91¶ÌÊÓƵ

91¶ÌÊÓƵ Salutes 2017 honorees: left to right
Back row: Jessica Schreifels Miller; Colt Jarvis; Kevin J. Sullivan; Lynnda Wangsgard; and Kerry W. Gibson
Front row: Deborah Belnap; Thomas Grimm; Barbara Chrisman; LeAnn Wheeler and Francis R. Wheeler
Photo by Robert Casey

{Distinguished Alumna}
Barbara Chrisman BS ’76 learned to bowl at a young age and joined leagues at 11. Following an abusive first marriage, Chrisman enrolled in Weber State’s medical technology program. Challenges associated with raising two young sons by herself didn’t diminish her passion for bowling. In 1985, she and her second husband started selling bowling products they made. Today, their company, Storm Products Inc., is a leading manufacturer of high-performance bowling balls and accessories.

{Outstanding Young Alumna}

As a member of a tenacious team of journalists at The Salt Lake Tribune, Jessica Schreifels Miller’s BS ’09, MPC ’13 groundbreaking investigation of sexual assaults at Utah colleges landed the paper its second Pulitzer Prize. The coverage led to reforms at Brigham Young University and Utah State University. Miller and her colleagues also received the Frank A. Blethen Award for Local Accountability Reporting from the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

{Distinguished Service}

Retired Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Sullivan, a former 91¶ÌÊÓƵ trustee, has dedicated his life to serving his country and community. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut, Sullivan became a commissioned officer through the U.S. Air Force ROTC program. During his celebrated military career, Sullivan held numerous leadership roles, including directorate of Logistics and Engineering at U.S. Air Force Headquarters and commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base.

{91¶ÌÊÓƵ President’s Award}

As co-owner and operator of a fifth-generation dairy farm, Kerry W. Gibson knows good yields require hard work. As an Agriculture Eisenhower Fellow, his visits to Washington, D.C., sparked his political interests. In 2004, Gibson was elected to the Utah House of Representatives, and in 2010, he won a Weber County Commission seat. Gibson has supported 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s efforts to secure funding for building projects, expand course offerings and obtain operating budget appropriations.

{Emeriti Lifetime Achievement}

Retaining an entrepreneurial spirit within the confines of large business is a challenge, but certainly not an insurmountable one for Thomas Grimm BS ’69, who is a partner with RST Brands, a leading merchandise fulfillment company. Grimm previously was the executive vice president of Walmart, during which time he was recognized as a top business leader. Grimm is also a former CEO of Sam’s Club, and founder and former CEO of Price Savers.

{Lewis W. Shurtliff Award For Contributions to Education}

Thanks in large part to the vision of Weber County Library System (WCLS) Director Lynnda Wangsgard BS ’70, Weber County libraries are no longer just warehouses for reading materials; they’re community-gathering hubs that promote literacy in all its forms. WCLS sponsors many events and hosts a variety of offerings, including the annual Weber Reads program, which, in conjunction with 91¶ÌÊÓƵ and the Standard-Examiner, makes classic titles available and appealing to readers of all ages.

{Emeriti Homecoming Royalty}

Francis R. Wheeler BS ’73 and LeAnn Wheeler BA ’70 may live in Colorado, but their loyalty to the Wildcats never wavers. Fran served as Weber State’s student body president and graduated magna cum laude in chemistry. He received a Juris Doctor degree and MBA from Harvard University. Currently, he practices law as a partner at Cooley LLP.

LeAnn was active in Student Affairs and was named Woman of the Year. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Weber State, a master’s degree from George Washington University, a Juris Doctor degree at Rutgers University, and was a clerk for the Colorado Supreme Court.

The Wheelers have endowed a lecture series that brings 91¶ÌÊÓƵ alumni and law school graduates together with pre-law students for advice and mentoring.

{Student Homecoming Royalty}

As a freshman, Deborah Belnap participated in the Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program, joined the Student Alumni Association and competed with the women’s track and field team. She currently serves as the Student Alumni Association’s vice president of philanthropy. Despite her extensive volunteer work with nonprofits, Belnap maintains a 3.99 GPA. After she graduates, she plans to attend physician assistant school.

Colt Jarvis has been a member of the Student Alumni Association for four years. He is a former president of the Student Ambassadors and director of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s American Democracy Project. Through the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service, Jarvis served internships with the U.S. House of Representatives and the Democratic National Committee. Those experiences complement his current study of business and political science.