The end comes in waves. Students and faculty at Utah Tech University all have a series of ending landmarks and activities. We feel the same march toward the New Year that everyone else does. We see the leaves leave, we feel the temperature drop, we hear the holiday music. And we’re often leaving campus after the sun goes down!
It’s crunch time as students are working on papers. Our students are working in classes across campus to achieve their goals of completing a degree. The combination of the end of a calendar year, holiday buzz, and the end of a semester is a unique season of life. It’s communal and personal. It’s a rite of passage for all involved.
Be sure to check our list of events page. There are a wide range of offerings. Tuesday, December 9th, from 2-9pm in the Eccles Fine Arts Center, the Digital Film program will host the end-of-semester screenings of work that students have produced during the semester. There are many recitals and concerts.
Here is a list of senior and graduate shows in Art Department.
- Little Remembrances
An exhibition of the works of Brittany Cowley and Mary Godwin - The 2025 Senior Exhibition
Works by Mia Dutson, Lacey Fuse, and Caleb Dunham - Toska: Between Beauty and Despair
Works by MyKenzy Ford - Interactions: The Beauty of Everyday Connections
Works by Scout Cartmill - In Her Image
Works by Ashkynn Vick
Theatre students are wrapping up productions. Dozens of students worked on and off the stage to produce works. Neil Simon’s California Suite was produced earlier in the semester. And we just closed the run of a brand new show, Gingerbread. This was the premiere of the show and it gave designers, actors, and crew a chance to develop material that had no precedent. Dr. Melissa Glenn from the Music Department is the composer and lyricist of the show. Spencer Hamilton directed. Alumna Grace Palfryman performed the live piano accompaniment.
Faculty are involved in dozens of performances and events as freelance artists. Faculty lead and are involved holiday performances with the Southwest Symphony, Leito Voices, St George Chamber Singers, St George Dance Company, Rebel Jazz Band, and more.
A few faculty shared reflections on ending the semester.
- Dr. Timothy Francis, Music
“I always feel like the semester isn’t really over until after finals, after grades are in, and after I’ve finished any other things that are still pending (sometimes last-minute committee work, assessment, cleaning up class materials laying around the office). I’m also always looking forward to the next semester, so I try and prepare the next semester’s classes as soon as I can before really taking a break. It’s more stuff, but the relief having all of that done before stepping away is refreshing.” - Dr. JB Shilcutt, Dance
“I’m celebrating dance students Mia Chamberlain and Johana Florian presenting their research at the Utah Dance Education Organization fall conference!”
The list of topics submitted by students for their music history course this semester is long, varied, and interesting. Here’s a partial list of topics students have researched.
- The Significant Impact of Troubadours and Trouveres in Western Music
- The Origins of Franco-Flemish Music
- The Roots of Opera: Influences, Origin, and Evolution of Early Opera
- Brass Instrumentation in the Renaissance Time Period
- The Impact of Percussion from the Ottoman Empire
- Domenico Scarlatti was a Forward Thinking Baroque Composer who Deserves More Recognition in his Role as a Bridge to the Classical Era
- Evidence of Music in the Bible
- The Development of both Toccatas and Fugues
- The importance of Music in Greek Life
- Social Aspects of French Opera in the 17th century
- Music In the Elizabethan Theatre
Now we get some rest, plan for the spring semester, and reflect on what we’ve learned.