Four at SLCC Bring Home NASPA Awards

Salt Lake Community College President Deneece G. Huftalin and three others at the college have won Region 5 NASPA (National Association for Student Personnel Administrators) awards for their efforts in supporting and improving student programs and services on campus.

SLCC President Dr. Deneece G. Huftalin

Huftalin received the President’s Award for advancing the quality of student life on campus in part by supporting student affairs through “consistent advocacy for and participation in the holistic student experience for at least seven years.” Those who work for her say Huftalin leads with “integrity in advancing a bold vision centered on student success, equity, inclusion and social justice” and makes “those around her feel recognized and valued for the contributions they make to the student experience.”

Others at the college who received awards were:

Lee Martinez (recently retired), former assistant director of Academic Advising at SLCC – Community College Professional award

Richard Diaz, director of the Orientation & Student Success program at SLCC – Outstanding Mid-Level Professional award.

Austin Fashimpaur, SLCC Student Association senator and Civically Engaged Scholar – Undergraduate Rising Star award.

Austin Fashimpaur

In a nomination letter for the award, Austin, who is majoring in computer science at SLCC, is described as having an “outstanding grasp of logic, maturity beyond his years, willingness to step outside his comfort zone and communication skills that have made him a standout student.” He was noted in particular for his efforts with recycling and sustainability on campus.

Richard Diaz

Diaz is credited with leading the strategic development and opening of SLCC’s Dream Center and its Gender and Sexuality Resource Center. In his nomination letter, Dr. Kathryn Kay Coquemont, Associate Vice President for Student Success, wrote, “I believe Richard Diaz is an outstanding mid-level professional due to his expertise in our field and because of his focus on making practices and programs accessible to everyone.”

Lee Martinez

Martinez was a lawyer and politically active in the community when he started as an academic advisor at SLCC 12 years ago, thinking the job would be temporary. “I truly enjoyed what I was doing helping students and it quickly became home and you all became family for me,” Martinez wrote in a retirement notice this year. Martinez leaves SLCC with a legacy of “love, determination, justice and growth,” wrote Ashley Sokia, director of Academic Advising for SLCC.

NASPA, founded in 1918, is now a “member-centered association supporting a diverse and passionate network of 15,000 professionals and 1,200 institutions” in all 50 states, 25 countries and eight U.S. territories.

The regional awards have been forwarded for consideration of NASPA central awards.

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