USU-Uintah Basin Student Earns Prestigious University A-Pin Award

Utah State University-Uintah Basin student Alison Wood earned USU’s coveted A-Pin award for maintaining a 4.0 grade point average for two consecutive semesters while taking 15 credit hours each. The A-Pin started in 1910 and continues to be one of the most esteemed awards for undergraduate students.

“It was hard finding the motivation to keep working on it,” said Wood. “It’s not easy taking that many classes and there were times I would get home from work and the last thing I wanted to do was homework.”

Wood is currently working on her bachelor’s in aviation technology-professional pilot with a fixed wing emphasis. She plans on becoming a professional pilot at a major airline once she wraps up her education at USU.

According to Wood, USU-Uintah Basin is a great campus because of the flexibility it offers and how easy it is to find the help you need. “Every time I’ve gone in for an appointment or to ask a question I was helped immediately and I felt like they really cared. I’m also able to take a lot of online classes, which gave me the flexibility to finish my associate degree while working my part-time job.”

“Every time I’ve gone in for an appointment or to ask a question I was helped immediately and I felt like they really cared.”

Wood received the pin, certificate and lunch with USU-Uintah Basin Executive Director James Taylor and Associate Director and Director of Students Cameron Cuch. The pin features Old Main tower and includes the inscription, USU Scholarship, denoting the highest undergraduate scholarly achievement.

When asked how Wood was able to maintain such high standards for academic success, she explained that her goals helped her keep perspective. “I set goals to get things done and then reward myself for them. For instance, I have a goal to have all homework done by Saturday night, and my reward is having a break Sunday.” She also gave credit keeping her long-term goal of becoming a professional pilot in the fore-front of her mind during the difficult times.

There are many students at USU-Uintah Basin finding similar success as Wood. The local campus strives to ensure students have all the resources and support they need, allowing hard work and diligence to thrive.