Deans at Salt Lake Community College wanted to offer graduates some inspiring thoughts, to say a few words about what they accomplished in the face of historic challenges and to talk about the significance of the college’s virtual commencement on June 26.
Graduates can find more information and RSVP for SLCC’s online commencement ceremony by clicking here – the deadline to RSVP is June 1.
Here’s what the deans had to say.
Gary Cox
Interim Dean, School of Applied Technology & Technical Specialties
My heroes have always been people (real people) who somehow find that the world, and their own lives, are better when they give their time and talents to a cause that is bigger than themselves. They leave things better than they find them. The pandemic experience is providing us with amazing examples of that word, hero, recognizing the extraordinary work that is done every day by normal, everyday people. Incredible faculty members have figured out ways to teach in a remote environment and make the experience engaging and rewarding for their students. Committed students have embraced the challenges and freedom that has come from this new environment and found a new perspective and increased growth as they drove themselves toward graduation. We each can do small things that help us adapt, improve and be better prepared for the next great “thing.”
You will be the first, and possibly the only, graduating class that has an online commencement ceremony. How novel. How unique. It’s not the same as all the others that have happened before. Isn’t that wonderful? I encourage you to participate in the event and enjoy the recognition afforded to you for your academic accomplishments. Many of you are setting the standards for your own friends and family members. Every one of us has the power to be a hero – to leave things better than they were when we got here – whether with a smile or kind word, or perhaps something that changes the world.
Craig Caldwell
Dean of Science, Math, and Engineering
A good story is one of the most powerful experiences we can share when connecting with other human beings. A narrative that shows resiliency, dedication, grace under fire… this is something we all love, and if we are honest, hope for the chance to be part of. We want our own story to show us as one of those people that rose when times were tough. We want to point our friends and family to our story and know they will find inspiration in our accomplishments.
I truly believe that you are in the midst of writing one of the most important chapters of your story right now. In the midst of this adversity we are all living through, you are connected by shared experience to every other person in the world. As you approach your graduation and the leap to what comes next, don’t be discouraged or regretful. Instead, seize this moment as a singular and important event and celebrate it as part of your story. Your accomplishment in a tough time is a milestone on the journey to a meaningful life - so mark it in your memory and call on that memory in the days to come as proof that you have the right stuff! The value of commencement is not in doing it the same as others have done before you. The value is in taking the time to claim this moment for yourself and write it into your personal narrative so that you can point to it and say “See! I did that!”
When I look back on Spring semester 2020, the thoughts about the COVID-19 pandemic will certainly be there. However, what I will remember most is the amazing resiliency of SLCC students as they overcame numerous personal, local, national and global challenges. In my role at the College, I became aware of many (too many) students who lost a job(s), faced food insecurity, homelessness, and mental/emotional health crisis during this extremely difficult time.
Despite these challenges, SLCC students remained committed to their pursuit of higher education, even if that meant finishing the last eight weeks of the spring semester in a distance learning format. As a former SLCC student and proud graduate, I commend all those graduating from SLCC this year! I encourage you to take part in the virtual commencement ceremony, which will likely be a one-of-a-kind event that you will be able to share with family and friends for the rest of your life. You deserve to be celebrated. You deserve to be remembered. You deserve to be an SLCC graduate. Go BRUINS!!!
Erica Koch Wight
Dean, School of Health Sciences
It is my honor to salute you for your amazing academic accomplishment during this time of uncertainty. You are strong individuals who have risen to the challenge of adapting to change, persevering while learning new ways to study, and continuing to move forward in your quest for knowledge. While the world may not look like we had hoped it would to celebrate you, know that you are a champion of overcoming adversity, you are resilient, and capable of anything you set out to do.
I encourage you to participate in the online commencement ceremony. You and your classmates have conquered unimaginable challenges together, join them one last time to celebrate the incredible accomplishment of your graduation. My motto comes from a quote by Vince Lombardi, which reads, “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” You are successful because of the work and sacrifices you have made, the support of not only your colleagues but those who love and care about you! I am so very proud of you! May you know that you in my mind and heart as you have made a lasting impression to all that were fortunate enough to get to know you. SLCC School of Health Sciences celebrates with and for you. Congratulations!
Dennis Bromley
Dean, School of Business
As a student, I recall getting the following advice: Don’t let your schooling interfere with your education. The degree you earned represents a composite of the classes you took; your schooling. Education captures the entire journey you took from the time you started until now and includes your vast and diverse experiences along the way. Experiences with others, exposure to diverse ways of thinking, engaging with people from different cultures, navigating the complex system of higher education, and figuring out how to understand the college catalog have all prepared you for success in a rapidly changing world.
Now we turn to the future. What lies ahead? One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie Star Trek: “Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Your ongoing mission to explore strange, new worlds; to seek out new life forms and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before.” The world is changing at an exponential pace. Knowledge is increasing, technologies advance and you will lead that change. I can’t predict what it will look like, but I can promise the journey will be fast paced and exhilarating. Your schooling and education have prepared you for what is to come. My advice: For prosperity, buy low and sell high, but above all, enjoy the journey!
Richard E. Scott
Dean, School of Arts, Communications & Media
It has been an extraordinary two months. Congratulations to everyone for weathering the difficulties and moving forward with your graduation. I hope you will take the time to commemorate your efforts by joining in on the commencement proceedings.
This is a great opportunity to contemplate what you have accomplished and promise yourself to continue to build your future via your education. This is an important step, but just that – a step on the path of your life. Take a moment to treasure this experience. Thank your loved ones for their support. Congratulate yourself for your success. Most importantly, believe in what you have done and what you will do in the future. Good fortune to you all!
Roderic R. Land
Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
In so many ways, you have proven to yourself, your family, your community and the rest of the world, your resilience. When things got tough, you persevered. When the winds of life raged, you stood your ground; When there appeared to be no end in sight, you refocused. As you have ascertained some level of success, may I encourage you to keep growing, keep building and keep pressing forward to new heights and new dreams. I like how one author said it, “your dreams should always out pace your current condition to achieve them.”
While we celebrate you and your recent accomplishments, may I remind you that no one makes it alone. Whether it was a parent, spouse, a child, a professor, a staff member, clergy, or any kind of significant other, there was support. In the same fashion that you were supported, please remember to reach back and bring someone else along. Having said that, I’ll leave you with this, my life’s creed/motto. Continue to H.O.P.E. Yes, have hope in the basic sense of the word. But for me, as you may notice, it’s an acronym. Help Others Progress Everyday! Congratulations, and I pray continued success in and over your life.
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