WSU, Ogden Partnership Honored Internationally
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University and Ogden City’s College Town Initiative was honored on June 2 with the Larry Abernathy Award.The Clemson Joint City University Advisory Board gave the award in recognition of WSU and Ogden’s ongoing collaboration during the International Town & Gown Association (ITGA) annual conference in Washington D.C.
Weber State has worked with Ogden City and local organizations for more than 125 years to offer quality programs and educational opportunities to students and citizens. A charter signing Oct. 1, 2013 formalized the partnership and provided a structure to sustain continued relationships and coordination. The charter includes the creation of various college-town committees and outlines the vision and mission of the relationship.
“Throughout its history, Weber State has been committed to serving our surrounding community," said WSU President Charles A. Wight. “This College Town Initiative with Ogden City is the linchpin in our recent efforts to nurture the university's ongoing relationship with our region. I am delighted that Weber State and the city have been recognized with this award.”
In 2013-14 alone, more than 6,300 Weber State students contributed more than 176,900 hours of community service, which is equivalent to 20 years, two months and six days. Weber State has documented well over 125 long-time community partnerships, including those with Youth Impact, Ogden-Weber Head Start, United Way, Midtown Community Health Center, Science and Arts in the Parks, the Ogden Migratory Bird Program and more.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with how our relationship with Weber State has blossomed,” said Ogden Mayor and WSU alumnus Mike Caldwell. “The collaboration between our organizations on all fronts is impressive, and we are having fun along the way.”The Ogden City/Weber State College Town Initiative has had a profound impact on the Ogden community. In a brief period of time, city and university leaders have been able to create a college-town environment conducive to student and community learning, growth and development.
City, university and community leaders are currently working on a Diversity Connections initiative to discover and implement better ways to engage with groups that reflect the unique and diverse makeup of the Ogden community.
The Abernathy Award is named after the late mayor of the Clemson, South Carolina, Larry Abernathy, who had a passion for university/college town partnerships. The annual award honors his vision.
The $1,000 award to the city and university will be donated to the Weber State Dream Weber program, which provides free tuition and student fees to students whose annual household income is less than $40,000.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University and Ogdencity.com for more news about Ogden City.
- Allison Barlow Hess, Director of Public Relations
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu - Contact:
- Shane Farver, chief of staff, Office of the President
801-626-6001 · shanefarver@weber.edu