Awards Gala Banquet
When
Thursday - July 18, 2024
Reception @ 6:30pm
Dinner & Awards @ 7:00pm
Where
The Grand America
555 S Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Contact Information
"Tickets are limited. For more information or to purchase tickets for the dinner, please contact Margo Ayre at 801-809-3446 or mayre@xmission.com
About The Event
The Pioneers of Progress Awards were instituted in 1995 to recognize service and achievement in modern-day pioneering. These awards honor those who continue Utah’s rich heritage of vision, industry, integrity, sacrifice and courage. Honorees are selected in the following categories:
- Science & Technology
- Education
- Business & Enterprise
- Health & Humanitarian Assistance
- Sportsmanship & Athletics
- Creative Arts & Entertainment
- Legacy (posthumous)
2024 PIONEERS OF PROGRESS RECIPIENTS
Utah remembers those who courageously crossed the planes 177 years ago, as well as those who are pioneering our future in 2024. On the evening of July 18, 2024, The Days of ’47 organization will honor six individuals who are influencing our state through their leadership in business, art, academia, philanthropy, humanitarian service and science. A dinner sponsored by KUTV 2 will be held at The Grand America Hotel to highlight the following individuals:
PRESIDENT'S AWARD
Brent Beesley
(Photo Credit: MarDel Photography & Design)
Brent Beesley grew up in Bountiful, Utah and is a semi-retired rancher, public servant,
lawyer, professor, banker, real estate developer, philanthropist and a Veteran. As a
young man, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in
Argentina and then earned a BA Degree in Economics from Brigham Young University
and a JD and MBA at Harvard University. Brent practiced law in Salt Lake City
and also taught law at the University of Utah. In 1981, he was invited to join the
Reagan Administration as the Director of the Office of the Federal Savings and Loan
Insurance Corporation during a major financial crisis. In 1987, Brent was elected
as CEO of the Farm Credit Corporation of America, which is the central entity of the
Federal Farm Credit System. He was also an advisor for many years for the Federal
Reserve Board of Governors. During his career, Brent has owned four ranches and
led the work to develop Entrada at Snow Canyon in St. George. With his good fortune,
he founded the Beesley Family Foundation, which has helped fund over 200 worthy
projects both here in Utah and around the world. Brent and his wife Bonnie
Jean Matheson Beesley have seven children and 23 grandchildren.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Nadia Kouraytem
(Photo Credit: Matt Jensen from the College of Engineering at USU)
Dr. Nadia Kouraytem is currently an Assistant Professor at the Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering Department at Utah State University. Nadia focuses on
advancing additive manufacturing for structural applications in defense, energy, and
aerospace. Nadia’s research interests are in the broad area of the characterization of
the process-structure-property relationships in laser-based metal additive manufacturing
for structural applications using advanced experimental techniques and in situ
measurements. Prior to joining Utah State University, she was a Post-doctoral Research
Associate at the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Utah where
she studied the influence of additive manufacturing parameters on location-specific
microstructure and mechanical response of structural metals and spent a semester
visiting the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon
University. Dr. Kouraytem received her BE in Mechanical Engineering from the
American University of Beirut, and her M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from
KAUST working at the High-Speed Fluids Imaging Laboratory.
BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE
Gene Moffitt
(Photo Credit: MarDel Photography & Design)
Gene Moffitt founded Gold Cross Ambulance in 1968 along with his wife, Julia. He
pioneered the first EMS certification program with the Utah State Health Department.
Gold Cross has been a leader in emergency medical services throughout Utah for over
50 years by providing paramedic, critical, neonatal, bariatric, mass casualty care, and
event-management standby. Gene has served as President of the American Ambulance
Association, Chair of Utah Emergency Medical Services Committee, and President of
the Utah State Ambulance Association. Under his leadership, Gold Cross Ambulance
was recognized as a national leader in the ambulance industry by receiving the J.
Walter Shaefer Memorial Award of Excellence. The Utah Department of Health: Bureau
of Emergency Medical Services presented Gene with The Distinguished Service Award
for a Lifetime of Service. He has also received: The Lifetime Achievement Award from
The American Ambulance Association and The Healthcare Hero Lifetime Achievement
Award from Utah Business Magazine. He and Julia are the parents of six children, 24
grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.
ENTERTAINMENT AND CREATIVE ARTS
Ben Lomu
(Photo Credit: MarDel Photography & Design)
Ben Lomu is a television host and actor. He is the host for the tv show, Come Follow Up
on BYUtv, where he has filmed over 200 episodes. As an actor he portrayed King
Lamoni in the Book of Mormon video series. He has also appeared in several movies
and commercials both locally and nationally, all while enjoying a wonderful career as a
religious educator. Ben is a very proud alumnus of the University of Utah where he
received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Criminology. He also has a
Master’s Degree in Education. Through his work as an actor, host and educator, Ben
has been able positively influence the lives of thousands of youth and young adults
across the world. He is a first generation American on both sides of his family. His
father, Manu, was a native of the Tongan Islands and his mother, Sandra, is from
England. His greatest joy and accomplishment in life comes from being a husband of 23
years to his best friend, Michelle, and being the father to 4 wonderful children.
EDUCATION
Natalie Gochnour
(Photo Credit: MarDel Photography & Design)
Natalie Gochnour serves as an associate dean in the David Eccles School of Business
at the University of Utah, and as director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. As part
of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, the Gardner Institute
prepares economic, demographic, and public policy research that helps Utah prosper. It
is Utah’s preeminent public policy institute and a vital gathering place for policy
leadership and thoughtful discourse. Natalie earned both her bachelor's and master's
degrees in economics in 1984 and 1988 from the University of Utah and is tasked with
planning and implementing a new public policy initiative focusing on serving Utah
businesses and community leaders. Natalie's experience includes a diverse mix of
public service and business acumen. She has advised Utah Governors Bangerter,
Leavitt, and Walker, and was also a political appointee in the George W. Bush
administration. Natalie authors regular columns in Utah Business magazine and the
Deseret News and co-hosts the weekly radio program Both Sides of the Aisle on
KCPW.
HEALTH AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
Jeanette Mitarai Misaka
(Photo Credit: MarDel Photography & Design)
Dr. Jeanette Misaka is an educator, activist, and humanitarian who has spent over
seven decades promoting equity and dignity for Japanese Americans, women, racial
minorities, and people with disabilities. During World War II, Jeanette was imprisoned in
a Japanese American mass incarceration site at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. After the
war, her family moved to Utah. Her experience shaped her dedication to promoting
equity for marginalized groups. Dr. Misaka serves as a member of the advisory council
of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation and has been a member of the National
Japanese American Citizens League since the early 1950’s. She has contributed
significantly to preserving Japanese-American history through internment camp site
preservation and through events relating to forced internment, as well as
throughpromoting sister city relations and Japan-U.S. exchanges. In 2013, she was
awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for her efforts towards
understanding and goodwill between the countries of Japan and the United States.
Submitting Entries
You have two options for submitting a nomination: (online & paper form - choose one)
NOMINATE ONLINE - Pioneers of Progress Nomination Form.
DOWNLOAD AND PRINT - download and print the nomination form (Word Document).
To submit additional information for this nomination, please email mayre@xmission.com.
If you have questions or would like to attend, please contact:
Margo Ayre
Phone: 801-809-3446
Email: mayre@xmission.com
Eligibility
Any current Utah resident, regardless of age, can be nominated for a Pioneer of Progress Award. Nomination Procedures:
- An individual or group may nominate more than one individual for any category.
- Individuals may nominate themselves.
- Pertinent supplemental information, not to exceed four (4) pages may be attached to the nomination form.
- Judges may request additional information from nominees, nominators or nominating organizations.
- The judges’ decision is final. Nomination forms, including all supplemental materials, become the property of The Days of ’47 and will not be returned.
- Nominees agree to the use of their names and likeness in publicity connected with The Days of ’47 Pioneers of Progress Awards, including videos, press releases and audio reproductions.
Selection Criteria
Nominations are judged on the following criteria
- Service—The dedication displayed by the nominee in providing service that betters individuals and communities.
- Innovation and Industry—The ways in which the nominee has demonstrated vision and hard work in personal and professional roles.
- Achievements—How the nominee has produced results that reflect the spirit of Utah’s pioneers.
As part of the annual celebration of Utah’s pioneer heritage, The Days of ’47 Board of Trustees honors modern-day Utahns who perpetuate a legacy of industry and integrity with Pioneers of Progress awards. These awards honor deserving Utahns whose lives and achievements commemorate such virtuous principles of pioneering as faith, courage, industry, integrity and sacrifice; and whose work benefits present and future generations.
