Commencement 2023: Distinguished Alumnus Jeremy Foster

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 large. He also served in this capacity at the Academy of Acute Care, which is affiliated with the American Physical Therapy Association, for six years.

Jeremy has been recognized many times throughout the years for his excellent work, including serving twice as the PTA Caucus Representative for the state of Mississippi and multiple organizations have named him as Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant of the Year.

“The return on my education has been phenomenal,” says Jeremy, who encourages new graduates, especially in healthcare, to find the passion within their profession. “The reward should be seeing someone being able to walk again or get back to their life—it should not be the paycheck.”

Salt Lake Community College’s prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award honors SLCC graduates and former students for professional excellence and exemplary service to their communities in their chosen professional or academic fields. It’s the highest award the college bestows upon alumni. Traditionally, one female alumna and one male alumnus are selected as honorees each year.

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...

The Center for Prior Learning Receives an Honorable Mention

Today, SLCC's Credit for Prior Learning department received an Honorable Mention from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL ) and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education for its intentional approach and for expanding student options to receive credit for prior learning. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) allows students to obtain college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside of the traditional academic environment. This is exceptionally beneficial for adult learners, who, according to CAEL, have a 17% higher chance of graduating compared to those adults who don’t earn credits through prior learning programs. The CPL department at SLCC was created in 2020 and since then the volume of students served has grown as the department continues to expand. To be eligible for CPL, students must be working towards a degree, certificate, or apprenticeship. Director of Credit for Prior Learning at SLCC, Andrea Tipton, mentioned fee...

Board of Higher Ed names Gregory F. Peterson 9th SLCC President

The Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously selected Gregory F. Peterson, Ed.D., as the ninth president of Salt Lake Community College today, following an extensive national search. Peterson will assume the position on July 1, 2024, and succeeds Deneece G. Huftalin, who served as president from 2014-2024. “I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as Salt Lake Community College’s next president, and I look forward to reinforcing SLCC’s commitment to providing educational pathways for transfer and workforce that improve the lives of every member of our community,” Peterson said. “SLCC has an amazing future ahead, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of that journey.” As part of its delegated duties and responsibilities, the SLCC Board of Trustees named an 11-member committee in December 2023 to conduct a national search for the next president of SLCC. The committee is composed of representatives from the Utah Board of Higher Education and SLCC trustees, facul...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog