Crystal Crest Awards Celebrate 35 Years at WSU
OGDEN, Utah – In 1982, Weber State University launched an Academy Awards style event to recognize outstanding students, staff and faculty. Crystal Crest will host its 35th ceremony Saturday, April 15 at 7 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Ballrooms. The event is free and open to the public.
During Crystal Crest’s inaugural year, country-music legend Tanya Tucker entertained the crowd. This year’s entertainer and master of ceremonies is local rock/blues grass legend and WSU alumnus Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band.
The ceremony was created as the crowning awards event of the year, recognizing individuals and organizations in 13 categories, including academics, athletics, teaching, service and talent.
“Crystal Crest brings the campus and community together,” said Tara Peris-Caputo, Crystal Crest advisor. “It gives us a chance to celebrate the Weber State’s talented, smart caring people and honor their achievements, service and leadership.”
In keeping with the Academy Awards theme, the Crystal Crest evening is a formal affair. The finalists in each category will be recognized by campus and community leaders who will then announce the winners, which are a closely guarded secret until the moment of recognition.
The 2016 Crystal Crest Woman of the Year, Maria Georgiou, was a graduate student in Weber State’s Master of English program when she was honored. As a graduate student, she was taking classes and teaching part time in the English department.
“One of my own students had nominated me for Crystal Crest, and it was rewarding and heart-warming to have done something that someone else saw as worthwhile,” Georgiou said. “It was an honor to be recognized for all that I had accomplished at Weber State.”
Following completion of her master’s degree, Georgiou spent four months teaching English to children in Lithuania. Now she’s applying to teach in the public school system. She said Crystal Crest is a way to celebrate people who lead and serve outside the public eye.
“We need to recognize those people who strive for greatness and do things for others, Georgiou said. “Those who are nominated and those who win deserve the recognition for all they’ve done to help others.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Allison Barlow Hess, Director of Public Relations
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu- Contact:
Tara Peris-Caputo, Student Involvement and Leadership director
801-626-7334 • taraperis@weber.eduMaria Georgiou, 2016 Crystal Crest Woman of the Year
mariageorgiou@weber.edu