During Homecoming 2004, 11 graduates who have made outstanding professional contributions were honored by their BYU colleges.
Biology and Agriculture
Since completing a dentistry degree, Eric G. Vogel, ’84, has spent 16 years working as a teacher and mentor to BYU students while maintaining a full-time practice. He is the founder and president of Share a Smile, an organization that provides dental care for the poor.
Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology
Since graduating in 1996, Vernon R. Wilbert Jr. has been employed by Digital Domain, a high-profile special effects company, where he works as a computer graphics supervisor at the visual effects facility. In that short time he has received numerous awards, including two Gold Clios and Museum of Modern Art honors.
Nursing
Roger Brooks Buxton, ’79, worked in thoracic ICU at LDS Hospital for 10 years. While there, he led the team that developed the first intra-aortic balloon pump. Buxton has spent nine years on the Utah State Board of Nursing and five years on the Utah State Recovery Assistance Program for Impaired Professionals.
Health and Human Performance
Most recognized for his time as a senior specialist over health, physical education, recreation, and dance with the Utah State Office of Education, Robert L. Leake, ’55, has dedicated his career to teaching and encouraging active, healthy lifestyles in students. He is the recipient of many distinguished awards and has served in several prominent positions in the Utah education system.
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in music composition and a master’s in statistics, Michael René Kosorok, ’88, enrolled at the University of Washington at Seattle, where he received a master’s and a doctorate in biostatistics and earned a post-doctoral fellowship after graduation. In 2003 he became a professor of statistics and biostatistics. His work has appeared in numerous publications.
David O. McKay School of Education
Since receiving a master’s degree in geography from BYU in 1975, Robert Clayton Brough, ’74, has diligently worked in Utah schools, teaching geography, earth and physical science, and journalism. A weather forecaster with ABC4 television in Salt Lake City, he has also collaborated with colleagues on extensive research projects. In 1990 Brough was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award by Granite School District.
Marriott School of Management
Gregory Geiger, ’75, has been with Ford Motor Co. for 27 years. As director of the finance processes and systems global leadership group, he has helped redesign and reengineer Ford’s global finance systems, has negotiated major business ventures with Mazda and Volkswagon, and has been a part of the creation and development of new Ford companies worldwide.
J. Reuben Clark Law School
Paul Michael Warner earned three degrees from BYU: his BA, ’73, his JD, ’76, and his MPA, ’84. He worked in various positions in the Utah Attorney General’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office until President Clinton appointed him to be United States Attorney for the District of Utah in 1998.
Fine Arts and Communications
Gary J. Dixon, ’76, has been vice president of Creative Audio and Video, vice president of Bonneville Communications, and president of the Foundation for a Better Life. Dixon also serves on the board of trustees for Proliteracy Worldwide and on the board of advisors for the Harvard Center for Media and Child Health.
Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Gordon H. Smith, ’76, was elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1992. During his first term he was elected minority leader and then president of the state Senate. In 1996 he was elected to be a U.S. Senator from Oregon. Smith has membership on five major Senate committees.
Humanities
Scott L. Barrick, ’80, serves as the general manager of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir—his job and his calling. He participated in founding the choir’s solely owned recording label and helped launch the group’s most prestigious North American tour. Previously Barrick worked as an executive in three Fortune 500 companies.
