Message from the President
Utah's unparalleled opportunities are part of what makes the U so remarkable,
but it is the students and faculty who comprise the real reasons for
the U’s success. Their optimism and enthusiasm make the U a living repository
of hope.
And hope seems to be in short supply in today’s world. We seem inundated
with troubling news – the drumbeat of war and civic unrest, the worrisome
consequences of global warming, and the economic uncertainty caused
by avarice and irresponsibility. I can understand how such ceaseless
noise might make it difficult to look forward with hope.
Yet U students do just that. Their willingness to dream, and their courage
in pursuing those dreams, daily lifts the University toward new goals
and new opportunities. Such energy is exemplified by the 7,000-plus
volunteers who annually provide more than 250,000 hours of service through
the U’s Bennion
Center. Their vision of a bright future is fostered in the classroom,
but spreads beyond the confines of campus to bring remarkable benefits
to our community, our state, and our world. Such students are the pioneers
of the 21st Century – dedicated, courageous, intrepid, and focused.
Today, U students are more thoughtfully engaged than ever before. Thanks
in part to generous benefactors and to wise administrators, students
now have access to more resources, more information, and more opportunity
than any preceding generation in history. Knowledge has become the primary
commodity of a growing global market and countries from India to Israel
are partnering with the U because our students understand the challenges
of the future and are committed to making a difference in the lives
of all people.
I see it happening here every day. Consider this handful of hope-filled
activities: New discoveries in the ways we treat Alzheimer’s
Disease; enlightenment on the evolution of the human
species; unique views into the very nature of stars
and the theories around their birth; extraordinary ways that acoustic
devices can convert heat into electricity; world-class choral
groups who delight the world over with music; and in the case
of our own Nobel Laureate, Dr. Mario
Capecchi, the tireless pursuit and eventual discovery of what was
once thought unattainable. Indeed, graduates of the U are finding unprecedented
opportunities for personal success. (It’s worth noting that Forbes
just listed Salt Lake City as the #1 Best City for Jobs in 2008.)
Students and faculty at the U are creating a future of expectation,
of courage, and of opportunity. They are daily making the University
of Utah a place of profound hope, and I am extraordinarily fortunate
to be a part of that progress.
I invite you to discover how your dreams can become a reality at the
U. Campus
tours—including our new self-guided walking tours—are readily available
and easy to schedule. Or spend a few minutes exploring the links in
this message and enjoy a new perspective on the many ways the University
of Utah can help you
reach your potential.
Sincerely,
Michael K. Young
President