UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | March 08, 2026

Month: August 2019

What are students most excited for?

by Cammie JohnsonPosted on

Welcome, fellow Trailblazers. Get ready for a year of hard work and dedication, but most importantly, strive for a year full of exciting activities and great memories.

Students are excited about many different things this year.

Grace Henke, a freshman computer science major from Ivins, said she is excited to be attending DSU and absolutely loves the campus.

“I am looking forward to a lot of my classes,” said Henke. “I am excited for my web design class mainly because it’s something I’ve never done before.”

Henke said she is also enthusiastic for the many events that DSU will be putting on throughout the semester.

“I would love to see DSU have more community events,” said Henke. “A community carnival would be awesome.”

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“I am excited about the social life and any of the social activities,” said Ashlyn Boyer, a freshman general studies major from Salt Lake City.

Boyer said she was initially intrigued by DSU because a friend recommended it, but later discovered that she enjoys the change in scenery, and St. George is something different from her day-to-day life back home.  

Firus Hanov, a senior information technology major from San Francisco, said, “I am most excited for programs and the projects [IOS development] that I am working on.”

Hanov said he chose DSU because he received a great scholarship opportunity, but he also loves southern Utah because it is a good middle ground between a small town and a large city. 

Because of DSU’s location, there are many things to explore, and it is fairly close to all of the major travel destinations such as Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles, Hanov said. 

“What also brought me to Dixie State University is the space and the area that it is located,” said Hanov.

Hanov said, “I would like to see more improvements on quality of food in the cafeteria, but they are already working on it by bringing Chick-Fil-A and other vendors, so I want them to keep going.”

With this new year upon us, it is crucial to find what makes you most excited to be attending DSU and to help in making this year great.

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Athletic trainers work to keep DSU athletes healthy

by Michael SantoscoyPosted on

Coming to Dixie State University next fall semester is the new Master of Athletic Training program.

DSU students will have the opportunity to find a passion for becoming athletic trainers. Kelby Hofheins, assistant athletic director for sports medicine, and Bruno Silva, head athletic trainer for the DSU football team, are a few examples of DSU faculty members that found this drive and passion.

Hofheins found an interest in medicine when he was a pre-med major at Brigham Young University. The first person Hofheins met at BYU was an athletic trainer. After shadowing him, he found a passion for the profession.

Silva grew up playing sports and liked the medical side of things. During his time at Weber State University, Silva had his fair share of athletic injuries and opportunities of running into athletic trainers.

“Getting to know the athletic trainers and what they do and being at Weber State is how I fell in love with the profession,” Silva said.

Silva’s professional experience, like interning for the Houston Texans, has helped him become a qualified athletic trainer.

Silva said: “It was great to see everything available, especially with the Texans. We didn’t have a budget. We could do anything and everything we could do for the athlete. Being involved in that and seeing how they function and learn what they do, helped me be able to help the athletes here.”

“Being involved in that and seeing how they function and learn what they do, helped me be able to help the athletes here.”

Bruno Silva

The daily schedule for an athletic trainer like Hofheins and Silva can get busy.

In the morning or in between classes, Hofheins is getting the athletes who are not cleared to participate in practice, doing treatments, getting them started on the rehab setting and physical therapy. Then, an hour before practice is pre-practice where there is heating, stretching, mobility type work, taping and bracing being done for the athlete.

Silva’s day is different compared to Hofheins. There are about 115 players on the football team that need to be taken care of before practice. Football practice begins at 7 a.m., so Silva comes in at 5:30 a.m. to set up the field. At 6:00 a.m. players start to come in to get prepped by heating, stretching, bracing and padding to make sure they’re safe while practicing.  

Silva said: “There’s me, Ryan Willis and four work-study students that help us out a ton making sure the guys get water. The other part of it is the coaches too, we need a lot of eyes. There is a lot of guys that get banged up. The more eyes we get on them, the more we can protect them making sure they’re safe doing what they do. Then post-practice everybody wants to ice everything all the time so we get everybody out in about 45 minutes.”

Hofheins said the requirements to be a qualified athletic trainer have changed.

Hofheins said: “You have to apply and be accepted into a program. Then you take classes that are in the morning most of the time. In the afternoon you are doing your residency type activity. With your internship, you’re learning hands-on functionality that you learned in class and learning alongside veterans. Then you do the Board of Certification Exam which is an international exam to become certified.”

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    While the new Master’s program for athletic training has been put off until next fall, there are still work-study students who help out the athletic trainers.

    Hofheins said they teach the students the basics, such as prepping the treatment table for the next patient, since they are unable to make medical decisions or treat certain injuries.

    Hofheins said: “Though they’re not being given any monumental tasks, they’re given tasks. Without them, we couldn’t focus and do our job on the individual athlete. In the future, we’ll have that master’s degree in the athletic training program. So, we’ll have those students we’re trying to teach clinical skills to.”

    For further information on the master’s athletic training program, visit https://health.dixie.edu/health-human-performance/.

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    New track and field facilities set to open next month

    by Abby DomanPosted on

    In the field south of Trailblazer Stadium, the imminent growth at Dixie State University is being highlighted by the addition of track and field facilities.

    In this area, shot put, javelin run, discus and long jump areas are currently under construction.

    Facilities Project Manager Nathan Eaton said the shot put area has three rings with two for practice, the javelin run is approximately 125 feet in length, and the discus area will have an NCAA safety cage. The long jump, which totals approximately 215 feet in runway length, will be placed on the south side of the upper stadium.

    Justin Decker, head cross country and track coach, said there are 21 events available in track and field and DSU will have all but two: the hammer throw and the pole vault.

    Right now, Decker said athletes hoping to compete in track and field are focusing on weightlifting and conditioning. Practices for the new events will begin at the beginning of the spring semester.

    The construction is planned to be completed in September, Eaton said. However, there are no collegiate events scheduled for the spring season of track and field at DSU.

    “It will be a nice finishing touch not just for us but for the community.”

    Jason Boothe, executive director of athletics, said they have not scheduled a meet because the facilities are not completed yet and the small size of the program. For now, the track and field team will be traveling for most of its meets.

    “We have to get the program established and get it to a point where it is big enough,” Boothe said.

    Decker said he is currently recruiting for the team, and the addition of the field events will bring better athletes into DSU.

    “It does provide a boost with the athletes you are able to recruit,” Decker said. “I have always pushed to add it.”

    Decker said he had been advocating for the track and field team to be added for three years.

    Though there will not be collegiate events being held at the stadium, the new facilities will be getting outside use.

    Boothe said events such as high school track and field championships and the Hunstman Senior Games can be expected to be hosted at DSU.

    “It will be a nice finishing touch not just for us but for the community and high schools to bring outside events into the stadium and for them to experience [DSU] and St. George as well,” Boothe said.

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    Women’s soccer prepares for season

    by Monique ChavezPosted on

    The Dixie State University women’s soccer team is preparing for its second and final season in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with a new head coach.

    Steve Golas most recently served four seasons as an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women’s soccer team. Golas was appointed as DSU’s new head women’s soccer coach on April 3.

    “Leading this transition into the Division I era is a challenge I didn’t think I could pass up,” Golas said. “I’m really looking forward to it, [but] obviously you got your eyes on the prize right now. We’re in 2019; we got a job to do.”

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    Golas said he saw tremendous growth during the beginning of fall camp.

    “I couldn’t be more proud of them,” Golas said. “They picked it up, they found their tempo, and one of the big things for me is I love to compete, and we’re getting to do that now.”

    Last season, the team tied for fourth place in the RMAC and advanced to the conference tournament semifinal round.

    Kilee Allsop, a redshirt senior business administration major from Smithfield, said she has been trying to help all of the newcomers feel comfortable on the team.

    “I’ve always just tried to be a leader among the team,” Allsop said. “I’ve never been one that’s super vocal, I just try to lead by example. That’s more my style.”

    Allsop finished the 2018 season with one game-winning goal against Azusa Pacific University and five assists. She was also named to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-District 6 Soccer Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

    Alexa Ashton, a redshirt senior elementary education major from St. George, said Golas is teaching the team the true meaning of accountability.

    “…Obviously you got your eyes on the prize right now. We’re in 2019, we got a job to do.”

    Steve golas

    “It’s been pretty nerve-wracking just because we’re coming in with so many girls and this brand new coach,” Ashton said. “But I feel like Steve is holding us accountable, and it’s helping us be like, ‘OK, we have to also hold ourselves accountable and each other,’ and we’re taking this word accountable more seriously.”

    Ashton, who scored two goals last season, said she wants the team to end its Division II era as champions to give the upcoming DSU women’s soccer players confidence when transitioning into Division I.

    The Trailblazers were voted to finish third in the RMAC women’s soccer preseason coaches’ poll.

    “It’s going to be highly competitive,” Golas said. “I’m interested to see what the flavor looks like so to speak, what’s the style of play in the RMAC, but there’s so many tremendous teams and it’s going to be highly competitive.”

    The Trailblazers have their exhibition game on Aug. 30 at Idaho State University.

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    DSU blazing to end Alzheimer’s

    by Autumn NuzmanPosted on

    “I have four teenage daughters and a husband with early-onset [Alzheimer’s], so we deal with this in my home every day,” said Aubrey Brown, the sales and marketing director at The Wentworth at the Meadows.

    Dixie State University athletics is once again sponsoring the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. at Trailblazer Stadium. The goal of the walk is to raise $25,000 toward research to end Alzheimer’s, and just under $12,000 of that goal has already been met. This will be the second year DSU athletics is hosting the event.

    “This last year, we were the first-ever campus in the state of Utah to host the Alzheimer’s walk and our hashtag was #Blaze2EndALZ,” said Wendi Bulkley, associate athletic director of external relations. “We ended up having about 450-600 people between walking and assisting and volunteering.”

    Bulkley said $18,500 was raised during the 2018 walk, and knowing DSU helped contribute to that inspires confidence in her that this year’s goal will be exceeded. She said this year she just wants to see more club and department involvement, and student-athletes will be dorm-storming to get more students involved.

    Bulkley said she is the one who brought the event to DSU, and it has a personal connection for her. Her grandmother died of Alzheimer’s seven years ago and she hosted another walk at her previous job at the Washington City Community Center.

    “I wanted to find some way when I came here to get the students involved and… our athletes need to do about 5,000 service hours per year,” Bulkley said. “So, it was a great way to get our service hours and bring the youngest generation and honor the oldest generation and get the community to campus engagement going on.”

    Mike Miller, the regional manager of the Alzheimer’s Association, said he’s excited about the athletes’ involvement and that the walk is a way to bring together people who have lost loved ones to the disease or who want to fight it.

    “We just want all student-athletes and even just all students to be able to understand that there is a chance to fight for something that is honestly taking lives,”

    Cameron Chatwin

    “We start the program off with a ceremony that draws everybody together to the common goal of fighting the disease and identifying what their role in this fight is,” Miller said. “It might be a caregiver, it could be an individual affected by the disease themselves, it could be an advocate for the [end of the] disease, or they might be someone who’s lost a loved one to the disease.”

    Brown said participants don’t necessarily have to pay to walk and that their presence just shows support for fighting the disease.

    “We wear purple, we make a lot of noise, we let everybody know that there’s a big problem we need to address,” Brown said.

    Brown works with residents with Alzheimer’s and similar diseases frequently since she’s also a recreational therapist.

    “We just want all student-athletes and even just all students to be able to understand that there is a chance to fight for something that is honestly taking lives,” said Cameron Chatwin, president of the student-athlete advisory committee and a senior sports management major from Mesa, Arizona. “But we also want to make sure that the community is involved and just to be able to help support those that are fighting this disease and those that are carrying it.”

    The opening ceremony will last for 20 minutes before the walk begins, and the walk is scheduled to finish at 11 a.m. Those interested in participating can register online at alz.org/walk or in-person on Sept. 14.

    • Participants sign in to start their walk for the “Walk to End Alzheimers” at the Trailblazer Stadium. Dixie State University athletics is sponsoring the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. Photo courtesy of Mike Miller.
    • Participants fill the stadium seats before the “Walk to End Alzheimers” began at the Trailblazer Stadium. The goal of the walk is to raise $25,000 toward research to end Alzheimer’s. Photo courtesy of Mike Miller.

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    Three items people have declared a must buy

    by Kristi ShieldsPosted on

    You’re walking into Target to buy a gallon of milk, nothing else. Then you see a cute top that you can’t resist. There’s no harm in treating myself today, you think to yourself. You proceed to find the carton of milk. Now you’re in the checkout line and you see a magazine that catches your eye. Well, I don’t have time to skim through it right now, might as well buy it. Now you’ve left Target with three items; one you needed and two you compulsively bought.

    We each have our own obsessive purchase that we can’t walk past in the store without buying. PopSockets, mini backpacks and shoes are a few of these popular but expendable items.

    PopSocketss are the main trend circling around right now. A PopSocket is a nifty tool that sticks on the back of any handheld electronic device as a means to hold or prop up your phone. It’s not only useful, but it’s also a fun, cute gadget to have on your phone.

    Around a college campus, it is likely that you will see a majority of students with one.

    “I have [about] five of them,” Dailyn Ross, a freshman nursing major from Bullhead, Arizona, said. “They’re kind of useful … but I could live without it.”

    If you are one to have slick fingers with your phone, this purchase will do you wonders.

    This Stony-heart PopSocket provides a simple design with a pop of color that would be easy to match with a marble design or plain pink phone case. It is available on Amazon for as low as $9.99.

    If your mom is anything like mine, the perfect personalized gift for her is a Mama Bear Popsocket. It’s creative, adorable and demonstrates a piece of her personality. It is found on Amazon for $12.99.

    Mini backpacks are another fun item to purchase. These are mainly used for fashionable purposes rather than necessity.

    “I keep buying them and then I end up not touching them, but I keep buying them,” said Madi Davis, a freshman art major from Las Vegas. “I just find them really cute.”

    Although the main reason for purchasing it wasn’t for the convenience, Davis said, mini backpacks are useful when you don’t have as many things to carry such as binders and textbooks.

    This item is perfect for those who are looking to add an extra something to their outfit. A mini backpack is both fashionable and handy for carrying your basic necessities while out for the day.

    If you’re a stripe lover like me, you would enjoy this mini backpack from Target for just $19.99.

    However, if you’re looking for an upscale brand style, this exotic colored Herschel mini backpack is a perfect fit. It can be found at the Dixie State University Bookstore for $49.99.

    Shoes are another difficult thing for people to pass up in the store. There are all kinds of styles from high heels to sneakers to classic comfortable sandals.

    Crocs is a useful choice of shoe for being comfortable, universal and good for wearing anywhere.

    “I live in my Crocs… I highly [recommend them] … I’ve convinced a lot of people to buy them.”

    Carly Swope

    “I live in my Crocs,” Carly Swope, a freshman biology major from Hagerstown, Maryland, said. “I highly [recommend them] … I’ve convinced a lot of people to buy them.”

    By wearing Crocs you’re not only making a fashion statement, but you’re also feeling cozy while doing so.

    If you’re looking for a more embellished design, this pair of Tie Dye Crocs is for you. You can find it at Dick’s Sporting Goods for $44.99.

    This pair of fuzz-lined Crocs are perfect for a day when you wish you could wear your slippers out, but it’s not quite appropriate. It will keep your feet cozy while still looking casual. They’re sold for $44.99 at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

    And if you are not one to buy random items just because it catches your eye, well then congratulations, you have a stronger will power than the rest of us.

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    OPINION: How to make DSU safer due to spike in gun violence

    by Kristi ShieldsPosted on

    With the increase of gun violence at schools in recent years, it is time that action be taken to secure universities.

    According to an article in EveryTown, there have been occurrences of 290 school shootings since the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting in 2012. This includes mass shootings and accidental discharges of firearms.

    Due to this large number of firearm occurrences, Dixie State University should ensure the safety of those on campus by increasing their police presence, improving security measures for buildings and providing further training for students in case of a dangerous situation.

    “Just having a presence, [the security guards] are able to spot things and if they do spot something suspicious, they can call and get it taken care of,”

    Wayne Beck

    One thing DSU could benefit from is incorporating security guards into the police department.

    Wayne Beck, retired Brigham Young University police department sergeant, said there are benefits to having security guards on college campuses. BYU has a building security program, which consists of student security guards who work at night checking all buildings and making sure they are locked and secure.

    “Just having a presence, [the security guards] are able to spot things and if they do spot something suspicious, they can call and get it taken care of,” Beck said. “It’s been a pretty good program … and [allows] more exposure around campus.”

    This would not only give students first-hand experience with police work, but it would increase the number of people on the campus police force.

    Another position incorporated into the program is providing security for higher targeted buildings such as the library and campus museum, Beck said.

    • Peyton Kronenberg, a freshman business administration major from Spirit Lake, Idaho uses her student card in the Erno and Etel Udvar-Hazy School of Business building. Increases in gun violence could call for more security on campus. Photo by Cortney Graf.
    • A Dixie State University Police car located across the street from the Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons building. The campus police work to protect individuals on campus. Photo by Cortney Graf.

    Another option is to require students and staff to swipe their I.D. cards to gain access after a certain time.

    However, the safety of students and faculty would still not be guaranteed with the implementation of these programs.

    Therefore, students should be better educated about what to do on campus when a dangerous situation does arise. This knowledge can be obtained through safety videos and discussion of campus safety protocol during freshman orientation.

    The campus police could also provide workshops for students who want to be better prepared for potentially dangerous situations on campus.

    Students can take precautions themselves by staying aware of their surroundings, watching out for behavior that may escalate, and reporting suspicious behavior to appropriate individuals.

    For more tips on how to stay safe and feel comfortable while at college, visit https://publicsafety.dixie.edu/resources/.

    If you have something to report to campus police or see suspicious behavior reach out to DSU police at dsusecurity@dixie.edu or 435-236-4000. If it is an emergency, call 911.

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      DSU volleyball: defending RMAC champs, hungry to repeat

      by Monique ChavezPosted on

      The Dixie State University volleyball team is determined to settle rivalries heading into its second and final season in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

      Head coach Robyn Felder said it does not feel like the team took the summer off.

      Felder said: “Having all of our setters back makes a huge difference because of the chemistry that they create. They’re able to find their hitters quickly, and from the minute we walked in the gym I was like, ‘Wow, did we even get away from spring at all?’”

        Felder is joined by assistant coaches David Richards, Makenzi Murphey and Whitnee Tupe. Assistant coach Milla Hafoka from Brigham Young University Hawaii was also recently added to the Trailblazer coaching staff.

        “It’s good to see her in a [DSU] shirt instead of a BYU Hawaii shirt,” Felder said. “She’s just no-nonsense; she’ll tell it straight up. She’s a great setter and just a great leader, honestly. She’s gritty.”

        Lauren Gammell, a senior media studies major and right-side hitter from Spanish Fork, said she enjoys having feedback at practice from all five coaches.

        Gammell said she is working on her offense this year by connecting better with the setters and working on different hits. Gammell ended last year as the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year and remains the NCAA Division II national statistical leader in blocks per set with 1.56 bps.

        “Things that you don’t even realize that you’re doing you are able to fix because they can see it from the outside perspective,” Gammell said.

        Sydney Johnson, a junior business administration major and outside hitter from Spokane, Washington, said everybody on the team plays an important role on the squad with each of them working for that starting spot.

        “Our practices really are a hard battle, and everyone is just trying their best to push the person in front of them or to stay up top,” Johnson said.

        The team has been picked to finish third in the 2019 RMAC Preseason Poll.

        “This year really is our focus because we have to take care of business this year, and we’ve got some rivalries that we really want to settle, so we’re excited,” Felder said.

        “Things that you don’t even realize that you’re doing you are able to fix because they can see it from the outside perspective,”

        Johnson said Northwest Nazarene, who they defeated 3-2 last season, is the team’s preseason rival, while Colorado Mesa University, who they were two for two with last season, remains their RMAC rival.

        Megan Treanor, a junior media studies major and right-side hitter from Salem, played her first season at DSU after transferring from Salt Lake Community College. Gammell said playing at the Division II level is faster volleyball than at the junior college or high school level.

        “I definitely felt like my team here pushed me so hard,” Treanor said. “Everyone was just so hungry, and it made me want to work harder and harder. I learned a lot from Dixie, and I’m just excited to get better.”

        Gammell and Treanor became the first two players in DSU volleyball’s NCAA era to earn American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honors.

        Despite the anticipation of joining the Western Athletic Conference and moving to the Division I level next year, Felder said the defending RMAC champions are focused on the present and hungry to repeat.

        The Trailblazers are set to host the Desert Garden Inn by Wyndham Classic for the second year in a row on Aug. 31 in the Burns Arena. There will be three days of volleyball, with DSU playing four of 11 total matches.

        Playing in the Burns Arena along with DSU will be St. Cloud State University, Northwest Nazarene University, Colorado Christian University, Simon Fraser University and Stanislaus State University. The Trailblazers will be playing all teams except CCU, which they will match up with on Nov. 9.

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        Football prepares for fourth and final season in the RMAC

        by Michael SantoscoyPosted on

        The start of Dixie State University football is right around the corner as we approach the 2019 season.

        Last season, the DSU football team finished 7-4 overall and 7-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. With new Dixie State head coach Paul Peterson, there is a lot to look forward to this season.

        “We got great intensity out there, good competition, some good additions to the team that helped out the guys that have already been a part of this team and a part of the conference and so I think these guys are rearing up and ready to go,” Peterson said.

        • Dixie State University’s football team go in for a huddle at the end of their practice at Trailblazer Stadium. The team has been working hard during the off-season this year. Photo by Cortney Graf.
        • The Dixie State Trailblazers football team practices drills during practice at Trailblazer Stadium. They are preparing for their first game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Photo by Cortney Graf.
        • Dixie State University’s football team practices for the upcoming season at Trailblazer Stadium. This year the team has a whole new coaching staff. Photo by Cortney Graf.

        Peterson said the team hasn’t lost a beat since spring practice and his main goal to achieve during fall practice is understanding assignments and competing with one another to get ready for game day.

        According to DSU Athletics, last season the team put up 31 points per game, had 1,486 rushing yards, 3,558 passing yards and 46 total touchdowns. In Division II rankings, the DSU football team were ranked No. 5 in passing offense and No. 17 in total offense, according to the NCAA.

        Kasey Allison, a senior criminal justice major and wide receiver from Las Vegas, said the offense has been gelling together well through fall camp.

        “It always brings the best out of you and that’s the main goal of fall camp is to go out there and compete at the highest level and get better each day,” Allison said.

        Nathen Aceves, a sophomore recreation and sport management major and offensive lineman from Glendora, California, said that repetition on the offense helps him better understand what to do on assignments. Aceves played in every game and started in 10 last season as a freshman.

        “Our mentality we’ve always had is just be a dog on the offensive line and try to do our job to the best of our ability,” Aceves said.

        As for defense, DSU had 753 tackles, 99 tackles for loss, 39 sacks, 10 interceptions and 15 forced fumbles on defense. The DSU football team was also ranked No. 6 in team sacks and ranked No. 9 in team tackles for loss in Division II rankings.

        Alex Lilliard, a senior recreation and sports management major and defensive back from San Diego, said practices are well organized, and the new coaching staff does a great job at preparing the team to be game day ready.

        “We got great intensity out there, good competition, some good additions to the team…”

        Lilliard is coming into his senior season with 126 career tackles and 7 ½ career tackles for loss. Lilliard was one of many players on defense last season to help contribute to DSU being ranked high in Division II rankings in team tackles for loss.

        Lilliard said: “We gotta win this year. Pueblo, Mines, those teams are nothing to look over. The goal is the RMAC championship, then the national championship. That’s what I want the focus to be.”

        DSU’s first football game will be at Trailblazer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. against Colorado State-Pueblo. This will be the Trailblazers’ final season in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference before transitioning to Division I in the Football Championship Subdivision Independents.

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        OPINION: Working on campus can save you time, money and energy

        by Abby DomanPosted on

        When I was a freshman in college I thought it was the best idea to work an off-campus job. I had never been exposed to anything else and really wasn’t aware that there were any other options.

        Then I was offered a position at the Writing Center here on campus and it changed not just my college experience, but my life. I haven’t gone back since.

        As college students, we have the amazing opportunity to apply for jobs in the same location as where we attend school – oftentimes with the same people and in the same career field.

        Students need to take advantage of this opportunity instead of taking jobs outside of campus. Working at Dixie State University as students can help us build relationships, save money and is overall easier on our already busy schedules.

        Networking with professors and others on campus is one of the most important things you can do as a college student. If you work on campus you are more likely to form these vital relationships that can help you succeed further on.

        As Jennifer Bonds-Raacke, John Raacke and Samantha Elliot from a Psychology Student Network article explain, “We often tell our students that what you know gets you in the room but it is who you know that will get you a seat at the table.”

        Therefore, working campus jobs is not only a benefit for students in terms of networking and building relationships with professors, advisers and others in our field, but it is also kind on our wallets.

        By working at the Writing Center I was exposed to more professors as a regular student and was able to build strong relationships with them. I also gained exposure to the Dixie Sun News and applied for my second on-campus job. These are all opportunities I would not have received if I took my work elsewhere.

        “We often tell our students that what you know gets you in the room but it is who you know that will get you a seat at the table.”

        Working on campus was also a huge relief financially. I, like most college students, was struggling for money and every dollar spent made a difference. College is extremely expensive, and it can often seem overwhelming when combined with the rest of the responsibilities you have to pay for. Being able to save on transportation costs made my life even more stress-free.

        The College Board estimated that the average student spends about $1,160 on transportation costs every year. So, if you can find ways to save on gas or transportation, that is a huge weight off your shoulders.  

        DSU also offers free public transit through the SunTran that stops right on campus, making it extremely easy for those with jobs to get to work without paying for this high transportation cost.

        Not only will working on-campus benefit you in the long run, but it is also an instant time saver.

        At DSU, it’s extremely easy to find on-campus jobs with the use of Handshake. At any point throughout their college career, students can log on and apply to any number of positions DSU’s Career Center and other organizations have posted. There are currently over 45 on-campus jobs listed.

        If that isn’t easy enough, you can also upload your transcript, resumé or any other document on Handshake so it is readily available for employers to view. 

        DSU also posts information about upcoming job fairs and other events that students seeking employment might be interested in.

        One common reason a student might choose to work off-campus is the variety of jobs that are available. However, if you know what you are passionate about, know what you want to go into, and are studying that subject there is a good chance DSU Career Services will be able to find a position for you.

        I urge you to go into the Career Center, set up an account on Handshake, and take advantage of these on-campus jobs. Make your life easier. You’ll be glad you did.

        • Photo by Jessica Johnson.

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