Prominent Educators Recognized — Five Alumni Presented Awards

Prominent Educators Recognized — Five Alumni Presented Awards

Alumni from Utah State University's College of Education and Human Services gathered at the governor's mansion in Carson City, Nev., to honor five outstanding members with a variety of awards.

Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn, Theron Swainston, Thurman White, Edna Hinman and Clifford Lawrence are Utah State graduates and have a distinct recognition — all have a middle school named in their honor. All five moved to the Las Vegas area, where they worked in the area's school districts. These alumni were recognized and presented awards for their achievements and leadership qualities.

Those who attended the recognition ceremony included Gov. Guinn, who received the college's Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Edna F. Hinman and Dr. Thurman White received Professional Achievement awards.

This group of administrators all received their doctorates and some received their master's degrees from Utah State University in the 1960s, and knew each other fairly well, they said. Many remained close and worked together in the Las Vegas area. Clifford Lawrence worked with Gov. Guinn for many years when Guinn was a superintendent for the schools and Lawrence was an administrator.

"Gov. Guinn and I got our degrees together and then went on to work together," Lawrence said. "We are still really good friends."

Lawrence said his experience at Utah State was great and he liked the program and the people very much.

Therman White received his doctorate with Guinn and Lawrence and said his experience at Utah State was unique.

"The people were quite interesting in the way they viewed education at Utah State," said White "They viewed education very seriously, more seriously than I had ever seen before.

"I loved it up there, and my children and wife loved it too. My children attended Edith Bowen Elementary School and had a great experience," White said.

"I believe I learned more from Utah State and consider it a very favorable experience," White said.

White went on to teach at Utah State after he received his doctorate, but soon left for the Las Vegas area where he became an administrator in the school districts and continued to work with the people he received his doctorate with.

White said he continued to see Swainston, Guinn, Lawrence and Hinman over the years he worked in the administration for the Las Vegas school districts.

"I liked all these people personally," White said. "They were all good leaders."

Gov. Guinn said Theron Swainston, Clifford Lawrence, Thermon White and Edna Hinman all have middle schools named after them in the Las Vegas area, were great leaders and administrators in their school districts, and great leaders of Utah State University.