SLCC dedicates green space to former college president

Salt Lake Community College officials this week dedicated newly opened green space at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus to former school President Jay L. Nelson, who for 29 years led the institution when it was called Utah Technical College.

Family members pose in front of a portrait of former SLCC President Jay L. Nelson

Workers this past summer demolished the old Jay L. Nelson Administration Building, which was built in 1967. In its place the college has established a green space along Redwood Road on the east side of the campus. Children of the late Nelson – Bruce, Craig, Linda (Smith) and Jerry – attended a dedication ceremony Monday at a spot where a engraved glass bench and paver stones bearing their names will serve as a monument in honor of their father’s legacy.

“President Nelson is credited with establishing the first program advisory committees that today still help the College determine how to best meet the needs of business and industry in the Salt Lake Valley,” said SLCC President Dr. Deneece G. Huftalin. “He also guided the College through its first full accreditation process in the Northwest Region. And he began a program through the construction trades that gave students opportunities to learn while building homes that actually went on the market and were sold to families – and that program, which results every year in new “project houses,” still exists and is winning awards.”

Bruce Nelson speaks on behalf of Jay L. Nelson's four children

Nelson is remembered for defending the college’s singular role in the community as a technical school, arguing against any attempts to merge the school with other institutions. Today SLCC is Utah’s leading supplier of career and technical education (CTE) courses in the state, providing more than 28,000 students each year with classes across 29 CTE programs.

The old administration building was replaced by a new 136,000-square-foot facility, which opened last year at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. The new Academic and Administration Building serves students with 40 classrooms and it carries a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver certification.

SLCC President Dr. Deneece G. Huftalin poses with Jay L. Nelson's children

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog