September 20, 2012
For Immediate Release

University Marketing & Communications: Mike Rigert (801) 863-6807
Written by: Whitney Wilkinson (801) 863-5483

Two of Utah Valley University’s business and career technology leaders are among finalists for the 5th annual Women Tech Awards of the Women Tech Council to be presented at a Sept. 27 awards luncheon at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The program recognizes technology-focused women who are driving innovation, leading technology companies and are key contributors to the community.

Shauna Theobald, director of the Entrepreneur Institute at Utah Valley University’s Woodbury School of Business, works to provide students with project-based classes where students learn by doing. Projects often involve actual clients from the community and bring an element of reality to the classroom.

Susan Thackeray, director of Career & Technical Education at UVU, manages programs designed to prepare students and provide them with the marketable skills for employment in high-demand and higher-paying career fields. UVU’s 30 CTE programs include fields in everything from accounting to water and wastewater operations.

“It’s very rewarding seeing the community take notice of what we’re offering at Woodbury,” Theobald said. “The nomination is a reflection of the efforts we put into developing an engaged curriculum and hands-on learning experiences for our students.”

Women Tech Council resources aid women in technology driven sectors, providing networking opportunities and developing leadership skills. The council has partnerships with local companies including Energy Solutions Arena, Symantec, and Zions Bank.

Shauna Theobald

Susan Thackeray

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About UVU

Utah Valley University is located in Orem, Utah, and is home to more than 33,000 students. UVU began as a vocational school during World War II, and in the seven decades since has evolved into a technical school, community college, state college and, finally, a comprehensive regional teaching university. UVU is one of Utahís largest institutions of higher learning and offers programs ranging from career training to high-demand master degrees, with emphasis on undergraduate education.