USU gets $26 million
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LOGAN, UTAH
Two years ago, after addressing a large gathering of students during a multi-stake fireside at Utah State University in April 2005, Elder Jon M. Huntsman Sr., an Area Seventy, pulled aside Utah State University President Stan L. Albrecht and said he wanted to do something for the university.
On Dec. 3, that idea was formally announced as the state university's business school accepted a donation of $26 million, the largest donation ever made to the school.
In recognition of the Huntsman family's contribution, the business school was renamed the John M. Huntsman School of Business.
Among those in attendance in the Taggart Student Center on USU campus were President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve, who shared a few remarks with the audience, Elders L. Tom Perry, M. Russell Ballard, and Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve.
Dean Doug Anderson said the campus community was delighted to have so many prophetic leaders there at one time and noted that the last time this many General Authorities were on the campus was in 1916, when then-president John A. Widstoe was recruited to head the University of Utah.
Elder Huntsman and his wife, Karen, were present with their children, including Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
Elder Perry and Elder Ballard offered the invocation and benediction respectively.
Speaking of the donation, President Albrecht announced, "Twenty-five million will be used for our school of business and approximately one million will be used for scholarship support for Armenian students." Currently 13 students from Armenia are attending USU through the support of scholarship funds made available by Elder Huntsman and the Beaumont Foundation of America, according to the university's online news Web site, Utah State Today.
Addressing the gathering of more than 500 guests, as well as students viewing from other locations on campus, President Packer spoke of his time at Utah State University, then known as Utah State Agricultural College, as a pivotal time in his life.
He spoke of the time when, while defending his thesis before a committee as part of his graduate student requirements, the chairman of the committee proudly reminded him of how fortunate he was to attend such a school and of the virtues of the faculty and the school. President Packer said, "Finally, he had finished his last lecture to me and Dr. Wilford Richards, director of the Institute of Religion and also a member of the committee, responded, 'Yes, yes. Mr. Packer is very fortunate to be able to come to a school such as this. Very fortunate. But we are fortunate to have him. What would a school be without students?'
"I've always remembered Wilford Richards," he said, "and I've always remembered that the student is something."
President Packer then made a suggestion to those receiving the award.
"As you look to the possibilities of where this money might be best used, look at the students....One way or another, cause it to be aimed at the student and, as the influence trickles down, it will be best measured in the lives of those who come here to study and are influenced by it."
Elder Huntsman took a moment to share his desire that "this school of business...should strive to teach not only the latest, state-of-the-art business practices, but the implementation of ethics in all of its forms, to ensure that each graduate is a man or woman of unquestioned integrity."
E-mail to: cmorales@desnews.com
