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Show Monday, January 4, 2010 1 HE SIGNPOST WSU women go above and beyond of students like Hilton is coming out on top at 52 percent. Hilton has always made it a goal to receive a university degree and enhance her a double major in human education. "Receiving an performance management education is very important and health promotions to me for many reasons," she and a minor in nutrition said. "One reason is because education. of today's society. A bachelor's The national percentage degree has now become the of women enrolled in new high school degree." college compared to men The process of receiving is 57 percent. The state an education has been a of Utah falls very short of- challenge for Hilton, but she that at 49 percent. WSU, said she is determined to not however, with the help Female college enrollment low in Utah By Jason Gardiner correspondent I The Signpost Despite Utah having the least amount of women enrolled in college than any other state, Maegan Hilton, a Weber State University senior is helping WSU beat the odds. Hilton will graduate this April with State National /Women I 49% 51% 57% How WSU enrollment compares to state wide and national statistics. let anything stop her. There are many reasons why people assume Utah has a small amount of women in college. One of the reasons is the influence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints. According to the 2004 count, Utah is 62.4 percent LDS and many of the women in this religion are married before they reach the age of 21. "For some reason, we seem to think that marriage stops education, but it shouldn't be that way," said Louis Barraza, the director of assessment and research in student affairs at WSU. "I don't think mere is a simple answer to why there are not that many women in college in Utah. LDS doctrine says to pursue your education, so we don't find fault in the LDS church." Hilton has been married for over two years. At the time of her marriage, Hilton was well on her way through school and was determined to finish. "I had already made a goal and already had my associates; I had no reason to stop," Hilton said. "It wasn't an option for me. Education LEWIS J EWE LE R S 1917 Wwt 1800 North Suite D-5, Onion, UT 84015 (801) 773-6558 WSU SOURCE: laion Cirdinei is just too important in my mind." Hilton said she felt getting married didn't hinder her motivation or opportunity to continue toward a degree. "I think that when a female student sees a female professor with a Ph.D, and that professor is enjoying her job," Barraza said, "that student realizes that success in education is possible." WSU also has very small classroom sizes. Only 4.5 percent of classes have more than 50 students. "We have a culture at WSU of wanting to help students," Barraza said. "That's why I think we have a better success rate." Brad Mortensen, WSU's Assistant Vice President for Support and Auxiliary Services said, "WSU is really committed to offering programs that are flexible to complete. Like night classes, online classes and even classes offered at different campuses." WSU has five additional campuses where classes are offered. Those campuses are located in Morgan, Roy, Kaysville and two of them are in Layton. WSU is also offering one-fifth of its classes after 4 p.m. "My teachers are awesome!" Hilton said. Hilton now works for the university teaching groupfitnessclasses. "My husband will be starting medical school in a few months, so I could get by without a degree," Hilton said, "but I needed the selfimprovement. I want to be a good example to my friends, people I work with, siblings and most importantly, my kids." With women like Hilton making an education a priority in their lives, WSU, the state of Utah and the nation will be greatly benefited. "I think the national trends that we have are changing, women are encouraged more and more to get their education," Barraza said. "My grandmother wouldn't have thought twice about motivating her daughters to attend college. But now every mother should be doing just that." Comment on this story at wsusignpost. com. 15 K* ?£•*••; ft* ra J . ^ Collaborative Medical Education and . H u m a n i t a r i a n Service Mission S&K. :•?*£- STUDY ABROAD JULY 19 - AUG 8, # Ever dream of traveling to Africa or participating in a'1 ?r^; humanitarian effort that will affect the lives of many? Here is your chance to do both. Please Join us on our study abroad to Ghana, West Africa. It promises to be a life changing experiencel I'^L" &••** J Students will participate in several medical ancJ civicactivities.that meet the ., basic needs Qf those we visit i WS Educational Activities include: • Providing free health care dlnlcs In rural • Presenting educational topics to college students and health care providers • Distributing thousands of dollars In donatsd supplies that will be shipped to Ghana In advance m>fr • Visiting find participating In providing health car* In various hovpltata and clinics throughout tha country v^*?'S-/?^.¥i-i_^-^'*r--i^ ;\%M jrfj/V, Ji <'!> • Mole National Park - Take m guided tour to see a variety of animals Including wild African elephants • Kakum fiatlonal Park - Walk through the treetops of a rain forest . . .... 1V.^.,,v..: . _ • Klntempo Falls - Witness the beauty of this refreshing waterfall - -' " • •.y'v^# : ^M?|^;^^.:-; -/.' ik • Cap* Coast Caatla - Tour a slavs cast!* whara ovar S million slave* war* kapt In dungaona oafors balng sold • Central Market - Experience shopping for Items In one of the largest outdoor markets In Ghana Bonwlre - See traditional Kente cloth being hand woven on elaborate looms i Ahwlaa - Shop for traditional woodcarvlngs at this outdoor market • Bojo Beach - Walk along the shores of this warm, tropical ocean beach COST OF TRIP: • • • • • • • $4200.00 '<*r\ Tuition for 6 hours of upper division credit " ftAirfare and transfers from SLC to Accra, Ghana All ground transportation All lodging One meal/day Initial deposit of $500.00 due January 22, 2010 Payments scheduled monthly through June 2010 • : • * & % wS *£SB_1 r&::} * : *-/^ :v "ZS&i^ For more information, please contact; Study Abroad Office at 801-626-8740 - httpy/departments.weber.edu/ce/studyabroad or e-mail Program Director, Lisa Trujillo at ltrujillo@weber.edu W/t* |