Official SLCC Blog

  Hailey Brohamer  Intimidation. Fear. Three deep breaths and one foot in front of the other. These are the shared emotions Katelynn (Katie) Poulsen and Hailey Brohamer, SLCC trade students, shared on their first day of school. The young ladies are taking the intimidating, but necessary steps needed to break into male-dominated fields. Katie is pursuing an associate degree in Welding Fabrication and Inspection and Hailey recently graduated with her associate degree in Diesel Technology. Their passion, talent, hard work and dedication are helping them break barriers and create a solid path for future women in the trade field. "I did not sleep the night before. I arrived early to ensure I knew my way from class to my truck. I took three deep breaths and said, ‘I am going in,’" says Katie, who comes from a long lineage of blue-collar workers in her family. She is well acquainted and confident in the welding shop, yet fell victim to the first day of school anxiety and jitters. ...

Mary Anne Douglas describes herself as the fixing type—she has an innate drive to jump in and start fixing and problem solving. This drive, and her skills, have propelled her long career from surgical technician to executive leadership. She is currently the executive nurse director for Surgical Operations at Intermountain Health. At 19, as a new graduate from Salt Lake Community College's Surgical Technology program, fixing came in the form of helping people heal. She recalls how miraculous it was to see acute trauma patients heal over a series of surgeries. She witnessed frequent problem solving in the operating room, as surgeons quickly adapted to each patient’s condition.  One of nine children, Mary Anne grew up in a small town in New Mexico and came to Utah to pursue education. When she saw an advertisement for the SLCC’s Surgical Tech program, it was like a lightning-bolt moment—“I knew that’s what I was going to do,” she says. She transferred her credits from BYU and began th...

UndocuMonth Event Schedule Salt Lake Community College Dream Center is more than just a physical place, it is a community. A community where students can find a safe environment to obtain answers to their questions and support in their educational journey. Unlike the common belief that it caters to only Spanish-speaking individuals, the Dream Center at SLCC welcomes everyone who is undocumented (with or without DACA) and members of mixed-status families from any background. Throughout April the SLCC Dream Center, in partnership with various community partners, will be celebrating and presenting UndocuMonth. A series of events highlighting various topics focusing on the strength of the undocumented students and community at SLCC, will be presented at multiple locations. UndocuMonth is not limited to those folks who are undocumented students; it is open to the community to come and support as well as to better understand the dichotomy they navigate daily. Those interested in attending Un...

  Understanding human conditions and people’s vulnerabilities and adaptability is why Jeremy Foster loves his work. This perspective was first nurtured by Ken Freeman, one of Jeremy’s instructors in Salt Lake Community College’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program.  “Ken insisted that in order to connect with patients, you needed to think about what it is like to be them and try to understand what it is they are facing,” says Jeremy, who graduated from SLCC in 1996. “So much of that has really stayed with me.” Jeremy credits his success during his 26-year career to the mentorship he received from his exceptional SLCC instructors. He moved from Price, Utah, where he was working professionally with a physical therapist, to Salt Lake to attend SLCC. “I realized to advance, I had to earn a degree and the only place in Utah to offer a PTA degree was SLCC.”  Today, Jeremy is the Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Managements’ physical therapy assistant at la...

On Friday, March 17, Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) celebrated scholarship donors and recipients at this year’s annual scholarship luncheon held at the Miller Campus. SLCC students and donors came together as the college marks 75 years of excellence in education. This highly anticipated yearly event opens the door for SLCC donors to see the positive impact their support has on the lives of students. The celebration also allows students a chance to express their gratitude to those who have helped make their education dream a reality. “Our institution was founded to provide everyone with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills so they could pursue careers that offer a lifetime of security and prosperity for themselves and their families,” said SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin. “Three-quarters of a decade later, our mission remains the same; we continue to believe that higher education should be available to all who wish to pursue it, and we are dedicated to making co...

Baluchi folk dance performed by Farima Berenji Spring equinox entered Utah with windstorms, snow, and rain, but with the arrival of spring came the vibrant celebration of Newroz. Newroz, which means New Day, is the New Year, a festivity celebrated on the first day of spring. The celebration marks a new beginning, allowing people to reflect on the past and look towards the future by setting intentions. The event hosted by Global Connections Student Leadership Club, along with the Kurdish Student Leadership Association Club and collaboration with various SLCC offices, brought the fifth annual joyful New Year celebration to SLCC and the community. Dancers performing an Armenian dance Newroz is a celebration deeply rooted in traditions of over three thousand years and lasts 13 days. Newroz is widely celebrated throughout Central Asia and Middle East; it is not tied to religion but is more of a cultural celebration. "It's funny that most of us in western US culture celebrate the ...

Gary Payton II knew the path to becoming a professional athlete was a difficult one and that it was going to take grit to reach his dreams. “You just got to promise yourself that you are going to buy in and take the punches as they come and enjoy the journey—and the journey depends on how much work and effort you put into it,” says Gary.  He chose to attend and play basketball at Salt Lake Community College because it was part of a well-respected conference and offered a chance to get recognized. Gary played for SLCC from 2012 to 2014 before moving on to play at Oregon State University. One of the highlights of his career was winning the NBA championship in 2022 with the Golden State Warriors. “Going to SLCC was just another piece of the journey. I got into a good rhythm and routine and focused on what I had to do,” says Gary.  During his time as a Bruin, he earned multiple awards including being named an NJCAA Second Team All-America player as a sophomore. The support Gary re...