Education was seen as consistent with its Latin origin (educatio, meaning to lead oneself) as a means of meeting the many different challenges they would face in their new land.

On Feb. 28, 1850, the University of Deseret was created, changed in 1892 to the University of Utah. Again, the pioneers recognized the importance of education to their new endeavor in the West.

Utah's first three-term governor, Calvin Rampton, in describing the many different good deeds he did for the state, frequently said the most important decision was to bond for the construction of buildings at the University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, College of Eastern Utah, College of Southern Utah, Dixie College and Salt Lake Community College.

From this insightful investment in 1965, the productivity of Utah's economy has taken significant and beneficial roots.

Each year millions of scholarship dollars are granted to deserving students to study after their undergraduate degrees are awarded. Some of these scholarships are well known, such as the Rhodes Scholarship, the Marshall Scholarship, the Fulbright and Churchill Scholarships.

In the past decade as America's economy expanded, several new scholarships such as the Gates Scholarship and the Pitsker Scholarship have been created.

Working with Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, we have created the Governor's Scholars Award. On Friday we conducted a lunch honoring four students from each of the institutions of higher education in the state of Utah.

The Governor's Scholars are being honored for their scholarship during their freshman and sophomore years of higher education. We are hoping some of these outstanding students will consider applying in their junior or senior year for some of the postgraduate scholarships.

If you are a faculty member, staff member, someone who is associated with higher education, or if you are a parent, grandparent or neighbor who knows someone who is doing their undergraduate degree at any of the fine institutions of higher education in the state of Utah, please consider encouraging them to apply for one of these scholarships or explore opportunities beyond their undergraduate degrees. Such exploration should include employment, as well as additional studies in higher education.

The pioneers knew they had to work hard in the field and in the classroom. We are hoping the Governor's Scholars Awards program will be one additional means by which Utah will carry forward its proud academic tradition.

Such a legacy will benefit our children and grandchildren, much like the hard work of our predecessors in higher education benefited us.

---

Jon Huntsman Jr. is governor of Utah and Rich Kendell is the state's commissioner of higher education.