Honorary degrees conferred

The College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University recently conferred honorary degrees on two San Juan County residents. Sandra Asbury graduated from Weber State University in 1979 with a Bachelors Degree in Education with a bilingual/bicultural endorsement, as well as a mild to moderate education endorsement. In 2001, her adult son with disabilities asked her, “Where do I go to work Mom?” This started her out on a path with only a small idea of the challenges and growth that would follow. In the hope of providing a place where not only her son, but others facing the same challenges could go to find purpose. Sandra opened the doors of Transitions. She has been instrumental in developing local businesses such as a used bookstore, a scrap booking store, and an antique store where clients can learn skills necessary to be employable. Donna Singer has had a great impact on the health and economic welfare of San Juan County residents. She started her healthcare career in the late 1970s as an x-ray technician. In 1983 she earned her license as a sonographer and worked for San Juan Hospital for 18 years. She was instrumental in setting up the Blanding Medical Center and was the manager until 1999. During this time the Montezuma Creek Clinic closed. With local Navajo leaders, she helped develop their own health care system, Utah Navajo Health Systems. As the CEO, Donna has worked tirelessly to make UNHS the fastest growing service business in San Juan County. Probably the most ambitious project of all culminated in the building of Blue Mountain Hospital, which opened in Blanding in 2009. Courtesy photos