Weber State recounts top accomplishments of its 135th anniversary year
OGDEN, Utah — A year of achievements and growth has Weber State University faculty, staff and students looking back at the top headlines of 2024, centering on the institution’s core themes: access, learning and community.
Access
Weber State reached all-time high enrollment numbers this fall with 32,701 students. The university also saw record-breaking numbers in engineering and health professions students, first-time students, international students and Hispanic and Latino students.
WSU formed a groundbreaking coalition with Davis Technical College and Ogden-Weber Technical College to make college even more accessible and affordable. The new direct admissions initiative automatically admitted over 10,000 high school seniors in Davis, Morgan and Weber Counties.
With help from a $2.5 million grant from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, Weber State launched its Building Puentes program with classes taught primarily in Spanish. WSU will develop the program over the next five years, expanding course offerings to help create a strong, bilingual workforce in Utah.
New partnerships between Weber State and Hill Air Force Base brought education opportunities to military personnel, their families and civilian employees by offering master’s degree programs on the base. Weber also made it easier for veterans to transition to civilian careers as nurse educators via the U.S. Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program.
Learning
In April, 3,700 graduates celebrated alongside Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Rainn Wilson, who delivered the commencement address. In December, another 2,400 students received degrees and certificates during fall 2024 convocations, including the first cohort of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. 
Professors continued to make strides in research. Two examples: Weber State’s paramedic program director, Christine O’Neil, aimed to improve outcomes for people suffering uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, while miles away in Argentina, professors Elizabeth Balgord and Nicolás Pérez-Consuegra collected samples of sedimentary rocks and snow from glaciers for research on geological history and glacier pollution.
Mary Machira, executive director and senior international officer of the Office of International Programs & Services, earned the Fulbright U.S. Scholar award, participating in a two-week seminar in and around Seoul to engage with South Korea’s higher education system.
Among the most-clicked student stories this year, Tarah Holt and Tylynn Griffin are using their degrees from WSU and Utah State University respectively to run their sixth-generation trout farm. Max Togisala inspired students and athletes alike to follow their dreams, despite setbacks like he faced after becoming paralyzed in a ski accident. Kendra Ellison shared her plans to develop an app that will provide better healthcare to Navajo patients. And a respiratory therapy graduate helped save the life of her classmate following a medical emergency during their senior year.
Community
After 45 years of lighting an electric W during Homecoming Week, WSU announced plans for a permanent solar-powered version 
on the mountainside above the Ogden campus. Construction is underway and expected to be complete in spring 2025.
Weber State’s commitment to sustainability reached a new milestone, earning a gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System. The university also earned bronze in voter registration and turnout during key election seasons.
WSU signed a new Educational Partnership Agreement with the National Security Agency to enhance technology, provide technical assistance to the institution, and provide training and mentoring to personnel in STEM fields.
In athletics, the WSU Spirit Squad took home four national titles, while WSU basketball player Dillon Jones was selected during the first round of the NBA Draft.
Marketing & Communications
- Contact:
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu