Salt Lake Community College welcomed back scholarship donors and recipients to the annual scholarship luncheon recently at the Miller Campus, notably to celebrate in person.
After pivoting to a virtual event last year in the wake of the pandemic, this year’s scholarship luncheon was met with high spirits and gracious smiles. This longstanding event opens the door for SLCC donors to meet and engage with the students they support. The celebration also allows students the opportunity to thank their scholarship supporters for making their education dreams a reality.
“Education is transformative for both our students and our communities,” said SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin. “Students who attend college find they have more options to support themselves and their families. Education has the power to lift those who are experiencing poverty or financial hardships and change generations to come.”
Attendees heard from scholarship recipients as they shared how being awarded a scholarship changed their lives. Students Damian Barrios Saavedra, Paul Hakizimana, Kadi Sow and Keyla Alvarez spoke in front of approximately 140 guests, including many scholarship donors.
Damian Barrios Saavedra, recipient of the Jerry Taylor Endowed Scholarship, is an international student from Costa Rica. He is completing an associate’s degree in business from SLCC and is hopeful of his future. “At my age, doing what I am doing is something often referred to as non-traditional, but none of us here is a ‘traditional’ individual,” said Barrios Saavedra. “We all break molds, push forward, work toward a brighter future and use our imagination and talents to create solutions for todays and tomorrow’s problems, together as a community.”
Growing up in Rwanda, Paul Hakizimana experienced living in a country torn apart by genocide. However, Hakizimana still remains hopeful for a better future. “Many of us would not be able to have such a wonderful college experience without the help of generous donors like you,” he said. “Our stories have been heavily impacted by you and changed from stories of hardship to stories of hope, light and vision.” Hakizimana is earning an associate’s degree in business and is a proud recipient of the Kem & Carolyn Gardner Scholarship.
As a child of immigrants and a first-generation college student, Kadi Sow is pursuing a degree in international global studies. Sow said SLCC has helped her get out of her comfort zone and allowed her the opportunity to help the community, locally and globally. “Because of the opportunity that the Alberta Henry Scholarship has given me, I’m more than grateful to have used the funds to open the door closer to my dreams.”
Keyla Alvarez, a first-generation college student and recipient of the SelectHealth LatinX Scholarship, is currently earning an Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology. “The SelectHealth LatinX Scholarship was the answer to what I wanted in my college experience, and not only did it pay for my first two years of college, but it also offered me a paid summer internship,” said Alvarez. “I am so thankful to SelectHealth for giving me a chance and believing in me to be successful in college.”
Guest scholarship donor speaker Greg Reid, Senior Manager of Public and Community Relations for SelectHealth, encouraged others to do more to support students in their educational journey. “I challenge all of you to do more in your donorship that will push students toward their success. Be active, not passive, in your influence on students. Diversity is part of all of our success.”
The SelectHealth LatinX Scholarship is a two-year, full scholarship for Hispanic and LatinX freshmen with demonstrated financial need who are interested in a career in healthcare.
“It’s so amazing to hear the stories of hardworking students and be able to celebrate with them as they meet with their scholarship donors,” said Mario Organista, Development Officer of Stewardship and Scholarship. “We thank all of our supporters for making such a huge difference in the lives of SLCC students.”
The annual celebration is one way the college thanks scholarship donors and supporters for helping to realize SLCC’s goal of raising sufficient scholarship support so that any student, regardless of background or financial means, can attain a college degree.
Scholarships change the lives of students who otherwise might not be able to go to college. For more information about how you can make a difference in a student’s life, please visit http://www.slcc.edu/donate/.
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