NINETEENTH OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND TWENTY1 NINETEENTH OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND TWENTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Message from the Dean 2020 will go down in history as one of the most unusual

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY — SCHOOL of the ARTS CONVOCATION NINETEENTH OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND TWENTY

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NINETEENTH OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND TWENTY

SCHOOL OF THE ARTSMessage from the Dean

2020 will go down in history as one of the most unusual and indeed challenging academic years ever. I am so proud of you students, especially those who are graduating, for having muscled through this difficult COVID-19 crisis and finished strong.

As I think about our 2020 graduates, I see immense talent and bright futures. I would like to convey three simple ideas that you may find valuable as you leave the hallowed halls of UVU and begin your professional lives as artists and arts educators. Three things to pack in your bags and take with you as you embark on your exciting journey as artists:

1. Continue to seek out mentors2. Know the business of your business3. Believe in yourself

First, seek out mentors. People who have gone before. People who have succeeded. People who have failed. Learn from them. Learn from their successes. Learn from their failures. Ask ques-tions. Listen to the answers. Listen carefully. Weigh their words carefully. Glean what you can from each, and then create your own path. Be bold and entrepreneurial and blaze your own trail, to be sure, but at the same time, don’t feel that you need to reinvent the wheel. There are others who have gone before you. Ask for directions. Get help. Seek out mentors.

Second, know the business of your business. You have to work hard, but you also have to work smart. If you don’t know the detailed dynamics and nuances of your industry, how can you possibly navigate it successfully? You have to know the ins and outs of your particular indus-try, whether it’s film scoring or contemporary dance or acting for TV or graphic design — you have to know how the industry works so that you can figure out how you fit into it and how you will succeed in it. Know the business of your business.

And then thirdly, and perhaps most importantly…

Believe in yourself. Don’t doubt. In Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” the character Lucio says to his sister, “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” Don’t fear to attempt. Engage. Begin. There is power in doing. Believe in yourself and move steadily forward. Goethe said, “What you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” Do your absolute best work as an artist. Give it everything you’ve got. Be as authentic as you possibly can be, and hold yourself to the very highest of standards. Even when you do this, some people will still hate your work. Guaranteed. They may even have intelligent, legitimate criticisms. Learn from those criticisms, but don’t allow them to make you think or feel that you’re no good. Believe in yourself. Other people will love your work. They’ll sing your praises. They’ll say you’re the best ever. Go ahead and let that praise stroke your ego for a minute or two, but then chuck it over your shoulder and get right back to work. And keep believing in yourself.

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Here’s what Jennifer Lee, the writer/director of one of the biggest blockbuster animated films of all time, “Frozen,” had this to say about doubt: “When you are free from self-doubt, you fail better, because you don’t have your defenses up, you can accept the criticism. You don’t become so preoccupied with that failure that you forget how to learn from it, you forget how to grow. When you believe in yourself, you succeed better. Hours spent questioning, doubting, fearing can be given over to working, exploring, living.”

Inspirational speaker Mark Victor Hansen added the following: “Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and less than perfect conditions. So what? Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, and more and more suc-cessful." Believe in yourself.

So with those three tenets of encouragement — seek out mentors, know the business of your business, and believe in yourself — as well as with many other morsels of wisdom you’ll receive today and in coming weeks from parents and grandparents and other loved ones — I charge you now to set your cap to the road ahead and forge ahead with confidence and bold-ness. Flip the page in the novel of your life to the next chapter and dive in with all the energy of your soul and passion of your heart. Be smart. Be diligent. Be humble. Be patient. Be imagina-tive. And above all, be creative.

There has never been a better time to be an artist. Your day is here. Your dreams are out there. Now roll up your sleeves and go get them.

Stephen M. Pullen, deanSchool of the Arts

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VALEDICTORIANS

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ESTHER BECKAssociate of Science, Art & Design

Esther Celeste Beck is graduating with an associate degree in arts, majoring in art and design. She notes she is a proud graduate of “The Beck Bastien for Better Brains, my home in Highland, Utah.” She holds a certification from the Institute of Healing Arts as an emotional health facilitator, and was also awarded a Presidential Academic Scholarship. Beck says she plans to continue her education through a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, with a possible certification in art therapy. She says she hopes to facilitate emotional health through therapy techniques. She also says the wide range of classes and degree programs at UVU gave her an opportu-nity to experiment “and discover what I love to do while still moving toward my academic goals. I have loved working with and learning from each of my professors who truly care about my success academically and professionally. The teachers are so understanding of my situation as a busy, working student and are available to counsel and talk about topics besides classwork and grades.” Beck says she enjoys exploring new things, including art projects, writing and performing musical arrangements, and public speaking competitions. Her favorite pastime is horseback riding. “I also look forward to entering my artwork in art shows and exhibits and traveling to fulfill my love of adventure and photography.”

HEATHER AVERYBachelor of Science, Art & Design

Heather Nicholle Avery, from Herriman, and a graduate of Herriman High School, is receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in graphic design. She is a recipient of the Regent’s Scholarship and was a 2019 American Graphic Design Award winner. She says she hopes her career path will allow her to build effective brand identities and designs for emerging companies that she believes in. In 2018, Avery started her own graphic design business while still attend-ing UVU. She hopes to be able to help other students by cre-ating opportunities in her growing business. Avery says she also may pursue a master’s degree. “The way the BFA graphic design program was set up allowed for a lot of flexibility in the way I approached design projects. This made it possible for me to get as much out of school as I desired, as the outcome depended heavily on what I put into it. Although I am not pur-suing the traditional route after school (getting a job in the industry), going to school was 100% worth it to me. I know that the professors and design program at UVU gave me crucial tools that helped me be successful in my design business and has set me up for a great future.” Avery is married to her high school sweetheart, Joshua, and the couple recently had their first child. She loves any outdoor activity, cleaning, and making people laugh.

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FACULTY & STAFF AWARDS

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LA BEENE, MFAAssociate Professor, TheatreFaculty Excellence Award

La Beene earned an MFA in costume design and technology from Brigham Young University. She has previously taught at the University of North Carolina, BYU, and the University of Utah. Beene has designed costumes for theater produc-tions across the region including Plan B and the Salt Lake Acting Company in Salt Lake City; Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Logan, Utah; Oregon Cabaret Theatre; BYU; and several independent projects. She is the chair of the Intermountain Desert Region of USITT, as well as serving on several boards at the national level of USITT, and is state representative for the Costume Society of America. Beene says, “Each show is unique and brings a different set of chal-lenges and design opportunities. Because of this, I get to know a select group of students very well, and can help fine-tune their education so that they each get what they need from the program.” She says she loves “musicals, frosting, and the mountains… and all glittery things.”

DR. REED CRIDDLE, D.M.Associate Professor, MusicFaculty Senate Award of Excellence

Reed Criddle is director of Choral Activities at Utah Valley University, where he conducts the Chamber Choir and Men’s Choir and teaches conducting and voice. He is a graduate of Stanford University, the Eastman School of Music, and the University of Michigan. Criddle has twice recieved the UVU Faculty Senate Teaching Excellence Award. His compositions and arrangements are available through Earthsongs, Hal Leonard, and Santa Barbara Music Publishing. As a conductor and U.S. Fulbright Senior scholar, he has directed ensembles, conducted research, and led workshops throughout Europe, Asia, Cuba, and the United States. He is editor of “Chanting the Medicine Buddha Sutra” (A-R Editions), an ethnogra-phy of Buddhist liturgy and his English translation of third-century philosopher Ruan Ji’s “Essay on Music” is published by Asian Music. Criddle has served as president of the Utah chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. UVU choirs under his direction have performed many times at the national conference of NCCO, the western division conference of ACDA, and state conferences of the ACDA. Recent invita-tions include guest conductor of the Utah Valley Symphony, Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra, Utah Lyric Opera, Sine Nomine (Cuba), FACE Choral Festival (Texas), and the Utah Men’s High School Honor Choir. He has been a professor-in-residence at Musikhochschule in Weimar, Lubeck, and Hamburg (Germany), National Sun Yat-sen University (Taiwan), Taipei National University of the Arts, and Fudan University (Shanghai); and keynote speaker for the China Children’s Center in Beijing and Shanghai Music Conductors Association Conference.

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MAYLENE WHITEAdjunct Instructor, Dance Faculty Senate Adjunct Award of Excellence

T. Maylene White has more than 25 years of experience teach-ing students in higher education, and she is receiving the Faculty Excellence Award. Her teaching has been directed toward dance technique, teaching methods, and lecture classes. She is a former dance specialist for the State Office of Education and Utah Festival Opera Company. White has worked several professional dance companies as a guest artist, as a featured television performer, and was principal dancer with Contemporary DanceWORKS. She earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Utah and bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. She received a Special Performance Citation from the Mormon Arts Festival; her elementary school operas have been featured on local news; and she is a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society member. She says she has found UVU students to be “eager and engaged” in both the classroom and studio situations. White says she hopes her students “gain a greater awareness of themselves through dance. Dance stimulates us intellectually, physically and emo-tionally, often at the same time. Watching them grow as they make connections between what we study and real-life experi-ences is what the teaching experience is all about.” After being diagnosed with a degenerative joint disease, White says she no longer moves as intensely as she once did, and has turned to swimming to “channel my inner fire.” She has competed in 3K–5K races worldwide. She has an interior design certifica-tion and often contributes on “Good Things Utah.” She has been married for 32 years and is the mother of four children and grandmother of one grandson.

HEIDI BEIERAdjunct Instructor, DanceFaculty Senate Adjunct Award of Excellence

Heidi Beier earned a bachelor’s degree in studio art and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from Arizona State University. She has professional experience as a dancer with Ballet Northwest (Colorado), Steamboat Dance Theatre (Colorado), Semaphore Dance Company (Minnesota), Ebony II Dance (Minnesota), Arizona State University, Instinct Dancecorps and Dulce Dance Company (Arizona), as well as choreographer for dance companies in Minnesota, Colorado and Arizona. Beier receive the Teacher Appreciation Award from Higley High School in Arizona and a Teacher Appreciation Award from Scottsdale Community College. “I love the environment of UVU,” she says. “There is respect, an eagerness to work together for the betterment of students, and an openness to new ideas, concepts, and people. The students have a huge variety of experiences and backgrounds and we all get to come together, learn from one another, and find respect for one another’s similarities and differences.” Beier is married, has two boys, and likes to read, travel, and be in nature.

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BRIAN JENSEN, MFAAssociate Professor, Art & Design Dean’s Award of Excellence for Faculty

Brian L. Jensen, from Salem, Utah, is an associate professor who earned a bachelor’s degree in art education and ceramics from Southern Utah University, as well as an MFA in ceram-ics from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Jensen has exhibited ceramic works and given workshops and lectures regionally, nationally, and internationally for the past 20 years. He has been represented by dozens of galleries and has done commercial ceramic work and many commissions for a variety of clients. He is a recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award from the UVU Faculty Senate in 2018; awarded Best of Show in ceramics, Kimball Arts Festival, 2017; and named Best of Show by Sandy Visual Arts Show, 2016. Jensen says, “Being able to help students take something that they are interested in and turning that interest into their passion and their profes-sion is the most satisfying part of my job at UVU.” He enjoys collecting old VWs, guiding fishing trips for giant sturgeon, and “trying to make a perfect pot.”

GARETH FRY, MFA Assistant Professor, Art & DesignAlumni Outstanding Educator of the Year

Gareth Fry is the Outstanding Educator in the School of the Arts. He is originally from Epsom, Surrey, England, and cur-rently lives in Orem. He earned his BA with honours from The Surrey Institute of Art and Design in Epsom, and a Master of Fine Arts in graphic design from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. He was an adjunct faculty member at Brigham Young University in 2014, and has been an adjunct instructor, lec-turer, and assistant professor at UVU since 2011. With indus-try experience as an art director, senior designer, and graphic designer, he has received numerous awards statewide, nation-ally, and internationally. He is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. The best part of being at UVU is “definitely the students,” he says. “They are talented, eager, hardworking, and inspiring to be around. I feel fortunate to be able to work with such wonderful people every day.”

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PHIL AH YOU, BS, BFAArt & Design Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Phillip Ah You is a technician in the School of the Arts who currently lives in Orem, Utah. Ah You graduated from UVU with bachelor’s degrees in digital media and graphic design. He has an extensive knowledge of software, technology, digital prepress, and printing technologies and has worked for the SOA as a technician for more than a decade. Ah You was a 2003 National SkillsUSA Champion in screen printing, a 2004 State SkillsUSA Champion in advertising design, and a 2005 art and visual communications outstanding student award winner. Before working in the School of the Arts, he worked building UVSC’s Printing Services digital prepress area. In all, Ah You has worked for UVSC and UVU for more than 15 years. Ah You says he was a local gamer when UVSC had an arcade “and you could get a soda and play pinball at the old Packard’s gas station by the entrance to UVSC.” He says he is excited to see the amazing things that the School of the Arts faculty, graduates, and alumni accomplish. “The best part about being involved with UVU is being able to work with the creative art students that are eager to learn and grow in their creativity,” he says. “There is something amazing about working with cre-ative people as they travel through the art discovery process.” Ah You is married to Megan and is the father of three children. Ah You notes that his father, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen of Samoan-Chinese heritage has been a great inspiration in his life, because of the “many challenges he has overcome and the example he has set for me.”

OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARDS

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MATTHEW ROSS OVIATTBachelor of Arts, Theatrical Arts for Stage & ScreenDean’s Award of Excellence for Student Recognition

Matthew Oviatt has earned a Bachelor of Arts in theater arts. He attended high school at Athens High School in The Plains, Ohio. At UVU, he has been a presenter at the 2019 Conference on Writing for Social Change. He was also a 2020 dramaturgy finalist at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. After graduation, he plans to continue exploring the function of performance and art in society. “UVU has unlocked my passion for art, given me the tools to be a collab-orative and successful artist, and solidified my desire to be a continual student of art and of life,” he says. “The UVU Theatre Department seemed like the underdog of the arts scene when I first arrived here. We may not have been the most presti-gious or well-funded, but we had a wonderful community of faculty, administrators, and students who collectively worked to produce disciplined, fearless, compassionate, successful artists. My college career is only possible because of my sup-portive families (both literal and figurative). Thank you all.”

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MARISSA CLEMENTArt & Design

After Marissa Clement graduated from Herriman High School in Herriman, Utah, she maintained a full-ride academic schol-arship for the first four years of her program. She also received a scholarship to study abroad in Germany, studying the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. She also completed a study abroad in the United Kingdom. They produced a book about the tales of King Arthur, which included one of her illustra-tions. She has had two illustrations published in the Society of Illustrators’ Los Angeles show in 2018 and one in the Society of Illustrators’ New York show in 2019. She is seeking a job or internship and will market her work at art shows. She is con-sidering pursuing a master’s degree. “UVU helped me realize my potential as an artist, through amazing opportunities, sup-portive staff, and great education,” she says. “Before I attended this school, I was uncertain of what I wanted to do. But during my time here, I’ve been able to grow and become the driven artist I am today. I’ve gained confidence in my career choice and the determination to make it in the world. If I had never come here, I never would have received the life-changing experiences that define who I am. The illustration department has a high quality of professors and educators who made my experience worthwhile and rewarding, while also pushing me to always be the driven artist.”

RACHEL BLACKFORDDance

Rachel Haynie Blackford has earned a Bachelor of Science in dance education. She grew up in Provo, Utah, and is currently living in St. George, Utah. She graduated from Provo High School and attended BYU-Hawaii. Blackford received dance performance scholarships, and was the director’s assistant for UVU Synergy Dance Company during her third year with the company. She has had two choreographic works selected for adjudication, presented choreography and research for the UVU Ethics Department Brownbag Symposium, pre-sented choreography for UVU’s Humanities Symposium, has been on the Dean’s List each semester at UVU, and has been commissioned to reset her senior capstone piece on UVU’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble alongside professional and faculty work. She is working as a dance company director for two high schools in St. George and is a member of the St. George Dance Company. She would ultimately like to get her master’s degree in dance. “UVU gave me the space and tools to truly flourish and grow as a dance artist, intellectual, and as a person,” she says. “UVU’s dance faculty have such incred-ible knowledge to pass on, and they truly support each of their students in finding their own success. UVU provided the amazing opportunity to work with numerous guest artists and scholars in academic, creative, and performance set-tings which allowed me to further my perspective beyond my current cultural setting. I would be nowhere near where I am now without the education, experiences, opportunities, and connections I was able to make at UVU.”

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ERIN WALKERMusic

Now living in South Jordan, Utah, Erin Vellinga Walker graduated from Northridge High School in Layton, Utah, and attended BYU-Idaho, where she was a Presidential Scholarship recipient. At UVU, she received an Outstanding Merit Scholarship, 2016–2020. She was assistant conductor of UVU Women’s Choir in spring 2019, and assistant conductor of UVU Chamber Choir in fall 2019. Walker is a co-creator of Kensington Theatre Company’s Youth Education Program-Theatre Boot Camp, now in its seventh year. She hopes to teach choir in secondary school and to establish a vocal studio for children. She plans to continue to direct music and develop youth education programs at Kensington Theatre Company. Graduate degrees in music and education may also be in her future. At UVU, “I have learned how to use music as a language, how to teach with greater confidence, and how to connect with art,” Walker says. “UVU has taught me that with greater determination and resilience, there will always be a way to succeed. I have learned to see beauty in the incredible variety within music and the performers who share it. I will never forget my experiences learning and performing with the choirs and vocal faculty here, who have inspired me to pursue music education. I love the way UVU students celebrate each other’s strengths instead of competing with each other.” Married with five children, she attends their concerts, recitals, and productions for “the best music I will ever hear.”

JANICE CHANTheatrical Arts for Stage & Screen

Janice Chan, originally from Melbourne, Australia, graduated from American Heritage School in American Fork, Utah. She received the award for Best Scenic Design for “The Laramie Project” in 2019, and has presented at the UVU Conference on Writing for Social Change for her work in an analysis of the same production. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, she plans on continuing doing design for theatrical productions. “I hope to continue telling stories through set design, especially in unique found spaces,” she says. “I would love to explore interactive art exhibits and themed experiences.” She says she has appreciated her expe-riences at UVU. “UVU has offered me opportunities to grow as a designer professionally. I’m thankful for the mentors who have continuously encouraged me to follow my dreams. UVU has prepared me for my future by providing me with professional experiences and opportunities, as well as the constant support and mentorship from the faculty. The best part of attending UVU is being in an inclusive and support-ive environment.” She also loves being inspired by nature, architecture, art museums, and food, always looking for travel experiences to incorporate into her designs.

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UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY — SCHOOL of the ARTS CONVOCATION

DEPARTMENT CHAIRSCourtney Davis, Art & DesignDoris Trujillo, DanceThomas Keck, Music John Newman, Theatrical Arts for Stage & Screen

ACADEMIC ADVISORSElizabeth Draper Kristy GilesDeanna PittsClark SlaterJohn-David Sorensen

DEAN’S OFFICE STAFFStephen M Pullen, DeanW. James Godfrey, Associate DeanKevin Goertzen, Assistant DeanE. Linda Moore, Assistant DeanAlex Malone, Executive Director, Noorda CenterJennifer McCole, Administrative AssistantLisa Anderson, Woodbury Art Museum

Director/Curator

Karen AcersonLisa AndersonMichael Ballam Rusty ChambersKent ChristensenVicki ChristensenJeanette ClydeAmanda CrabbReed CriddleKirk CullimoreK. Newell DayleySkip DaynesKathie DebenhamAdam DietleinJames EndicottKimberly FarahW. James GodfreyKevin GoertzenRoger GunnellAlex HaleKeri HaleCylie HallNicole HallJohnny HebdaBarta HeinerChelsie HightowerDru Huffaker

Lana JardineClaire KennyPhil KennyMichael LeeEvangeline LindorfChad LinebaughErlyn MadsenAlex MaloneShawn MoonE. Linda MoorePam PetersonDavid PolleiRusty ProbertStephen M. PullenChase RamseyMike RamseyAndy ShimbergKaren SmithLinda C. SmithWendy SmithKeven Stratton, Jr.Perry StewartKim StrunkBriant SummerhaysStanford D. SwimGayle Tingey

ARTS RESOURCE COUNCIL

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NINETEENTH OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND TWENTY1 NINETEENTH OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND TWENTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Message from the Dean 2020 will go down in history as one of the most unusual