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Show UVU REVIEW IIVF A2 UVU Theatre receives honor at National Theater Festival UVU makes history by being first university in nation to receive top honors two years in a row By Alex Gee Assistant News Editor @alex_gee-5 UVU students and faculty traveled to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. to receive an honor award from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. UVU made history this year by being the first university in the country to win back-toback top honors at the national competition. The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is a large program that began in 1969 and includes 18,000 students from colleges and universities across the nation. A goal of the program is to contribute to improving college theater across the country. UVU competes in the KCACT festival every year. This year, UVU became the first university to win Out- 66 We're just a department that cares about doing our best, and doing increasingly better work year after year. CHRISTOPHER CLARK Theatre Department Chair PP standing Honor awards two years in a row at the KCACT Festival. The Outstanding Honors are the highest awards given at the KCACT Festival. "We choose one show out of our season to "nominate" for the awards," said Christopher Clark, theatre department chair. "There is also a week long regional festival in Los Angeles that we typically take 50-60 students to in February, and a national festival in Washington DC that the students go to if they win awards on the regional festival." Last year, UVU earned the Outstanding Production of a Play award for their performance of "Vincent of Brixton," directed by Clark. At this year's festival, UVU won a number of awards including Outstanding Production of a Musical for its performance of "Next to Normal," a musical about a mother struggling with the familial effects her bipolar disorder is causing. David Tinney, artist-in-residence at UVU, directed the musical and received Outstanding Director of a Musical at this year's festival as well. UVU students Michael Grey and Jacquelyn Jones received individual awards for Outstanding Light Design and Outstanding Performance by an Actress. "I think our students are incredibly hardworking and talented," said Clark. "They really care about doing their best work — even if the work challenges them or pushes them out of their comfort zone. They aren't afraid to tackle big challenges and do difficult work. I love that about them. And the faculty reflect this, too. They expect a lot from our students, and they get it. We're just a department PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA CLUFF UVU earned "outstanding production of a musical" for its performance of "Next To Normal" at the 46th KCACT Festival. President Holland recognized their victory at his year-end Review, "Hoagies With Holland". that cares about doing our best and doing increasingly better work year after year." UVU Faculty member Rob Moffat was awarded with Distinguished Achievement in music direction, while UVU's Theatre Department New Wellness Center rung in with confetti and cowbell collectively were awarded Outstanding Performance and Production Ensembles at the 46th KCACT Festival awards. "Usually our productions are in rehearsals between 6-8 weeks before performance," said Clark. "Next to Normal Holland reflects on the year, plans future An overview of accomplishments and budget plans By Amanda Hollman Assistant Life Editor @HollmanAmanda Students, faculty, and members of the community gathered for the unveiling of the new Wellness Center last Thursday. Audience members were pelted with confetti and silly string during the ribbon cutting. By KresLynn Knouse Assistant News Editor @kreslynn Confetti cannons, a huge crowd, a jazz ensemble and percussion featuring the green man group- what more could UVU's biggest celebration of the year need? Oh, that's right, more cowbell. The crowd erupted into cheers and cowbell ringing while Student Body President Jono Andrews and successor Tyler Brklacich burst through the ribbon of the new Student Life and Wellness Center on Thursday. "This center is a gamechanger for our institution that's putting UVU on the right track to more pride on campus, to be more spiritualminded and physically fit," Andrews said. The student leaders represented previous and current students as they raced against each other in a broadcasted obstacle course that showcased the Center's amenities. Andrews and Brklacich bowled, climbed and dashed until they broke the ribbon and marked the grand opening of the center. The opening follows more than 22 months of labor and years of planning and coordination from the administration, past and current members of UVUSA, GSBS Architects and Jacobsen Con- struction. "We collaborated to deliver this project which changes the fabric of this very campus," Jacobsen Construction Executive Vice President John Fortuna said. "This facility will change the lives, the well-being, and as a result, the academic achievements of the students." President Holland paid special tribute to assistant vice president of Student Affairs Bob Rasmussen and Student Affairs VP Cory Duckworth, whom he referred to as the "Batman and Robin" of the project. The student affairs representatives, along with numerous other faculty and staff, put LAURA FOX/UVU REVIEW hundreds of hours into planning, preparing and unveiling the new center. After the ribbon cutting, audience members were invited to participate in a wide array of festivities held in the Center. Events included black light bowling and volleyball, a climbing wall challenge, glow mocktails and healthy food samples at the demonstration kitchen. Students are invited to attend the open house on Apr. 18th that will feature similar events and activities held all day long. The center undoubtedly brings a whole new spectrum of fitness, interconnectivity and entertainment to UVU and the community. and Vincent in Brixton are no different. We're talking about rehearsals every night of the week from 2-4 hours, and half days on Saturdays. It's a lot of prep and rehearsal, and there's no pay, obviously. But it's worth it! Faculty and staff listened to President Matthew Holland talk about student and organization achievements, university recognitions and budget plans at the annual "Hoagies with Holland" on April 17 in the Grand Ballroom at noon. The president recognized that over the year there have been many accomplishments in the school and did not have time to cover them all. He mentioned several, including culinary arts, men's basketball and cross country teams, public relations student society, the dance team and more. During the past year, the Barbara Barrington Jones Foundation Wee Care Center has opened, the $2 million donation from Vivint got a new program running, the Roots of Knowledge project has begun to celebrate the school's 75th anniversary, the aviation program celebrated its 25th anniversary and the ground was broken to get started on the new classroom building. The majority of the presentation addressed the most recent legislative session and how it affects UVU. "The minute the session ended last year, we went to work on the session for this year," Holland said. He, along with many other university and state representatives, fought hard to get UVU the funds that it needed. The effort that was put in had successful results. Compared to other colleges in the state, UVU received the most percentage of equity funds-42.2 percent, totaling about $24 million dollars, more than UVU has gotten over the past eight years combined. Cameron Martin, vice president of University Relations interrupted Holland's remarks to let the audience be aware of how hard the president worked to make sure UVU got what it deserved. "He was touted in the pub- 66 It's easy to represent Utah Valley University even when it's hard because I just can't think of a more deserving set of faculty, staff and students to be associated with. PRESIDENT HOLLAND PP lic papers as the Rottweiler on the pant leg of the legislators," Martin said. He then gave Holland a Rottweiler lapel pin as a memento of his efforts. Holland was caught off guard but was appreciative of the remarks. "It's easy to represent Utah Valley University even when it's hard because I just can't think of a more deserving set of faculty, staff and students to be associated with," the president said. "It truly is a great honor to represent you, fight for you and defend what we're doing here" In order to get what UVU did from the legislature, tuition had to be raised a little, 4 percent more, though it was the lowest rate change in the past 10 years. Faculty, staff, adjunct and hourly staff compensation funds were raised to be more comparable with other universities. Under $2 million of the budget proposal is planned to pay for operations and management, especially for the new classroom building. A timeline has been set up to better plan the budget for the upcoming years, including for one-time and base allocations, all of which are formed on needs and the core themes of the university-serious, engaged and inclusive. Additional details, along with the slideshow and recording of the presentation, can be found at uvu.edu/pba. |