PEEK INTO THE LIVES OF FORMER STUDENTS

THEN & NOW TRAVELING PHOTO-STORY EXHIBIT

Robert Hunter set out on a journey to discover what he wanted to do with his life. After two years of college in Montana, he dropped out because he couldn’t settle on a career path

“I moved to Washington and worked as a dishwasher at a tribal casino,” says Hunter. “One night in that hot, steamy dish pit I had the realization that if I’m going to be broke, I might as well be broke doing something I love. And I love filmmaking.”

His life had been influenced by movies and music. But what was missing, he says, was the indigenous voice. “I knew that was never going to happen unless we go out there and do it ourselves.” can perhaps see themselves in some of these stories and be inspired by them as they figure out what’s next.”

He made a goal to get into the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles, CA within five years. In 2020, he graduated from AFI, and says that Salt Lake Community College played a big part in making that happen.

Hunter’s story is just one in a new traveling photo-story exhibit that has been roving between SLCC campuses to commemorate the College’s 75th anniversary. The “Then & Now” exhibit invites viewers to step into the lives of former students who remember what it was like when they first started at SLCC—some scared, some unsure, some excited—and to then learn where they are now in their careers.

We hope that students can perhaps see themselves in some of these stories and be inspired by them as they figure out what’s next.

Each story includes nuggets of hard-earned advice that they would give to their younger selves, and to current and prospective SLCC students. Hunter’s advice is as to “keep moving forward. The second you stop is the moment you fail. You should never give up. Sooner or later, things will start to click.”

The exhibit stories are not limited to the twelve currently displayed. The “Then & Now” story collection will continue to evolve as new alumni stories are added throughout 2023 and beyond. The Institutional Marketing and Communications department oversaw the design and production of the exhibit.

“We hope that students can perhaps see themselves in some of these stories and be inspired by them as they figure out what’s next,” says Peta Owens-Liston, who collected the stories and is the assistant director of Public Relations. “It also shows all the different ways SLCC alumni have gone on to contribute to our communities and others’ lives.”

If you are an alumnus interested in participating, reach out to peta.liston@slcc.edu.