Sequel - Spring 2008 - (Page 41)

“It was so fun to be involved with alumni in the early days. We got to start new programs and the work never got old.” - KARLA SHEEHAN first alumni efforts were started in 1989 by who worked as a researcher in the Utah Valley Community College Advancement office under Roger Plothow, the director of development. Without an official title behind her name, Hastings learned the business of alumni associations. She spent three months working as an intern at CASE, the professional organization for advancement and alumni relations in Washington, D.C. Hastings also founded the alumni magazine, Sequel. “I called the magazine Sequel because I liked the idea of ‘the rest of the story,’” she said. Hastings also organized the first alumni board. She now resides in Arizona with her husband and four children. KARLA SHEEHAN was familiar with the Alumni Association because she was working in the advancement office as a development officer. She knew Hastings and assisted her at times in her alumni organizing efforts. After Hastings left, Sheehan was hired as director of alumni relations from 1992 to 1996. “It was so fun to be involved with alumni in the early days,” Sheehan said. “We got to start new programs and the work never got old.” She established Homecoming along with Bob Rasmussen, now dean of students at UVSC. Sheehan also converted Sequel from a newsletter to a magazine. Sheehan left in 1996 and is now living in Kaysville, Utah with her husband and four children. GARY TOYN was originally hired to coordinate the first capital campaign under President Kerry Romesburg. “There was so much work that needed to be done. It was such a battle trying to get people to connect and care,” Toyn said. “We were just starting to get people engaged when I left.” Toyn began building an electronic community before he left in 1999 to take a job in the alumni office at Weber State University, his alma mater. While at Weber, Toyn met a World War II veteran named George Wahl HEIDI HASTINGS The whose story inspired Toyn’s book, “The Quiet Hero.” While a student at BYU, CAMERON MARTIN worked parttime for the BYU alumni association as a gofer for the alumni house. But soon found himself as UVSC's alumni director. Martin had one charge from then VP of Advancement, Cory Duckworth (now VP of Student Life): invigorate the alumni board to become vibrant and engaged. Martin helped the board rewrite their constitution and by-laws and recruited new board officers from other alumni groups on campus. Martin also figured out how to increase operating funds by involving UVSC donor Dave Adams in the golf tournament and growing it to a new level. “At one point we were playing on three different courses” said Martin. “It was crazy, and so much fun. Our volunteers really made a contribution.” Martin was also heavily involved with the Student Alumni Association (SAA), encouraging and supporting them to become involved in their national organization: Association of Student Advancement Programs (ASAP). One of Martin’s SAA Presidents, John Eagleston, served as chair of the ASAP Board. Martin is now over Institutional Research, Effectiveness and Compliance, Policies and Strategic Planning at UVSC. That’s where I come in. A proud 1995 graduate in business management, I was building my legal career in Provo and serving on the School of Business alumni chapter board when I learned of the opportunity to work with UVSC’s Alumni Association. I saw it as a chance to make a difference and to build something that would continue to benefit UVSC long after I was gone. I have to echo the sentiments of my predecessors. The alumni board is a dedicated group of volunteers who are committed to making UVSC a success. The Student Alumni Association has kept me in touch with the students and allowed me to benefit from their vibrancy. I’ve been able to meet many of our alumni through the online community and other events and it’s always great to talk about common experiences. It’s been a joy to be involved with Sequel Magazine as well. The really exciting thing about my job is that I’ve been able to reap the rewards of the efforts of earlier alumni directors. “We always knew that university status would happen one day,” said Sheehan. “It’s so exciting now that it's here. I always envisioned an engaged and excited Alumni Association.” SEQUEL YOUR WAY FEEDBACK Send comments to the Publisher at jeri.allphin@uvsc.edu utah valley state college alumni magazine SPRING 2008 41

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sequel - Spring 2008

Sequel - Spring 2008 Contents Campus News At Our Best Q & A A Storybook Tale Uvu.edu Alumni News Gearing Up for UVU Outstanding Educators of the Year Donations Scholarship Report

Sequel - Spring 2008

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