Alumni Association awards Nature’s Sunshine an Engaged Business Award

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Nature’s Sunshine, a Provo-based natural health supplements company, was awarded the first ever Engaged Business Award from the UVU Alumni Association on June 22. It was awarded to the company for hiring alumni and supporting student scholarships.

The appreciation open house and luncheon was held at the Marriot Hotel in Provo for company employees who have Wolverine ties. During the event, Alumni Board President TJ Fund and Vice President of University Relations Val Hale presented the award to Steve Bunker, the company’s chief financial officer. The award will be presented periodically to businesses in the community that extend engaged learning opportunities to university students and alumni.

Daniel Geslison, director of human resources for Nature’s Sunshine, explained that the company employs many college-aged employees to work full- and part-time positions in its call center. He also mentioned that students and alumni have consistently provided an enthusiastic and energetic workforce.

An added incentive for company employees is their tuition reimbursement program. Students who are full-time employees are able to be compensated up to $3,000 a year in tuition and fees and up to $1,500 a year for part-time employees.

“58 percent of student employees participating in Nature’s Sunshine’s’ tuition reimbursement program are UVU students. UVU students are smart, motivated, tech-savvy and provide good customer service,” Geslison said. “… There is a philosophy of outreach at UVU to the business community, and we appreciate that and really value that.”

Jeri Allphin, director of Alumni Relations, encourages the business community to submit nominations for future honorees. For more information about the Engaged Business Award contact Jeri Allphin at 801-863-8553.