Just Getting the Chance:
A Campaign Legacy

Makenzie Carter “grew up at the track.” Ralph Maughan Track Stadium, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. The sweet smell of the fresh-cut infield grass. The Bear River Mountains for a backrest. Those energizing feng shui-red rubberized lanes. The place was like a second home to her, a sensory-packed legacy.

“We spent most of our lives at the track as little kids,” the Aggie freshman says. “I remember playing there and jumping on the pads that the high-jumpers use.”

That’s because, back in the day, Makenzie’s father, Craig Carter ’93, flat-out ruled the place. While at Utah State University the rock-solid Aggie thrower cemented his own legacy: two-time NCAA All-American in the weight and hammer throws, Big West Athlete of the Year, Robins Award recipient as Utah State University’s Outstanding Athlete and — the Holy Grail of Aggie excellence —The Wayne Estes Award.

“He walked away with pretty much everything USU could offer,” says Makenzie’s husband, Kyle Hawk. “And he’s still going strong.”

Now the head throws coach at the University of Arizona, Craig Carter qualified for the USA Championships six straight years after graduating from USU. He finished seventh in the hammer throw at the 1996 Olympic Trials (“barely missed it,” Makenzie says) and this summer will head to the 2012 London Olympics as personal coach to world-class shot putter Jillian Camarena-Williams of Team USA.

But of all her father’s accomplishments, one means significantly more to Makenzie Carter right now than do the rest: he was an Aggie. And so qualifies Makenzie for the Alumni Legacy Nonresident Waiver. Same goes for husband, Kyle, who likewise grew up in Utah, but then moved with his parents out of state during high school. When Kyle’s dad, Shawn Hawk ’98, visits now, “he’s running crazy all over campus,” Kyle says, “doing the Aggie chant and everything. My parents won’t miss an Aggie Homecoming game and they always want to sit with the students.”

And for Makenzie’s clan, USU is just as important. Makenzie’s mother, Jo-Ann, also attended USU, as did her father, Jon Bouwhuis, as does Makenzie’s twin brother, Mark — named after Makenzie’s uncle Mark Carter, an exceptional Aggie thrower in his own right.

“Neither of us would have been able to attend USU without the Legacy Nonresident Waiver,” says Kyle. “And it’s just nice to be at a place that’s so familiar.”

Like so many students, Makenzie has already changed the course of her studies. She began in special education and speech pathology, now she’s majoring in family, consumer, and human development, a path which still perfectly fits her life goal to simply reach beyond herself.

“I’ve just always been drawn to that,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to help other people and I’ve just really connected with these professors. I’m enjoying the classes so much.” For his part, Kyle’s Legacy Nonresident Waiver means he can pursue a degree in biochemistry and, maybe later, a master’s in toxicology and a Ph.D. in pharmacology. “I’ll be in school until the world ends,” he jokes.

But the whole point is Kyle and Makenzie are in school, making a name for themselves at Utah State and preparing to leave their own mark on the world — speaking of legacies.

— Jared Thayne ’99

The Alumni Legacy Nonresident Waiver was championed by USU Pres. Stan L. Albrecht and others as a much-needed, measurable outcome of The Campaign for Utah State University. Made possible by the signing of House Bill 364, the waiver allows non-resident students to pay resident tuition rates. It has become invaluable to hundreds of USU students. To qualify, a future Aggie must: be admitted; have at least one parent who earned an associate degree or higher from Utah State University; and enroll at USU as a first-time student.
        For additional information and applications visit
http://www.usu.edu/admissions/legacy/