Not so mean after all, the Grinch visits Southern Utah schools, hands out special gifts – St George News

ST. GEORGE – A green visitor straight out of Whoville visited Utah Tech University and students from local schools last Thursday, bestowing gifts to teachers, staff and students.

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who visited local elementary schools and Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, main characters from the Dr. Seuss classic children’s book and video “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” made their way around town during an event organized by Balance of Nature, a national company that provides vitamin, nutrition and health products.

The Grinch’s makeup was prepared by professional experts and played by one of the company’s executives. The company, however, did not release the name of the executive.

But Jason Clement, a Balance of Nature representative, did tell St. George News this event was all about spreading a bit of holiday cheer.

“A few minutes just to walk through campuses and cause a little Christmas cheer is what it is all about,” Clement said.

The visitations at select elementary schools and the university began at 7:30 am and went until almost 9 pm Youth attended assemblies and had a chance to see the Grinch and Cindy Lou, while Utah Tech saw “the mean one” running around campus.

The Grinch stopped by Utah Tech at about 4 pm and was seen distributing papers to Trailblazer Athletics personnel and coaches, gifts of jury duty summons and eviction notices, as well as munching on onions.

His trek around campus started at the Burns Center, where he visited the athletics offices and headed down to the Greater Zion Stadium to spend time with the Trailblazer baseball team, stopping to pose for a photo.

He talked to coaches and pleaded for a football scholarship to play on the line. He and Cindy Lou were even given a tour by Ken Beazer, executive director of intercollegiate athletics.

“This is just a lot of fun, and the students and student-athletes love it,” Beazer said.

The Grinch then visited the academic counseling offices, presenting gifts to students and taking selfies. Malena Noriega, a freshman communications major, and Kaylee Vaughan, a freshman psychology major, were working the front desk and were taken by surprise but loved their gifts. Both students are from Ogden.

“I got an eviction notice, and I love it,” Noriega said.

Her work partner showed off the gift she had received.

“I got jury duty, and hopefully, I get out of it,” Vaughan said.

The holiday visitors went throughout the Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons and Library and along Trailblazer Boulevard.

Then after running around campus, leaving his green mark, the Grinch left at approximately 5 pm with a small message for all to hear: “Christmas is not about presents. It’s not about me. It’s not about gifts, expensive or free. It’s not about what’s in your cart but helping others and the size of your heart.”

PhotoGallery

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who visited local elementary schools and Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who joined the Trailblazer Baseball Team at Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who pose with Ronda Neilson and Garrett Rose at the Utah Tech academic counseling offices on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who visited Michael Smith with Utah Tech Football on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who with a future Trailblazer at Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

The Grinch gives an onion to athletic trainer Barb Russell at Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

Kelby Hofheins, Assistant Athletics Director, laughs at his gift at Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

The Grinch and Cindy Lou visit with a couple of soccer athletes at Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

Athletic Director Ken Beazer gets grinchy looks at Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

Trailblazer baseball athlete receives an eviction notice at Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who visited local elementary schools and Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

Utah Tech students, Malena Noriega and Kaylee Vaughan, were caught by surprise by the Grinch at Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who visited local elementary schools and Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

Malena Noriega of Ogden gets her eviction notice from the Grinch at Utah Tech on Thursday, St. George, Utah, Dec. 1, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St George News

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

Nick Yamashita has extensive experience reporting for small town media, covering a variety of subjects and events for The Virgin River Times and The Progress in Southern Nevada. Before a career in journalism, he worked a variety of jobs in criminal justice systems. Yamashita holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Southern Utah University. He is an award-winning photographer and writer. He has been published in scholarly articles and poetry compilations. In his spare time, he practices and teaches martial arts.

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