’81STEVE & TONI CAPLIN

Steve and Toni Caplin developed strong connections to Dixie College long before becoming students on campus. Steve fondly remembers attending college sporting events with his high school friends, cheering on college athletes, and immersing himself in the University. Toni is a fifth-generation daughter of St. George pioneers. Her great-great-grandfather, George Brooks, was a stonemason who built Dixie College’s first structures. George’s son, Samuel Brooks, was the University’s first-ever student.

“We met at the Institute of Religion on campus, so of course the University has a lot of wonderful, beautiful memories for us,” Toni said. “As a small college, everyone knew each other, the professors were fantastic, and they prepared us so well for the next steps in our education.”

Steve served as student body president and Toni was a member of the drill team and a D-Week committee chair. After they earned associate degrees from Dixie, Steve earned the distinction of “the outstanding accounting student” at Southern Utah University and then earned an MBA in entrepreneurship and high technology from the University of Texas at Austin. Toni earned her BA from Utah State University.

The Caplins continued to support the University long after graduation. Toni has served on the Dixie State Alumni Board and as a board chair of the Celebrity Concert Series. Toni carried on her family’s legacy of teaching by lending her talents in piano and organ performance to the University’s Music Department as an organ instructor.

“Five generations have taught at the college,” Steve said. “Toni’s great-grandmother Juanita Brooks (English), grandfather Walt Brooks (Spanish), father Paul Brooks (mathematics), herself (organ performance), and now our son Nathan (Juvenile Justice, Political Science, Economics).”

Steve helped lead Dixie’s transition to university status as chair of the Board of Trustees, serving ten years on the