Video editor Nessa Thomas asks Utah Tech Career Services and alumni how the school helps students reach their professional goals and to share their career tips.
Becoming Career Ready: What to Know
Month: September 2026
Trailblazers’ Bag Essentials
Social media editor Eden Hall asks Trailblazers what they always bring to school, and what they can never leave the house without.
Utah Tech To Host Not-So-Spooky Halloween Art Show
When Jeff Yule, the professor of biology, first came to Utah Tech University, he found out that not a lot was done for Halloween at the university. Yule and his wife had a big collection of Halloween art, so with the help of McGarren Flack the associate professor of art, and a few others they were able to create the art show. Now, over 10 years later, the art show is still going strong.
The Halloween art show is a free event open to the community, not just students at Utah Tech. Anyone can submit artwork, and a jury of judges will decide which ones to include in the show.
Yule said, “I always wonder if we’re going to get a good number of submissions, then we always do, and we’ve gotten more submissions pretty much every year.”
What started out as a way for people to experience Halloween on campus has now turned into something bigger and much more meaningful for those who are involved.
Yule said, “Families will come from other areas and be here for us and so it’s kind of a moment for them.” Yule also commented how the show is a nice way for people to come together and enjoy each other’s company.
While there are no prizes for the winners, McGarren Flack said, “We don’t work with any exchange of money on campus.”
Flack said “we treat it just like the Sears Gallery does if they’re interested in purchasing it we just connect with them with the artist and they buy it privately.”
Dr. Glenn Webb is the assistant professor for percussion and jazz for Utah Tech oversees the show as an administrator. While Dr. Webb deals more with music, he said, “It’s fun to see artists either create something that everybody can relate to or create something that’s pretty personal.” Dr. Webb also said that art shows are fun once “you get going to one or two, then you start looking forward to the next ones, sort of like movies.”
Markus Whetzel, a master’s student in art from Lehi, is this year’s director for the gallery. Whetzel has entered his own personal projects for the past two to three years and loves it.
While he has never had any pieces purchased, Whetzel said, “the atmosphere is great, it’s always great to have all the students come in and to showcase work. I always have so much on my plate, and it’s always fun because I always feel like I had to hunker down and just produce a painting real fast, and that’s always kind of scary.”
In the show, typically visual art is submitted there aren’t any performances done by people. Whetzel said that there was a textile piece in the past, but for the most part a lot of the art is more traditional, such as watercolors or ceramics.
The art show will be held at the North Commons on the West side of the building. Everyone is welcome to attend and the art show will last from the beginning of October to November first.
Students Learn the Ins and Outs of Adulthood Away From Home
Moving away from home means learning that dinner does not make itself, money doesn’t grow on trees and roommates do not always follow your schedule.
For Utah Tech University students who leave their hometowns to attend college, learning how to cook, manage money, live with roommates and make decisions independently can become part of the college experience.
Yadira Rivera, a sophomore psychology major from Delta, one of the biggest adjustments was something as simple as figuring out what to eat.
“I have to cook dinner for myself every night,” Rivera said. “I have to plan every night what I’m gonna eat instead of just something being there.”
Rivera said she expected the transition to college to be challenging, but she did not expect to miss home as much as she did.
“I wanted to get out so badly,” Rivera said. “But once I did leave after a few months, I just started reminiscing a lot.”
Rivera said being away from her parents was one of the things she missed most. She also said she wishes she had saved more money before moving away.
Although Rivera now has a job, she said balancing work and school can be difficult.
Her experience reflects a common adjustment for students who are learning how to manage responsibilities without their parents nearby.
Ella McClure, a junior digital media major from Sandy, said the amount of responsibility that comes with living independently was one of her biggest surprises.
“I feel like you understand that you have to take on that, but I feel like the weight of it doesn’t really hit you until you’re here by yourself,” McClure said.
For McClure, living with roommates was another unexpected challenge. Sharing a living space with three other people meant learning how to balance different schedules, habits and expectations.
“Every person’s on their own schedule. Everybody works differently,” McClure said. “So I think coming up with a system is kind of tricky.”
While some parts of college life were difficult, McClure said other parts were easier than expected. Making friends was one of them.
McClure said she made one of her best friends on her first day at Utah Tech. She found that having classes, majors or interests in common helped her connect with other students.
“I think it was just kind of finding people who, like, you’re in the same major as them,” McClure said.
McClure said she wishes she had become more involved on campus earlier. She said attending more school events could have helped her make the most of her college experience, even when she did not know many people.
Kevin Williams, a senior marketing major from Sandy, said that becoming responsible for his own finances was one of the biggest adjustments after moving away.
Williams said he wishes he had understood the importance of maintaining a budget before starting college. During his first year, he worked at CaptionCall while attending school, but he still found himself running low on money at times.
“It got pretty dry for a little bit until I learned how to keep it in check and keep track a little bit better,” Williams said.
After taking an Excel class, Williams began using a spreadsheet to organize his finances. He said the system helped him understand where his money was going and keep his spending under control.
Williams also found that one of the things he expected to be difficult, meeting people, was easier than he anticipated.
Many students around him were also new to the area and adjusting to college life, which made it easier to connect with others.
Williams said his advice to students moving away from home is to accept that mistakes are part of the process.
“Don’t be afraid to make a mistake,” Williams said. “Everyone does it. Just be prepared to learn from it, and move on.”
For students preparing to leave home, McClure recommends being open to new experiences and staying true to themselves.
“Try new things,” McClure said. “Be yourself, 100%. Don’t try to create this persona.”
Rivera encourages students not to rush through the transition. She said leaving home can be exciting, but students should appreciate the time they have with their families before moving away.
“Probably not to be in such a rush to leave,” Rivera said. “Just take it in.”
Rooted in the Park: Building a Community One Session at a Time
Every Saturday at 8 a.m. Cottonwood Cove Park has a yoga class hidden in the trees, free for everyone who comes. Rooted In The Park is a yoga class that started out just this April and has now brought a vast community together, with people from all ages and walks of life coming together to enjoy the outdoors while finding inner peace.
Elii Jukka, who graduated from Utah Tech in the spring of 2026 with her Bachelor of Science in psychology, started this yoga group with her friends Emma and Ali as a way “to encourage the community to come outside and enjoy the outdoors.” Starting with 10 instructors and a dream, they now live a new reality.
The three friends had just completed their yoga teacher training in April and decided to start Rooted In The Park. Now, barely six months later, the class has become successful. Despite the class being early for some, it still brings a lot of people in.
There are people who come by themselves, and then there are families that come and do yoga together.
Danika has been coming since April, and loves the peaceful serenity that comes with the park. You hear birds chirping in the trees, and you can feel the sun rising for the start of the day, and it lets you take a moment to feel yourself.
Toa Meredith has also been coming since Rooted In The Park started. Meredith said, “I like being out and doing yoga outdoors, and it’s free too.” This makes it easier for people to come. The park itself is easy to find, and all you have to do is walk down the middle path to find the class.
Amy Louff moved to St. George because of the welcoming events, and has been coming inconsistently since July. Louff loves the sounds of being in the park and is thankful for the days that she is able to come to this event.
Rooted In The Park is not just a yoga class, though they also host a few other events as well. So far, they have hosted two yoga runs and a few potlucks as well. Bringing together more and more people with each event that’s happened.
In the end, Rooted In The Parks’ goal was to bring the community together, and now they have done just that. What started out as some friends having an idea turned into something even bigger than what they could have imagined.
If the past six months have shown anything, it’s that you can achieve what you want by putting in the effort. By starting with something small, Jukka and her friends created something bigger than themselves. Now, if the next six months are anything like the last, then Rooted In The Park has a lot in store for them.
OPINION | AI Should Be Enhancement Not Replacement
If AI takes over the learning part, what do we need students for?
Artificial intelligence is already becoming common in Utah. More than 35% of working-age Utahns reportedly use AI regularly, ranking Utah second in the nation for workplace AI use behind Maryland. Utah County leads the state, with AI use above 50%. AI is no longer something students can ignore until graduation. It is already becoming part of the careers they are preparing to enter.
That makes Utah Tech’s polytechnic mission especially important. The university focuses on hands-on learning, technology and preparing students for the workforce.
Utah Tech has already started teaching students how to use AI responsibly. Jamie Kearra, director of Student Success, explained, “We have a whole lesson plan on teaching students how to use AI to help them learn, but we tell them first and foremost it is here to support your learning, not to do your work.”
Kearra also explained, “We encourage students to use it in a way that helps them develop a study plan, come up with a study guide, flashcards, sometimes I think it is very helpful to explain complicated instructions in simpler terms, and review the rubric to see if they are missing the marks.”
I agree that these uses can be helpful. There is a difference between using AI to make flashcards after studying and asking it to do the studying for you. AI can be useful for tedious tasks, organizing information or explaining something you have already tried to understand. But when students use it to write their papers, create their arguments or solve their problems, where exactly is the learning happening?
Jim Haendiges, chair of Utah Tech’s English department, emphasized that the work students submit needs to be original and that students still need to use their critical thinking. He also explained that AI detectors are unclear and “tainted,” making communication between students and professors important when questions about AI use arise.
Haendiges compared AI use to training a doctor. If a machine performs much of a precise operation, the doctor should still be able to prove they can perform the surgery with their own hands.
This should make students uncomfortable. If AI disappeared tomorrow would they still be able to complete their assignments?
Otherwise, are we actually becoming more educated, or are we simply becoming better at using AI?
The consequences could follow students into their careers. Employers need people who can think critically, communicate, solve unfamiliar problems and recognize when information is wrong. If students spend college avoiding the difficult parts of learning, they may graduate with a degree but less practice using the skills that degree is supposed to represent.
AI can also be wrong. It can produce false information, invent citations and confidently present inaccurate answers. Students who have not developed their own knowledge may not even recognize when AI is wrong. That is exactly why students need to learn how to think independently before depending on technology to help them think.
Utah Tech should respond by putting critical thinking first. Foundational classes should include assignments where students cannot rely on generative AI. After students develop their writing, research and reasoning skills, AI can be introduced as a limited tool for tedious tasks, studying and assistance not as a replacement for their own work.
AI will only become more prevalent as time goes on, but that does not mean students should not be able to think without it.
College should not teach students to avoid the hard parts, it should encourage students to be curious and work through problems. Every time a student let’s AI do the work, is a step closer to AI replacing that student.
Utah Tech’s International Enrollment Increases As US Average Continues To Decline
For most students, college means moving a few hours from home. For international students at Utah Tech University, it can mean crossing an ocean, learning a new culture and building a life thousands of miles from family.
Utah Tech’s international student enrollment grew 17% this year, according to Shadman Bashir, executive director of the Office of International Programs. The increase comes as international enrollment at U.S. colleges has faced declines.
Bashir said Utah Tech’s growth has come from building relationships with prospective and current international students and providing support before and after they arrive.
“When I started in 2018, there weren’t many incoming international students,” Bashir said. “Every year since I started, we have had more international students.”
Bashir said the Office of International Programs has focused on creating connections with students and making the office available when they need assistance.
“We started creating more connections,” he said. “We just created a motto that I tell everyone that 24/7 we are available.”
That availability can include helping students with academics, immigration requirements, employment restrictions and adjusting to life in the United States.
“In fact, we saved money and increased numbers. So all of those factors combined helped, but it became more of a mission rather than just a 9 to 5 office,” Bashir said.
The office is also expanding international opportunities through new academic partnerships. Bashir said Utah Tech recently started a Japan leadership program and a Spain pathways program. He also described a partnership in China that is developing a first student cohort of nearly 70 students for pathways in data science and software engineering.
For students such as Fernanda Arévalo and Guillermo Plaza Ruiz, the decision to attend Utah Tech involved academics, culture and the opportunity to experience life in a different country.
Arévalo, a senior psychology major from Lima, Peru, came to the United States because she wanted to improve her English, travel and interact with people from different cultures.
“I really love interacting with other cultures, people with different backgrounds,” Arévalo said.
She also was drawn to Utah Tech’s location and outdoor environment. Coming from Lima, she enjoyed having places such as Snow Canyon State Park and Zion National Park nearby.
“We have Snow Canyon, and we have Zion, so that is amazing,” she said. “I think that is one of the main reasons.”
Her transition to Utah was not always easy. Arévalo initially had difficulty connecting with students from Utah but eventually found a community through the Office of International Programs. She became involved as an ambassador and international student leader.
“At the beginning, it was difficult to connect with people from Utah in general,” she said. “But I am glad that I had, and I have my Office of International Program, because I found my people there.”
Arévalo said her international student friends have helped her adjust because they are experiencing some of the same challenges.
“I love connecting with people, especially my international student friends. And it’s been amazing, because we are, like, kind of in the same situation, in the same boat,” she said.
Plaza Ruiz, a junior biochemistry student from Madrid, Spain, said he chose Utah Tech because he wanted to experience a different education system and practice his English.
His experience has also changed how he views the role international students play on an American campus.
“I feel that international students, apart from serving to come to different countries and learn, we also, in a way, become teachers ourselves,” Plaza Ruiz said.
Plaza Ruiz explained what international students bring to American students, including different languages, cultures and ideas about everyday life.
“We bring a different culture, different language, different ideas of what’s normal, what’s not,” he said.
That exchange also takes place in academic settings. Plaza Ruiz said professors have helped him find ways to gain experience despite the employment restrictions international students face. He is currently conducting independent research with a professor in biochemistry.
Arévalo said professors have also recognized the perspective she brings to the classroom.
One psychology professor told her, “I am really grateful that you are taking my class because of what you add, because that is something different, I really appreciate that.”
For Bashir, those different perspectives are part of what international students bring to Utah Tech.
“They have a limited support system because they’re international. They are away from home. They are from different cultures,” Bashir said. “But international students bring so much diversity and a competitive, um, understanding of the topics that they cover.”
Plaza Ruiz said the cultural exchange extends beyond the university. People in Spain ask him about his experiences in the United States, giving him an opportunity to share what he has learned while studying abroad.
Both students are also considering continuing their education in the United States.
Arévalo hopes to use Optional Practical Training after graduating and eventually attend graduate school, potentially in the United States. Plaza Ruiz is also considering graduate school and said he is open to wherever that opportunity takes him.
Arévalo said studying in the United States has helped her become more independent.
“I really like the process of, like, becoming a real adult,” she said.
While international enrollment in the US declines, Utah Tech continues to see growth. Students are drawn to the safety of the area, its affordability and the community the university provides.
The International Office is continuing to expand programs, partnerships and support for international students. Bashir said the goal is to create better opportunities for students each day, both during their time at Utah Tech and as they prepare for what comes next. The continuous effort to improve for our international students, as well as the great environment Utah Tech provides from nature to community is what makes the students want to come here.
New Season, New Energy with Familiar Faces: Utah Tech Softball
Utah Tech’s softball went 19-34 overall last year, but now joining the Big Sky and having some new energy mixed with some old, the team is motivated to turn things around.
Takeaways from last year consist of being better prepared and sticking together. In any sport, preparation and teamwork go hand in hand. This means knowing that preparation actually matters; things like taking care of your body, getting in those extra hits, and knowing that team games are won more than just within yourself.
“In the end it’s the relationships and the connections that you build, and that’s what lasts a lifetime and not the record, especially not our record,” said pitcher Cemryn Pickett, a junior marketing major from Berthoud, Colorado.
This year there are a total of 12 Trailblazers returning and five of them are seniors. With this it brings the team a lot of experience heading into the season. They have gone through such things as a 56-game schedule, road trips, and conference play.
“They understand that this is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Head Coach Randy Simkins.
Team chemistry is a vital part of any team. The reason is because it takes a lot more than just good players to win. It takes knowing how to play with one another and knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“We always have great team chemistry,” said third baseman Gabi Giroux, a senior biology major from Aurora, Colorado. “That’s something that our coach has done very well, and we aspire to have that every year.”
With the experience that this team has heading into the new year the returners are able to bring back the culture that they want for the new team and what they do not want. Having the hopes of bringing what worked along such as being goofy, hanging out outside of practice, and grinding everyday. If it did not work then it gets left behind.
“Need to have the mindset of we’re a Division I team and we’re just as good as everyone else,” said Pickett.
Many improvements are going into this season so this one does not look like the last. In the offseason the team lost many players to graduation and to the transfer portal. Since then, there have been many new additions to the team including freshman and transfers.
“We feel like our transfers and our new players have addressed that concern,” Simkins said. “ I really like our team. I like how hard they work. I like that they play hard for each other.”
Teams are usually either nervous or excited when it comes to joining a new conference. Softball is way more excited than nervous. This excitement comes from new teams, new faces, new competition, new places to travel, and more chances to prove themselves.
“I’m excited to go somewhere new and not have to go to Texas a thousand times a year. I hated the Texas trips,” said Pickett.
“Nice to have a brand new start for sure. I’m also from Colorado so knowing that we get to play a team from Colorado is super exciting,” said Giroux.
Looking to what is ahead for these Trailblazers are seven fall ball games. The first game is set for Sept. 26 at 12 p.m. at Karl Brooks Field, where the team will face the CSN Coyotes.
This will be its first time against live action as a new team.
“We know how we compete against each other right now because we’ve been beating on each other for about a month now. But just learning how we compete in live game situations, getting that experience.” said Simkins.
Excitement and good energy are the best words to describe the team’s mindset heading into the season. From the top of the coaches, to the players, to the support staff.
“Come watch us, they’re fun to watch,” said Simkins. “Attendance is free for all of our fall and spring games and our tournaments.”
A Place to Find Support: Inside Utah Tech’s Accessibility and Disability Center
Welcoming, supportive and comfortable are some of the words that describe the atmosphere inside the Accessibility and Disability Center. Walking into the center, students are met with a space where they can ask questions, find support and feel comfortable talking about what they need. Located on the fourth floor of the Holland Building at Utah Tech University, the center provides resources and accommodations to help students succeed.
This center has many resources for students who may need help. These resources could be known as a distraction reduced testing environment, time and a half on exams, note taker assistance, reader for exam, flexibility with due dates and attendance, to name a few.
“I would say our most prominent ones are exam accommodations,” said Meleah Ridd, Accessibility and Disability Center Coordinator.
Exam accommodations are so prominently used with students because of the benefits that they provide such as a distraction free testing environment and time and a half on exams. Within the distraction free testing area students are in a room with less than three other students and all of them are taking different tests. This is to help students that struggle with test anxiety.
“I would say probably the online note-taking and then time and a half and distraction reduced testing. and reduced testing,” said front desk worker at the center Jasper Neff, a junior secondary education history and social sciences major from St. George.
Time and a half on exams means that students have extended time to take it. For example, if an exam has a 60 minute time limit but you have the accommodation for time and half then you have 90 minutes instead.
These accommodations that can be made for students are for everyone. Not knowing that you might need these accommodations is also another thought.
The center helps students with anxiety, depression, ADHD, learning disabilities and chronic conditions. Even if a student is unsure whether they have a condition or need accommodations, the center can help them determine whether accommodations may be appropriate for their situation.
Ways to get connected with the center are through their website and business cards that are located outside the center in the lobby, where you will see multiple little bins stacked on the wall with papers for help and the way to receive it. And, on the card once in hand it will list the documentation needed to qualify for the services that they provide.
There is no need to worry if you do not have the necessary paperwork. The center can help students understand what information is needed and connect them with resources that may be able to help.
“Different things that qualify are an IEP, a 504 that they may have had for accommodations in high school, or a provider can write a note. In many cases, the Booth Wellness Center can also provide a letter,” said Ridd.
The center works hand in hand with the professors as well to help the students. The center provides the staff and faculty with a video that is also on their website. The center also provides workshops and notices to the professors on how to make the accommodations needed.
This semester, the center works with about 430 students.
“Keep getting applications every day, and we’re improving our services and outreach to students,” said Ridd.
Along with providing support, the center hopes to create more understanding around disabilities and help reduce the stigma that can sometimes surround asking for accommodations.
The way they are doing this is through the Student Accessibility Board. The SAB is a club that is within the center. And their values and goals align with the center’s.
The SAB just recently became a club this semester. They used to be just made up of people who worked within the center. But it is open to all now.
This club does many things around campus to help reduce the stigma out there. They have chill zones at all school dances, host a Prom of Possibilities in March, a winter ball added in December, and many others.
Chill zones at the dances are quiet places that students can go to escape the noise for a while. In the zones, they provide earplugs, headphones, sour candy, and salty snacks.
“It allows students to step out without stepping away,” said Olivia Wolff, a senior exercise science major from Bakersfield, California, and a student officer on the Student Accessibility Board. “Not just for individuals with disabilities. It is quite literally just for anybody who just needs a minute.”
The Prom of Possibilities is a prom like no other. It is set up for everyone and anyone, all inclusive, people with and without disabilities. Guests can experience things such as a red carpet entrance, live band entrance, and live DJ. This experience is for everyone to feel connected and included. The event is also free.
Getting help can be very difficult which is very understandable. The hardest part is admitting and the harder part is getting that accommodation. But this center is here to help, provide, and serve all.
“They want to make it happen and so I feel like being able to offer stuff to everybody makes the campus stronger as a whole,” said Neff.
With the center growing every day and every semester in size their goals remain the same of making sure students have the support and right accommodations needed for success. The ADC plans to keep finding ways to serve Utah Tech students and make campus more accessible for everyone.
Colorful Bandanas, Dancing, Utah Tech University Hosts The Boot Scootin’ Boogie
On Wednesday, with help from the country club, the Utah Tech Student Association put on Boot Scootin Boogie. From the moment you walk in, you are greeted with smiles and root beer floats. Walking into the dance, there were people everywhere. Everyone on the dance floor was ecstatic. No matter where you looked, there were people dancing and smiling.
Walking in it looked like a real country club, where everyone was dancing and having a good time. Some guys rocked cowboy hats with cowboy boots, while the girls wore shorts and crop tops, and some even dressed up. At one point, there was a pink inflatable cow dancing in the crowd as well. Even in the costume, you could tell the guy underneath was having a great time.
There was something for everyone, no matter where you went. On the dance floor, you had people who had done swing dancing before dipping their partners to the floor, and to help those who had never done swing dancing before, there were instructors on the stage. They showed everyone how to swing their partners around, and soon everyone was able to do it.
For anyone who wanted to take a break, there was a place to make bandanas, and it seemed like almost everyone had a bandana. Each table was full for most of the night, and at the end there was not a single bandana left at the station.
The petting zoo was by far the most popular event. No matter when you went, it seemed like the line was wrapped around the building. The goats were all knee-high except for the two babies. The goats were beyond soft and were extremely friendly so long as you had food. Everyone stroked the goats’ heads, and some people even got to hold the baby goats in their arms.
Kyleise Harmon, a freshman general studies major from St. George, says that she has been to boot scootin boogie before. While decorating bandanas with her friend, Harmon explained that she liked the atmosphere a lot and was most excited for the petting zoo.
At the root beer float stand was Molly Harrison, a freshman business management major from Shreveport, Louisiana. Harrison’s favorite pastime is volunteering at events, and she says that she has been to almost every event on campus. She loves student life and student related activities, making this event perfect for her. Harrison loved working the event and had a great time. Every time she was around, she was smiling and laughing no matter what she was doing.
At the stage was a member of the country club, Ryan Gubler, a sophomore biology major from Hurricane, Utah. He has been with the country club since his freshman year and has loved it.
Gubler said, “[The event is] very fun I love coming here. This and the country club have made it fun to come to stuff on campus.” He helped out with showing people how to dance and was helping direct the event too.
For anyone who wants to join, Gubler said, “Give it a shot even if you don’t have experience. It’s worth it to find a family.”
When the night was done, everyone was smiling, and it seemed like they were glad they came. This shows just how powerful having a good community can be.
Everyone there loved it, and between the dancing, goats, and bandanas, this event will be one to remember.