Contact:
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Rick
Pike |
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Snow
College |
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(435)
283-7062 |
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Fax:
(435) 283-7064 |
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EPHRAIM, Utah—March
2, 2004—Snow College today announced a
$250,000 gift from the Serina Knudsen Staalesen Jorgensen family to establish a
scholarship fund. The amount is the largest gift to scholarships in Snow College’s
115-year history. Family members of
Serina Knudsen Staalesen Jorgensen made the donation to establish a scholarship
fund in honor of her life and contributions to Central Utah. In honor of the gift, Snow will name the
concert hall within the recently opened George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts
Jorgensen Hall. The spectacular Jorgensen Hall is home to Snow College’s many
performing groups and seats 700 people.
“This is a
magnificent gift – one that will forever recognize the contributions made by
Serina Jorgensen to the betterment of life in Sanpete and Sevier counties,”
said Michael T. Benson, president of Snow College. “We are deeply indebted to those family members whose generosity
establishes a scholarship fund to provide assistance to music students and to
needy rural students with academic and leadership promise.”
A native of
Norway, Serina Jorgensen emigrated to Utah in 1863 and settled with her family
in Ephraim. For many years, she and her
children worked a dairy around the Fish Lake area and, along with her husband,
helped settle Koosharem, Grass Valley, and parts of Sevier County. In addition to her generosity in assisting
others from her native Norway to emigrate to Utah, Serina’s entire life was
dedicated to the general social betterment of the area.
“Reading about
the life and experiences of pioneers like Serina Jorgensen gives all of us a
deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made by many in settling this part of
the State,” stated Rick Wheeler, vice president for college relations at
Snow. “The hope of the Jorgensen family
in establishing this endowment is to imbue our students with a sense of
gratitude for those who supported the Snow Academy in its early days. Without people like Serina Jorgensen, Snow
College would not be the wonderful institution it is today.”
Snow College
Snow
College, founded in 1888, serves approximately 3,000 students at its Ephraim
campus. The college provides general education and applied technology programs
leading to Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied
Science and Associate of Pre-Engineering degrees, and certificates of
completion in a number of occupational areas.
Once owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Snow
College became a state college in 1932.
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