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Show Volume XXV Issue XXIII The Ogden Valley news Page 7 January 15, 2020 WSU President Announces Scholarship Initiative Unveiling Announced of 1887 Time Capsule and Outlines Vision During Inauguration at Weber County Library January 18 During his inauguration, Jan. 7, Weber State University President Brad Mortensen announced ’CATapult, a scholarship fundraising initiative to raise $10 million by July 1, 2021. Mortensen told the crowd of 900 in the Val. A. Browning Center that the ’CATapult initiative will help boost student recruitment, retention, and completion rates by propelling students past financial obstacles that impede graduation. “Weber State students start down the path of their degree and sometimes reach a point where they can no longer handle all of the financial obligations, so they reduce the number of courses they take or stop out for a semester to work and save money,” Mortensen explained. “We have established the ‘CATapult scholarship to provide an energetic, upward burst of momentum toward graduation for our fellow Wildcats.” The president illustrated Weber State University the need for President Brad Mortensen such funding by introducing the audience to Yandriel Sobrino-Rodriguez, who graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2016. Rodriguez and his family fled their native Cuba to escape political persecution. He arrived in Utah at age 11, unable to speak English. After high school, Rodriguez enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and spent the next four years serving his adopted country. Following an honorable discharge, he enrolled at Weber State because of its reputation as a “militaryfriendly” campus. In his senior year, the computer science major was close to graduating when he discovered that his GI Bill benefits were exhausted, and he had too many credits to apply for alternative financial aid. He sought advice from his Veterans Upward Bound mentor, who suggested Rodriguez apply for a privately-funded scholarship available to current students who have completed 50% or more of their graduation requirements. Today, thanks to that scholarship, Rodriguez is in a Master’s degree program and working as a software engineer at My 529, a nonprofit educational savings program run by the state of Utah. He calls his Weber State experience “life-changing.” “Without coming to the U.S. and attending college, I would either be working on a Cuban sugarcane plantation or in jail,” Rodriguez said. “Everywhere I go, I let people know that I’m a veteran and that I went to Weber State.” The ’CATapult scholarship will provide support to many additional Wildcats who are progressing toward graduation. The scholarship will be flexible enough for the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office to address a student’s unique circumstances. During the inauguration, held on Weber State’s Founders Day, Mortensen also articulated the vision for his presidency. He expressed his desire to align the university’s strategic plan and emerging opportunities with the strength and accomplishments of its historic values. Under his leadership, Mortensen said the university will continue its hallmark of personalized attention; redouble its efforts to promote student enrollment, retention, completion and success; and prepare a next-generation workforce that balances technical skills with aptitude in problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and teamwork. Mortensen will maintain a focus on the core themes of access, learning and community. He wants to expand the university’s leadership role as a dual-mission university, where students can earn certificates and easily advance from Associate’s to Bachelor’s to graduate degrees. “I hope it can be said I have been a listening, learning president, and that Weber State has been a learning university—not just a university that imparts knowledge, but a university that itself is learning,” Mortensen said. He believes the university is primed to address workforce needs, erase opportunity gaps for diverse students, and form strategic educational pathways. Weber State’s flexibility and affordability provide access to learn- Yandriel Sobrino-Rodriguez ing for all students—students such as Sobrino-Rodriguez— who are pursuing their educational goals. For more information about the ’CATapult scholarship initiative, visit <weber.edu/catapult> For more information about the inauguration, visit <weber.edu/WSUToday/112219_ PresidentialInauguration.html> Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. OG D E N An 1887 time capsule is coming to Ogden! Join us January 18, 2020 at the Weber County Library Main Library, 2465 Jefferson Ave., in Ogden for a special unveiling of the time capsule contents with Local Government Archivist Alan Barnett from the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service. This event is a joint venture between the Weber County Library, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service, Ogden School District, Ogden City government and Weber County Heritage Foundation. The time capsule event will be held January 18, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In the 1960’s, Ogden’s old Central Junior High School was demolished. At this time, construction workers discovered a metal box in the cornerstone from back in 1887. This box was cut open to discover its contents, which revealed that the school was originally built as a Congregationalist academy. The contents were returned to the capsule and the capsule was put in storage at the Ogden School District offices. The metal capsule and its contents were eventually sent to the Utah State Archives and Records Service for permanent preservation. Local Government Archivist Alan Barnett opened the time capsule October 16, 2019 and presented historical information about the artifacts found within. The program on January 18, 2020 will feature the same artifacts, but will also include additional speakers on Ogden history, tables with information about local historical societies, a create-your-own family time capsule project, and the opportunity to contribute to a community time capsule, which will be buried in a location to be determined by the Ogden School District. MEDIA Event Speakers • 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Presentation by Alan Barnett, Local Government Archivist, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service • 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. | Speaker: Sarah Langsdon, Associate Curator of Special Collections, Stewart Library (Weber State University) & author of Images of American: Ogden, Legendary Locals of Ogden, Utah, Lost Ogden and Weber County in World War II. • 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Speaker Holly Andrew, Museum & Educator Curator, Union Station Booths & Activities • 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Make your own family and/or community time capsule. A number of informational booths will also be accessible, including those from the following organizations: Utah State Archives, Weber County Heritage Foundation, Weber State Special Collections, Weber State Archives, Union Station and the Rotary Club of Ogden. HUNTSVILLE FIRE Twenty-two firefighters from Weber Fire District responded with one ladder truck, four fire engines, one paramedic rescue, three ambulances, one Battalion Chief, one Fire Marshal, one Deputy Fire Marshal and the Fire Chief. A Valley resident driving by commented, “The ‘help’ that showed up to assist was impressive.” cont. from page 1 for difficulty breathing. Neighbors reported they were able to evacuate the home prior to our arrival, so no injuries to citizens were reported. The preliminary cause is the wood burning stove in the shed. No dollar loss estimates were reported at this time. Alicia Blickfield took this photo of the Huntsville fire January 4. 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