On a crisp, spring morning outside the Maverick Center, more than 3,000 Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) students—decked in black robes and a variety of colorful cords, sashes, and cultural regalia—prepared to stream into the center for the College’s 2024 Commencement. Among them were 1,429 first-generation students, 164 Veterans, and soon-to-be graduates that ranged in age from 16 to 67.
We caught up with some of the students below to see how they were feeling, how was their time at SLCC, and what’s next.
Paola Leyva
Computer Science
“It feels great to be here. Finally. And it feels surreal because I am the first in my family to be here,” says Paola Leyva, whose perseverance for more education has inspired some of her siblings to consider returning to education.
Paola initially tried a larger, four-year school, but felt overwhelmed and unsure how to make it work, so she dropped out. Then, during the pandemic, she decided in order to succeed in the job market, she needed to go back to school. She discovered SLCC’s Dream Center, where she was connected with resources and steps for applying for financial aid and scholarships. “I didn’t even know some of these scholarships existed.” At SLCC, Paola pursed an associate’s degree in Computer Science and she found a welcoming and supportive community through SLCC’s TRIO program. “They are basically guidance counselor-therapist-coach all in one,” says Paola, with a laugh.
Her next move? Paola is headed to Utah Valley University to earn a bachelor’s degree in software engineering.
Kassidy Ropelato
Pre-Medical Health Sciences
For Kassidy Ropelato, today is one step closer on her path to becoming a doctor—a lifelong dream since she helped care for her grandfather as a young girl. She has worked in healthcare, building on her skills and certifications, first as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), then as a phlebotomist, and then as a medical assistant. The degree she is receiving today, an associate’s in Pre-Medical Health Sciences, brings her one step closer to advancing her passion to work in healthcare, caring for people.
She chose SLCC because of the affordable tuition. “As I started taking classes, I really fell for the community here. It is unlike any other I’ve experienced. It is so inclusive,” says Kassidy. She adds that her experience in SLCC’s health sciences was filled with extra-curricular opportunities and supportive faculty. “Even if you don’t know what you want to do, this is a great place to figure it out.”
She is proud of herself. It was hard work. “It’s so amazing to be here today. I know this is an accomplishment and there were times I didn’t think I could do it,” says Kassidy, who worked full time and worked toward this degree over four years. “I told myself it was not about being fast, but about progressing.”
What’s next for Kassidy? She smiles and points out that SLCC has a good nursing program. Perhaps this will be her next step up the health care ladder, bringing her closer to her dream of being a doctor one day.
Darnell Yazzie
Business
Excited. Relieved. Exhausted. A whole lot of mixed emotions. These are words that summed up how Darnell Yazzie felt when he received his associate’s degree in Business at SLCC’s 2024 Commencement ceremony.
It’s been a long time coming. Darnell dropped out of SLCC in 2019 with the birth of his daughter but decided to return two years later, determined to earn a degree. He had been working as an industrial electrician for six years, but he didn’t feel fulfilled. “I knew there was more that I could do, for my community, my family, and myself,” says Darnell, who felt like he was pushing back against cultural pressure in wanting to return to school.
Initially his sights were set on an electrical engineering pathway but then he realized it wasn’t a good fit for him. This became even more apparent, when he took a business marketing course and fell in love with it. “I never got passionate talking about electrical engineering, but I get really excited talking about business,” says Darnell, who is Navajo.
As a nontraditional student, returning to school can be a bit intimidating. “I was really naïve about resources and scholarships, but I found all types of support,” says Darnell, who is a first-generation student. “I really liked that I felt like I belonged and felt comfortable with the smaller campuses and class sizes,” adds Darnell, who recalled a class he had taken at the University of Utah where he had to stand in line for 20 minutes to talk to his professor after class.
Darnell just took a new job at SLCC and is planning to attend the University of Utah to earn an bachelor's in Business with an emphasis in either Marketing or Management.
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