So, you think you can… be a Cougarette?
Utah is known as one of the best training grounds for dance in the country, and no organization showcases why better than the Cougarettes, BYU’s elite dance team. The group has won 12 National Collegiate Dance Team championship titles and three more top-5 finishes. Dancers perform a range of genres—jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, lyrical, character—and draw […]
12 life-changing bills you missed at the Utah State Legislature
Every year, your Utah state senator and representative gather with all other Utah lawmakers for 45 intense days of debating, politicizing and lawmaking. Last week, gavels pounded in the State Capitol building, ringing the end of the 2014 session. Think politics is a snoozer? Well, maybe. But here are some laws that passed (and others […]
10 most expensive activities for kids in Utah County
Extracurricular activities help kids develop social skills, work ethic, teamwork and self-discipline—all worthy pursuits. At the end of the day, sports are much less about winning and much more about having fun and making friends. But when it comes to your pocketbook, not all activities are created equal. The costs of these activities can easily […]
The Mormon Gold Rush of 1849
Thomas Rhoads, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who had recently returned from California, left a sack with $17,000 in gold on Church President Brigham Young’s desk to pay his tithing. The sight left Brigham Young in a difficult situation. On one hand, he just couldn’t stomach the thought of […]
LDS humanitarian efforts subject of UN briefing
Children in Ethiopia receive a nutritional porridge called Atmit produced by The LDS Church to help relieve starvation. (Photo courtesy Mormon Newsroom) The expansive humanitarian aid efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have had plenty of attention, but they’ve never been the subject of conversation on the world’s stage. That is, […]
Relief for what’s ailing you: Local doctors give their RX for chronic pain
According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, chronic pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined and costs Americans $560 to $635 billion annually in health care costs and loss of productivity. While many people suffer from temporary acute pain, such as burning a finger, chronic pain persists over months or […]
22 ‘sneak-peek’ pics of new Thanksgiving Point Museum
Thanksgiving Point invited UtahValley360.com to a sneak peek of the soon-to-be-opened Museum of Natural Curiosity. We were pretty curious ourselves as to what we would find in the 45,000 square feet of interactive exhibits — and CEO Mike Washburn more than satisfied our curiosity as he guided us through charming “Kidopolis,” a watery Utah desert […]
New LDS Church history seminary manual addresses sensitive issues
As part of an ongoing effort to improve and coordinate Church curriculum for youth, the LDS Church recently released a new version of the “Doctrine and Covenants and Church History” seminary manual. When the First Presidency authorized the new Youth curriculum in 2013, they also authorized the revision of seminary and institute manuals and encouraged […]
Keep it glassy: 5 reasons to sign up for an art class at Holdman Studios
1. You’ve probably never done anything like it. Glass blowing is a hands-on experience unlike any other. In the Holdman Studios state-of-the-art facility at Thanksgiving Point, students work alongside professionals to create beautiful stained glass, glass flowers, or more complex objects like paper weights, bowls and platters. How many of your friends can say they’ve […]
Utah County kids build underwater robots for competition
Dr. Tadd Truscott learned about an educational outreach program called SeaPerch while he was a student at MIT. He believed it was a great idea. So when he became an assistant professor at BYU, he found a way to bring it to Utah County. “The program has been working for a long time, and I’ve […]
New Year, New You: 3 resolutions worth sticking to
Resolutions have a bad rap — but let’s give them a makeover. A realistic goal with advice from the right team and approached with the right tools results in success. Whether your goal is sleeping in (see page 90), putting the “well” in wellness or picking up a practical skill, we’ve got the know-how for […]
Utah Valley’s dirty little secret and what you can do about it
Get the facts: Salt Lake, Logan and the Orem-Provo area consistently rank in the 25 U.S. cities with worst spikes in air pollution list. Poor air quality has been linked to a higher risk of heart attacks, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, heart disease and lung disease. Air pollution may shorten the life spans of Utah Valley residents […]
Utah Valley high school students lift state graduation rates
When it comes to grit, it’s hard to beat the students at Maple Mountain High. Four years ago, 399 nervous freshmen officially began their high school careers at Maple Mountain. In 2013, a total of 385 of them – 96 percent – walked off stage with their high school diplomas. It is success stories like […]
A+ Presents: Christmas gifts ideas for teachers
How do you show appreciation to the men and women who shape the minds of our children? In the words of Utah Valley teachers: “glue sticks.” When asked to about their favorite Christmas gifts from students, local educators immediately thought about presents that strengthen learning in the classroom. This year, forgo the apple and give […]
5 companies who love BYU grads
BYU is in the business of growing professionals, but being a Cougar is about more than going to class. BYU students are, generally speaking, driven, hard-working, ethical people with a lot of potential. And when it comes right down to it, many large companies appreciate a school with an honor code. Scott Greenhalgh, manager of […]
Curing ‘Mom Brain’: 5 simple ways to keep your mind active
If you’re a mom, you may be familiar with the term “Mom Brain.” You know, the thing you can shamelessly blame when you forget to pick up your kid from school or leave something important on top of your car before pulling out of the driveway. When sleep is a bygone luxury and most of […]
Do consistent sleep patterns make you skinny?
Early to bed and early to rise, makes a girl healthy, wealthy and … skinny? There’s no guaranteed link between the first two, but a new study by Brigham Young University researchers suggests there is a connection between a consistent sleep schedule and lower body fat. A study published in November online in the “American […]
INFOGRAPHIC Alpine School District: Feeder flow chart
Lone Peak, American Fork, Westlake high schools unaffected by second high school in Lehi
In Spring 2014, Alpine School District will break ground on a new high school in northeast Lehi that will open in Fall 2016. The only high school boundary that will be affected is the current Lehi High School, according to Sam Jarman, assistant superintendent for Alpine School District. The student body will essentially be cut […]
Pullin’ a Provo: Slang you must know if you live in Happy Valley
Provo has often been called its own little world, and we’re proud of it. We’ve even made up our own little language. Here are some of the most-used words in the Provo slang dictionary so you can get by in life inside “the bubble.” Did we miss one? Add it in the comments. YOLO: One […]
Preschool prep: Making the most of your tot’s first classroom experience
Since preschool is optional, all you have to worry about is dropping off your kid and filling the snack pail full of string cheese when it’s your turn, right? Wrong. Just because you won’t be joining the PTA just yet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be actively involved in your child’s (albeit early) education. Mindy Winterton, […]
BYU grads release ‘Mormon Games’ app
If “Angry Birds” isn’t your idea of uplifting Sunday entertainment, a new, free app from three BYU graduates might be just what you’re looking for. “Mormon Games” is an uplifting, educational game for members of the LDS Church that is as entertaining as it is enlightening. “Our goal was to create a game that was entertaining, […]
10 major changes coming to UV
Business and community leaders took turns addressing all things Utah Valley yesterday during the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Summit at Sundance. Here are 10 major positive changes coming to Utah County revealed during the course of the day. 1. University Mall expansion University Mall and the immediate surrounding area will experience a $100 […]
BYU vs Utah: Just the facts infographic
Major Attractions: The most and least popular majors at BYU
Rankings aren’t only for weekend movie releases. In the world of higher education, there are majors that attract students in droves, and other majors that take, well, a more minor role. At BYU, for instance, enrollment among the school’s more than 30,000 full-time and three-quarter time students is highest in five colleges: the College of […]
Bullies wearing backpacks: 8 ways to protect children from school bullies
More than half a million Utah kids are about to begin a new school year. Some will be involved in sports, others in music, others in art or honors courses. And according to the Provo School District website, about 16 percent will also be involved in bullying. Kids who are bullied — whether physically or […]
TGI Friday Video: BusinessQ Sales Roundtable
Ever look at booming sales companies and wonder how they do it? BusinessQ Editor in Chief Jeanette Bennett met up with Utah Valley’s finest in the sales industry to get their strategy to success. Plus, they’re sharing a few other secrets you won’t want to miss. For more of the Roundtable sales discussion, visit our […]
18 High School Students Who Will Change The World
BY MATT BENNETT • PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE BLACKHURST, utahvalley360.com Average is unacceptable to this year’s batch of high schoolers who will change the world. But we’re not just talking about GPAs and ACT scores. Sure, these seniors are ambitious, but what they really have in common is their ability to be an “Influencer,” to borrow […]
It’s A Woman’s World
You can’t keep a good woman down. And when it comes to business, these gals are up — up on the latest business ideas, up with motivation and passion, and up late at night — and early in the morning. In these 34 profiles, you’ll learn about the women behind the Utah Valley businesses they […]
Timpanogos Storytelling Festival
20 years of from-the-heart connections It’s true that the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival is for children. But the idea that it’s only for elementary attendees is simply a tall tale. This “laugh-then-cry” event began in Karen Ashton’s backyard and now draws thousands from Utah and surrounding states to hear the nation’s best storytellers. This is […]