The Distinguished Alumnus Award is an annual honor to recognize alumni of Snow College
who inspire excellence in others by serving as a role model and have demonstrated
significant commitment, career contributions, and community impact.
What do Distinguished Alumni Recieve Upon Being Awarded?
- Presented and honored at a ceremony during Homecoming in which they are given a personalized
plaque.
- Distinguished Alumni are presented at halftime during the Homecoming Game.
- Distinguished Alumni are recognized in the Snow College Magazine and on Snow College's
website.
- Recipients will receive VIP credentials for sporting events.
- Tickets to theater and concert productions available upon request.
See more about the past recipients of the distinguished alumni award.
Criteria
Candidates will be recognized for their accomplishments in their career field and/or
contributions to the community through public service. Nominees should meet the following
criteria to be considered for the award:
- A nominee must be a graduate of Snow College (certificate or degree).
- A nominee should inspire excellence in others by serving as a role model.
- A nominee should be recognized for significant career contributions and/or achievement.
- A nominee should demonstrate visible commitment to the well-being of the local area,
state, nation or world.
Nomination Requirements
A completed nomination packet must be submitted before a nominee can be considered
for the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Selection
The Awards Committee will review nominations and vote on the recipient(s). The Awards
Committee reserves the right not to select a recipient each year.
Deadline
All nomination materials must be postmarked or received in the Snow College Advancement
Office (Noyes Building) no later than April 30th to be considered for that year.
Contact
For any assistance, email
ude.wons@inmula
2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Larry and Jennifer Farnes
“Cherish every moment, strive for your optimum performance, be kind to all, and be
a friend to those in need,” is the advice Snow College alumnus Larry Farnes gives
to current and future Badgers. Following these values played an important role in
Larry’s life, especially after he turned down a basketball opportunity at Ricks College
in Idaho to come to Ephraim, Utah in 1969 and play for the Snow College basketball
team.
Balancing academics and athletics can be a difficult challenge, but Larry found it
to also be an unexpected advantage that influenced his academic success and personal
growth; he explains, “My athletic experience provided the maturity I needed and gave
me the confidence to dream dreams and then have the tenacity and commitment to see
those dreams become a reality, despite overwhelming opposition. I learned to love
and care for people more than myself.”
Art and Heather Enke
The key to success in business, according to Art and Heather Enke, revolves around
an old industry maxim: business is about identifying and then solving problems. But
that’s not the only thing—networking and innovation are also crucial. “You have to
build products to meet customer needs,” Art notes, “not the other way around.”
The Enkes would know. Art and Heather are the founders and owners of Corjl, an international
software business based in Phoenix, Arizona with over 20 employees and customers as
far away as the Netherlands and South Africa. Both are Badgers (class of 1998), and
both believe that their experiences at Snow College gave them the start they needed
for a long career of innovation and entrepreneurship.
As Snow College students, Art and Heather never pictured creating a software business
together in later life. “I would have said that we’d be musicians together!” Art notes.
“The theme of our marriage is to innovate. In business and in life, innovate.” Innovation
is exactly what they have done, but always in the background in Snow College—the foundation
for both their personal and professional lives.
Past Award Recipients
2023
- Rhett Long
- Gary and Janet Carlston
2020
- Daniel Maynes
- Sampei "Sam" Nakao
2019
- Jack Anderson
- John "Jeb" Branin
2018
- Boyd Beck, Ph.D.
- Maria O'Mara
2017
- Randy Kay Cox
- Ted and Vickie Olson
2016
- Justin Osmond
- Charles Pugh
2015
- Theressa Alder
- Dr. Daniel M. Witt
2014
- James Tatton, M.D.
- Frank Weaver
2012
- Yvonne Whitmore
- Gordon Christensen *
2011
- Verla Sorensen
- Mitchell Palmer
2010
- Lee R. and Joy Barton
- Kay and Becky Barton
- Lisa and Karl Anderson
2009
- Mark and LeAnn Stoddard
- Leonard and Laura Blackham
2003
- Richard Ray Olson
- Norma Stubbs Olson
- Cary Peterson
- Ranee Peterson
2002
- Douglas P. Peterson *
- Izola Blackham *
- Perry Blackham *
2001
- Gene Bertelson *
- Betty Wing Bertelson
- Roland Christensen
- Roland Roger Johnson
- LaRue Tucker Johnson *
2000
- Ronald R. Giles
- Larry G. Nielson
- Stephen Paul Taylor
1999
- Dr. Byron Gassman
- Renee Jones Gassman *
- Glen P. Peel
- Gordon Lee Peterson
- Kent Thompson *
1998
- Leonard M. Blackham
- Dr. Bert Gividen
- Val Greaves Gividen
- Jerry D. Pulsipher
1997
- Robert Anderson
- Heber Horrace Hall *
- Jerry J. Ohrn
- Glenda Rigby Staker *
- Robert Warnick
- Carol Warnick
1996
- Jay F. Gardner *
- Dee C. Hansen
- Ruth Pickett Ross *
- Royal C. Whitlock *
1993
- Eunice Alder *
- Reed Braithwaite *
- James E. Hansen *
- Gary Myrup
- Morris Sorenson *
1990
- Hoyt Anderson *
- Doug Barton
- Floyd Breinholt *
- Boyd Grant
- Calvert Therald Larsen
- Mary Peacock
- Arthur Willardsen *
1989
- Wilber Braithwaite *
- Byrl Brown Dorland *
- Dr. Afton Hansen
- Charles (Chuck) Hyer
- Arthur Nielsen *
- Dr. Wanda Robertson *
- Maurine Scott*
1988
- Phillip C. Anderson *
- Therald N. Jensen *
1987
- Clair R. Acord *
- Royal N. Allred *
- Miles A. Anderson *
- David M. Archer
- Gerald M. Armstrong
- Royal A. Bagely *
- Donald k. Barton *
- Max H. Blain *
- Royden C. Braithwaite *
- Harden W. Brienholt *
- Perry Christensen
- Edward L. Christensen *
- Kent Christensen *
- Lavaun Cox *
- Wilbur W. Cox *
- Helen Bailey Dyreng *
- Gerald L. Ericksen *
- Mcloyd Ericksen *
- Dewey J. Fillis*
- Duane A. Frandsen *
- Kay L. Frischknecht *
- Glen K. Goodwin *
- Robert M. Graham
- Mark J. Howard
- Ferral D. Huntsman
- Elaine Allred Jarrett
- Arlo Jensen
- Doris Nielson Larsen *
- Glen S. Larson *
- Nolan F. Mangelson
- Sammy N. Newton *
- Richard R. Olsen
- Rulon P. Peterson *
- Zella C. Poulson *
- Ellis T. Rasmussen *
- Roy Reid *
- Darell H. Stewart *
- Grant N. Stubbs
- Lee R. Thompson *
- Peter Thompson *
- Twain C. Tippetts *
- Michael Watson
- Kay Keeler Willardson
- Gene R. Yardley
Recognitions Prior to 1987
- Jack C. Alder *
- Glen A. Allred *
- Ruel A. Allred
- Wallace E. Allred
- Blaine E. Anderson *
- Curtis J. Armstrong *
- Melba K. Armstrong *
- Milton G. Armstrong *
- Glen Kenneth Bailey
- Zella Anderson Bassett
- Woodrow W. Beck *
- Hugh V. Bird *
- Reed W. Brinton
- Calvin Reed Brown *
- Royal Lee Brown *
- Gary L. Carlston
- Michael R. Carlston
- Shirley Anderson Cazier *
- Douglas Fred Christensen
- James Boyd Christensen *
- Mac Christensen
- Morlin E. Cox *
- Lavon Day
- Esther Coombs Durfey *
- Paul P. Dyreng
- Alma S. Edwards *
- Kent Evans *
- Lillian Win Fjeldsted *
- Clair E. Frischknecht *
- John K. Frischknecht
- John Boyd Grant
- Don Rue Hickman *
- Bliss Harmer
- Arlea Hope Howell *
- Berdean H. Jarman
- Joseph A. Jenkins
- Larue Paulsen Jennings *
- Lawrell Jensen *
- Moroni L. Jensen *
- Harold E. Johnson *
- Arlyn R. Madsen *
- Joan Stevens Mcallister
- Dorothy Jensen Mclaughlin *
- Elwin N. Mikkelson *
- Alta Gassman Moffitt *
- Gwen Tuttle Monroe *
- Francis N. Mortenson *
- Roger H. Nelson
- Keith C. Nielsen
- LaRue M. Nielson *
- John Anthon Olsen
- Eva Olsen Peterson *
- Merritt L. Poulson *
- Darol B. Rasmussen *
- Thora Jensen Rasmussen *
- Jewell Rasmussen *
- Victor J. Rasmussen *
- Elder Rex C. Reeve *
- Howard T. Reid *
- Clair E. Rosenberg *
- Maurine Thomson Scott *
- George Sterling Spencer
- Lamar H. Stewart *
- Dorothy Jensen Stoddard *
- Glen R. Stubbs
- Lagrande H. Terry *
- Ralph D. Thomson *
- Lyman S. Willardson *
- Ethelyn Taylor *
- LaVerl Christensen *
- Ralph Blackham *
- Marjorie Madsen Riley *
- George Staples *
