In 1977, the University of Utah flew instructors to Grand Junction, Colorado where 32 people who were full-time employed in a variety of jobs. Five were nurses, five were policemen, and the remaining as social workers from several agencies. We met every Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday morning for two years in donated classrooms. All 32 completed the classes and were graduated in 1979 with a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management. I was one of the nurses, the oldest member of the class, and because of this degree became Associate Chief of Nursing at Grand Junction VA Medical Center.

The University made it possible for 32 education-hungry people to obtain an education that would not, at that time, be possible without leaving their jobs and going to a University away from home and families. Most of us are now retired, but feel a great gratitude to the University of Utah.