New Lindquist Award Honors Commitment to Community Involvement
OGDEN, Utah – This spring, Weber State University will bestow the first ever John A. Lindquist Award, in recognition of a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to mentoring WSU students in learning through community involvement.The award is named for John A. Lindquist, a strong advocate for education and the community, who has spent a lifetime supporting Ogden, Weber County and Weber State. Lindquist’s daughter Kathryn was instrumental in establishing the new award.
“My mother and father believe profoundly in the classical model of a community that enables development of its citizens and self in all aspects—the intellectual, spiritual, physical and artistic,” Kathryn Lindquist said. “It’s only fitting that this award, which bears my father’s name, should honor and benefit individuals at WSU who are nurturing academic and emotional investments in our community.”
Brenda Marsteller Kowalewski, director of WSU’s Community-Based and Experiential Learning office, said the award is a wonderful way to honor faculty and staff who are working with community partners.
“We are very grateful to the Lindquist family for providing a way to recognize the importance and value of service learning and civic engagement,” Kowalewski said. “Research shows that service-learning helps students better comprehend and retain concepts they are learning in the classroom, because of the hands-on experiences it provides.”
Kathryn Lindquist said that because including service-learning in a course curriculum definitely requires an extra time commitment from a faculty or staff member, she would like to recognize their dedication with this award.
The recipient of this year’s award will be formally honored at WSU’s Community Involvement Recognition luncheon on April 6.
John A. Lindquist has spent a lifetime supporting the greater Ogden community. His community service dates back to World War II, when he served as a bombardier-navigator in the United States Air Force. Following his return to Utah, Lindquist became active in the Ogden Chamber of Commerce. As president of the chamber, he helped create the Weber Economic Development Corporation and Ogden Industrial Development Corporation—entities that helped build and fill the Weber Industrial Park. Lindquist worked to create the Ogden-Eccles Conference Center and helped to restore Ogden’s Peery’s Egyptian Theater and Union Station, as well as save the Ben Lomond Hotel. In 1981, Lindquist was part of the original committee to raise funds to build the Hill Air Force Museum and restore WWII planes. He continues that work today.
Lindquist’s ties to WSU date back to the late 1930s, when he attended Weber College and was a student body officer. Through the years, he has generously supported cultural, academic, athletic and student activities and programs at Weber State. The Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks event, held annually on campus in July, has delighted audiences for more than 25 years. Lindquist’s generosity has helped create such campus landmarks as the Ada Lindquist Plaza and the Lindquist Alumni Center. From 1987 to 1995 he served as a member of the WSU Board of Trustees and he continues to serve on the WSU Foundation Board and National Advisory Council.
Perhaps the spirit of the new award can best be summed up in Lindquist’s own words. In his commencement address to Weber State College in 1982, he encouraged the graduates to repay the state and college for the public education they received.
“You pay in loyalty, enthusiasm and support for any or all departments of the college. You repay just the way a thoughtful son repays his parents—by your words, actions and deeds.”
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
- Travis Clemens, assistant director of Media Relations
(801) 626-7948 • travisclemens@weber.edu - Contact:
Brenda Marsteller Kowalewski, director Community-Based and Experiential Learning Office
(801) 626-7737 · bkowalewski@weber.edu
Kathryn Lindquist, WSU trustee
(801) 583-0830 · kathrynlindquist@msn.com