Skip to main content

Cool Classes: Tennis


Kristel Alpaca (l-r), Maria Angel, Isaac Richardson, Kiara Allred, Hayden Kidd and Sandra Popayan

Kristel Alpaca graduated in 2018 from Salt Lake Community College with an associate’s degree in business. But there she was recently on a warm summer day at 6 p.m. on the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, tennis racquet in hand and ready to learn with her friend Sandra Popayan.

The two were among 12 who had enrolled in Clinton Broadhead’s Tennis II, which teaches students to adjust their strokes “according to power, control, height of bounces, speeds and angles." It’s a course designed for fun, competition and encourages lifelong participation. The “fun” part is what attracts many students like Alpaca, 23, who has an SLCC Zumba class under her belt, and Popayan, 40, new to tennis and loving it.

Kiara Allred unleashes a serve.

Isaac Richardson and Hayden Kidd needed the single course credit from a loaded Lifelong Wellness catalog to fulfill a degree requirement. Richardson, 22, of Sandy, is studying business and plans on transferring to a four-year institution. “It’s been a lot of fun,” he says. “I never tried tennis before. It’s the easiest class I’ve ever taken.” Kidd, 20, of West Valley City, is a computer science major and describes the class as “freaking great.”

Maria Angel, 21, of Holladay, is pursuing a future in dentistry while working on her associate’s degree at SLCC. In the realm of “cool classes” you can take at the college, though not a Lifelong Wellness course, Angel lists marine biology among the top, especially since she had the opportunity to spend a lot of time at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

Instructor Clinton Broad offers advice to the group.

The ringer in Broadhead’s class, however, has to be Kiara Allred, 18, a newly minted graduate of Union High School and a member of its tennis team for three years. She’s studying health sciences, might be a nurse someday, and naturally figured the class would not only be an easy “A” but also fun – unless you’re on the other side of the net from her. “She’s harassing us,” someone pipes in from the group, which responds in laughter.

Game. Set. Fun, for Allred and everyone else on the court.


Hayden Kidd works on his return (and socks) game!

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

SLCC's Undergraduate Annual Research Conference Registration Deadline

Salt Lake Community College’s annual Undergraduate Projects, Performances, Presentations, and Research Conference (UP3RC) is set to take place on April 2, at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, offering students a chance to showcase their academic achievements, fostering a culture of intellectual exchange.  The UP3RC is an annual event designed to celebrate and highlight the academic accomplishments of undergraduate students. It provides a supportive environment for students to share their work, hone their presentations skills, receive constructive feedback, and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers and faculty. All SLCC departments and programs, including faculty and staff, are encouraged to support and visit the day of the event. Students with their poster from last year's UPRC event “The goal of this event is to make sure every school and student is given the opportunity to participate,” says Dr. Kamal Bewar, interim director of the STEM Learning Center, who is chairin...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

HB 261 and HB 257 Frequently Asked Questions

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students: The Utah Legislature recently passed two bills that significantly impact higher education:  HB 261  Equal Opportunity Initiatives and HB  257  Sex-Based Designations for Privacy, Anti-Bullying, and Women’s Opportunities. Salt Lake Community College is deeply committed to our students, faculty, and staff. We strive to be a place where all are welcomed and respected. While there are many unknowns about the ultimate effect these bills will have on some student and staff support programs, be assured that SLCC will maintain an environment where all can find success and feel a sense of belonging. In the coming months, college leadership will work to gain clarity and determine the changes necessary for legislative compliance. We will also share this information as it becomes available.  We realize that during this time, some in our college community may feel unsettled and stressed. We encourage you to make use of available SLCC resourc...
Post a Comment
Read more