Utah State University’s Old Main Society inducted new members and honored some of its most important supporters at an Oct. 23 ceremony in the Manon Caine Russell Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall.

 

As part of Friday night events, the university bestowed its most prestigious award, the Spirit of Old Main Award, to Betty Hinckley Nibley and Preston P. Nibley for lifetime achievements and loyalty to USU.

 

The university also honored this year’s Spirit of Old Main New Generation Award recipients  Brian and Natalie Broadbent, who were recognized for their many contributions to Utah State University and for their commitment to helping students in the Huntsman School of Business. 

 

The Old Main Society was established in 1967 to recognize alumni and friends whose support makes possible the fulfillment of Utah State’s mission. Membership represents the pinnacle of recognition for those who express their belief in the institution through significant philanthropic support.

 

 

An enduring passion to help others influenced the lives and philosophy of Betty and Preston Nibley. Together they have provided hundreds of students an opportunity to receive a higher education.

 

Preston’s four-decade career as a petroleum engineer kept the Nibleys on the move across the country — and the world, living in California, New York, Texas, Washington state, Pennsylvania, the Yukon Territory in Canada, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and England. As they moved, the interest in public service that Betty gained during the depression and as a student at the University of Utah continued to grow.

 

While raising her family of three daughters, Betty devoted time to her church and to public service efforts, including volunteering for the March of Dimes, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund and the Bucks County (Pennsylvania) Center for the Blind. Preston encouraged and participated in these endeavors.

 

In 1982 the Nibleys returned to Utah, settling in Betty’s home town of Ogden. Since then, Betty has been involved in the philanthropic efforts of the Robert H. Hinckley family. The Hinckleys have a tradition of establishing scholarships at Utah universities. Her father, Robert H. Hinckley, established scholarships at Utah State University, BYU, Weber State University and the University of Utah.

 

Through the Seely Hinckley Scholarship program, Betty and Preston Nibley, along with her late siblings Robert H. Hinckley Jr. and John Seely Hinckley, have endowed undergraduate scholarships in every college and the School of Graduate Studies at USU. Preston and Betty also established the Nibley Scholars program in history at Utah State in 1987. Through these scholarships, the Nibleys have helped more than 400 students receive a USU education.

 

 

Brian and Natalie Broadbent have always been grateful for the financial assistance they received while earning their degrees at Utah State University.

 

After receiving his bachelor’s degree from USU in finance and marketing, Brian joined Goldman, Sachs and Company as a financial analyst. Today, Brian is a vice president for Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs.

 

Natalie, born in Massachusetts, received her bachelor’s from USU in elementary education. She earned a master’s degree at CUNY while teaching at a small private school. As the mother of three, Natalie volunteers her time to the school her children attend in New Jersey. The daughter of USU professor Dwight Israelsen, Natalie has a long family tie to USU.

 

Brian is a member of the USU Foundation Board, and he sits on the university’s Investment Advisory Committee. His goal is to provide advice to the investment committee that will help USU move forward with an investment policy that produces higher returns for the endowment. Brian has also found the time in his busy schedule to return to USU and speak to Huntsman School students about Goldman Sachs, working on Wall Street and investments. An avid biker, Brian is an annual participant in the LOTOJA race.

 

While Wall Street is a long way from Cache Valley, Brian and Natalie have not forgotten what it was like to be struggling students at USU. Brian remembers when they were a newly married couple, working part time and trying hard to make ends meet, and he can still recall when an infusion of $20 in cash could make a big difference in their lives. In 2006, Brian and Natalie established the Brian and Natalie Broadbent Endowed Scholarship in the Huntsman School of Business to help students majoring in finance.

 

 

Writer: Tim Vitale, 435-797-1356, tim.vitale@usu.edu