Bringing the community together to expand access to higher education, the Utah Tech University Foundation is hosting its 22nd Annual Fire & Ice Scholarship Gala to raise support for need-based scholarships.
Fire & Ice Scholarship Gala is a demonstration of the Southern Utah community coming together to help students overcome financial barriers and pursue their academic goals by earning degrees and preparing for the future.
Deeper illustrating the community’s involvement, community co-chairs have been chosen for this year’s event. Alma and Melissa Jeppson, who are new to the area and dedicated to giving back to the community, and Brandon and Becky Staples, who own Sun American Mortgage Company and are Utah Tech alumni and supporters, are serving as this year’s honorary co-chairs.
“The Fire & Ice Scholarship Gala is important to us because scholarships really do change what’s possible for students,” the Staples said. “We were both scholarship recipients, and we saw firsthand how removing financial barriers can change the direction of a life — giving students the chance to work hard, grow and reach their potential.”
The black-tie gala, which supports students who may not be able to pursue a college education without financial assistance, has provided $1.9 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students over the past two decades.
“Education is a community effort, and we’re grateful to support Utah Tech University,” the Jeppsons said. “We’ve seen how powerful this opportunity can be, and for us, giving towards education is an investment in people, in our community and ultimately a chance to improve someone’s future.”
Utah Tech University President and First Lady Shane B. and Angela Smeed are also closely involved in the event, with the first lady providing the vision and direction of the event in addition to overseeing many of the design elements that help create the gala experience.
Founded by community members Marica Wade and Dorothy Orton, the Fire & Ice Scholarship Gala celebrates their commitment to “paying it forward” by directly supporting students through the Marcia Wade and Dorothy Orton Pay It Forward Scholarship.
The gala is set to take place at 5:30 p.m. on March 20 and will open with a social hour on Palm Street. The festivities will then move inside the M. Anthony Burns Arena for dinner and entertainment. Both portions of the evening will feature performances from more than 45 students, primarily from Utah Tech’s College of Arts, under the guidance of a dozen faculty members and Dean Jeff Jarvis.
For more information about Fire & Ice Scholarship Gala, ticket availability and sponsorship opportunities, visit utahtech.edu/fireandice. Community members who cannot attend can still support students by donating directly to the scholarship fund.