Skip to main content

A Taste of College: Scott Smith

College can be an overwhelming thought for many people. “Am I too old to start college?” “College is not for me.” “How will this help me get a job?”  These are some of the most common concerns we hear about starting school. Our mission at Workforce & Economic Development is to provide short-term training to help with career development and give you a taste of college.


Scott Smith


Meet Scott, who was introduced to the idea of taking a class with Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) through the Department of Workforce Services (DWS). Scott had never been too keen on the idea of sitting in an office or a classroom. Given Scott’s preference for working with his hands, his DWS counselor recommended the Utah Works program. This program offers an opportunity to explore in-demand skills for Utah’s workforce needs, at no cost to the student. 

Scott started with the 3-day Intro to Composites program, where he learned the basics of composites such as fabrication skills and techniques, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy systems, and more. Much to his surprise, he enjoyed the class and completed it successfully. This inspired him to try the Rail Technician course also offered under the Utah Works program. During his time in this course, he learned assembly techniques that ultimately led him to register for the Welding program at the new Salt Lake Tech College.

 

Scott working in a welding bay.

With guidance and support from his DWS counselor, his instructors, and the advisors at SLCC, Scott is looking forward to using his new skills to start his own mobile welding business. Thanks to the opportunity to take these bite-sized college courses at SLCC, he gained the confidence to further pursue his education. Scott is on track to an exciting future he never thought possible a few short months ago. With a variety of opportunities from short-term programs, certificates, to associate degrees Scott found the right fit for him. 

If you are interested in learning more about short-term training programs and funding opportunities, visit SLCC Workforce & Economic Development and Salt Lake Tech College. 


 

Hear Scott’s story.  


Labels

Labels:
Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Serving their community through translation

It seems so long ago and at the same time just yesterday – October 2021 – that Utah welcomed and resettled roughly 1,000 refugees from Afghanistan, the majority of them settling along the Wasatch Front. Over the years the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) recognized the need for translators especially in the medical field. Five members of the Afghan community stepped up to fulfill that call completing the first ever Medical Interpreter for Pashto and Dari program and become eligible for the Tier 2 interpreter license.  This short-term licensure training is based on a Medical Interpreter course for Arabic developed by Salt Lake Community College and DWS. With the foundation for a new program already in place, DWS, SLCC and current Dari/Pashto Instructor Abdul translated the existing curriculum to best serve the Afghan community. One of Abdul’s biggest challenges was the lack of a written dictionary for Pashto or Dari. To solve this problem, he used his contacts in the medical ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Seeing U at SLCC

 Among the noise of breaking fibers and the cheers from the audience, the University of Utah Materials Science and Engineering students were learning key skills and lessons related to advanced composites.  In a new partnership with the University of Utah, students were given the opportunity to take an Advanced Composites Technology workshop at the Salt Lake Community College Westpointe campus. Students were introduced to materials characterization and processing for various materials such as glass, ceramic and more.  Program manager and instructor Zachary Ingrey demonstrates how to properly vacuum seal. Claire Krammer, a junior in the Materials Science and Engineering program, found “the process of making composites is important for any material science application and the testing process. Zachary Ingrey, advanced manufacturing program manager, is a graduate of the University of Utah’s Materials Science and Engineering program. Zachary also took the SLCC Intro to Compos...
Post a Comment
Read more

My Teaching Journey: Veronica Perez

   This is the first in a series highlighting the diverse backgrounds of students who have earned their professional teaching license through the Workforce Training & Education’s Transition to Teaching program.  Veronica Perez’s story of becoming a teacher in Utah was unusual and a first for the Elementary Teacher Transition to Teaching program .  Born a United States citizen, Veronica moved with her family to Venezuela when she was a young child. While in school herself, she discovered a knack for teaching and a passion for science while helping her classmates. “I always loved science and I was good at helping my friends with their school, so when I got to university, I put them together and thought why not teach.” She went on to study to teach chemistry and biology at Andrés Bello Catholic University (Universidad Católica Andrés Bello). After earning her degree, she taught biology for 11 years to students in grades 5 through 12 in Venezuela.  Moving back t...
Post a Comment
Read more