By Timothy R. Olsen, ’09, M.B.A. ’18 Chari Hawkins clearly remembers the day in February 2019 when she realized she could no longer just “live” with her panic attacks and anxiety. By that point, it was something the former Utah State University All-American heptathlete had battled with during every competition for nearly a decade. However, this particular episode — which took place at the 2019 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships in Staten Island, New York — was one of the worst yet. She was hyperventilating, losing her vision, sobbing uncontrollably, and couldn’t think straight. She des ..read more

By Timothy R. Olsen The Utah State University men’s basketball 2023–24 season was one of the most improbable in all of college basketball. Not only were the Aggies breaking in a new coach, but the team didn’t return a single player that scored a point during the previous season and welcomed 13 new players total. Picked in the preseason to finish ninth in the Mountain West, the Aggies instead finished first with a league-best 14–4 record to secure USU’s first-ever outright regular season championship in the conference. At one point, Utah State even boasted the nation’s longest winning streak, r ..read more

By Timothy R. Olsen ’09, M.B.A. ’18 It’s been 21 years since I graduated high school (shout out Sky View Bobcats!), and during my senior year I discovered I had a herniated disc in my lower back at my L5S1 vertebrae. There was no single moment I know of where the injury happened, but as I geared up for my senior year of track, persistent pain through my sciatic nerve and down my right leg led me get an MRI and ultimately discover the injury.  Following the diagnosis, I embarked on a rehab journey that included a lot of physical therapy and multiple epidural injections into my spine. Unfor ..read more

By Bryan Stalvey As we explore mental health and the diverse options available in taking care of ourselves, music therapy offers a unique and effective evidence-based approach that stands out among other methods. With nearly five decades worth of experience, USU’s Department of Music continues to deliver the educational experience for students aiming to practice music therapy. Corinne Pickett, a 2017 Utah State University graduate and now adjunct instructor, initially aspired to be a choir teacher before changing course due to the transformative potential of music therapy. While enrolled in US ..read more

By Anna Sadler ’20 Funded by an appropriation from the State Legislature in 2022, the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Research Center (ADRC) at Utah State University is increasing research across the state to find ways to better understand Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as support people living with those diseases. Recently, the ADRC partnered with Neurosessments, a Los Angeles-based company focused on bringing science to senior care, to improve early dementia detection with a simple, noninvasive motor test. Currently some older people avoid cognitive testing with their doctor because they ..read more

Julene Reese ‘85 Utah’s farmers, producers, and agricultural workers grapple with challenges often beyond their control — unpredictable weather, financial strains due to fluctuating commodity prices, labor shortages, relationship complexities, and the delicate balance between work and family life, which are often intertwined. Compounding these difficulties is a general reluctance to talk about mental health challenges, further jeopardizing their overall well-being. Statistics from the National Rural Health Association show that agricultural workers are at a higher risk for mental health stress ..read more

Morrill, who spent 17 seasons at the helm, is the Aggies’ winningest coach with 402 career victories By Jeff Hunter ’96 Standing on an Aggie blue carpet, surrounded by dozens of championship trophies, awards, and basketball nets his teams cut down during his 17 years as the head coach at Utah State, Stew Morrill’s eyes suddenly locked in on a particular part of the floor of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum about 15 feet away. “I spent a lot of time over in that spot,” Morrill said, gesturing towards the coach’s box area of the Spectrum sideline. “A lot of time” would be an understatement.  Whi ..read more

By Georgie Corkery Utah is a place of outdoor wonders with iconic arches mountains framing picturesque communities, otherworldly salt flats, birding hotspots, and some of the greatest snow on earth. And yet, the state has another, less appreciated outdoor treasure of world-class status — a vast, dark, and incredibly starry night sky. Someone spending time under the canopy of the Milky Way might be reminded of their humble status as a human speck, a tiny life floating through the cosmos on the surface of an insignificant planet. An experience like that can philosophically wallop a person. But i ..read more

By Marcus Jensen If there is one thing that can be predicted with certainty, it is that life can certainly be unpredictable. Oftentimes, students feel like they have their higher education journey figured out. But then, unexpected opportunities and challenges pop up that can derail those plans. However, with one of the more unique systems in the country, Utah State University and its Statewide Campuses help students navigate those challenges and opportunities while keeping their educational goals on track. “Even though everyone starts at ‘A’, there is more than one way to get to ‘Z’,” says Van ..read more

Click on the headline to be directed to the full story for each article. Ear to the Ground: USU Industrial Hygienists Perform Noise Assessment for Army ROTC Cannon Crew Firing the cannon by Utah State University’s Army ROTC Jim Bridger Battalion is a beloved, time-honored tradition at Aggie home football games. In exciting pageantry and delight to Aggie fans, cadets shoot off a round from a 75-mm howitzer at kick-off and after each USU touchdown and field goal. During the Veterans Day game this past November, the cadets collaborated with USU industrial hygiene students, invited by the battalio ..read more