Stargazing at BYU ✨ | Animation Genes

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Aerial view at dusk of BYU’s West Mountain Observatory overlooking Utah Lake, where students use a 36-inch telescope to study deep-space objects, with a play button overlay.

Looking Up

About 25 miles southwest of campus, BYU students use the 36-inch telescope at the West Mountain Observatory to peer deep into the universe at objects thousands of light-years away. For these students astronomy is about more than math and physics: It’s standing beneath a dark sky to experience the wonder of God’s creations with their own eyes. Read a short Y Magazine article and watch the BYU video.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong speaks at a BYU University Conference address titled “Becoming BYU in an Age of Artificial Intelligence,” with a play button overlay.

Can AI Be a Blessing?

In his recent address at BYU, Elder Gerrit W. Gong said he believes “the coming of AI to the futures of all of our students, employees, and associates is one of the greatest opportunities we have” and we should embrace the educational potential. He also shared that AI, when used correctly and with the guidance of the Spirit, can help BYU truly become the Lord’s university. Watch the full address.

Thousands of incoming BYU students dressed in blue form a giant Y in LaVell Edwards Stadium beneath a scoreboard welcoming the class of 2026, with a play button overlay.

A New Serif in Town

“You are the Y; you belong here,” said BYU President C. Shane Reese to thousands of royal-clad freshmen gathered in a familiar form in the stadium’s south end zone. Enjoy this year’s traditional letter-making in this recap video. Then check out a few images from the first day of fall semester classes.

Sharing His Light

Building on the gifts of light celebrated during BYU’s 150th year, the university’s messaging theme for 2026–27 is “Seeking and Sharing His Light: As disciples of Jesus Christ, we seek and share His light through our pursuit of truth, our love of God and all His children, and our service to the world.” Get inspired by watching this year’s institutional spot, “The Power of And.”

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Former BYU Cougarettes coach Jodi Maxfield sits in a dance studio as dancers practice around her, accompanying a story about her battle with ovarian cancer.

A Courageous Cougarette

In her many years of coaching, Jodi Maxfield never backed down from a challenge. When she retired in 2020, the Midvale, Utah, native had coached the Cougarettes to 19 collegiate national titles. This year, 10 months into a mission with her husband, Jodi received the devastating diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Read how this former BYU coach stared down cancer with trademark grit and faith—and with support from her husband, the Cougarettes, friends, missionaries, and angels.

Get Set to Sing

“The Cougar Song,” in a rousing performance by the BYU Men’s Chorus, is now streaming on your favorite music service. Get ready for this year’s athletic events by adding it to your playlist and singing along. Check it out.

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BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble members perform outdoors for a crowd during their summer European tour, accompanied by musicians from Mountain Strings, with a play button overlay.

International Influence

Student performers from BYU’s International Folk Dance Ensemble and Mountain Strings share what they learned during their summer tour to Hungary, Romania, and Belgium in this lively video.

BYU football player runs with the ball in a promotional graphic for the season-opening game against Utah Tech.

It’s Game Time

This webpage is your one-stop for everything related to this week’s BYU football game against Utah Tech. Updates will be posted as they become available, including broadcast plans, news, videos, and game notes. Find all the info and links here.

BYU animation professor Craig P. Van Dyke and his son Connor sit together in a Y Magazine podcast graphic about two generations of award-winning BYU animators.

Animated Characters

BYU animation professor Craig Van Dyke recently had a full-circle moment as he watched his son, Connor, win a student Emmy for the short film Love and Gold. Craig won a student Emmy in 2004 for BYU's first-ever computer-animated film, Lemmings. Watch or listen to this Y Magazine podcast episode to hear this father-son duo share a unique perspective on the growth, grit, and success they experienced in one of the most storied animation programs in the nation.

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Video: Superstitious BYU Fans Featured in a New Allstate Commercial