Herriman Journal | March 2025

Assistant city manager’s road to today Page 12

Students address policy with project Page 17

Herriman contemplates adding high-density housing to make way for sports complex

By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com

The city may trade three parcels of nonadjacent land to a developer for land in Old Herriman to get 56 acres of contiguous property for a new sports complex.

Aflurry of emotions and activity on social media and at city meetings have accompanied Herriman’s recent consideration of a land trade deal with a local developer.

“We are considering swapping three parcels of unconnected land that the city owns (we do not own any others that could be used instead) for one contiguous 56-acre property,” City Councilman Jared Henderson wrote on Facebook.

The contiguous property would be used for a new sports complex north of Herriman Boulevard. and south of Midas Creek between 6000 West and 6400 West.

City officials assert it is only entertaining the possibil-

to our Community Sponsors for supporting

ity of a swap because activity at the sports complex would generate considerable sales tax revenue, helping to secure Herriman’s financial stability.

“If we didn’t need money for the city, we wouldn't be looking at this,” Mayor Lorin Palmer said. The city says Herriman’s sales tax revenue must increase compared to the number of residents, otherwise the city may need to lean more on property taxes long-term to fund city operations.

The three parcels in question are Creek Ridge (29 acres), Big Bend Cove (2.5 acres) and Walker Cove (20.43 acres). Creek Ridge is just west of the athletic complex site and would change from a planned regional park into as many as 136 single-family homes. Located south of Herriman Boulevard. between Bed Stone Lane and Jeannette Lane, Big Bend Cove would change its designation as public property to become 11 single-family lots.

On the corner of 12900 South and 5600 West, Walker Cove would become a mixed residential zone with up to 212 units, including single-family homes and townhomes, though this number is far from finalized and may decrease.

“This property was previously expected to house a public works facility. It will also be the site of the rebuilt Fire Station 103, which will begin construction in 2025,” the city states on its website.

The proposal also includes alterations to Teton Ranch to reduce lot sizes from 0.5 to one-third acre to accommodate 17 additional homes and a 50-unit increase to the Olympia development entitlement.

Though many have expressed support for the deal, frustrated residents affected by each of the three proposed parcels have gathered at city hall during community meet-

Continued page 4

A map shows the relative locations of each parcel involved in the land trade proposal. (Courtesy Herriman City) Eleven lots for single-family homes have been proposed for Big Bend Cove. (Courtesy Herriman City)

Ladies Take the Lead with Experience, Passion and Purpose at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals

“Ido this work for my father, for families like ours, and ultimately, for the glory of God,” said Martha Boutsikakis Gamble, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at Holy Cross Hospital - West Valley and registered nurse for over 20 years.

For many, a career in healthcare is more of a calling - a decision made that was shaped by past experiences with loved ones, or even personal health scares of their own. This type of desire to care for others and passion to pursue a career in healthcare rings especially true for the ladies who are taking the lead at our CommonSpirit Health Holy Cross Hospitals in West Jordan and West Valley City.

Martha was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrant parents from Crete, Greece. While her parents spoke conversational English, her role as the eldest child often involved translating for them in settings where language wasn’t necessarily the barrier but rather, cultural understanding wasthis included translating at her dad’s appointments with his dietitian.

“When I was only about 11 or 12 years old, my father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes,” said Martha. “It quickly became clear during his appointments that the meal recommendations we were receiving didn’t align with the food we grew up eating, nor did they consider the cultural context of our meals.”

In an attempt to adapt to the dietitian’s recommendations, the meals Martha and her family ate were repetitive… for nearly a decade.

“These early experiences fostered in me a calling—not only to serve but to advocate for

communities like mine, where language and culture can create unseen barriers to quality healthcare,” said Martha.

For Christine McSweeney, President of Holy Cross Hospitals - Jordan Valley and West Valley, her path to healthcare leadership began as a passion to explore the science behind nutrition and how to properly fuel our bodies.

“I’m a science nerd at heart,” said Christine. “I get excited about seeing people and myself thrive and improve through proper nutrition and care”

Christine’s career began at Banner Health in Arizona where she was a clinical dietitian. Over the course of 20 years, Christine climbed the ranks to eventually serve as Chief Operating Officer of a large academic center in downtown Phoenix before she joined the CommonSpirit Health leadership team five years ago, stepping into her current President role in 2023.

“My experience here in Utah has been like no other. It is full of neighbors helping neighbors, strong family values, amazing outdoor beauty and a true haven for healthy lifestyles. This way of living and thinking really brings me back to my roots as a dietitian” said Christine. “In addition, it certainly doesn’t hurt that the people we have working for CommonSpirit in the Greater Salt Lake market are loyal, dedicated and lean into our mission with their values first!”

Katie Flores, CNO at Holy Cross HospitalMountain Point and Interim CNO at Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley, kicked off her healthcare

career in 2001 as a registered nurse - initially caring for patients at the bedside in Med/Surg and in the Emergency Department.

Over the years, Katie transitioned into leadership roles and has been serving as CNO for the last 10 years. A passionate caregiver, Katie’s background actually started with a dream to work in broadcast media… but that quickly changed.

“I realized early on that broadcast wasn’t the right fit for me - I felt a lack of connection and fulfillment so I pursued a career that would allow me to make a meaningful impact on others,” said Katie. “After going through some personal life experiences that led me to seek healthcare myself, I decided to make a change. I went back to school to pursue a career in healthcare—one that I could feel passionate about every day and truly connect with on a deeper level.”

Though different backgrounds and experiences fuel this leadership team’s passion to do what they do every day, Christine shared that the common thread between them all is, “This team of women lead with strength, confidence, curiosity, determination and heart…. it is present in everything we do and apparent in the quality of care our hospitals provide. I cannot wait to see all we continue to accomplish, together.”

At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.

Learn more about the services, care providers and missiondriven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.

ings and taken to social media to voice concerns about more high-density housing within the city.

Some claim that Walker Cove is within what is known colloquially as “Old Herriman.” Past and present city officials have expressed a desire to preserve Old Herriman, maintaining the city’s rural feel and acknowledging its farming origins. Some residents feel that this development flies in the face of these efforts.

“For the founding families of Herriman City, it destroys the little part of the old town that remains,” Old Herriman resident Marie Pestana said. “The… consideration of 212 units is 194 units more than it is currently zoned for.”

“This council has been vocal and consistent in their opposition to higher density developments in the wrong areas,” Councilman Steven Shields wrote on Facebook. “We have worked hard to re-do old agreements [that approved high-density] in years past.”

A complication that may factor in the number of units ultimately approved for Walker Cove is the arsenic and lead deposited in the soil by past flooding from nearby Kennecott mines.

“The property on 5600 West has some contamination that must be remedied… The city simply does not have that kind of money to make up the difference. The only way to increase the value of the land is to entitle more building on it,” Henderson said. Estimated clean-up costs range from $1.5 to $2 million.

It is still early in the consideration process, and the city encourages comments.

“We are looking for feedback and input from the community,” Shields wrote. “Some love the idea, and some hate it… We are seeking all the input so we can consider all of the pros/cons of various

Many residents worry about the region’s already clogged roads. The city says it is considering the traffic impact in its decision-making process. Herriman Community Development staff have calculated rough estimates for 5600 West that suggest the road has more than enough capacity to accommodate the increased traffic 212 additional residential units would add.

“As for 12600 South and 13400 South, the traffic resulting from the complex would be well within those roads’ capacities within Herriman’s boundaries,” Herriman Communications Manager Jon LaFollette said. “Transportation infrastructure is of regional importance and is something that’s always on our minds. Future development in and west of Herriman will impact roads more than the athletic complex would.”

In 2018, the city council commissioned an economic development study, which suggested that leveraging enterprises to bring in outside money could be most beneficial. As a result, Herriman has focused on recreational attractions.

As currently envisioned, the complex would include 16 to 18 multi-sport fields large enough to accommodate regional or even national matches in soccer, rugby, lacrosse and other sports while also providing practice facilities for youth sports.

Due to Herriman’s significant growth, the city has a growing list of financial obligations, but as more businesses move to Herriman, officials expect sales tax revenue to likewise grow.

“It takes time, especially when considering our geographical location,” LaFollette said. “Another factor is inflation, and generally, revenue sources haven’t kept up with the costs of infrastructure and operations. Even under the best of circumstances, cities have limited resources.”

Municipalities generally receive most of their revenue through several main

sources, including property taxes and sales tax. Attempting to entice residents of nearby towns to spend money within their boundaries, cities often compete with each other for sales tax revenue to avoid property tax increases. Herriman’s goal would be to draw nonresidents into the city to spend money. A large athletic complex would accomplish this.

The majority of property taxes paid by local property owners goes to Jordan School District (approximately half) and Salt Lake County (about 17%); Herriman receives around a quarter of the total bill. For every dollar spent in Herriman subject to Utah state sales tax, the city directly receives 0.5% and 1% of hotel taxes.

A 2022–2023 feasibility study estimated $641,000 in annual retail, hotel and restaurant tax revenue and a $26 million boost to corresponding industries—for the region.

“That’s regional and not necessarily all directly to Herriman,” LaFollette said. “If the idea continues to advance, the city is looking at updating the feasibility study.”

Despite Utah’s unpredictable and sometimes harsh weather, the study also suggested the complex would be used year-round except when activity slows in December and January.

On the outskirts of Salt Lake Valley, Herriman faces the ongoing dilemma of its location. Few pass through the city and spend money while traveling to other destinations. The city also lacks major employment centers.

“In general, no one comes out here unless they live here. Yet, we all leave the city every day to go to work, school and recreate,” Henderson said. “How do we get people to drive out to Herriman, spend money… and then go back to their home city to receive services…?”

Raising property taxes is another avenue for Herriman to fund increasing costs

long-term for public safety, infrastructure maintenance, snowplows, parks and trails. Henderson warns that failure to increase sales tax revenue may result in future property tax increases or a decrease in city services.

City officials also hope a large sports complex would attract more businesses to open shop within Herriman, further increasing sales tax revenue.

“We cannot force a business to locate here,” Henderson said.

Herriman has zoned significant parcels of land in key locations throughout the city to pave the way for significant commercial centers. Two major retail centers near the proposed athletic complex are Anthem Center (to the east near Mountain View Corridor) and the future Olympia retail area to the west.

Now the city eagerly waits for businesses to join the centers. Officials are encouraged by the number of businesses and hotels that have expressed interest in locating near the athletic complex, should it become a reality.

Another possibility eyed by the city is using the contiguous property to qualify for funding from Salt Lake County to build the athletic complex and surrounding infrastructure. To qualify, the land needs to be at least 50 contiguous acres. Private parties have also expressed interest in helping to fund the complex.

“The reality is that we may not be able to get to any decisions. We might be too far apart to successfully negotiate a land swap. Even if we get the land together, we don't know if we can get a facility paid for and operated,” Shields wrote.

The city emphasizes that this proposal will likely change in upcoming weeks or months, particularly the number of units to be approved, or it may fall through altogether.

For more information, visit www.herriman.gov/athletic-complex. l

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Membership available for Friends of Herriman Trails

Funds raised by membership fees will provide trail maintenance and expansion.

By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com

While hikers look to the Wasatch Mountains for fun and adventure, many trail enthusiasts have discovered the less-traveled routes in the Oquirrh Mountains where miles of trails wind through aspens, meadows and rocky ridgelines.

Unlike the Wasatch Range, the Oquirrhs provide a quieter, more secluded experience, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in nature without the crowds. Butterfield Trailhead Regional Park provides access to miles of multi-use trails, with beautiful views of the Salt Lake Valley.

As trails grow in popularity, the cost of building and maintaining projects becomes expensive. The Friends of Herriman Trails Committee has a membership campaign where for $50 per year, people can help provide tools for trail maintenance, cover costs to plant native vegetation and restore the trail ecosystem, pay for materials to build new trail sections and sponsor community trail-building events.

“We have two focuses,” Tracy Fonger said, trails committee chair. “One is to build and maintain trails and in order to do that it takes money and it takes volunteers, so we are looking for both all the time. The second thing is to help create an awareness in the community that we have trails, that our trails are really fun to use.”

The $50 membership includes a water bottle and the contribution builds trails that will last for future generations to enjoy. All committee members are volunteers, so 100% of proceeds from the membership donation will go toward improving the trail system in Herriman.

Fonger is a passionate trail enthusiast and local business owner. Her company, Discover MTB, teaches fundamental mountain

biking skills to cyclists at all levels. She also trains a mountain bike club team with athletes from several schools in the area.

“It’s really focused on building relationships in the community and having fun and just getting kids on bikes and outdoors,” Fonger said. “It just naturally felt for me that being part of a trails committee made sense. That’s where my passions are. It’s a place where I felt I could offer support and help. The trails need a lot of work, so I thought I could go throw a rake around and rake rocks off trails. So I joined the committee in the fall of 2023.”

The committee’s vision is to create a world where people have access to safe trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding or a simple walk in nature. By expanding the trail network and providing options for out door adventures and exercise, the committee hopes to foster a connection to the world and instill a sense of stewardship.

In 2023, Salt Lake County officials opened the Butterfield Trailhead Regional Park through a partnership with Rio Tinto Kennecott and the Bureau of Land Manage ment. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson spoke at the dedication.

“This space will enrich the lives of all our residents and guests by providing acces sible trails for outdoor recreation,” Wilson said, “and it reaffirms our county’s pledge to open space and preserving the natural beauty of places like this in our valley.”

To become a member of the Friends of Herriman Trails, visit Friendsofherriman. org/trails. Trail maps, wildlife safety infor mation and trail etiquette tips can be found at Herriman.gov/trails.

“The more people use the trails and the more volunteers we get to help maintain the trails, the more it will open up opportunities for the city to see the need for more trails,” Fonger said. “We need people who can help us. There’s a lot of work to do. Every time it rains, there’s trail work that needs to be done.” l

Child care provider reaches year mark

Academy celebrated its first anniversary in January with over 75 families for its Birthday Bash. The Winter Olympics-themed event featured an Olympic torch relay and snowball toss to go along with DIY Olympic rings and medals. Owners Drashti and Shardul Kaneria, pictured here, stand with the ceremonial birthday cake. (Photo courtesy Kiddie Academy)

Kiddie

Miles of Herriman trails offer safe and accessible outdoor adventures for mountain biking and equestrian enthusiasts. (Photo courtesy of Tracy Fonger)

A tribute to the contributions of immigrants: Herriman’s Columbus Center unveils new mural

Herriman’s Columbus Adult Education Center reveals a new onsite mural donated by Rio Tinto Kennecott to celebrate the immigrant community and recognize the past, present and future of Herriman.

By Elisa Eames, Alan Mitchell and Yasmir Mitchell e.eames@mycityjournals.com

Last month, Herriman’s Columbus Adult Education Center hosted city officials from Herriman and Bluffdale, immigrants learning English, artists and various top brass from local copper mine Rio Tinto Kennecott in an emotional unveiling of a brand-new mural at the center.

On Jan. 28, over 100 people packed into the center’s cozy basement to get their first glimpses of the mural, which was donated by Kennecott and stands 15 feet tall and eight feet wide on three walls. The towering mural, which includes two mirrors facing each other, was conceived over a year ago.

Attendees listened to Rio Tinto Kennecott’s managing director Nate Foster, Sandy-based mural artist Roger Whiting, Columbus Center Administrative Directors Shandra Madsen and Todd Madsen and Herriman Mayor Lorin Palmer explain what the center and the immigrant community mean to them. They often spoke in Spanish, but when speaking English, center volunteer Francesca Bernal was on hand to translate.

Calling the mural “an ode to mining,”

Foster explained that copper mining in this area began 122 years ago, and immigrants have played a vital role in building the company into what it is today. “In the 1920s, there were over 40 documented nationalities in the Herriman area,” he said. “I can’t wait to hear how the center is impacting people.”

Before creating the design for the mural, Whiting collaborated with a team from Rio Tinto Kennecott, discussing how to beautify the center while depicting the shared history of the mine and the community.

“I wanted it to be a tribute to immigrants and the past, present and future of Herriman,” he said.

The center serves teens and adults, and Whiting consulted teenage students about what it means to be an immigrant. “I asked, ‘What’s important that you brought from your countries?’” the artist said.

The resounding responses were faith and family, and Whiting’s goal became to demonstrate these values in the mural, suggesting to the viewer that we can all be part of something bigger.

“We can all have faith to be part of the family here and have faith in a bright future,” he said. Teenage students had the honor of applying the first coats of paint to the mural.

Near the end of his remarks, Whiting used Spanish to explain the mural’s symbols. The bottom left corner shows a group of miners based on historical photos of the Bingham Canyon Mine. The right side shows Kennecott’s current global and di-

Rio Tinto Kennecott’s managing director Nate Foster presents a brief history of Rio Tinto while Francesca Bernal translates for Spanish speakers. (Courtesy Rio Tinto)

Personnel from Rio Tinto, the Columbus Center and Herriman City mark the new Columbus Center’s mural opening with a ribbon cutting. From left to right: Sean Marchant, Todd Madsen, Shandra Madsen, Nate Foster, Roger Whiting and Mayor Lorin Palmer. (Courtesy Rio Tinto)

With two mirrors facing each other, the new Columbus Center mural represents the community’s past, present and future. (Courtesy Rio Tinto)

verse workforce next to Herriman City Hall.

Copper was used to frame the two mirrors, and in the bottom left corner, copper paint was used for the poles. The left mirror presents a pickaxe, a mining tool of the past, while the right mirror displays an electronic device, a tool of the future. “We look to the past to give meaning and understanding to our future,” Whiting said.

The open sky and depiction of outer space inspire and encourage the viewer to look to the future and the importance of copper. The sepia area on the left suggests the past while the vibrant colors on the right depict our world now.

As Whiting spoke, delighted students and attendees nodded enthusiastically and applauded.

During his and his wife’s comments, Todd Madsen asked in Spanish how many thought the center was a special place, and dozens of hands shot into the air. Of the 285 adult students at the center, about 80 attended the event, and as the center also serves over 100 children, the facility has become strained.

“We remind you always, no matter where you are, to trust each other, work together as a community and trust in your Savior, Jesus Christ,” Shandra Madsen said, wiping tears from her cheeks. “We’re so thankful our paths have joined with your paths because you make our lives better. And you are an inspiration to all of us. You’re inspired by faith and dedication just like the early immigrants to Utah. You never give up, and we’re so proud of you.”

The final speaker of the evening was Palmer, who is also fluent in Spanish, though he began his remarks in English.

“What I love about the mural is it will outlast all of us and serve a purpose beyond this,” he said. “It will bring this community together.”

Concluding his comments in Spanish, the mayor be-

came emotional as he spoke directly to the students of his admiration for them. A few also wiped their eyes as they listened.

After the ceremony, students expressed their profound gratitude for the center while enjoying cake and mingling with other attendees.

One attendee, Aldo, is from Chile and has lived in Utah for two and a half years. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aldo had dreamed as a youth of living in the state where early Church pioneers settled. He has been able to live with his daughter here in Herriman.

Before leaving Chile, he was a business administration engineer working for the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics at the Diego Aracena Airport in Iquique. He is grateful he could remove his children from Chile, which experiences significant crime, and he looks forward to watching his grandchildren grow up in Utah and being part of their lives. “[Utah] is a quiet state… with multiple and beautiful landscapes,” he said.

But despite his love for the Beehive State, his life here isn’t easy.

“Not knowing the language and current discrimination [are difficult],” he said. “[The center provides] love, patience and selfless help... [I want to] give my thanks to the mayor of Herriman, the Rio Tinto mining company and all the volunteers of the Columbus Center for their dedication and support of the immigrants.”

Another attendee, student Nestor Rojas from Venezuela, agrees that Utah is tranquil and offers security, though adapting to the new culture and way of life is challenging. Rojas has been in Utah for 11 months and came to the U.S. to provide a better life for his wife, three daughters, son and nephew. “My country is not in a good situation,” he said.

In Venezuela, Rojas worked in security at a state electric company and now works in construction. He is working toward his own home and opening a business.

To describe what he loves about the center, he said, “The quality of the people, their treatment, how good I felt when I entered the building.”

Long-term plans for the center include also serving local artists and senior residents.

“We’re really grateful to Herriman City and the Columbus Center for being our partners. It commemorates our shared past, and we look forward to the future,” Jen Robison of Rio Tinto’s U.S. External Affairs said.

The Columbus Center always needs help. Volunteers don’t need to speak Spanish. Visit columbusaec.org/herriman-campus/ for more information. l

When you need emergency care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. You never know the level of care you’ll need when an emergency happens and choosing the right ER can make all the difference. And a hospital ER comes with the confidence of additional services right on-site. Find emergency care close to you at mountain.commonspirit.org.

Artist Roger Whiting explains the symbolism behind the new mural in the Columbus Center. (Elisa Eames/City Journals)

Un

tributo

a las contribuciones de los inmigrantes: el Columbus Center de Herriman presenta un nuevo mural

Por Elisa Eames, Alan Mitchell y Yasmir Mitchell e.eames@mycityjournals.com

El mes pasado, el Centro de Educación para Adultos de Columbus de Herriman recibió a funcionarios municipales de Herriman y Bluffdale, inmigrantes que aprenden inglés, artistas y varios altos mandos de la mina de cobre local Rio Tinto Kennecott en una emotiva inauguración de un nuevo mural en el centro.

El 28 de enero, más de 100 personas se agolparon en el acogedor sótano del centro para ver por primera vez el mural, que fue donado por Kennecott y mide 15 pies de alto y dos metros y medio de ancho en tres paredes. Planos del mural, que incluye dos espejos uno frente al otro. comenzó hace más de un año.

Los asistentes escucharon al director general de Rio Tinto Kennecott, Nate Foster, al artista muralista de Sandy, Roger Whiting, a los directores administrativos del Centro Columbus, Shandra Madsen y Todd Madsen, y al alcalde de Herriman, Lorin Palmer, hablar sobre lo que el centro y la comunidad inmigrante significan para ellos. A menudo hablaban en español, pero cuando hablaban inglés, la voluntaria del centro Francesca Bernal estaba disponible para traducir.

Foster calificó el mural como “una oda a la minería” y explicó que la minería del cobre en esta área comenzó hace 122 años y los inmigrantes han desempeñado un papel vital en la transformación de la empresa en lo que es hoy. "En la década de 1920, había

más de 40 nacionalidades documentadas en el área de Herriman", dijo. "No puedo esperar a escuchar cómo el centro está impactando a las personas".

Antes de crear el diseño del mural, Whiting colaboró con un equipo de Rio Tinto Kennecott, discutiendo cómo embellecer el centro y al mismo tiempo representar la historia compartida de la mina y la comunidad. "Quería que fuera un tributo a los inmigrantes y al pasado, presente y futuro de Herriman", dijo.

El centro atiende a adolescentes y adultos, y Whiting consultó a estudiantes adolescentes sobre lo que significa ser inmigrante. “Le pregunté: ‘¿Qué es lo importante que trajeron de sus países?'”, dijo el artista. Las respuestas rotundas fueron fe y familia, y el objetivo de Whiting fue demostrar estos valores en el mural, sugiriendo al espectador que todos podemos ser parte de algo más grande. “Todos podemos tener fe para ser parte de la familia aquí y tener fe en un futuro brillante”, dijo. Los estudiantes adolescentes tuvieron el honor de aplicar las primeras capas de pintura al mural.

Cerca del final de sus comentarios, Whiting usó el español para explicar los símbolos del mural.

La esquina inferior izquierda muestra un grupo de mineros según fotografías históricas de la mina Bingham Canyon. El lado derecho muestra la fuerza laboral diversa y global actual de Kennecott junto al Ayuntamiento de Herriman.

Se utilizó cobre para enmarcar los dos espejos y, en la esquina inferior izquierda, se utilizó pintura de cobre para los postes.

Nate Foster, director general de Rio Tinto Kennecott, presenta una breve historia de Rio Tinto mientras Francesca Bernal traduce para los hispanohablantes. (Cortesía de Río Tinto)

Personal de Rio Tinto, Columbus Center y Herriman City marcan la apertura del mural con un corte de cinta. De izquierda a derecha: Sean Marchant, Todd Madsen, Shandra Madsen, Nate Foster, Roger Whiting y el alcalde Palmer. (Cortesía de Río Tinto)

Con dos espejos uno frente al otro, el nuevo mural del Columbus Center representa el pasado, el presente y el futuro de la comunidad. (Cortesía de Río Tinto)

El espejo izquierdo presenta un pico, una herramienta minera del pasado, mientras que el espejo derecho muestra un dispositivo electrónico, una herramienta del futuro. "Miramos al pasado para darle significado y comprensión a nuestro futuro", dijo Whiting.

El cielo abierto y la representación del espacio exterior inspiran y animan al espectador a mirar hacia el futuro y la importancia del cobre. El área sepia de la izquierda sugiere el pasado, mientras que los colores vibrantes de la derecha representan nuestro mundo actual.

Mientras Whiting hablaba, los estudiantes y asistentes encantados asintieron con entusiasmo y aplaudieron.

Durante los comentarios de él y su esposa, Todd Madsen preguntó en español cuántos pensaban que el centro era un lugar especial, y decenas de manos se dispararon al aire. De los 285 estudiantes adultos del centro, alrededor de 80 asistieron al evento y, como el centro también atiende a más de 100 niños, las instalaciones se han vuelto sobrecargadas.

“Les recordamos siempre, sin importar dónde se encuentren, que confíen unos en otros, trabajen juntos como comunidad y confíen en su Salvador, Jesucristo”, dijo Shandra Madsen, secándose las lágrimas de sus mejillas. “Estamos muy agradecidos de que nuestros caminos se hayan unido a los tuyos porque tú mejoras nuestras vidas. Y eres una inspiración para todos nosotros. Estás inspirado por la fe y la dedicación al igual que los primeros inmigrantes en Utah. Nunca te rindes y estamos muy orgullosos de ti”.

El último orador de la noche fue el alcalde Palmer, quien también habla español con fluidez, aunque comenzó sus comentarios en inglés. “Lo que me encanta del mural es que durará más que todos nosotros y cumplirá un propósito más allá de esto”, dijo. "Unirá a esta comunidad".

Al concluir sus comentarios en español, el alcalde se emocionó al hablar directamente a los estudiantes sobre su

admiración por ellos. Algunos estudiantes también se secaron los ojos mientras escuchaban.

Después de la ceremonia, los estudiantes expresaron su profundo agradecimiento por el centro mientras disfrutaban del pastel y socializaban con otros asistentes.

Uno de los asistentes, Aldo, es de Chile y ha vivido en Utah durante dos años y medio. Como miembro de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días, cuando era joven Aldo había soñado con vivir en el estado donde se asentaron los primeros pioneros de la Iglesia. Ha podido vivir con su hija aquí en Herriman.

Antes de salir de Chile, fue ingeniero en administración de empresas trabajando en la Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil en el Aeropuerto Diego Aracena de Iquique. Está agradecido de poder sacar a sus hijos del país, que sufre una delincuencia importante. Espera ver crecer a sus nietos en Utah y ser parte de sus vidas.

"[Utah] es un estado tranquilo... con múltiples y hermosos paisajes", dijo. Pero a pesar de su amor por Beehive State, su vida aquí no es fácil.

“No saber el idioma y la discriminación actual [son difíciles]”, dijo. “[El centro brinda] amor, paciencia y ayuda desinteresada... [Quiero] dar mi agradecimiento al alcalde de Herriman, a la compañía minera Rio Tinto y a todos los voluntarios del Centro Columbus por su dedicación y apoyo a los inmigrantes”.

Otro asistente, el estudiante Néstor Rojas de Venezuela, está de acuerdo en que Utah es tranquilo y ofrece seguridad, aunque adaptarse a la nueva cultura y forma de vida es un desafío. Rojas ha estado en Utah durante 11 meses y vino a los Estados Unidos para brindarles una vida mejor a su esposa, sus tres hijas, su hijo y su sobrino. "Mi país no está en una buena situación", afirmó.

En Venezuela, Rojas trabajó en seguridad en una em-

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presa eléctrica estatal y ahora trabaja en la construcción. Está trabajando para tener su propia casa y abrir un negocio. “La calidad de la gente, su trato, lo bien que me sentí cuando entré al edificio”, dijo describiendo lo que le encanta del centro.

Los planes a largo plazo para el centro incluyen también prestar servicios a artistas locales y residentes mayores.

“Estamos muy agradecidos con Herriman City y el Columbus Center por ser nuestros socios. Conmemora nuestro pasado compartido y miramos hacia el futuro”, dijo Robison.

El Centro Colón siempre necesita ayuda. Los voluntarios no necesitan hablar español. Visite columbusaec.org/ herriman-campus/ para obtener más información.

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El artista Roger Whiting explica el simbolismo detrás del mural. (Elisa Eames/City Journals)

Aspen Elementary’s Community Night links families with resources

Aspen Elementary’s Community Night brings families and organizations together fostering connection and support.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Fifth-grader Liam Strong was eager to return to school one January evening for Aspen Elementary’s Community Night. He couldn’t wait to see his teacher, Mikayla Miller, who was helping pass out cookies.

“We came to learn more about our community and discovered that live events happen each month,” said Amber, Liam’s mother, as her second-grade daughter, Aria, explored one of the 45 booths offering fun activities and community resources.

The community fair was founded four years ago by Miller and her colleagues.

“Every year we come together to celebrate our community for the night with the fun and excitement of the event, but that doesn’t take away from what we work for all year long,” she said. “It adds to it and continues to build on the success that we have seen as we have grown for the past four years.”

Miller expressed gratitude for the strong support from parents, students, teachers and community members who embrace the school’s theme, “All Belong, All Learn, All Succeed.”

“This collective commitment fosters an inclusive environment where every student, regardless of background or ability, feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. Our community’s dedication ensures that learning is not just an individual journey, but a shared experience that uplifts everyone,” she said. “Together, we are building a foundation for success that is rooted in collaboration, understanding and mutual respect.”

The event featured booths from organizations such as Kid Strong, Utah Parent Center, South Valley Services, Live Daybreak, South Jordan Police, credit unions, gyms, health care providers and several services and programs from the Jordan School District. At the Jordan Education Foundation’s booth, kids could choose a toy, along with personal hygiene items and even a pair of tennis shoes.

“When I see everyone gathered in the school, it just warms my heart,” Miller said.

Alexis Tanner, a parent of three Aspen students, appreciates seeing how the agencies and resources benefit the community. She said the event has expanded to include more booths each year.

“It’s wonderful to see the involvement supporting school families,” she

said. “The teachers here are amazing; they genuinely care about the kids and help them learn. We’ve been here for three years, and I know the school sends meal packages home with kids who may have a challenging home life, ensuring they get meals over the weekend. They also get free school lunch, and there are extra socks and clothing available in the office for kids who need them. The school really loves the community.”

Tanner was near the SafeUT booth, an app offering real-time crisis chat and intervention for students, parents and educators.

“I tell people about SafeUT, explaining how they can download the app for crisis support from a licensed counselor in Utah,” SafeUT outreach coordinator Robert Spencer said. “They can also send a tip if they’re worried about someone who might need help.”

In the commons, Utah Community Action, a nonprofit organization, was informing families about programs for power and gas assistance, budget counseling and conservation education.

“We assist with utilities and teach people how to conserve energy,” Anne Tuakiaipimahu said, an outreach specialist. “People who qualify can save an average of $550 on their heating costs.”

Since Oct. 1, 2024, more than 6,000 Salt Lake County homeowners and renters have applied this winter.

“It’s an income-based program,” said her colleague, case worker Alma Tllechea. “Most people are 150% below poverty levels. It’s a great program that many in our community can benefit from.”

Jordan District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey commended Aspen Elementary’s Community Night.

“Connecting to our community is important, and nobody does it better than Aspen Elementary,” he said. “They bring all kinds of resources together and make it an inviting atmosphere where kids want to be, so they can make sure that families are aware of the resources that are avail -

able to support them. It’s really an effort to reach out to families and not just wait for them to come to the school. The way we are most effective as educators

is when we connect in a meaningful way with parents, and this is one example of how our schools are doing that in new and creative ways.” l

Students and parents get information and questions answered at Jordan School District’s digital teaching and learning booth, which was part of Aspen Elementary’s Community Night. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

women’s SECTION

A publication covering local influential women in honor of International Women’s Day

Building a stronger future for female high school athletes in Utah

By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com

Women’s Day of Sports hosted on Feb. 19 gave Utah female athletes a sense of community and empowered them to become better leaders on and off the field.

Andee Bouwhuis teamed up with a group of athletic directors from across Utah more than a year ago to bridge a gap they saw for high school female athletes in the state and are continuing strong in the efforts.

On Feb. 19, Bouwhuis and her team, in collaboration with the Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, hosted the second annual Women’s Day in Sports at the Jordan School District building. The event attracted nearly 200 high school female athletes participating in a variety of sports and their coaches from St. George to Logan.

Team members from across the state contributed to the success of the event, including athletic directors and assistant athletic directors from Cedar Valley, Hunter, Manti, Summit, and Timpview high schools. Additionally, Utah High School Activities Association assistant directors Jan Whittaker and Missy Mackay-White were involved in the organization.

The goal was to create a “half-day program to give our female athletes exposure to speakers who would empower them to become better leaders on and off the field.”

Notable speakers at the event included Amy Donaldson, a Utah high school sports journalist who has worked for 20 years to fill this gap and remains passionate about the cause.

She encouraged athletes not to settle for less but to utilize small consistent efforts to become what they want to become.

“If you don’t see yourself as worthy of attention and time and love and com -

passion, then nobody else is going to either,” Donaldson said.

There were four other speakers during three breakout sessions, covering various topics such as health and nutrition, mental health, leadership and strength and conditioning.

“We wanted to be able to address concerns that the girls, as well as female athletic directors and coaches, had and work together to grow female athletics in the state of Utah,” Bouwhuis said.

Female high school athletes have pressures just like any athlete: balancing school, sports, family and maybe a job, with added worries and concerns as female athletes that changemakers like Bouwhuis are working to help them navigate.

Bryan Veazie, Jordan School District’s director of athletics and activities, said while athletics play an important role in school and community culture, it’s been historically less of a priority to have females participate in them.

“I think historically there was a higher level of priority given to boys and men in athletics and with the implementation of Title IX, I think there have been a lot of important efforts and significant movements to provide equitable opportunities to girls in sports,” he said. “I think our commitment at the Jordan School District is to find ways to ensure we are providing the highest level of equity and ample opportunities for boys and girls to participate in athletics.”

Hosting the Women’s in Sports Day was another step in the district’s efforts, he said.

“We admire and respect the ladies in athletics, out at the schools and at the Utah High School Activities Association as well as the Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrative Association for their passion and their commitment and their

vision to put this together and to provide these opportunities for our girls in sports and we’re excited to continue to be a part of it moving forward,” Veazie said.

The district has played a role the past two years of the event, the first Women’s Day in Sports event was organized in 2024 and hosted at Bingham High School.

While Bouwhuis said attendance had to be restricted this year to five from each school she and her team hope that

changes next year so even more women and girls in the state can participate.

West Jordan basketball player, runner and sophomore Faytme Reese Myles said the event showed her the statewide “big community” she and her teammates are a part of.

“When I ended up going to state, there weren’t many girls, it was really a male-dominated sport,” she said. “So just coming here and seeing all the different athletes and what they do really shows we have a big community.”

West Jordan female athletes (from left to right ) Francine McIntyre, Giselle Muffet and Faytme Reese Myles attended the Women’s Day in Sports as a basketball team. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)

Herriman’s female assistant city manager overcomes obstacles to make a difference

By Elisa Eames | e.eames@mycityjournals.com

A 17-year veteran of local government, assistant city manager Wendy Thomas understands the value of diligence and determination; reaching her current position wasn’t easy.

“[It has been] a lot of long hours and hard work. It was taking on extra responsibilities, making hard decisions and being accountable,” Thomas said.

Growing up in a small rural community along the Mississippi River in Arkansas, Thomas didn’t arrive in Utah until 1996. Intending to stay only for the summer, she decided to make the move permanent after meeting her husband, Kem. They have two adult children and a grand dog.

Thomas began her career with a love of learning—a passion she still enjoys— which is not surprising considering her impressive educational background. With two bachelor's degrees in economics and social science and two master’s degrees in gerontology and public administration, she has consistently pushed herself to earn distinction in a playing field generally dominated by men.

Faced with challenges from her first purposeful steps onto a career path, Thomas has refused to accept limitations for over 20 years.

“Early on in my career, it was balancing being a wife and mother and working more than 40 hours per week,” she said. “I was also attending graduate school during some of that time. It took a lot of perseverance and support from those around me to make sure the children were fed and where they needed to be so I could be present and focused.”

Though she loves her job, local government wasn’t her original goal when she began her studies as an undergraduate. However, fortuitous circumstances led her to where she is now.

“It was a lot of falling forward and seizing opportunities as they presented themselves,” she said. “One of my electives during my undergraduate studies was in the Gerontology Department, which led me to an interest in Aging Services Administration, which led to an MS in Gerontology, which led me to my first job in local government managing the Community Center and Senior Citizen Programs in South Jordan.” She spent nearly eight years working for the City of South Jordan.

Presenting an unprecedented challenge, the pandemic threw a wrench into everyone’s plans and daily operations, and it was no different for Herriman.

“The pandemic changed so much for the city. Day to day, we had to pivot our response depending on what was happening at the federal, state and county levels. It impacted every aspect of daily life,” Thomas said.

She and other city officials scrambled to adapt how they fulfilled responsibilities, met the needs of residents and communicated. “Public trust evaporated,” she said.

Thomas and other staff found creative ways to keep the city functioning, even hosting the first in-person pandemic event within Salt Lake County in July 2020. “[It was called] Xtreme Bulls, with a limited crowd and a lot of health regulations. It was amazing to be with people!” Thomas said.

Later in 2020, an unexpected management change thrust Thomas into the position of interim city manager overnight. She suddenly found herself responsible for all city operations, a huge undertaking she would tackle for the next eight months. “I am grateful for our amazing staff, who stepped up and helped me navigate through that time,” she said.

Though her stint as the city manager was instructive and helped shape how she approaches challenges today, she is grateful for many aspects of her current job. She particularly enjoys the community camaraderie and respect on display during city events.

“It is incredibly fulfilling to see the community come together at Fort Herriman Towne Days or to see people enjoying all the activities at the Herriman Howl,” she said. “I love the respect that is shown at our Memorial Day Ceremony and Wreaths Across America.”

Thomas has now worked for Herriman City for almost eight years and enjoys seeing the completion of city projects, including roads, parks or even water tanks.

“I love seeing people enjoying our trails and playing in our parks. I love seeing new businesses opening and meeting new residents,” she said.

Thomas—and the city in general— face daily challenges. Limited resources, budget constraints, regulatory considerations and legal issues—all while examining the impact on residents—make solving complex city problems difficult at best.

Providing unique perspectives gained through experiences as a woman, mother, student and leader, she continues to pursue the realization of the city council’s vision for Herriman.

This vision includes strengthening financial stability and increasing revenue, improving public trust and transparency,

encouraging community engagement, expanding trails for increased outdoor recreation and health and increasing transportation and service efficiency via technology.

She takes pride in her efforts to do what is best for the city, though, of course, she is always proud of her children first.

“In my career, I think I’ve been a good person who works hard, takes responsibility, and tries to do the right thing, even though that can come through difficult choices,” she said.

Though every city makes mistakes that can negatively impact residents,

Thomas is especially optimistic about Herriman’s future.

“Incredible people make up the Herriman City Staff and City Council,” she said. “They are people who truly care about this community and its long-term sustainability.”

To make a difference in local government, particularly for women, Thomas advises proactivity. “Believe in yourself and your abilities. Speak up, even when you are the only woman in the room. Trust your expertise. Embrace resilience—learn from mistakes and move forward,” she said. “And be kind.”

Wendy Thomas has worked hard for over two decades to better herself and her city.

Wendy Thomas greets residents at a city event at Butterfield Park in 2019. (Courtesy Herriman City)

On a brisk day in November 2022, Wendy Thomas participates in the ribbon-cutting for the Juniper Canyon East Trailhead. (Courtesy Herriman City)

Teachers have students playing right into their hands

Providence Hall Elementary students don’t realize they are learning life skills through play.

By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Stay and play

About 100 students stay after school at Providence Hall Elementary to play chess, Legos, basketball and volleyball.

“If kids have a passion, and maybe it’s not something that is being met with outside extracurriculars, clubs or organizations, then if we can offer it, that’s great,” Principal Michael Fry said.

Club offerings vary each year.

“We tend to add some due to demand and/or what interest teachers have in staying after school,” Fry said. “One of our PE teachers, she loves volleyball—she played in college—so she’s been asking and so we put out a survey, and got a bunch of kids interested, and so we started volleyball.”

Fourth-grade teacher Scott Candelaria started the chess club because he had fond memories of being in a chess club when he was younger.

“It’s just a place where they can come and have fun, and learn some skills, and beat me,” he said. “They have a great time,

so I love it. It’s a lot of fun.”

Students have a fun time playing chess with their friends after school, but they are also learning life skills such as problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork.

“There’s the mental side to chess, but really, when you’re working with kindergarten/first grade, they understand some of it but it’s more just, how do you interact with each other,” Candelaria said. “One of the biggest things in elementary school is just some social skills—playing with each other, being a good sport, understanding that we’re not going to always win.”

Students love playing with Legos in the robotics club, but they’re actually learning skills to prepare them for life, careers and competitions.

The robotics club is divided into four classes, based on age, with progressively more challenging building projects.

“Younger grade levels are basically playing with Legos, and then by the time they get to the older kids, they’re building robots and programming them,” Fry said.

Fifth-grader Aksel Schafer said he joined the club to gain future job skills.

“I want to be an engineer when I get older so I thought it might be fun to learn robotics,” he said.

Emily Williams, from AMES Academy’s First Lego League, is helping Prov-

idence Hall to develop their First Lego League program, which fosters teamwork, problem-solving, creativity, while teaching STEM skills.

Providence Hall parent Daniel Deragon likes that his daughter Elizabeth, a first-grader, gets to play creatively in the Lego Club.

“She likes to build things with other people and play with whatever they built,” he said.

mayor and community ID cards.

“They had a bank with money that they made, they had a person who was in charge, like the mayor, and she was charging people taxes,” she said. “They ended up organizing this whole thing and it was really great and super fun.”

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Elizabeth also participates in the chess club. Deragon likes that the school provides so many options for his daughter to spend her afternoons.

“It’s good to have the school activities, to have that community with other kids that gets them doing something,” he said.

Day of play

Providence Hall Elementary teachers are serious about kids learning through play. In addition to hosting the after school clubs, teachers give up a day of instruction each year on Global School Play Day to allows students to learn through play. This year it was held Feb. 5.

“It’s rare these days that kids have a lot of unstructured play,” Fry said. “There’s science behind the idea of unstructured play. Kids need to be able to be creative and innovative and come up with things on their own.”

At all grade levels, without any instructions or input from teachers, PHES students spent the school day doing whatever they wanted. Many students played board games, played with each other and worked on projects on their own.

Fourth grade teacher Glory Hicks was impressed with the creativity of her students. Her class worked together to form a class community, with small businesses— such as a bracelet shop and a bakery—a

She said her students always say Global School Play Day is their favorite day of the year because they don’t have to do any schoolwork but they don’t realize that they’re still learning.

“They made a whole community,” she said. “I could have given that for a project or for a lesson, but I didn’t have to. They did it on their own and it was way more fun for them because they made their own rules.”

Hicks said she wishes there was more time for that kind of playing every day.

“It is really good for them, I think, to come and play for a day,” she said. “Kids don’t play a lot, unfortunately.”

Watching their students engage in free play allowed teachers a chance to step back and gain insights into their students’ social patterns, strengths and weaknesses.

One teacher noticed a students spending a lot of time playing with puzzles.

“This student is great at puzzling—but I had no idea,” she said. “I’ve never seen him super-focused in class, but he was on the puzzle for a long time, and so maybe we need to be doing more puzzles in class.”

Less structure also meant more opportunities for students to solve problems without teacher intervention.

“One of the students was mad someone moved his desk, and I said, ‘Well, what can you do about that?’” an upper-grade teacher said. “I do try to help them quite a bit with that kind of stuff but today I really said ‘Solve your own problem’ a little bit more than normal.” l

Volleyball is Providence Hall Elementary School’s newest after school club. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Learning Chinese: A celebration of culture, community and connection

Jordan School District students embrace Chinese New Year traditions and build community as they learn Chinese and culture.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Herriman High senior Bonnie Chow was born in Hong Kong, but she grew up participating in Jordan School District’s Chinese dual immersion language program.

“Schools here have so much freedom,” she said. “Back in Hong Kong, students work until 11 p.m. and we start in the morning around 7. It’s all about studying, with no fairs or fun events like here.”

Chow was referring to the school district’s fourth annual Chinese New Year Celebration, held at Mountain Creek Middle School. The event was not only for students in the DLI program but also welcomed the community.

Chow and Herriman High junior Lizzy Thorup hosted a booth showcasing various New Year traditions.

The celebration featured around 45 booths created by secondary students from both Herriman and Bingham high schools and Mountain Creek Middle School. These booths allowed patrons to learn about traditional customs, while teachers emphasized the projects helped students dive deeper into these practices in preparation for the Chinese Advanced Placement exam.

“We created a cultural presentation about the custom of giving red envelopes with money inside for children, having spring couplets put around the door, the new year house-cleaning tradition,” Thorup said.

However, Chow admitted she didn’t take part in the cleaning custom.

“I’m too lazy,” she said.

Eastlake fifth-grade DLI student Sawyer Christensen was at a booth trying the Chinese yo-yos.

“I like learning a new language and culture,” he said. “It’s fun to celebrate the traditions of Chinese New Year. My favorite is making lanterns; I made them in third and fourth grades.”

Eastlake librarian Piper Wise, who has supported the DLI program since her child participated, noted the unique opportunities the program offers.

“Without it, I would never have known so much about another culture; it brings us together as a community,” Wise explained. “It’s amazing to see teachers from different schools collaborate to make these celebrations happen. In the past, high school and elementary teachers didn’t interact much, but now they do, and that connection is

so valuable.”

Herriman High Chinese teacher Kimberly Chen-Pace said the event also serves as an inspiration for younger students while showcasing the achievements of older students.

“We aim to show the beauty of Chinese language and the culture,” she said. “We do this so people can see the whole picture of the Chinese dual language program from first grade all the way to 12th grade and then even beyond in college. It’s a chance to see how much progress our students have made and celebrate their hard work.”

The event attracted about 1,200 attendees who explored the booths, sampled the cuisine from food trucks and enjoyed student performances, including dragon and lion dances, ribbon dance, songs and an award-winning short film created by Herriman High students.

Mountain Creek Middle Chinese teacher Michael Lu expressed pride in both the booth presentations and stage performances.

“Our students have worked hard for years, and they did an amazing job here,” Lu said. “It’s great that so many students get a chance to shine on stage.”

Lu credited the support of families, administration and the community for the event’s and program’s success.

“It’s great to have this party for the community to celebrate not only just Chinese New Year, but also to recognize our students’ success and celebrate our program,” said the native of China. “It’s a way we can offer all students and the community an authentic Chinese New Year celebration.”

Jordan District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey emphasized the value of cultural understanding.

“With our dual language immersion students, it’s not only about the language, but also about culture,” he said. “When you learn another language and you learn about another culture, at the root of that is an emphasis on empathy, on understanding things from someone else’s perspective. Empathy is a key element of who we are as human beings, and learning that as a student while you explore other cultures in another language really helps you examine yourself, your own culture and your own language in ways that would not otherwise be possible. We’re thrilled about the dual language immersion programs we have in Jordan and the incredible opportunities they provide for students. These festivals are part of that, and it helps their Chinese.”

Then, he added, with a smile: “My Chinese is very, very limited, but my enthusiasm for students learning Chinese is very high.” l

Herriman High senior Bonnie Chow and junior Lizzy Thorup took part in the Jordan School District Chinese New Year celebration. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

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High school students call for cellphone education

“It feels a little bit bossy or controlling coming from an adult, but when it’s coming from one of my close friends, it feels a little bit more like they’re trying to look out for me,” senior Hanah Park said.

By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

When Jordan School District announced a new cellphone policy prohibiting cellphones during class, high school students felt like they were being punished.

“For a lot of students, this felt, like, very extreme—it felt very harsh,” Mountain Ridge High School senior Hanah Park said. “I know phones are a huge problem in classes— students are definitely not focusing to their full ability—but I myself, was like, I feel like this is too much.”

Park and her fellow business class peers Sadie Miles and Kennedy Haymond, both juniors, chose to focus on the cellphone policy for their DECA club competition project. They researched the topic and met with administrators, district representatives and legislators to understand the reasoning behind the policy.

“I started to understand, like, this is actually beneficial towards us,” Park said. “It’s not, ‘Oh, they hate us and they hate our phones.’ They’re trying to help us be better students and become better friends and create more social connections.”

The girls realized that educating their peers could help improve understanding and reduce pushback against the policy.

“They feel like it’s a punishment, but until they actually learn and know why phones are harmful, they’re never going to understand why the phone policy was put in place,” Park said.

The girls developed an education campaign strategy called “The Disconnect Effect.”

“Our main goal is educating students about why the cellphone policy is in place and how the cellphones are affecting them or harming them,” Haymond said.

Miles said because the harms related to cellphones have not been directly addressed before, education is a necessary part of the solution.

“We were looking at how important it is to educate people so that we don’t have to keep just making these stricter policies and taking things away,” she said. “Because ultimately, what we all want is for kids—whose brains are still developing—to learn these mindful habits that will help them inside and outside of school.”

As part of their education campaign, the three girls organized a Social Strength Week at Mountain Ridge High School. They shared statistics and facts about the harms of cellphones and social media through fliers and daily announcements, but the main focus of the week was to encourage students to make social connections.

“We wanted to educate kids in a way that was more of ‘Think of all the fun real-life connections you can have,’ while also kind of sneaking in why phones are bad for you,” Miles said.

The girls wrote and, with the help of students from a variety of social circles, filmed a short movie about a teen who was alone and depressed because she didn’t have social interactions outside of her phone. The movie ended with someone reaching out to include the girl in their friend group.

“There were a lot of kids that told us, ‘I felt that way before, I was able to kind of see myself in that video and it helped me just realize how important it is to focus on those real life connections rather than my online friends,’” Miles said.

Sophomore Tytan Hinton said the movie showed how cellphones can prevent you from talking to other people. “It makes

it a lot harder for you to make those connections with people that are really big in life, and it’s what can bring you joy,” he said.

The girls hoped the video would inspire students to make an effort to connect with each other during the social activities they’d planned for the week. They partnered with school clubs and student government to organize activities such as a group service project, a pancake breakfast and lunch-time games. The girls said it was good to see people at the activities engaging with each other instead of sitting alone, scrolling on their phones.

Hinton said students who joined him in a game of nine square during lunch period were cheering on and encouraging each other. “Even if you didn’t know the people, there was just a lot of social interaction and not a lot of cell phones that I could see—that was really nice,” Hinton said.

He enjoyed socializing with games so much that the next morning, when the girls held a Positive Pancake Breakfast, giving pancakes to students who shared something positive with them, he joined in to help with the cooking.

“It was really good that I went and did that because I feel like I met a lot more people, made a lot more friends,” he said. “You could really tell that when you were talking to them as you were making their pancake, that they were really, like, zoned-in on the conversation and really intensely wanted to talk to you.”

Rachel Merrill, president of Savage Service Club, said there was a lot of socializing at the co-sponsored afterschool service project making blankets for Primary Children’s Hospital.

“We met tons of new friends, and no one had their phones out,” she said. “We were all just talking, so it was really fun.”

Social Strength Week culminated with a challenge for students to leave their phones at home. The phone-free Friday included a social at Classic Skating’s Throwback Night.

The three girls surveyed students at the beginning of their project, when 5% agreed with the school cellphone policy, and then again after Social Strength Week, when 88% said they understood why the policy was in place and agreed with it.

“I think that there’s been a very significant change in attitude towards the cellphone policy and cellphones in general,” Haymond said.

They were pleased with the school-wide impact of their project and want to expand cellphone education to a curriculum for elementary students.

“Teaching somebody before they’re faced with that decision, I think is so important, and I hope that we can make it like a societal norm to talk about that with kids,” Haymond said.

They also want to hold parent nights to teach parents about the harms of cellphones and how to teach their kids to self-limit their screen time.

“Because cellphones are a relatively newer technology, and parents aren’t fully equipped with the knowledge of how to help their kids have a healthy relationship, I think that’s really the best way to solve this issue, is to be able to teach both the kids and their parents,” Park said.

Jordan District Board of Education member Darrell Robinson has advocated for an education piece to the district cellphone policy since the beginning of the board’s discussions.

“I believe that cellphones are as dangerous as cars,” Robinson said. “And with cars, we give a student some training. They have drivers ed. They drive with a parent for six months or a year. And even after they do get a full license, we put restrictions for the first six months or so. So we teach them how to use it. And in my estimation and my experience, they don’t really teach anybody how to use the phone. We just hand it to them.”

Some parents and legislators would like to ban cellphones all day in secondary schools like they are in Jordan District ele-

mentary schools. Haymond, Park and Miles are concerned that would cause teens to have an even more unhealthy relationship with their phones.

“Banning phones completely doesn’t solve the problem,” Park said. “It solves a problem for eight hours while they’re at school, but then they go home and they’re just on their phones continuously. It doesn’t teach them why they need to get off their phones, they’re just being forced to get off their phones. So the solution, really, is teaching people how to have a healthy relationship with their phones, because students don’t 100% understand the correlation between mental health and body image or depression and their cellphones.”

The three girls began their project in August and presented it at a competition in February. They hope to qualify for the state competition this summer, but even if they don’t, the project will continue.

“We’re definitely not done—to us, it’s honestly more than just a project,” Miles said. They plan to continue to work with Rep. Candice Pierucci and hoped to attend some of the hearings for the statewide cellphone bill during the Legislative session and share their ideas.l

Social Strength Week at Mountain Ridge High School was filled with activities, such as a game of nine square, to encourage students to focus on interacting with each other instead of their phones. (Photo courtesy of Sadie Miles)

Sadie Miles, Kennedy Haymond and Hanah Park make pancakes for the Mountain Ridge High School student body to encourage them to interact with each other instead of their phones. (Photo courtesy of Sadie Miles)

Awards for Herriman-area teens’ artwork paints a picture of incredible local talent.

By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Herriman High School senior Isabella

Freeman was thrilled when she found out her mixed media art piece “I Believed in God in 2008” had not only been accepted into the 53rd Annual Utah All-State High School Art Show, but that it won an award and was being used on advertisements for the show.

“It means so incredibly much to me, especially as a girl who has been creating her whole life,” she said. “I haven’t ever received recognition like this before and it’s been so validating and really proves to me that I can succeed as an artist.”

Her piece, created with acrylic paint and cut paper, took 40 hours to complete.

“I’m incredibly happy with how it turned out,” she said. “This piece is meant to symbolize the childlike awe and praise we hold for our parents despite challenges.”

The art of winning

Braden Wilcox, a senior at Mountain Ridge High School, had a piece of art accepted in last year’s show. He was so excited, he immediately began working on this year’s ot,” is a 3D sculpture of an eagle made from cardboard and paper and took him about two months to complete.

“Since going to the ceremony and realizing what all this entails, I realized just how big an honorable mention actually is,” he said. “It didn’t quite hit until I was actually at the cer

tives—and I’m going to the Capitol soon. It was a much bigger deal than I thought it would be even at the start. I’m just grateful that I was able to get this. I’ve never really gotten recognition this large before. This is definitely one of the biggest art opportunities I’ve ever had.”

Only 6% of the 1,300 entries into the show

bryn Vance’s “Reminiscing a Joyful Splash” also won an honorable mention award in the prestigious art show. It was not only one of her first attempts at oil painting, but also the first art piece she’s ever entered into a show or contest.

The piece is a self portrait capturing a moment of childhood joy.

“When I saw the picture, I was like, ‘I just need to paint this’ because I felt like that’s the joy of being a kid,” she said. “I hope that when other people see my painting, that they also feel the same way and think about their own memories from when they were younger.”

The 53rd Annual Utah All-State High School Art Show, on display at the Springville Museum of Art through Mar. 21, features artwork by local high school artists, including: Isaac Mitchell, Tess Petersen, Alyssa Barrett and Erin Grimshaw

Erin Grimshaw won the Outstanding Student of the Year Award. Her piece “Young Siren” won a Jurors’ Choice Award, a Fourth Congressional District Award, the Artists Nosh Award and a Lyon Arts Studio Award. Her piece “Labeled” won a Jurors’ Award of

Abaigael Langston, Amanda Morales, Elijah Baker, Isabella Freeman, Nhi Trang, Saylor Sanders, Sofia Kim, Stella Smuin and Susanna Bruening Isabella Freeman’s piece “I Believed in God in 2008” won the Pilar Pobil Legacy Award. Mountain Ridge High School: Braden Wilcox, Cambryn Vance, Elizabeth Barton, Kate Butterfield and Mckenzie Goodwin

Both Cambryn Vance’s “Reminiscing a Joyful Splash” and Braden Wilcox’s “Paper Patriot” won an Honorable Mention.

Morgan Vaas Cash Swenson, Ella Nordfelt, Kaitlin Killian, Kaya Monson, Spencer Cameron, Lillian Dickes, Lydia Cannon, Miranda Johnson, Rachel Jessen

Kaya Monson’s “Abuelo” won a Jurors’

Herriman High School senior Isabella Freeman’s piece “I Believed in God in 2008” won the Pilar Pobil Legacy Award. (Mixed media “I Believed in God in 2008” by Isabella Freeman)

MRHS junior Cambryn Vance’s “Reminiscing a Joyful Splash” won an honorable mention. (Oil painting “Reminiscing a Joyful Splash” by Cambryn Vance)

Herriman High School offers unique and engaging classes that appeal to a wide range of interests.

By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Studentslaunched paper rockets down the hall with the physics teacher, petted a pair of rabbits used in animal science classes, watched a pottery demonstration by ceramics students and tried writing a blackout poem at the invitation of a creative writing teacher. The activities were all part of Herriman High School’s first ever Herriman Highlights Open House to showcase the variety of classes available to students.

“It’s not just reading choices on a paper,” HHS teacher Erin Day said. “You see what they actually do in Woods and can tour the woodshop and see what this class would be like. They can see them doing these chemistry experiments, and be like, ‘Oh, that would kind of be a fun class to take, we’re going to do that kind of stuff.’”

Held the first night of parent teacher conferences, the open house allowed teachers to promote their classes and answer questions.

Samantha Foote drummed up interest for her sci-fi/fantasy literature class and her mythology class with promises of a D&D one-shot and mummy excavations.

“It’s been really fun to be like, ‘Yes, there’s a class that does D&D—you just have to tell your counselor that you want to take it,’” she said.

Those walking through the science hall were drawn into the chemistry lab by colored flames, sparks and other impressive lab experiments which AP chemistry student Parker Goodman said the class does every week.

He encouraged his peers to take AP chemistry.

“It opens so many more doors into college and career opportunities, especially if you pass the AP test, you get a big head start into college, which is nice,” Goodman said.

Throughout the three and a half hour event, students in cheer, drill, Dance Company, orchestra/band, choir and theater performed for attendees to generate interest in their programs.

Day said it was helpful for students to meet the teachers, see the classrooms and participate in activities to get an idea of what a class would be like before they register for it.

A student who was considering taking a woods class next year said it was helpful to tour the woodshop. “I just got to see all the projects they get to do and I talked to the teacher and they were really nice,” she said.

Another student, a junior, said if she hadn’t come to the open house, she wouldn’t have learned about all the class options available to earn a language arts credit her senior year.

Day said many students are missing out on taking many of the skills-based and extracurricular classes offered at Herriman because they are taking online classes or work/home release.

There’s a class for that

HHS registrar Kelli Bland said of 2,516 students currently enrolled, 461 have at least one period of home release and 324 have education or work release. A total of 436 students are taking at least one online course. That equals at a minimum 1,221 periods each day in which a student could be in school but is not.

Day said it is a growing trend for students to not come to school full time their senior year.

“A lot of seniors go into senior year with that 1.5 credit that they’re needing, and then they are just like, ‘I’m going to take five periods of work release or home release,’” Day said. “It has become a really big thing recently with students so they’re not getting any kind of credit because they don’t necessarily need it.”

At the beginning of second semester, Day said she had about 10 seniors just drop her class to go online. She is concerned that not only are these students missing out on educational opportunities, but they are missing developmental experiences, life skills practice and social interactions. She believes they are at increased risk for poor mental health from isolation and more time spent on their phones and video games.

Stella Smuin said she’s one of the very few seniors she knows who has a full class schedule. She has used her senior year to explore her interests.

“It’s my last year to take less expensive classes, so I might as well just give everything I wanted to try a good shot,” she said. “I mostly focused on academic classes earlier in high school, so I wanted to try out art in high school

because I love it.”

She has taken AP drawing, AP art, jewelry 1&2, drawing, ceramics and print making 1&2. She has also loved the discussions in her AP government class this year.

HHS class offerings appeal to a variety of interests including athletics, social studies, languages and writing. Students can learn job skills for medical or computer careers, and practical skills such as sewing and auto maintenance. Next year HHS will be the first to offer a screenprinting class and a college level ceramics course.

Day believes college credit classes are the most underutilized resource available to high school students.

“You can do a semester of college for $60 at Herriman High that would cost you $5,000 tuition at the U, so, why aren’t we taking advantage of these?” she said.

The open house was held during parent teacher conferences which has experienced a decline in attendance for the last few years. Because it’s easy for parents to monitor their student’s grades and to email teachers, Day said they no longer rely on conferences to know what’s going on with their student.

Day said she wished more parents had come to the open house but she was thrilled with the number of students who attended.

“We had a million more people than would have been here for parent teacher conferences, so it was hugely successful,” she said.

Students were incentivized to attend.

Those who filled out a stamp card proving they spoke to teachers from a variety of departments were entered into a drawing for prom tickets, school parking spots, gift cards and school merch. Those students will also have the opportunity to register for next year’s classes a day earlier than the rest of the student body. l

A group of Herriman High musicians promote the band and orchestra programs. (Jet Burnham/City Journals) Isabella Blanco and Elizabeth Rawlings demonstrate pottery-making. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Lexi Cluff and Parker Goodman show off chemistry experiments at Herriman High School’s first ever Herriman Highlights Open House. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Unified basketball provides pathway for athletes of all abilities

Local inclusive basketball tournament emphasizes compassion, competition and community.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

After a parade of student-athletes from Canyons, Jordan and Murray school districts, First Lady Abby Cox took center court.

“I’m so excited for all the work you’ve put in to be here that each one of you here is making a difference in each other’s lives,” she said. “Anybody who is experiencing unified sports is experiencing something that is powerful, that is changing our lives. It’s changing our communities and changing our schools. It’s changing the world because we truly see each other as human beings. When we truly look at each other with eyes of another human and understand each other’s hearts, we do change the world. You’re going to change everything. You’re going to make the world better because of who you are, because of the friendships you’re making right now.”

However, Cox wasn’t speaking to just any high school athletes.

These were players on unified basketball teams, where students with and without intellectual disabilities play side by side. The program, which has seen tremendous growth, now boasts more than 200 high school coed unified basketball teams. School districts have supported the growth of tournaments, expanding opportunities for students to compete.

This tournament, which featured two competitive games taking place on one of three courts, was held at Corner Canyon High in Draper.

Sophomore Isaac Reed played point guard for Herriman High’s team. He played unified basketball for Mountain Creek Middle School last year.

“There are more people here watching us in high school than in middle school,” he said. “I love basketball. I enjoy passing because it helps my team and gives everyone a chance to score. It’s important to show respect after the game by saying ‘good game.’”

His dad, Dub, was on the sidelines, cheering on Isaac and his teammates.

“When I was in high school in the ’90s, there were no programs like this,” he said. “They put these kids in a classroom in the corner of the school, and we never saw them. Now they’re part of everything, and it’s the way it should be. These kids are just as competitive, and this means the world to them to be able to be seen and heard.”

Isaac, who had a stroke at birth and didn’t get diagnosed until he was six months old, is enamored with basketball, watching and recording every NBA game and memorizing stats.

“He watches every NBA game and memorizes the stats,” his dad said. “These unified programs have given him and other kids a sense of community. His peer tutors give him

high-fives in the hallways. At a special needs football game, when Isaac scored a touchdown, the Herriman football team gathered around to congratulate him. That kindness means the world to him and to all these kids.”

The core of unified sports is simple: training and playing together fosters friendships and understanding, said Boston Iacobazzi, Special Olympics Utah’s college-growth coordinator for unified champion schools.

Brighton sophomore Adelaide Hoffman was on another court, getting ready to play.

“Jared (Denslow, special education teacher) taught me how to play basketball,” she said. “I’m excited; this is my first time playing.”

Devin Ambrossi, a junior and peer tutor at Brighton, said unified sports are meaningful.

“Unified sports is great because everyone gets a chance to participate, and it’s a safe space for everyone,” he said. “It’s where people can be themselves and learn new things. I’ve learned a lot about patience and kindness, and it’s made me a better person.”

Many players also credit their special education teachers and peers for teaching them the game of basketball.

West Jordan senior Spencer Nielsen attributes his skills to his coach’s instruction, but he also praises one of his teammates.

“Robert is the best player on our team,” he said. “The best part is just being on the team with all my friends.”

Senior Riley Warner plays alongside Nielsen and other players on West Jordan’s team.

“I like to help out and make everyone be included,” he said. “It’s important to treat everyone fairly. I’m blessed with opportunities, so I want to give back. It’s great to see my teammates excited and pushing themselves. They’re competitive, and I know we’ll do well—hopefully win a state championship.”

Herriman High sophomore Kayla Grant also wants to play for a state title.

“I learned to play basketball on the team and it’s funa to dribble and pass to my friends,” she said. “And I love to see my friends who are playing on other teams.”

Alta senior Joaquin Munoz also appreciates forming friendships through the program.

“We have a lot of fun and it makes me happy seeing them happy,” he said. “It’s great we’re getting to make new friends on teams from a lot of different schools.”

Even though Munoz plays hockey and is on the dance team, he also played unified soccer in the fall as did Alta sophomore Riley Dover.

“I like playing unified sports because I’m exercising and it’s healthy,” he said. “The best part is being with my team.”

Mountain Ridge junior Colton Richards was making friends on his team and on opposing teams.

“I love my coach and my team,” he said. “We’re all having fun, making new friends from other schools and playing basketball together.”

Corner Canyon High senior Jordan Bar-

low appreciated the opportunity to play on his school’s team.

“I didn’t get to play on a team before this one; I used to just play at my house,” he said. “This team is fun because we include everyone. I like to pass the ball.”

His coach, Kelsie Wilson, praised Barlow’s team spirit.

“He passes it so everyone on the team has an opportunity to make a shot,” she said.

Corner Canyon junior Jackson “Blondie” Kennedy, who said he isn’t a basketball player himself, values the inclusivity of the team.

“I’m learning alongside them,” said the peer tutor. “We want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to play. We pass, we shoot, do a lot of fundamentals, but we’re here to make everyone feel welcome, cheer everyone and have a good time.”

Bingham High Principal Rodney Shaw appreciates the impact of unified sports on his students.

“We want all our students to feel connected to the school, and being part of a team is a great way to do that,” he said. “Unified sports have grown so much. For these kids, the emphasis is not about winning or losing; it’s about belonging and being part of the community. The wins and losses are fun, but these kids want to be here, be on the team, and participate.”

This inclusive approach has fostered stronger bonds between students at his school.

“These kids are socializing with other students, eating lunch together, attending activities, and coming to basketball games,” Shaw said. “They get tons of support from the student body.”

Unified teams from the three school districts will compete in the regional tournament the week of March 10, with the state unified basketball tournament set for March 26 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. l

Herriman High’s Issac Reed jumps to defend a pass by Brighton’s Mitch Burt during the Canyons-Jordan-Murray school districts’ unified tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

During a local unified high school tournament, Copper Hills brings up the ball against West Jordan. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Championship material: Herriman boys basketball team looks to bring home the hardware

The Mustangs won Region 2 and lost just twice during the regular season.

By Josh McFadden j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

By the time the regular season ended, no team in Class 6A (and only two in the entire state) had fewer losses than the Herriman boys basketball team.

At 21-2, the Mustangs entered the 6A state tournament as a favorite to win the title (after press deadline). Herriman went 9-1 in a competitive Region 2 to win the league championship, its first in school history.

The Mustangs have had an outstanding season despite some challenges and setbacks.

“We have a team that has been battle-tested and figured out how to work through some tough things during the season, including sickness and injuries,” head coach Doug Meacham said.

Herriman outscored its region foes by an average score of 66-55. Its only loss in league play was a 69-53 setback at home to Corner Canyon on Feb. 7. Earlier in the year, the Mustangs defeated Corner Canyon, which placed second in region, 71-49 on Jan. 17. Herriman also beat third-place Bingham twice this season: 63-47 on Jan. 14 and 69-65 on Feb. 4.

Herriman’s only other loss came against an out-of-state foe, Rock Canyon, Colorado, on Dec. 6 in the Tournament of Champions.

Meacham and his players were eager to get the postseason underway as the playoffs were set to begin Feb. 19 for firstround action. Herriman got a first-round bye and would host a second-round home game on Feb. 21 after press deadline. The quarterfinals begin Feb. 24 at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center. The semifinals, on Feb. 26, and the finals, on Feb. 27, are also at the Huntsman Center.

The Mustangs could very well be playing for the top prize at the end of the month. Meacham said his players are focused and poised to do what it takes to be successful in the playoffs.

“There’s been a commitment to trying to play the right way, and we hope to have a sharpened focus on fighting for each other on the defensive side of the floor because we can control that during the game,” he said. “We know we can’t control if shots are always falling or how the game is being called. Our guys have welcomed the challenge of preparation and skill development through the whole season, and we believe if we keep doing the little things right in the game, we can have a chance to finish strong.”

The Herriman program has made a big

turnaround over the past few seasons.

Last season, in Meacham’s first season, the Mustangs were 20-6 and reached the state semifinals, falling by a single point to eventual champion Lehi. Two seasons ago, Herriman was 12-12 after going 5-19 in 2021–22. The team was 9-16 in 2020–21.

A hallmark of this season’s success was strong play on both ends of the court. Herriman never allowed more than 67 points in a game all season and held 13 opponents to fewer than 50 points. Meanwhile, the Mustangs broke 70 points on six occasions.

The talented tandem of Cale Barclay and Carlo Mulford has been difficult for opponents to contain.

Barclay, a senior forward/center is one of 6A’s top scorers. He led the Mustangs in points during the regular season with an average of 18.1 a contest. Barclay also pulled down 7.5 rebounds a game to lead the team. During the regular season, Barclay scored in double figures in all but one game, with his season-high point total coming against Lehi on Dec. 7 when he poured in 28 points. He had 10 games of at least 20 points. Barclay was tough in the paint, registering double figures in rebounds six times. His best rebounding effort came in a tournament on Dec. 21 against Shawnee, Oklahoma, when he had 15 boards to go along with 21 points.

Mulford, a junior guard is right behind Barclay with 16.9 points per game, along with 4 assists and 1.5 steals a game, both team highs. He only had two games of scoring under 10 points. Mulford owns the highest individual point total of the regular season, a feat he accomplished on Jan. 17 when he lit up the scoreboard with 36 points against Corner Canyon. He also had 35 points at Copper Hills on Dec. 14. Mulford had a season-high nine assists against Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Two other Mustangs averaged just below 10 points a game. Senior guard Stockton Blanchard averaged 9.5 points a game during the regular season. He shared the lead with Mulford in total three-pointers made with 41. Blanchard also chipped in four rebounds a game. He had a season-best 24 points in the team’s loss to Rock Canyon, Colorado. Three times this season he had eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Zach Tanner, a senior forward/center, scores just over eight point a game and averages 5.1 rebounds a contest, second on the team. Tanner had 11 boards in a big win over Altamonte Christian, Florida, on Dec. 20. He scored 16 points, his top effort of the season in that category, on Feb. 4 at Bingham.

Next season’s lineup will look a little different for Herriman. Though Mulford

will be back, the program will say goodbye to Barclay, Blanchard and Tanner. Seniors JJ Tomsick and Dray Stilson, valuable contributors this season, will also end their careers at Herriman once the season ends. However, Meacham’s squad has 12 underclassmen on the roster. Expect to see some new faces on the court and younger players emerge as leaders in 2025–26. l

Below: Cale Barclay averaged 18 points per game in the regular season for the No. 1-seed Herriman Mustangs. (Photo courtesy Travis Rust/BSMNT Media)

The Herriman boys basketball team captured the Region 2 championship this season, but the Mustangs had their sights set on an even bigger prize. (Photo courtesy of Doug Meacham)

Right: Zach Tanner and the Mustangs went 21-2 in the regular season. (Photo by Pat McDonald)

We often talk about infamous warriors like Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart, and justice OG Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but so many women have left their mark on this world without acclaim, awards or national days.

President Trump’s executive order mandates a pause on federal events promoting diversity, including Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month and Holocaust Remembrance Day. But I’m not a federal employee and refuse to follow his directive. Happy Women’s History Month!

Throughout the ages, women are described as the gentler sex, the homemakers and the caretakers. And, yes, women are given those roles. But women are also fierce queens, savage muses, legendary goddesses and wild forces of nature.

We often talk about infamous warriors like Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony and Supreme Court Justice (and original-gangster) Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but so many women have left their mark on this world without acclaim, awards or national days.

Women like Mrs. Strange who made storytime at the Murray Library a magical experience. Her rendition of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” was an Oscar-worthy perfor-

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

A Woman’s Work

mance. When the biggest billy goat knocked the mean, ugly troll off the bridge, we all cheered in triumph.

Or women like Frankie Whipple, my long-suffering, patient, eternally-frustrated piano teacher. She listened to my musical scales, arpeggios and recital pieces without visibly wincing. Usually. The only annoyance she displayed was when I didn’t do my music theory lesson for five years straight.

Mrs. Lambert taught my second grade class at Viewmont Elementary. Under her guidance, I went from reading to show off to reading for pleasure. She taught me poetry, art and a life-lesson about friendship. Plus, she wore hip,‘70s polyester pantsuits that looked amazing.

Grandma Brickey was a fearless powerhouse. She loved her grandkids without judgement and let us eat all her chocolate raisin cake. Widowed for decades, she had many boyfriends but refused to give up her independence. She was a dancing queen, a

vivacious flirt and a woman who lived life on her own terms.

When I was 12-years-old, a neighbor lady trusted me to watch her children all summer. Thanks to her, I quickly learned I was a terrible babysitter and should probably never have children.

Women like Ms. Pettis, my ninth-grade English teacher at Riverview Junior High, taught me that even when I thought my life was over, I was valuable to her. She showed up at my home every week to make sure I stayed on top of my assignments and she encouraged my writing. She is a hero.

My Aunt Judy created a safe place for 8-year-old me when I ran away from home because Mom was censoring the books I read. She didn’t think “Jaws” was an acceptable summer read for a third-grader but Aunt Judy let me stay the night until I calmed down. Then I read “Jaws” in secret.

Renee Smith was my dance instructor for eight years. She taught me tap, jazz and ballet, and encouraged me to try out for “The Nutcracker”. But because I wasn’t actually coordinated, I never landed a part. She always believed I would. At least she said she did.

Mom was an unrivaled teacher, encouraging me to read (except “Jaws”), write poetry, make music, dance, ride bikes, play basketball and try new things. It wasn’t her

fault I didn’t see her value until I became a mom.

My daughters, my granddaughters, my sisters, my nieces, my cousins, my aunts, my grandmothers, my friends, my colleagues, my teachers: all these women have made me what I am today. Yes, it’s their fault.

Even when the president (and Google) removes Women’s History Month from the calendar, women will do what we’ve always done: help other women to be powerful, to find their voice, to live their passion, to stand up for what’s right, to lead and to shine brighter than ever. Don’t mistake our gentle demeanor for passivity.

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