List of Brigham Young University–Idaho alumni

This list of Brigham Young University-Idaho alumni includes notable graduates, non-graduate former students, and current students of Brigham Young University–Idaho (also known as BYU–Idaho or BYU–I), a four-year private college owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) located in Rexburg, Idaho, United States. From 1933 to 2001, this school was a two-year junior college known as Ricks College. As of August 2008, BYU–Idaho/Ricks College had approximately 150,000 alumni.[1] Many of them, in particular those before 2001, graduated with a two-year associate's degree or simply attended two years before moving on to another institution to complete their bachelor's degree.

## Business and finance

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Name  | Class year(s)  | Degree(s)  | Notability  | Reference

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Frank L. VanderSloot | —  | A.A. | Entrepreneur, radio network owner, cattle rancher and founder and CEO of Direct Marketing company Melaleuca, Inc.  | [2][3]

## Educators and scholars

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Name  | Class year(s)  | Degree(s)  | Notability  | Reference

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Stephanie Barclay | —  | B.S.  | Law Professor at Georgetown University Law Center; former law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch  | [4]
Jeff Benedict | —  | A.A.  | Professor at Southern Virginia University; bestselling author  | [5]
Kory Katseanes | —  | A.A.  | Director of the School of Music at Brigham Young University | [6]
Phillip McArthur | —  | A.A.  | Folklorist and anthropologist with notable work involving the Marshall Islands and elsewhere in Micronesia | [7]

## Entertainment and media

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Name  | Class year(s)  | Degree(s)  | Notability  | Reference

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Benson Boone | 2024 (left 2021 to pursue singing)  | Unknown  | Singer-songwriter  |
Gregg Hale | 1996, 1998–2000  | A.A. graduated April 2000  | Guitarist for Spiritualized | [citation needed]
Ryan Hamilton | —  | A.A.  | Stand-up comedian and actor  | [8]
Jared and Jerusha Hess | —  | (transferred to BYU before graduating)  | Directors and screenwriters of Napoleon Dynamite (2004)  | [citation needed]
Timothy Holst | —  |  | Ringmaster for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus | [9]
Art Rascon | —  | A.A.  | News anchor for the five o'clock ABC News in Houston, Texas  | [10]
Clint Schwabedissen | 2012–2018  | B.S. Industrial Organizational Psychology  | Video director and producer  | [11]
Daryn Tufts | —  | A.A.  | Writer, director, producer, and actor  | [12]

## Government, law, and public policy

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Name  | Class year(s)  | Degree(s)  | Notability  | Reference

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Dean L. Cameron | 1984  | A.A.  | Republican member of the Idaho Senate | [13]
Danielle J. Forrest | 1996  | A.A.S.  | U.S. circuit judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit | [14]
Tom Luna | 1981–1982  |  | Educational leader  | [15]
Fred S. Martin | 1974–1976  | Student body (ASRC) President 1975–76  | Republican member of the Idaho Senate | [16]
Dean Mortimer | 1974  | A.A.  | Republican member of the Idaho Senate | [17]
Michael W. Mosman | 1979  | A.B.  | U.S. District judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon | [18]
Mark Ricks |  | A.A.  | Lt. governor of Idaho |

## Other

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Name  | Class year(s)  | Degree(s)  | Notability  | Reference

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Steven Koecher |  |  | Journalist, disappeared in 2009  | [19]
Wayne Quinton |  |  | Inventor of biomedical technology  | [20]

## Religion

[edit]

Note: All positions listed are within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unless otherwise noted.
Name  | Class year(s)  | Degree(s)  | Notability  | Reference

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Marion G. Romney |  |  | Member of the First Presidency | [21]

## Sports

[edit]

Name  | Class year(s)  | Degree(s)  | Notability  | Reference

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Gary Andersen | 1984  | (transferred to University of Utah before graduating)  | Football coaching positions at University of Utah, Oregon State, Wisconsin Badgers and Utah State Aggies | [22]
Jason Buck | —  | (transferred to BYU before graduating)  | National Football League athlete  | [23]
Ben Cahoon | —  | (transferred to BYU before graduating)  | Former slotback for the Canadian Football League, later a receivers coach at BYU | [24][25][26]
Troy Cate | —  |  | Retired Major League Baseball pitcher who debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007  | [27]
John Denney |  |  | Long snapper for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League | [28]
Marc Dunn | 1999–2000  |  | NFL and NFL Europe player  | [29]
Rulon Gardner |  |  | Two-time Olympic medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling (gold in 2000), 1993 NCJAA Heavyweight National Champion  | [30]
Kelly Graves | 1986  |  | Current head coach for the Oregon Ducks women's basketball team | [31]
Matt Lindstrom |  |  | MLB pitcher for the Florida Marlins | [32]
Stew Morrill | 1970–1972  |  | Retired head coach for the Utah State Aggies men's basketball team | [33]
Edwin Mulitalo |  |  | NFL offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens (1999–2006) and the Detroit Lions (2007–2008)  | [34]
Jose Portilla |  |  | Football player  | [35]

## Writers and artists

[edit]

Name  | Class year(s)  | Degree(s)  | Notability  | Reference

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|
|
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Blair Buswell | —  | A.A. | Sports sculptor  | [36]
Brian Crane | —  | (transferred to BYU before graduating)  | Cartoonist, creator of newspaper comic Pickles | [37]
Brandon Dorman | —  | BA  | Author and New York Times bestselling illustrator; illustrated book covers for Glenn Beck's Christmas Sweater, Fablehaven, and several Goosebumps books  | [38]
Ben Hammond | —  |  | Sculptor known for Pro Football Hall of Fame busts  | [39]
Del Parson | —  |  | Painter known for his Latter-day Saint-themed paintings  | [40]
Alex Warnick | —  |  | Painter known for ornithology and bird paintings  | [41]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Alumni". BYU-Idaho. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
2. ^ "Mormons in Business". mormonsinbusiness.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
3. ^ Rose, Peter (April 9, 1994). "Melaleuca expands into Canada". The Idaho Business Review. 13 (27): 10.
4. ^ https://law.nd.edu/assets/550558/barclay_cv_2023.11.17.pdf [bare URL PDF]
5. ^ "Southern Virginia University Welcomes Mormon Business Author as Distinguished Professor". ldsmag.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
6. ^ "About Kory Katseanes". BYU. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
7. ^ "Dr. Phillip McArthur Profile". BYU-Hawaii. Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
8. ^ Petersen, Sarah (May 14, 2014). "BYU-Idaho alumnus Ryan Hamilton performs clean comedy act on 'Conan'". Deseret News. Archived from the original on May 15, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
9. ^ Collins, Glenn (April 23, 2009). "Timothy J. Holst, Who Filled Circus Big Top With Talent, Dies at 61". New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
10. ^ "LDS reporter finds faith amid despair". Church News. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
11. ^ https://shoutoutla.com/meet-clint-schwabedissen-celebrity-video-director-working-with-dave-chappelle-khalid-and-more/ | Meet Clint Schwabedissen | Celebrity Video Director: Working With Dave Chappelle, Khalid, and More | Shoutout LA | May 15, 2023
12. ^ "Daryn Tufts". ovguide.com. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
13. ^ "Biographical Profile for Dean L. Cameron". Vote-id.org. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
14. ^ "Forrest, Danielle Jo = fjc.gov". Retrieved June 8, 2021.
15. ^ "Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna = idaho.gov". Retrieved January 7, 2013.
16. ^ "Senator Fred. S. Martin (R)". legislature.idaho.gov. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
17. ^ "Senator Dean M. Mortimer's Biography". Votesmart.org. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
18. ^ "Judge Michael W. Mosman's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
19. ^ Haynes, Mark (January 8, 2010). "Missing man mystery: 'None of it makes sense,' Steven Koecher's mother laments". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
20. ^ "Wayne Quinton". washington.edu. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
21. ^ "New Buildings & New Status". BYU-Idaho. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
22. ^ "Gary Andersen Profile". Utahstateaggies.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
23. ^ "Celebrating a Century". BYU-Idaho. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
24. ^ "Ben Cahoon". Montreal Alouettes. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
25. ^ Harmon, Dick (November 2, 2006). "Ricks football era comes to close this fall". Deseret News. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
26. ^ "Ben Cahoon Staff Bio". Brigham Young University Sports Information. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
27. ^ "Troy Cate Bio". Scout.com. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
28. ^ "John Denney Athlete Profile". BYU. Archived from the original on September 20, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
29. ^ "KSU – It's A Dunn Deal". Kansas.net. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
30. ^ "Gardner bio". BYU-Idaho. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
31. ^ "Head Coach Kelly Graves" (PDF). 2012–13 Gonzaga Women's Basketball Media Guide. Gonzaga University Sports Information. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
32. ^ "Lindstrom bio". Florida Marlins. Archived from the original on January 29, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
33. ^ "Stew Morrill Profile". Utahstateaggies.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
34. ^ "Edwin Mulitalo bio". NFL. Retrieved August 5, 2008.
35. ^ "Jose Portilla". all-xfl.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
36. ^ "Sculptor of Sports Legends". asama.org. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
37. ^ "The Art of Making Pickles". BYU. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
38. ^ "Brandon Dorman Profile". Julie Andrews Collection. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
39. ^ Stevens, Taylor. "Utah leaders unveil design of new Martha Hughes Cannon statue heading to D.C. next year", The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 September 2019. Retrieved on 10 March 2020.
40. ^ "Del Parson Profile". University of Utah. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
41. ^ Angell, Bryony. "How to Go From Watching Birds to Drawing Them", Audubon, 26 July 2017. Retrieved on 10 March 2020.

## Notes

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* Blank cells indicate missing information; em-dashes (—) indicate that the alumnus attended but never graduated from BYU–Idaho.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alumni of Brigham Young University–Idaho.

* BYU–Idaho Alumni Association
* Alumni and Friends News