SLCC aviation maintenance team brings home first from national competition

For the first time ever, a team of Salt Lake Community College aviation maintenance students, including three females, brought home a first-place prize from the annual Aerospace Maintenance Competition, which this year was held April 14-16 in Miami.

The prize is a big deal for Todd Baird, program coordinator for SLCC’s aviation maintenance program. “We get national notoriety for our students and their skills,” Baird said. “Even though we’re a community college, we’re competing against four-year schools, private schools and other community colleges. It’s nice to be in the conversation about schools to attend for aviation maintenance. By winning this competition, we are definitely in that conversation.”

Gina Gottfredson Kelly (l-r), Rozie Nelson, Rahcel Williams, Gary Driscoll, Scott Pugh and a Snap-on representative.

Assistant professor of aviation maintenance, Jamie Horning, accompanied 10 students, all of whom raised their own money through SLCC’s Aviation Maintenance Club. Divided into two teams, the prize-winning “yellow” team consisted of Gary Driscoll, Gina Gottfredson Kelly, Rozie Nelson, Scott Pugh and Rachel Williams. Teams compete at timed skills tests that include safeguarding components of an airplane, repairing a cockpit window, removing sealant from parts and troubleshooting instruments that measure air speed and altitude. Those who finish the fastest and with the least amount of errors emerge the winners.

“It says we are one of the top schools in the country. It really makes us stand out in front of all the professionals,” Horning said. “They did a great job. They worked their tails off to get where they got.” For one of the skills tests that involved fabricating a new line for hydraulic fluid and retesting the line, the college and university teams competed against professionals in the aviation industry, the military and private maintenance repair operations – and SLCC beat them all in a competition in which few females participate. SLCC’s yellow team was the only one with three females.

“It’s pretty awesome, because there’s not many women competing,” said Gottfredson Kelly. “We just put our all into it – 110 percent.” Her team practiced the skills they’d need every afternoon leading up to the competition and every day during their spring break. She is pursuing an associate degree for aviation maintenance technician and, because of the competition, has already drawn interest from companies like UPS and FedEx. “It’s been a man’s world, and women are realizing, ‘Hey, we can do it,’” she said. “It’s becoming more and more prominent that women are seen that they can do it, if not better.”

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...

The Center for Prior Learning Receives an Honorable Mention

Today, SLCC's Credit for Prior Learning department received an Honorable Mention from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL ) and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education for its intentional approach and for expanding student options to receive credit for prior learning. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) allows students to obtain college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside of the traditional academic environment. This is exceptionally beneficial for adult learners, who, according to CAEL, have a 17% higher chance of graduating compared to those adults who don’t earn credits through prior learning programs. The CPL department at SLCC was created in 2020 and since then the volume of students served has grown as the department continues to expand. To be eligible for CPL, students must be working towards a degree, certificate, or apprenticeship. Director of Credit for Prior Learning at SLCC, Andrea Tipton, mentioned fee...

Board of Higher Ed names Gregory F. Peterson 9th SLCC President

The Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously selected Gregory F. Peterson, Ed.D., as the ninth president of Salt Lake Community College today, following an extensive national search. Peterson will assume the position on July 1, 2024, and succeeds Deneece G. Huftalin, who served as president from 2014-2024. “I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as Salt Lake Community College’s next president, and I look forward to reinforcing SLCC’s commitment to providing educational pathways for transfer and workforce that improve the lives of every member of our community,” Peterson said. “SLCC has an amazing future ahead, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of that journey.” As part of its delegated duties and responsibilities, the SLCC Board of Trustees named an 11-member committee in December 2023 to conduct a national search for the next president of SLCC. The committee is composed of representatives from the Utah Board of Higher Education and SLCC trustees, facul...

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