Donor Spotlights

Don & Sue Lewon

Don Lewon has been an exemplary leader in and supporter of the University, the College, and the community. After receiving his B.S. in geography, he continued to work in the family business, Utah Metal Works, Inc. Don goes to work each day. He is Chairman of the Board of the company. Among his civic contributions are his long-term participation on the board of trustees for his alma mater, Wasatch Academy, his support of the Ronald McDonald House, The Boys and Girls Club, and the United Way. He also served on the vestry of St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral and was many times Senior Warden. In 2002, Don was named "Father of the Year" by the Utah Diabetes Association.

Sue Lewon (B.S., Elementary Education) graduated from West High School and after graduating from the U, she taught school. She eventually made a career transition to the travel industry and after 30 years there, she retired. Now she is volunteering in an elementary school and with the Assistance League of SLC. The Lewons have two sons, Mark and Chris (B.S., Business), and one daughter Anne (B.S., Behavioral Science and Health). Mark is the president Utah Metal Works, heading operations. Chris is vice-president doing marketing and sales.

Don and Sue have been extraordinarily generous over the years, supporting Sam Rich Scholars in the Global Affairs program, the Middle Eastern Lecture Series, and four Honor Roll Scholarships each year, along with many other programs and funds in the College.

A founding member of the College of Social and Behavioral Science Advisory Board, Don served on the Board for ten years and as the chair from 1998 to 2000. To their contributions of expertise, service and financial support, Don and Sue have created a planned gift for the college. The gift will establish the Don and Sue Lewon Scholarship Fund in the College of Social and Behavioral Science.

Renee Morita & Angus Edwards

Renee Morita received her undergraduate degree in Political Science and graduate degree in Public Administration, with an emphasis in Human Resources and Labor Relations. While attending college, Renee completed several Hinckley Institute of Politics internships at the American Educational Research Association (Washington, D.C.); the League of Women Voters (Salt Lake City); and the Winterim Symposium (Washington, D.C.).

Renee was an adjunct professor and taught human resources workshops and courses for the College. In addition, she has held several Human Resources management positions within the private, public and nonprofit sectors including the Utah State Administrative Office of the Courts, Hercules Aerospace, Intermountain Health Care and Fidelity Investments, where she was the Western Regional Human Resources Director for Premium Services.

Renee is a member of the University of Utah Master of Public Administration's (MPA) honor society, Pi Alpha Alpha. In addition, Renee and her husband, J. Angus Edwards, established a scholarship fund for MPA students in memory of Renee's parents. Angus is himself a College alumnus, also from political science. Together they are now planning to give even more through their estate planning.

The planned gift will be named in honor of Renee's parents, Thomas H. and Chiyo H. Morita. Thomas and Chiyo Morita were Japanese-American who were forcibly removed from their homes and relocated to concentration camps in Delta, Utah and Minidoka, Idaho. Thomas and Chiyo Morita were born and raised along the West, but they loved Utah and made it their lifelong home. The internment precluded them from obtaining a college education. The gift in their name will continue to support students pursuing a master's degree in public administration.