Southern Utah news in brief: Public service award, volunteer fair, 'Newsies'
Leavitt Center honors former ambassador
Tom C. Korologos, the former U.S. ambassador to Belgium, will be awarded the inaugural Leavitt Center's Distinguished Public Service Award on Thursday.
The ceremony will be at 11:30 a.m. in the Great Hall at the Hunter Conference Center at Southern Utah University in Cedar City.
The Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service bestows the award to individuals with a lifetime of extraordinary public service and who have brought exceptional recognition to the state of Utah.
Korologos, who was born and raised in Utah, began his service career in the Air Force and continued on to the U.S. Senate. It continued through several White Houses, the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy and culminated in the ambassadorship to Belgium.
Volunteer fair on Thursday
Dixie Serves, United Way Dixie and JustServe are teaming up to host the Community Volunteer Fair on Thursday night.
The fair will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Dixie State’s North Plaza. More than 40 nonprofit, faith-based, community and government organizations will share their volunteer and donation needs. Everyone is encouraged to attend to learn how they can get involved and help others.
“Volunteering strengthens the community we live in by supporting organizations who need hands and hearts to further their causes,” said Karyn Wright, volunteer coordinator of Dixie Serves volunteer coordinator.
The fair will bring together three organizations focused on connecting volunteers and organizations in need. Dixie Serves, housed on the DSU campus, connects the community and university with meaningful volunteer opportunities on and off campus. JustServe, a service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a website that posts organizations’ volunteer needs to help individuals connect with places to serve in the community. United Way Dixie, one of nearly 1,800 branches of United Way Worldwide, connects the Washington County community with volunteer opportunities focusing on education, financial stability and health.
Parowan High presents ‘Newsies’
Parowan High School presents the Broadway musical “Newsies” at 7 p.m. Nov. 14-17 and 19-20 in the school auditorium.
The play takes place in 1899, when newspaper mogul Joseph Pulitzer (played by Matthew Benson) raises the distribution price one-tenth of a cent per paper, and the newsboys, poor enough already, are outraged. Jack Kelly (Berkeley Terry) organizes and leads a newsboys’ strike with best friend Crutchie (Grayson Sudweeks) and the brains of the new union, David Jacobs (Clay Prentice).
Together with newsies from all over New York, they find the strength to band together and challenge the powerful Pulitzer. Their story is championed by newspaper writer Katherine Plummer (Emily Gurr) and dance hall owner Medda Larkin (Tessa Leavitt). Other principal characters include David’s younger brother, Les (Gunner Tuttle), and of course, the newsies (played by both males and females).
The whole performance is an affirmation of what is right and good in the world, organizers say, adding that the cast is very much like the newsies — they took on something much bigger than them, something seemingly impossible for a small school, and they did it.
“Newsies” is directed by Shelley Porter, assisted by Jenifer Terry, with musical direction by Trevor Walker, choreography by Heather Shurtleff and costumes designs by Janice Ruesch and Debbie Grimm.
Ticket prices are $7 for Adults, $5 for students and children. Advanced tickets may be purchased online at newsies.jubileetix.com.