs at Bonneville International Corporation. In this role, he coordinates news and public affairs activities for 17 Bonneville stations, and supervises Bonneville's Washington D.C. news bureau. Gale will also receive an honorary doctorate in humanities and James LeVoy and Beverley Sorenson will receive the degree of Doctor of Science and Doctor of Humanities, respectively, at the ceremonies, which will be held beginning at 9 a.m. in the Centrum arena of the Sharwan Smith Center. Gale and the Sorensons will join what is expected to be more than 1,000 bachelor degree recipients, 200 master's degree candidates and some 96 associate degree recipients in receiving diplomas at the graduation exercises. "The Sorensons represent the pinnacle of what may be achieved through a commitment to learning and a determination to improve the lives of others," said Dr. Steven D. Bennion, president of Southern Utah University. "We are honored as a university to share an association with this wonderful family, and we pay tribute to them for their many and lasting accomplishments-achievements to which our students would do well to aspire." Mr. Sorenson's medical and philanthropic career spans five decades. During this period, he has distinguished himself as an entrepreneur of healing. For the body, he has created numerous life-saving medical devices. And for the soul, he has directed his humanitarian efforts toward fostering understanding between the world's peoples. Born in Rexburg, Idaho, in 1921, Mr. Sorenson moved with his family to the Sacramento, Calif., area, where he was raised. in 1940, he accepted a basketball scholarship to Sierra College. He was later accepted into the U.S. Navy's prestigious V7 medical school program, but chose instead to serve a two-year mission in New England for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following his church mission, Mr. Sorenson began a two-year tour of duty in the U.S. Merchant Marine. It was while serving in this capacity in 1946 that he met and married his wife. At the conclusion of his military service Mr. Sorenson began his professional career as a pharmaceutical salesman with The Upjohn Company. It was during his IO-year employment with Upjohn that his creative energies began to emerge. While visiting a hospital in 1955, Mr. Sorenson witnessed the tragic death of an 11-year-old boy. From the experience, he began to conceive improvements for medical devices and procedures in use at the time. After 10 years with Upjohn, he resigned to co-found Deseret Pharmaceutical - the first of a string of Utahbased companies he would start. (Deseret was later known as Deseret Medical and is now known as Becton Dickinson Vascular Access.) Later, in 1972, Mr. Sorenson founded Sorenson Research Company to manufacture and market a new line of innovative medical devices. Within a few short years, Sorenson Research became known worldwide as one of the leading providers of innovative products for surgical and critical care medicine. (In 1980, Abbott Laboratories purchased Sorenson Research. It is now known as Abbott Critical Care Systems.) Medical inventions introduced by these companies dramatically improved patient care and are still used millions of times each day around the world. Innovations (continued on page 3) An academic awards convocation tomorrow at SUU w ill recognize achievement in each of the unive rs ity's academic colleges and departments. Overall university academic awards will also be presented. The program will begin a t 11 a.m . in the SUU Auditorium. The public is invited to attend the free ceremonies. "This will be the final SUU Convocations Series presentation for the 1997 -98 academic year," Lana Johnson, director of lectures/special projects at SUU, said. "Four nominees from each university academic department are selected for academic awards. Each has demonstrated superior scholastic achievement with that department. From the four nominees, one is selected to receive the department's outstanding student award. Winners will be announced at the convocation." Co-valedictorians Shelly Kay Pope, Escalante, and Kenny Justin Rollins, St. George, will be recognized, along with the outstanding scholars from each college of the university. Julie Anderson, Gunnison, is the outstanding scholar from the college of business, technology and communication. Julie Anne Grant, Provo, represents the college of science. Amy Lindsey, St. George, and Mickey Jon Price, Sequim, Wash., are the outstanding scholars from the college of education and the college of arts, letters, and humanities, respectively. Other awards will be presented to an outstanding non-traditional student and to the Alpha Chi Outstanding First Year Student. The winner of the graduate accounting award (CPA Key Award), Tamara L. Griffiths, Goshen, will be recognized at the convocation; and the National Business Education Association Award of Merit winner will be presented to Tricia Colton Bradshaw, Hurricane. · Nominees for 1998 academic awards: Alpha Chi Outstanding First-Year Student Angela Clarke, Michelle Munley, Seth Ohms, Terrilyn Wiser. Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Marijane Anderton, Kathryn I. Bohne, Cortney S. Dahl, Calbert Lameman. College of Arts, Letters, and Humanities Art-Amy Lee Davis, Chad W. Hardin, Cortney C. Lunt, Jared Ward. Language and Literature, English-Marie Barlow, Anthony M. Petersen, Shaunna L. Riggs, Jena D. Robison. · Language and Literature, Foreign (continued on page 3) ,.. |