EverGREEN, The Campaign for UVU | Utah Valley University

When Joshua Taylor almost flunked high school, he never thought he would go to college.

Like 41% of UVU students who are the first in their family to pursue a degree, Joshua Taylor didn’t think college was in the cards for him. About a month after marrying his wife, she asked him which institution he would attend. “I had a feeling that admissions staff chuckled a little bit when they saw my high school transcripts and SAT scores,” he said. “I was downhearted; I didn’t think any university would take me.

“UVU was the place for me because even though I failed a few times, I was always able to try again. Those second and third chances were possible because donors invested in pathways that help UVU students start again and finish strong. When I thought I wouldn’t be able to get into a university, I was able to come here to pursue my dream.”

Over the course of 85 years, UVU has grown from a small trade school to the institution that educates the most Utahns because it sees potential in students regardless of their background. Joshua was accepted at UVU and nurtured his creativity. Now the father of several children (including Joey, pictured with his dad), Joshua earned his degree in 2020 after seven years.

Before EverGREEN carried momentum across Utah Valley University campuses, before there were ribbon cuttings, groundbreaking ceremonies, or record-setting totals, the university was something quieter, humbler, and far more hard-earned.

Its history stretches back to 1941, when the Central Utah Vocational School opened its doors in borrowed buildings to support the World War II industrial workforce. There was no campus to speak of, no alumni base, no philanthropic tradition. Students came to learn skills that could feed their families and strengthen their community. UVU began not as an institution of prestige, but as a place of purpose.

Over the next several decades, that small trade school grew, piece by piece, year by year, into a technical college, then a community college, then a state college. Each evolution required debate, determination, and, often, high-level resourcefulness. UVU constantly had to prove that its students deserved the same opportunities as those in other institutions. It advanced not because conditions were favorable, but because the community refused to let it stand still.

When UVU became a university in 2008, it did so without incredible wealth or centuries of historical foundation. Instead, it brought something else to the table: a belief that higher education should be accessible, practical, and built for people with real lives and real responsibilities.

First-generation scholars, working parents, veterans, entrepreneurs, and dreamers came because they saw themselves reflected in UVU’s mission. They came because UVU welcomed them without pretense. And they stayed because the university fought for them and prioritized their needs.

By 2018, UVU had quietly become the largest university in Utah, a stunning ascent given its modest origins. It grew because its doors were open, its programs were responsive, and its philosophy resonated with students across all backgrounds and life stages.

But behind the growth was a reality that few saw clearly: UVU was serving more students with fewer resources than any university of its size in the state.

Enrollment climbed. Demand climbed. Expectations climbed. Resources did not. This mismatch, the gap between UVU’s scale and its support structure, became the quiet, unspoken tension shaping the institution’s future. A tension between who UVU had become and what it still lacked to truly serve its students at scale.

It was in that space, in that fragile, powerful moment between grit and possibility, that the seeds of EverGREEN were planted

THE MEASURE OF YOUR IMPACT

Because of you, the EverGREEN Campaign did more than reach goals; it strengthened a foundation built over decades and prepared the way to shape UVU’s future for generations.

Your generosity fueled access, innovation, and opportunity across campus. It expanded pathways for students, advanced bold academic initiatives, and created spaces where learning and discovery can thrive. The impact reflected in these numbers is not abstract; it is personal and transformational. You are seeing the power of a community committed to UVU students and their future. r

“I am a first-generation student pursuing a UVU degree that will help me achieve my dream of becoming a professional vocalist and musician. It’s inspiring to know there are individuals who believe in the potential of UVU students and are willing to invest in our education and future. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support UVU donors have provided. It relieves financial stress and allows me to focus on my studies and growth.”

Chelsi Sofia Rummler ‘25, Music