Happy Birthday USU: Founders Day Celebrates 119 Years

 

As part of the Founder’s Day evening event, a special ceremony will be held following the dinner to announce the public kick off of the university’s first comprehensive capital campaign. More details will follow next week in special edition of Utah State Today.

 

During the Founder’s Day dinner, five guests will be honored for their contributions and service to the university, the state of Utah and the world. Receiving Distinguished Service Awards are A. Scott and Jesselie B. Anderson, Salt Lake City; and Ardeshir Zahedi, Switzerland. The Distinguished Alumnus Award goes to Dell Loy and Lynnette T. Hansen, Logan.

 

“We are excited to honor this generous group of people,” said USU President Stan L. Albrecht. “Each and every one of them has made a difference, not only in their community but in the world at large. I am honored to recognize their many contributions.”

 

Scott and Jesselie Anderson are active in a dozens of Utah organizations. The Andersons say that they themselves have been extremely fortunate in life at many levels, so they feel they have a responsibility to return the helping hands offered to them along the way.

 

Jesselie Barlow Anderson is currently a member of the boards of trustees at Salt Lake Community College and Westminster College, and she is a member of the President’s Club at the University of Utah and the Parents Advisory Committee at the Waterford School. Jesselie also has worked in varying capacities with the Deseret Foundation (LDS Hospital), the Children’s Center, the Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Utah Museum of Natural History, among others.

 

A. Scott Anderson serves as president and CEO of Zions First National Bank. Scott’s list of activities in community affairs seems like an inventory of Utah organizations making a difference: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Utah Arts Council, United Way, Intermountain Health Care board, Pioneer Memorial Theater, Coalition Against Pornography, Kirilenko’s Kids, to name just a few from a very long list. He has been involved with Utah Valley State College, University of Utah and Brigham Young University’s Museum of Fine Arts. Most recently, Scott was one of the visionary voices at the Legislature for the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR), a landmark effort to bolster Utah’s high-tech economy by investing in Utah’s two major research universities, including Utah State University.

 

The Andersons have three children and live in Salt Lake City.

 

Zahedi has spent his entire life in the service of his country and other people. Zahedi achieved a reputation as a leader and became one of the most influential ambassadors in Washington.

 

Zahedi left his home in Iran to study at Utah State University in 1947. He received a bachelor’s in animal science from USU’s College of Agriculture in 1950. After completing his education at Utah State, Zahedi returned to Iran where he began his commitment to leadership and service. In 1953 he was appointed chamberlain to His Majesty, the Shah, and assistant to the prime minister. His foreign diplomatic career began in 1959 when he was appointed Ambassador to the United States. In 1973 Zahedi was appointed to a second term as the American Ambassador while also being accredited as an Ambassador to Cuba, Mexico, the Bahamas and Venezuela. 

 

In the United States he enjoyed the confidence of the Nixon, Ford and Carter administrations. He became known throughout Washington as a shrewd politician as well as a gracious host of many embassy functions and state gatherings. During his diplomatic career Zahedi was a key player in foreign policy and represented Iran at many international occasions.

 

In 1999 he established the Ardeshir Zahedi Endowment Fund in the USU College of Agriculture as well as the Ardeshir Zahedi International Student Scholarship Endowment. He was inducted into the College of Agriculture Alumni Hall of Honor in July 2002. 

 

Dell Loy and Lynnette T. Hansen are supporters of education at all levels, and their philanthropy supports young people of all ages, whether they are in elementary school or studying at Utah State University.

 

Both graduates of USU, the Hansen’s own the successful Wasatch Property Management, a real estate investment firm with properties throughout the West. The couple’s business success has allowed them to improve opportunities for the next generation.

 

In 2002, the Dell Loy and Lynnette Hansen Charitable Support Foundation established the Hansen Scholars Program at USU. The program helps retain students who are unable to pay for tuition. The Hansen's foundation also gave a gift to the North Logan Library in memory of Lynnette's father, James P. Thorne.

 

Dell Loy began his career in real estate while attending USU. He and his college partners built 25 houses, a venture that would later become a life-long business. Dell Loy’s Wasatch Premier Communities, which includes Wasatch Property Management, has more than 17 venture companies.

 

A 1982 graduate of USU, Dell Loy served as freshman class president, as vice president of Blue Key Honor Society and as a member of Phi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

 

Lynnette is a Cache Valley native who earned a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration at USU and graduated cum laude in 1973. She earned her master of science degree in business education at USU and graduated in 1974. During her career, Lynnette has taught at Mesa College in San Diego, worked in real estate, worked as a financial manager and as an investment broker. 

 

Lynnette involves herself in the Cache Valley community and has served on several boards, including the USU Board of Trustees and the American West Heritage Center Board of Trustees.

 

For more information about Founders Day, contact the USU Alumni Association, 435-797-2055.

 

Utah State University Alumni Association

 

Contact: Kim Larson [kimberly.larson@usu.edu], (435) 797-8537

Writer: Maren Cartwright [maren.cartwright@usu.edu], (435) 797-1355