10 Year Anniversary of University Status

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF GROWTH

Utah Tech University is celebrating of 10 years of university status!

A decade ago, Governor Herbert signed the bill cementing our journey as a university. Since then, we’ve grown into a thriving university located in St. George, Utah. We’ve achieved significant milestones over the past 10 years, including securing our university status in 2013, adding our first Master’s Degree in 2018, and achieving Division 1 status in 2020.

We’ve also undergone significant changes and expansions, such as the rebranding of our athletic programs in 2016 and the addition of twelve new or renovated buildings. Our enrollment has grown 66% between 2013 and 2023 and in 2022, we changed our name to Utah Tech University to better reflect our growing reputation as a premier institution of higher education.

Our commitment to active learning and active life has remained central to our mission, and we’ve opened the Atwood Innovation Plaza to provide more resources and opportunities for our students. We’ve also embraced our community through initiatives like Trailblazer Art in the City, which showcases our students’ artwork in downtown St. George.

Today, on February 16, 2023, we invite you to join us as we celebrate this historic occasion with a cake-cutting on Holland Plaza at 11 a.m.

Thank you for being a part of Utah Tech’s journey and for your unwavering support. Here’s to many more years of growth and success!

Check out a few of the highlights from the last 10 years

2022: The university changes their name to Utah Tech University

2021: The campus landscape changed with the addition of the Science Engineering & Technology Building and Campus View Suites II bringing the total to 12 new or renovated buildings.

2020: The university officially goes Division 1

2019: Atwood Innovation Plaza opens and offers support to entropenuers, creatives, businesses, and anyone looking to grow innovation

2018: The first masters degree was added, Masters of Accountancy

2017: Trailblazer Art in the City project launched

2016: The university became the Trailblazers

2015: Our motto of “active learning. active life.” was first introduced

2014: President Williams was inaugurated as the 19th president

2013: Governor Herbert signed the bill granting University Status

Tell us your favorite memory from your time here at the University

University Stories & Memories

“The year that the student government purchased the bronze bison in front of the Holland. This statue was to be installed before graduation that year. It had been delayed and was coming the night before graduation.

Myself, Shae Curtis, Jack Freeman, Jon Gibb and Jordon Sharp stayed up all to make this happen, Sarah Ramaker and the student government was there as well for motivational support.
We got a call, I believe, around 1am from the driver that he had finally made it into town. Jon Gibb and I jumped into a vehicle to meet him up on Bluff street to guide him to the teardrop by the Holland. On our way back, Jon blares on the car horn, middle of the night as we are driving up with the cheers of the student government echoing all around. My only thought was that the neighbors are gonna love us.
We finally get the bison unloaded to only find out that it had no support mounts, so we had to weld and fashion mounts back at our shop so we could secure the bison to the stand. This is all in the middle of the night. Through trail and error we finally get the bison mounted properly. Once secured, the first person to hop on that bison was Sarah Ramaker and I believe Jordon Sharp followed shortly after. We finished cleaning everything up just as the sun was peaking up from the horizon. It was a long night, but one i will always remember.”

Library

“I have seen amazing transformation over the 10 years I have been here at Utah Tech University. The most near and dear to my heart is the amazing library and resources made available there to faculty, staff, students, and the community. Libraries are incredible all over the world and Utah Tech University’s is no exception. The ease of access and the amount of content available continues to grow and it is a place truly dedicated to the life-long learning of the individual. Of greatest excitement, for me recently, is that we will soon have a Patent and Trademark Resource Center right inside the library! This will be an incredible space to explore tools from the federal government for those interested in patents and trademarks and it is a great thing to be a part of. Come visit us and long live the library at Utah Tech University!”

“I arrived at “Dixie State College” in August of 2012. My family and I immediately fell in love with the area and our campus. And while both have changed tremendously since then, they are both still home and wonderful places to live and work.

The community growth has been rapid, especially in the part of town we live in. But with that, we have also seen more businesses, restaurants, churches, and much more open, which has brought a cool scene.

“I absolutely loved participating in the 101 year old tradition of the newly re-branded Trailblazer Queen Pageant! To walk on the stage in a dress that made me feel hands down the most beautiful I’ve ever felt in my life was life changing. When I combined that feeling with knowing how many accomplished women that walked that path before me was an unforgettable memory. Forever grateful to have participated in that long standing tradition as a student, and now be able to help direct it in my professional career. Always and forever a great day to be a Trailblazer!”

“There are so many amazing memories to choose from. I remember when we decided to bring Fire and Ice back to campus. We also decided for the first time to bring in a host for the event. So why not add a music video and a concert on top of it all? That week consisted of numerous video shoots, fire and ice logistics and set up, as well as trying to sell tickets to a concert and planning the layout for that. Oh ya, I also was responsible for getting a hot air balloon on campus!