When I graduated in 2009, it didn’t take long for me to decide I wanted to give back when I had the time to do so. (I’m not sure I have the time now, but they tell me it won’t get any easier as we add more kids.) I had a dream of setting up a scholarship fund and resources to help out students as they ventured off campus and into the world. In 2019 I decided it was finally time to get off the sidelines. The Murray High community has all the tools, resources, and passion to make something like this a success. I sincerely believe Murray has one of the best alumni communities in the state, and with a little organization, we can do a lot of good and recognize the good that’s already taking place. When I see something that can be done, and should be done, it’s hard for me to sit on the sidelines for too long before I see what I can do about it.
My hope is that this becomes much bigger than myself or the other board members who have helped lift this off the ground. There are so many ideas and initiatives we can pursue. This is why we need your help. With a little creativity, there are a lot of ways for us to do good, recognize the great alumni among us, and provide a platform for students of Murray High to have every chance to succeed. We need you to volunteer, donate, and get involved. Join our board if this excites you like it does me! Bring your talents and resources to the table. I think there’s a place for everyone to help us help students create a better life for themselves. I’m proud of what we’ve done in such a short amount of time already, and I’m excited to meet more of you as we continue to preserve the spartan spirit and give back to deserving students.
Go Spartans!
– Spencer Olsen, Class of 2009
Spencer spent his childhood in Murray, growing up in the same house on AppleVale drive. During high school he played on the soccer team, ran cross country, and participated in acapella choir and student government. He was the SBO President his senior year and graduated in 2009. After high school he spent a couple years at the University of Utah, served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and finished his undergrad at BYU. He wishes he could say he was involved in a lot of things at BYU, but the truth is he made it in by the skin of his teeth and graduated the same way.
On the side he loves to work with startups & small businesses and enjoys the rush of creating something out of nothing. He also has a deep passion for personal finance and can often be found talking about it to someone who has probably long since tuned out of the conversation. Hiking, running, and playing basketball with his kids are his go to activities on the weekend.
Spencer has a passion for helping kids receive the best opportunities possible to grow and succeed, like he feels he received due to his great upbringing by his parents, as well as many invested teachers and mentors. Spencer and Angela currently live in Eagle Mountain, UT, so if you’re ever willing to take a road trip with your family, they welcome the company.
Blake Voorhees graduated from Murray High School in 2003. He participated in choir, orchestra, school musicals and was a member of the tennis team. Blake was Murray High’s Sterling Scholar for music in 2003.
After high school, Blake received an Associate Degree from Salt Lake Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication/Public Relations from the University of Utah, a Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law, and a Masters (LL.M.) in Taxation from New York University School of Law. Blake is currently an attorney and shareholder at the law firm Ray Quinney & Nebeker, where he focuses his practice in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, business formation and planning, mergers & acquisitions, nonprofit organizations, and taxation.
Blake and his wife, Amy (who is also a graduate of Murray High School), moved back to Murray in 2014. They have four children, with two of them currently attending Horizon Elementary. In his spare time, Blake loves spending time with his family and is passionate about anything having to do with golf.
Christian Hunter graduated from Murray High in 2010 where he played in the Jazz Band and on the soccer team, ran cross country and was a founding member of “BOS” or Boys of Sparta which is now known as Men of Sparta. After graduating, Christian studied Mechanical Engineering at Utah State University and was an Engineering Ambassador. He graduated in 2016 and has since worked for In-Position Technologies first as an Application Engineer and now as a Sales Engineer. In his current role he sells robots and other automation equipment to manufacturing companies throughout Utah. Christian still plays soccer but doesn’t run like he used to and hasn’t touched his trombone in years.