Happy 115th Birthday, Utah State University

Utah State University is turning 115 years old Friday, March 7. To celebrate the occasion the blue light atop Old Main will light the night sky, the Aggie Carillon Bells will ring and alumni, faculty and friends will gather for the annual Founders Day celebration in Salt Lake City.


Utah State, originally the Agricultural College of Utah, opened its doors in 1888 to a handful of students. The "AC" was created through the Morrill Act of 1862, which sought to provide a democratic education nationwide. The college was established as Utah's land-grant institution, a charter that has led to groundbreaking research and global dissemination of new findings.

In 1888, students could choose from five majors or career options. Today's students select from 230 courses of study offered in 45 departments housed in seven colleges: Agriculture; Business; Education; Engineering; Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Natural Resources; and Science.

Founders Day celebrates the university and, in keeping with tradition, the Utah State Alumni Association will host a celebration where two distinguished alums will be recognized along with four distinguished service award recipients.

Distinguished alumnus isn't the first award 1969 graduate Kaye Jorgensen has received from her alma mater. Utah State's College of Business gave her a professional achievement award for changing the face of business in Utah. In the late 1970s she became the first woman manager at O.C. Tanner Company. Today she is senior vice president for human resources. In 2002, "Utah Business Magazine" named her one of the state's 50 most powerful businesswomen. As a member of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences advisory board, she contributes fundraising experience from successful drives for the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Salt Lake Young Women's Unitarian Association, among other civic charities.

Utah State's second distinguished alumnus award recipient, 1961 graduate Lowell Peterson, has served the State of Utah and Utah State University for almost 25 years. His public service spans political and educational realms as former state representative and senator and county commissioner representing the citizens of Utah's Weber County. He has also served as chairman of his alma mater's board of trustees. Peterson's success in the family cattle ranching business and in land development is now benefitting the university's Utah Botanical Center where he serves on its board.

The first of three distinguished service awards will be given posthumously to Brady K. Howell, who graduated from USU in 1999. Like many others who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, Howell chose a career in public service for humanitarian reasons. He was serving as a civilian naval intelligence watch officer at the Pentagon and was killed in the terrorist attack. A highly competitive presidential management internship in Washington, D.C., earned him his position with the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. On the eve of his death, Howell learned that he had passed the examination that qualified him for another goal, a career as a foreign service officer. After the Pentagon attack, he received posthumously a Defense of Freedom medal, the civilian equivalent of the military's Purple Heart.

Distinguished service award recipients Dr. E. William and Audrey Jackson have been quietly making the world a better place for nearly 20 years. After Dr. Jackson retired from private practice in Ojai, Calif., the couple founded an international humanitarian aid organization. The Deseret International Foundation has coordinated physicians worldwide in the surgical correction of such disabling disorders as cataracts and cleft lip and palate. Dr. Jackson realized the need for this type of medical care while he served as a mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines. The couple has volunteered all over the world, earning them the Freedom Foundation Award.

From sweeping floors in Utah State's Old Main to help pay for his college classes to bringing one of the first radio and TV stations to Cache Valley, Ray Somers' life reads like a history book. He has spent much of his life preserving and documenting the history of Cache Valley and his alma mater. His publication of four local history books since age 66, his painstaking restoration of the Charles W. Nibley home in Cache Valley, his donations of historical artifacts to the State Historical Society and local libraries, including USU's Special Collections and Archives have provided enduring gifts for future generations. For these gifts he is honored with a service award as well.


For more information about Utah State Founders Day or about any award recipients contact Scott Olson, (435) 797-0931

The Aggie Blue Pride Light will be lit Friday night, March 7 and the Aggie Carillon Bells will ring 24 times at 1:10 p.m. as well to honor Utah State's Founders Day.

Writers: Maren Cartwright, Jane Koerner