The College Tour at SUU: Daviann “Davi” Kauweloa
Posted: December 09, 2021 | Author: Savannah Byers | Read Time: 3 minutes
Daviann “Davi” Kauweloa was one of ten students featured on Southern Utah University’s episode of The College Tour, a new national TV series that provides a closer look at the heart of college campuses across the country. Kauweloa, a junior majoring in nursing from Las Vegas, Nevada, talked about finding her place at SUU as a first-generation college student. SUU is the first Utah campus to be featured.
“Filming was loads of fun and it was so awesome to work with The College Tour and SUU’s team,” said Kauweloa. “I was super nervous about memorizing lines and getting out the message that I wanted about my experiences at SUU but they made it so fun and easy!”
Kauweloa’s segment of the episode discussed how the peer mentoring program and the supportive professors at SUU have helped her succeed as a student. ACES, Assistant Coaches for Excellence and Success, are upperclassmen who help freshmen through their first year of college- academically, socially, and personally. Kauweloa is still friends with her ACE assigned to her during her freshman year.
“From the moment that I first stepped on SUU’s campus, I knew there was something special here,” said Kauweloa. “As a first generation student, I didn’t know what to expect coming to college. While I came to SUU in hopes to get into the nursing program, I have stayed for so many other reasons.”
In addition to the ACES program, Kauweloa has also been impressed with the university’s supportive and inclusive faculty and staff. In the episode, she shares that in all her time on campus she never felt like just another student. She always felt like she mattered and had a voice. One professor Kauweloa connected with was Professor Elaine Vickers, assistant professor of chemistry.
“Everybody should have a Davi in their life,” said Professor Vickers. “Somebody who is kind, thoughtful, endlessly positive, dependable, and incredibly intelligent. I've been lucky enough to know Davi as a student, a teaching assistant, and as a member of our STEM Leadership Board, and I can say with great confidence that wherever she goes, whatever she does, she just shines. I have no doubt that will continue beyond her time at SUU, in all that she does. We are beyond lucky that Davi chose to come to SUU.”
SUU is proud to be home to the #1 nursing program among Utah's public universities. With a consistent 95%+ passing rate of the NCLEX and a 100% NCLEX passing rate in spring of 2020, Kauweloa is proud to be part of the esteemed program.
“I feel better prepared for my career as a healthcare professional because of the supportive staff and opportunities I’ve been given here,” Kauweloa said. “At SUU there is a personalized student-first approach from professors to staff to other students. SUU is truly dedicated to the students as they help each to succeed in their academic and career endeavors.”
After her graduation in spring of 2023, Kauweloa would like to work in a hospital on a pediatric unit. Since The College Tour aired, Kauweloa has been working as a Lead on campus. SUU Leads are peer mentors who work closely with sophomores and transfer students.
SUU’s episode of The College Tour aired on August 19, 2021 and is available to watch on YouTube, Amazon Prime, and The College Tour website. The episode features ten students from different corners of campus, each offering their own story about the university. Learn more about The College Tour students.
Tags: College of Health Sciences Nursing The College Tour
