Ribbon Joining Celebrates New USU Aviation Hangar at USU Eastern

Instead of cutting a ribbon, leaders, partners and community members came together to join one.

Utah State University Eastern hosted the ribbon joining for the new USU Aviation Hangar at Carbon County Airport on Jan. 15. The event symbolized years of collaboration and perseverance that brought this project to life.

Designed to support the growing aircraft maintenance programs at USU Eastern, the hangar reflects a shared commitment between the university, local leaders and community partners. The Aviation program was first introduced to the USU Eastern campus in 2019, sparking conversations about expansion and the potential to bring new educational and economic opportunities to the region. Groundbreaking for the hangar took place in 2024, setting the stage for what has now become a vital resource for students and the community.

The celebration brought together representatives from Carbon County, the Southeastern Regional Development Agency, local and state government, business leaders, donors, Utah State University leadership, and community members. Throughout the program, attendees heard from influential leaders who shared insights on both the challenges and successes of moving the project forward.

Many speakers reflected on the challenges faced throughout the process and the persistence required to make the hangar a reality. Carbon County Commissioner Larry Jensen spoke to the realities of economic development in rural communities.

“This project is a very good example of how difficult it can be to bring something to our county,” Jensen said.

Despite barriers, partners continued pushing forward with the belief that the hangar would benefit both the university and the region. Bruce Miller, head of the Aviation Technology Department for Utah State University, emphasized the educational impact of the facility.

“We want to give students a new and different opportunity here in southeast Utah,” Miller said.

Jade Powell, deputy director of SERDA, highlighted the broader economic impact of the project.

“This project will really boost our economy, not just in aviation maintenance, but also in other industries,” Powell said.

Rather than a traditional ribbon cutting, the event featured a symbolic ribbon joining to reflect the collaborative efforts behind the project. Kristian Olsen, vice president for Statewide Residential Campuses at Utah State University, said that the ceremony was designed to mirror the process that brought the hangar to fruition. To honor the many groups that came together to support the project, the USU Eastern Welding Department created custom USU Aggie Aviation wings, which were joined together during the celebration to represent unity and partnership.

USU President Brad Mortensen attended the event as part of his statewide tour, marking his first visit to the USU Eastern campus as president.

He praised the collaboration between the university and the community, stating: “This is how USU is supposed to work. It’s the perfect model, to have the university sync up with the community.”

The ribbon joining marks only the beginning of a path toward student success, regional economic development and new opportunities for southeastern Utah.