Staff, faculty and administrators came together for the college’s annual Employee Recognition Celebration on April 8. The day serves to acknowledge employees who displayed a commitment to Salt Lake Community College’s mission, vision and values through their work. The college presented the Outstanding Staff Awards and service awards based on an incremental five-year milestone. Retirees and COVID-19 Task Force members were also recognized.
President Huftalin opened the celebration with the college’s historical moments and played a college promotional video created in 1949 entitled “Learn to Earn - Learn to Live” and a second promotion video produced in 2014. The visual evolution of the marketing videos mirrored the day’s theme: SLCC has grown and changed, but its vision remains the same.
Outstanding Staff Awards
Gender and Sexuality Student Resource Center Coordinator and Staff Association President Elect Peter Moosman presented the Outstanding Staff Awards, an annual recognition given to staff who excelled in thier responsibilities and worked hard to advance the college’s strategic goals. Moosman shared a record number of 39 employees were nominated for their work at the college. Congratulations to the following Outstanding Staff Award recipients:
Part-Time Staff
- Jordin Hartley, South City coordinator, Student Writing & Reading Center
- John Hurst, lab coordinator, Enrollment Services
Full-Time Staff
- Zitlalli Herrera, coordinator, Orientation & Student Success
- Glory Johnson-Stanton, manager, Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
- Amy Minshall, administrative assistant, Division of Health Professions
- Ashley Noble, coordinator, Student Services
President Huftalin thanked those who nominated their colleagues, noting that it is “lovely” to be recognized. She also encouraged everyone to pay attention to who is doing “great things” throughout 2022.
COVID-19 Task Force
President Huftalin acknowledged the college’s COVID-19 Task Force, a core group of employees who managed all that was necessary to keep the college community healthy and safe. The president mentioned former leaders Dr. Chuck Lepper, Shannon McWilliams and Dr. Kathie Campbell.
“Given the quick-moving conditions connected to the pandemic, this group was critical in making decisions, pivoting quickly and helping the college successfully weather the effects of the virus on the college’s employees and operations,” said President Huftalin.
Years of Service Awards
Institutional Effectiveness Vice President Jeff Aird introduced almost 300 full-time and part-time faculty, staff and administrators who reached various years-of-service milestones at SLCC. Aird encouraged the awardees to share a quick memory of their work at the college.
Library Services Specialist Julie Meldrum was commended for having been with the college for five years and shared their experience as a daughter of immigrants and a first-generation student. “I love working with the students at Miller,” said Meldrum. “Just about the end of every semester, I’ll have a student walk in and say, ‘Thank you for your help this semester. I’m graduating.’ That touches me so much … that they would come to the library and thank [me] for the service I’ve given them.”
Contact Center Interim Director Seini Pahulu, who celebrated 10 years working at the institution, shared their long journey with the college. Pahulu mentioned that they began working for SLCC in 2004 and left for another institution but returned to SLCC because the college felt like home. “I’m just so grateful for this opportunity and for the work we’re engaged in because there’s a lot of work to do,” said Pahulu.
ASL/Interpreting Associate Professor Connie Spanton-Jex celebrated 20 years with the college. Spanton-Jex mentioned the program’s movement throughout different schools and buildings and the college’s continuous support despite the many changes.
Public Safety Executive Director Shane Crabtree shared that he still likes his job even after being at SLCC for 30 years. “I often get asked, ‘How long are you gonna do that?’” said Shane. “I’ll tell everybody in this room the same thing: ‘As long as I enjoy going to work.’ Today, I still enjoy going to work, so thank you.”
Computer Science Professor Lornakay Wells has worked at the college for 40 years and shared a final memory. Wells shared that outstanding colleagues and staff make for a positive work environment, and students make professors “want to come and be here [SLCC]."
Retirees
The final group of employees recognized were those retiring from their positions at the college. President Huftalin recognized that the retirees “deserve a wonderful next chapter in their lives.” English Professor Lisa Bickmore shared that she enjoyed remembering the various ways she learned and grew in her position. She also expressed gratitude for people from all over the college who helped make “this place work.”
Out of the 28 retirees acknowledged, four were awarded emeritus status:
- Bob Askerlund
- Lisa Bickmore
- Mark Sabolik
- Dale Smith
Congratulations to all staff, administrators, and faculty recognized during the 2022 Employee Recognition Celebration.
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