USU Blanding hogan receives award

Utah State University Blanding’s recently-constructed Navajo hogan has been recognized as the “Worship Project of the Year” by the Associated General Contractors of Utah.
The award recognized general contractors Tri-Hurst Construction, project manager Hans Hurst, and project superintendents Benedict and Rena Daniels.
USU Blanding associate vice president Kristian Olsen and USUB Student Association officers also attended the awards ceremony.
The campus hogan was constructed over six months and dedicated in November 2021.
Speaking at the dedication event, Olsen said building the hogan was about making students feel at home.
“You’re typically successful in places where you feel welcomed, comfortable, and at home. Those are the places where you thrive. That is what we are trying to do on this campus for our students.”
USU NASNTI Coordinator Jim Dandy said at the dedication the school community was excited to have the hogan on campus. “Just looking at the Hogan, it creates a lot of peace, acceptance and value for a Native American student,” he explained.
“Just to be around a structure like this or even going in and utilizing it to study, to read, to meditate, to pray, and of course we are also going to be utilizing this structure for ceremonial purposes. More importantly, this is for the students to learn.”