SLCC CRUSHES $40 MILLION CAMPAIGN GOAL
Making a difference in students’ lives – today and for generations to come
Dear Friend of SLCC, I am thrilled to share the results of our first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, which launched in 2017 with the goal of raising $40 million for our students. Little did we know what an outpouring of support we would receive from hundreds of donors like you, resulting in an astounding $50.4 million! This remarkable achievement is a testament to the power of collective action and shared vision, and I extend my deepest appreciation to each of you who responded to our call with unwavering enthusiasm and support. Your commitment bolstered our ability to provide exceptional educational opportunities and vital resources to our students and made it possible for more people than ever before to pursue their educational dreams. Since 1948, Salt Lake Community College has championed the idea that education should be available to all. As an institution we have experienced an incredible journey, from our humble beginnings in Salt Lake City’s old Troy Laundry building to our 10 state-of-the-art campuses throughout the Salt Lake Valley. Our growth, longevity, and success have been made possible by the unwavering dedication of supportive community members, like you, over the years. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, I am humbled that so many have made SLCC a part of their life’s story. As we move ahead, our campaign’s tagline, “I’m In” continues to motivate us. This simple phrase perfectly describes the spirit of our community – a spirit that is INspired, INnovative, INclusive, INvolved, and INvested. It embodies our devotion to creating a bright future for all Utahns, and we are forever grateful you chose to say “I’m In” with SLCC. Here’s to another 75 years of transforming lives and our community!
Deneece G. Huftalin, PhD President Salt Lake Community College
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Dear Valued Donor, Eight years ago, the Salt Lake Community College Foundation was asked to help raise $40 million in private funds for scholarships and student success programs. At the time, all recognized that the College played an essential role in growing Utah’s economy by supplying employers with skilled workers, but it was also evident that Utah needed more assistance in this area. This inspired the SLCC Foundation Board to take on the fundraising challenge to make quality higher education and training programs more accessible to all students. Because of you and your willingness to say “I’m In” with SLCC, the campaign has been a triumph for the College’s students and Utah’s communities. More than 1,800 donors joined forces and helped us triple the number of scholarships we offer and develop needed student programs and learning facilities. As a result, in 2016, the SLCC Foundation awarded just under $650,000 in student scholarships. Thanks to friends like you, last year we were able to award more than $2 million in student scholarships. While this campaign has come to a successful close, it marks just the beginning for SLCC. There are traditional and non-traditional students from every background that require a helping hand to pursue their full learning and earning potential. We plan to build on the campaign and hope you will continue to champion Utah’s future by backing SLCC. Thank you for your generous support. You have made a profound difference in our community, and we are humbled you chose to partner with us. All the best,
Kevin Potts Board Chair SLCC Foundation
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Utah Goes “All In” with SLCC In 2017, acting on a challenge set forth by its Board of Trustees Chair Gail Miller, SLCC embarked on its firstever philanthropic fundraising campaign. Although this was new territory for the College, at the time we eagerly set an ambitious goal: raise $40 million by September 2023. Now, as the campaign draws to a close, we’re pleased to report that more than 1,800 alumni, friends, businesses, and foundations declared: “I’m In!” with SLCC. Donors from across Utah and the nation united to become champions of our students and shared our vision of providing education to all. Together, we have enriched the lives of not only thousands of SLCC students, but the lives of millions more as the ripple effect of education extends to students’ families, friends, and associates. Education is more than a pathway to individual growth; it is the cornerstone of a thriving community. By supporting SLCC our donors became guardians of Utah’s future, as education fuels our state’s vibrant economy and preserves the high quality of life we all enjoy.
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Final Campaign Total:
$50,436,530 I’M IN Goal:
$40,000,000
$30,000,000 $20,000,000 $10,000,000
THE CHALLENGE 1,850
11,600
Total Donors
Total Number of Gifts
Constituents 34
Friends
%
15 23
%
6%
%
22%
(including trustees, foundation board, and other individuals)
$4,278
Average Donation Amount
SLCC Foundation Assets Before Campaign
Businesses
$8 million
(including nonprofits)
Foundations Employees
(current and former)
Alumni
After Campaign
$35 million with $19 million in restricted endowments
Campus Spaces Supported: • STEM Resource Center at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus • Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center • The Jordan Student Center
• Juniper Building at the Herriman Campus
• Gail Miller School of Business at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus
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Student Scholarships Even with SLCC’s low tuition and fees, many students require financial support to attend and not everyone is eligible for federal aid. SLCC keeps college financially accessible by offering a wide range of scholarships for nearly every student.
166 50
Pre-Campaign
PACE - A Path Toward Success Total Scholarship Funds
116
Scholarship Funds Created
$19.4 Million Total Raised for Scholarship Support
Last year, SLCC awarded
$2M 800 to
students
(an average of $2,500/student) in donor-funded scholarships
PACE (Partnership for Accessing College Education) is SLCC’s high school-to-college-tocareer program that prepares low-to-moderate income students to advance to higher-paying careers. For over 10 years, PACE has significantly increased students’ high school graduation and college participation rates in the Salt Lake Valley, and more than 150 donors helped bolster and grow PACE from four to six high schools. Generous support from Mark and Kathie Miller enabled PACE’s expansion into Kearns High School in 2021. A welcome grant from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation opened its sixth location at Granger High School in 2023. Since its inception, PACE has served over 900 high school students and continues to grow. PACE students benefit from the “I’m In” fundraising campaign’s student scholarship goal. Each high school student who completes PACE program requirements receives a full-ride scholarship to SLCC.
The Impact of Giving: A PACE Family Story Driven by the desire for more opportunity, Celia Olvera moved from Mexico to Utah at age 18. “Growing up, I didn’t receive much education. I completed elementary school, and then I had to work to support my family.” This experience made getting an education critically important to Olvera, her husband, and three daughters. When her daughter was accepted into PACE, the program made a tremendous impact on the entire family. “It lifted all of us up,” said Olvera. “Her younger sisters saw how valuable the opportunity was, and it showed them that they, too, could accomplish anything they wanted.” “I am thankful for those who have donated to PACE because they have not only given my daughters the chance to receive higher education, but they have changed our entire family for many generations.” 6
SLCC’s Annual Giving Day – A Day to Give Back SLCC launched the College’s firstever Giving Day on February 17, 2021, to help raise support for student scholarships and student success programs. Giving Day challenges SLCC boards and council members, staff and faculty, students and alumni, and community partners to make a difference in the lives of SLCC students. All donations go directly to students through scholarships and program support. We are so thankful and proud of our community and how they have shown up and supported our students through Giving Day.
BUILDING A CULTURE OF ANNUAL GIVING GIVING DAY
OUTCOME
2021
$242,642
GIVING DAY
OUTCOME
GIVING DAY
OUTCOME
2022 $308,240 2023
$771,050
Helping Outside the Classroom: SLCC Professor Invests in the Next Generation The Donald L. Harwell Memorial Trapshooting Scholarship
No one could miss the passion Jerri A. Harwell, Associate Professor and Department Chair of English, Linguistics and Writing Studies at SLCC has for her students and the English language. But there is another interest of Jerri’s: her love of trapshooting. After Jerri’s husband passed away in 2021, she started the Donald L. Harwell Memorial Trapshooting Scholarship in his memory. “Trapshooting brought Don so much happiness, and I want to pass that onto students,” said Jerri. “This scholarship is to give SLCC students an opportunity to attend college, learn gun safety, and to have fun while going to college.” Helping students has been part of Jerri’s life since she can remember, “I can throw my support toward anything, but I choose to throw my support toward students because I believe in the next generation.”
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Student Success Programs SLCC strives to provide opportunities for every student to engage in life-changing programs that motivate them to reach their educational goals.
South City Campus Child Care Center
Caring for the Next Generation of Students Through Affordable Child Care In June 2022, the Tim and Brenda Huval Child Care Center at the South City Campus opened its newly renovated doors to better support SLCC student parents on their path to higher education. This new state-of-the-art facility doubles the service capacity and provides accredited early childhood education in a bright, engaging environment for kids six-months to 12-years old. Student success is the heartbeat of the Child Care and Family Services department mission at SLCC, and this renovation allows us to continue to provide compassionate, reliable, and pragmatic services to all student parents and their children in the areas of financial need, parenting, and family education. 8
Child Care Voucher Program:
SLCC-student parents share their gratitude “Getting (…) help with my child care has been life-saving. Child care is not cheap, and being a single mother makes it hard to have to think about regular bills and then, on top of that, having to attend school and make sure my son is in good hands and is eating well… I would not have been able to get as far as I am now without that help.” – SLCC-Student Parent
Donor Highlight: South City Campus Bruin Pantry Named for Roger M. Crus A lifelong Utahn, Roger Crus grew up a few blocks from South High School – now the home of Salt Lake Community College’s South City Campus. Roger and his wife, Dawn, give generously to education across the valley and, in 2022, partnered with the SLCC Bruin Pantry at the South City Campus. They view the opportunity to support the South City Bruin Pantry, now known as The Roger M. Crus Bruin Pantry at South City Campus, as a way to “pay it forward” close to home. Mr. and Mrs. Crus believe that by helping the pantry provide students with food and other necessities at no cost, students will be better able to focus on their training and educational opportunities at SLCC. Since 2013, the Bruin Pantry has grown from a student-led “campus cupboard” into five thriving pantry spaces across our campuses. Community support and partnership have been integral to the continued growth and success of this network and, ultimately, our students. We are so thankful for partners like Mr. and Mrs. Crus, who give where they live.
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Industry Partnerships SLCC provides solutions to Utah’s most-pressing workforce challenges. We team up with local governments, businesses, and professional organizations to craft practical training curricula that respond to the state’s long-term economic needs.
326 partners contributed $14,135,835 to the
Westpointe Workforce Training & Education Center
“I’m In” Campaign
Top 20 Industry Partners by giving amount
Goldman Sachs & Company Intermountain Healthcare Kenworth Sales Company National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Co., Inc. Management & Training Corporation SelectHealth Sallie Mae FJ Management Clyde/RLW L3Harris UFirst Credit Union
Launched as one of the first building projects of this campaign, the Westpointe complex opened in 2021. The 121,000-square-foot building offers space for collaboration with industry partners in multiple fields and provides students interested in technical careers with a one-of-a-kind, one-stop educational center. This vibrant new facility supports the community’s training needs in a flexible, high-quality space that produces ready-to-work, qualified individuals eager to meet Utah’s workforce needs.
South Davis Community Hospital
Thank you to the following Industry Partners who supported the Westpointe Campus
American Express
Kenworth Sales Company
Alder Construction Company
Komatsu Equipment
Boeing Company
Merit Medical Systems Inc
Electron Heat
L3Harris
Cyprus Credit Union
Intermountain Bobcat
Mountain America Credit Union
Miller Electric Mfg Co.
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Partnerships for Tomorrow’s Workforce
“The Metallica Scholars Initiative is so important to us because we are seeing results. Five years in, with the help of community colleges across the country, we are helping people fill these essential jobs which require skills and training. We are so proud and grateful that we can facilitate this program.” — Lars Ulrich, Metallica
“Strada has been so impressed by how quickly Salt Lake Community College has grown its hospital partnerships from one to four over the first six months of this project. The institution has worked with employers to develop a program that looks out for the best interest of the student while also meeting employer needs, creating a win-win-win partnership to benefit the student, the community college, and the employer.” — Ruth V. Watkins, president of postsecondary education, Strada Education Foundation
“On behalf of Intermountain Health Surgical Operations, it has been a pleasure to work with Salt Lake Community College and the Division of Allied Health to increase the pipeline of Surgical Technologists for our hospitals. We have established strong relationships of trust and are committed to assist each other meet the objectives of SLCC and Intermountain Health. The hospital and community will benefit by having highly-trained graduates that will return that investment by working at our local hospitals in the Salt Lake Valley.” — David Kay RN, MSN, Clinical Operations Director- Surgical Operations Intermountain Health, Canyons/Desert Region
Upward Mobility Born in Morelia, Mexico, Antonio Ruiz immigrated to the state of Utah when he was only three months old. “Utah has been my home since I can remember,” said Antonio. “But my birthplace is Mexico – I am an immigrant.” At Salt Lake Community College, Antonio was awarded the Jerry Taylor Endowed Scholarship due to his hard work and dedication. “As a first-generation student, receiving this scholarship gave me the confidence and drive to pursue my education and career goals,” said Antonio. “It’s liberating to know I have financial help in paying for my education. I can’t express enough how grateful I am for receiving this scholarship and being seen for my potential.” While working toward his educational goals, Antonio accomplished another impressive life goal. “I am happy to announce that I have received my U.S. Citizenship! Even though I have lived in the U.S. most of my life, I can now proudly say I am an official citizen.” Antonio is earning an associate’s degree in pre-engineering. After graduating from SLCC, he is looking forward to earning a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from a fouryear university. “I want to let those who support students like me to know that their support truly gives upward mobility to first-generation students like me and lets them know that someone believes in them enough to invest in their future,” said Antonio.
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College Spaces
A positive and inspiring learning environment can transform the student experience. At SLCC, our goal is to create spaces, new and renewed, that motivate our students, faculty, and community partners.
The Tim and Brenda Huval Student Center at Jordan Campus Envisioned by the SLCC student body and realized through community support, the Tim and Brenda Huval Student Center opened in the spring of 2021. This 45,000-square-foot facility co-locates comprehensive student resources and promotes a sense of community. Some of the new services provided are an additional Bruin Pantry, Child Care Center, and Center for Health and Counseling; this is truly a space built for students by students and elevates their college experience.
Second Chances Gabrielle “Gabby” Grant first attended SLCC soon after graduating from high school. “I was excited to be at SLCC, but I was so busy because I was also working full-time and felt I didn’t have enough time to study,” she said. “I stopped attending school to focus on life, work, and to find where I really wanted to go from that point. In 2018, I helped start a company and was busy focusing on its growth – then COVID happened which drastically impacted my business, so I was back to square one.” Gabby returned to SLCC with renewed focus. “After my company took a turn, I decided to look into career paths that would fit the lifestyle I’d like to have,” she said. “I began looking into the daily duties of a dental hygienist and found that was the career I could see myself in. Since then, I have wanted to work in the dental field.” “I want to thank the C. Scott & Dorothy E. Watkins Charitable Foundation for giving me this scholarship opportunity – it has not only helped relieve the financial burden of paying for school, but it gave me the confidence in myself to follow my dreams,” said Gabby.
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Herriman Campus: $1,050,000 Opened in Fall 2023, this new 90-acre campus makes pursuing higher education more accessible for residents in the fast-growing communities in the southwest part of the valley. Offering degrees in highdemand fields, students can earn an associate’s degree from SLCC and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, all at one location. The campus will serve more than 2,000 students in its first year and nearly 7,000 students by 2025.
The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation Business Building – Home of the Gail Miller School of Business: $10,515,250 Thanks to the generosity of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, the College will fully modernize and expand this 50,000-square-foot, 1980s-era building into an inspirational space ready to train the business leaders of tomorrow. As the first business school in Utah named exclusively for a woman, and one of only a handful in the nation, this space will serve the educational goals of our students while meeting Utah’s growing industry needs. Opening May 2026!
“To have a business school named after a woman is empowering — women and their ideas are sometimes questioned more in the business world,” said Genesis Ruiz, who is working full time while attending SLCC full time. “When I see what Gail has done, it inspires me to pursue my dreams and to lead with kindness. She makes me want to be successful and to give back.” — Genesis Ruiz, Business Student, SLCC
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Reaching for a Dream
Amina Abdoulah Abdoulahi Amina Abdoulah Abdoulahi was born in the Central African Republic. When civil war broke out in her country, she became a refugee and relocated to the Republic of Chad. After five years she moved to the U.S. and set up her new home in Utah. “I came to the U.S. as a refugee and have lived in Utah since 2019,” said Amina. “My family is still in the Central African Republic, but I am doing what I can to help them out by working a full-time job while going to school.” Eager to learn English and overcome the language barrier, Amina looked to SLCC for help. “Learning English is very important to me,” said Amina. “That is what brought me to SLCC, their ESL classes and the flexibility to go to school when I’m not working.” Amina was awarded the Mastering ESL Scholarship due to her hard work and determination. “I am so thankful to have been awarded the Mastering ESL Scholarship – it has given me the opportunity to improve my language skills and overcome obstacles!” said Amina. “This scholarship challenges me and pushes me forward.” After graduation, Amina is looking forward to helping her community through social work. “Going to college isn’t easy, but SLCC has the faculty and resources to help everybody reach their goals,” said Amina. “I am grateful to those who continue to believe in me, and I’m looking forward to giving back and helping others, like me, reach their dream.”
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A Lifetime of Support for SLCC Students Jerry and Edna Taylor
Edna, a graduate of South High School, which today is home to SLCC’s South City Campus, is still recognized in public as Miss Julie from “Romper Room”, which ran on KSL-TV during the 1970s. The early days of that experience helped her recover from the loss of her first husband. “Find your passion, what it is that you love to do that feeds you, not just materially but also your soul,” she said. “That way, you will be successful.”
Jerry and Edna Taylor have a long personal history with SLCC. The College has contributed to their professional success, and they have given back by supporting SLCC students through generously donating to scholarships and program support. Their relationship with SLCC started when Jerry first attended SLCC’s forerunner, the Salt Lake Trade Technical Institute, after serving three years in the U.S. Army. “At the Trade Tech, I was in a class with 20 to 25 other students. We were all in our early 20s, mostly seasoned people looking to raise our skill levels,” he said. “Great bunch of guys. The instructors were the best, too.” After completing his course and working as a journeyman electrician for a contractor, he decided to go out on his own. One of his first hires was an electrician who had also trained at SLCC, which by then was known as Utah Technical College. This venture blossomed into Taylor Electric. As Jerry built his business, which eventually grew to employ over 250, he often hired workers trained at SLCC. “The community college has great people. Those are the kinds of workers who make businesses successful. I had good people I could trust,” he said.
Jerry and Edna met in 1981 and married in 1984. After passing the Taylor Electric torch to their son Ryan Taylor in 2005, the pair focused on supporting their community through philanthropy. Their generosity has benefitted many throughout Utah, including SLCC, which in 1989 gave Jerry its Distinguished Alumni Award. In retirement, Jerry has kept a strong relationship with SLCC. Jerry has funded several scholarships, including the Jerry Taylor Endowed Scholarship. His most recent gift will support Salt Lake Technical College students in the film and communications professions. To honor the gift, SLCC will name a virtual production studio for him at the South City Campus. The virtual production studio is scheduled to be completed in 2024 and will be the first in Utah to provide students with vital workforce training within the film and game design industries. “I love helping students get ahead who might otherwise not manage because of money,” he said. “And these kids – I get letters from them that just bring tears to my eyes. ‘I wouldn’t have had another year if I had not received your scholarship. I was broke.’ ‘I couldn’t work enough hours to get money and still go to school’… I mean, story after story. It just motivates me to do more.”
“I love helping students get ahead who might otherwise not manage because of money.” 15
Salt Lake Community College is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023. This milestone is a testament to past accomplishments and a catalyst for transforming the College for the future. SLCC is Utah’s largest two-year college, proudly educating the state’s most diverse student body in 8 areas of study at 10 locations and online. The majority of SLCC graduates transfer to four-year institutions, and thousands more are trained in direct-to-workforce programs. Since 1948, SLCC has focused on providing individual attention and personal care to each student. SLCC’s committed and qualified faculty and staff provide excellent teaching and learning environments. Even with its large and diverse student body, students don’t get “lost in the shuffle” because SLCC’s student-to-faculty ratio is 20-to-1. Competitive tuition, financial aid, scholarships, academic and career advising, and programs focused on academic success give students ready access to the College. SLCC is committed to providing the latest technology and dedicated professionals who present curriculum relevant to industry and cultural needs. Student support stretches from providing child care and a Bruin pantry for students with food insecurity, to tutoring, mentoring, access to computers, labs, and industry-specific equipment.
To support Salt Lake Community College students, contact: Development Office Salt Lake Community College – AAB101 4600 S Redwood Road Taylorsville, UT 84123 801-957-4658 slcc.edu/development-and-alumni development@slcc.edu AA/EO INSTITUTION • REV 09-20-2023