Sandy City Journal | March 2026

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Proposal to limit campaign contributions gets pushback from Sandy City leaders

By Giovanni Radtke | g.radtke@mycityjournals.com

If passed, campaign contributions in Sandy municipal elections would be capped at $2,500, and donors would be required to provide a financial disclosure statement.

Proposals

to limit campaign contributions in Sandy elections and add more financial transparency requirements for donors sparked strong disagreement among city leaders.

The proposed election rule changes were prompted by a memo from Councilmember at-large Aaron Dekeyzer, sent to the Sandy City Council on Jan. 20.

“To me, the core of this is about transparency and public confidence and the integrity of our municipal elections,” Dekeyzer told the council while introducing his proposals. “... when a small number of donors can contribute such disproportionately large sums of money to influence elections, those voices end up carrying far more weight than those of typical residents who are concerned about a much broader set of topics.”

If passed, donations to a candidate’s campaign from any individual or organization would be capped at $2,500, but there would be no limit on candidates’ self-financing their election run. The measures would also outlaw anonymous contributions, requiring every donor to provide their full name, address and a financial disclosure statement with their campaign offering.

Utah already has laws requiring individual donors to report their financial information. However, Dekeyzer noted that political parties are exempt from the requirement.

“And there are other exemptions that result in … expenditures that support municipal candidates without any election-specific disclosure to the voters of Sandy City, which creates a transparency and accountability gap that prevents residents from understanding who is spending money to influence the people who are elected to represent them,” the councilmember said.

Still, some of Dekeyzer’s colleagues believe state code provides enough transparency.

“I don’t believe that a transparency gap exists. I think there is plenty of transparency,” said

Councilmember Marci Houseman. “What we would in effect do is ask people to have a second filing system, which creates more work.”

Councilmember at-large Brooke D’Sousa echoed Houseman’s viewpoint. The councilmember doesn’t think there is a lack of transparency in campaign finance reporting, but that Sandy voters may have difficulty accessing the information. D’Sousa suggested officials create a “transparency hub” on the city’s website, where all the links to financial disclosures can be found.

Some city lawmakers also thought that capping campaign donations at $2,500 would make municipal elections less transparent, as donors could exploit legal loopholes.

“If someone wants to give you $4,000, then they will give $2,500 in their name and then $1,500 in their wife’s name,” Councilmember Alison Stroud said.

Along with possibly making financial disclosures less transparent, city officials also said the donation cap could give an edge to candidates who can self-finance their campaigns.

“I think anytime we are limiting the

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White City makes history with first elected mayor

Lifelong resident Allan Perry will lead White City, bringing in personal connection and decades of local experience to the city’s top job.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

In a small enclave surrounded by Sandy, White City residents made a historic decision this past fall, electing their first mayor by popular vote, a change that reshapes how the city is moving forward.

Allan Perry, a lifelong White City resident and former two-term city councilmember, was elected mayor in November with 61.87% of the vote, becoming the first mayor chosen directly by residents rather than appointed by the city council.

Prior to the election, Paulina Flint had served as the appointed mayor beginning in 2017 and had chaired the White City Community Council since the 1990s. She was a key figure in White City’s evolution from an incorporated area to a fully recognized city under Utah law.

“I previously served on the council, so I had a good understanding of how the city functions and what goes on,” Perry said in January about two weeks after being sworn into office. “But it’s definitely different being in charge and feeling the responsibility of keeping things moving and keeping people informed and making sure everyone has the tools and the resources they need.”

The mayor’s role is part time, but in those weeks, Perry said it has been “a whirlwind” of meetings, coordinating with service providers and learning the day-to-day realities of running the city.

“A lot of residents’ concerns come back to costs and taxes,” he said. “That’s a challenge because in our position, all our property taxes are collected directly by our service providers so we don’t have full say in all of that, but I think being conscious of what we do have and what we can spend.”

White City has only one commercially zoned property along with Alta View Elementary School and some churches. Otherwise, Perry said it’s residential and agricultural with some home-based businesses dispersed throughout their borders.

“As far as tax and sales tax, it’s not huge amounts of

money, but where we’ve seen benefit is through online shopping. When the state made some clarifications several years ago, that sales tax money collected from a sale goes to the point of sale. So, when people shop online, buy on Amazon, or if they have it go to their home in White City, then their home is considered the point of sale. We get that portion of sales tax, which has been a growing benefit as online sales have increased,” he said.

Traffic safety is another concern, especially speeding on neighborhood streets. White City works with Unified Police to rotate a speed trailer through the neighborhoods, but Perry said additional solutions may be needed.

“We may have to look at some additional kind of engineering traffic calming solutions to see if there are other things that can help slow people down,” Perry said.

Ideas include painted road markings, speed bumps, medians or visual narrowing using poles, all which are aimed at making streets safer, especially or pedestrians. Recent sidewalk improvements already have made a difference.

“There’s been good improvements with sidewalks on Sego Lily (Drive) a couple years ago and that’s been great; people have a safer place to walk,” he said.

Maintaining partnerships is essential for the city. White City not only contracts with Unified Police, but also Unified Fire Authority, who works with Sandy Fire for emergency response, and the city relies on Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation to maintain Big Bear Park. Long-range planning and engineering support comes from the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District. He also wants to strengthen the relationship with Canyons School District.

“A lot of residents don’t fully understand they live in White City or that White City is its own city with its own government,” Perry said. “I think we need to build our identity and help people see it is important. We can do that by public engagement and it keeps residents informed and involved in decisions we make. Residents have put their trust in all of us as the elected mayor and councilmembers, so I want to make sure we work cohesively as a group.”

Even a partnership with White City Water Improvement District is essential as their meeting room is used for city council meetings. He hopes one day in the future, the city will have its own civic center, but there are more pressing aims.

In addition to increasing public engagement and com-

munication, other goals include finishing the canal trail along Big Bear Park to 9400 South and encouraging appropriate home-based businesses.

For Perry, whose parents moved to White City in the mid-1970s and whose son now attends Alta View Elementary, the same school he was a student leader at, the job is deeply rooted.

“I was student body vice president at Alta View. It was fun to be involved and help plan activities,” he said. “A lot of those same reasons are why I wanted to be mayor. It’s fun to be involved in the process and have a voice in what goes on in our community.” l

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Urban Air Adventure Park takes flight at Fort Union

The first Utah location opens with fun and fanfare.

By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Hundreds of parents and kids showed up to welcome Urban Air Adventure Park to Midvale. On Jan. 31, the family entertainment center held a grand opening at its first-ever location in Utah (7220 S. Union Park Ave.), with attractions like the Sky Rider zipline, Spin Zone bumper cars, a ropes course and climbing walls.

“We didn’t want to just open another play place. We wanted to build the ultimate destination,” said Diby Roy, Urban Air franchise owner. “Families in Midvale, Cottonwood Heights and Sandy have been waiting for a premium venue that works for everyone, from the toddler on a playdate to the teenager on a Friday night date. We’ve built the place where you go to make memories, not just burn time.”

The Urban Air Adventure Park also features a play area with seven slides, including the Launch Slide, where riders catch air on the landing; a slide for tandem racing; and the double tube slides with dynamic lighting effects.

Attendees can ride the Flip Zone bumper cars, play laser tag, navigate the obstacle course and fly through the air on the ziplinetype Sky Glider.

“We’re really excited to bring this here,” said General Manager Anna Powell. “We’ve got so many different things and attractions, and our three main core things are: clean, safe and kind. We do daily checks on all of our equipment, sometimes even twice a day, to make sure every single bolt and screw is working properly.”

For more information, including hours and memberships, visit Urbanair.com. l

continued from front page

amount that individuals can receive, we are in effect saying only people who can selffund their campaign can run for office,” Houseman said. “Because we are limiting the amount people can receive in donations, and we are adding an unnecessary barrier.”

‘Narrative instead of governance’

One of the primary motivators for changing the election rules – as outlined in Dekeyzer’s memo to the council – is that unlimited campaign funds could give wealthy donors, corporations and special interest groups disproportionate say in municipal elections, undermining public confidence in elected city leaders.

“Large contributions can create a sense of obligation on the part of the candidate, even if no explicit quid pro quo exists, or at least suggest that a public office can be bought, not earned,” the memo reads.

Houseman said that Dekeyzer’s concerns over special interests flooding municipal elections with donations have “more to do with narrative instead of governance.”

“I don’t see any evidence of the cause that you are trying to solve,” Houseman said. “I’m not seeing a failure of state enforcement of what’s expected, I’m not seeing any evidence of Sandy City government being taken over … by corruption or distortion.”

Councilmember at-large Cyndi Sharkey

said she found Dekeyzer’s memo “incredibly offensive.”

“I don’t know any elected official who thinks that way or acts that way,” she said. Sharkey also reiterated concerns about the campaign contribution cap. She said that allowing candidates to fund their own campaigns gives wealthy contenders an unfair advantage. The councilmember added that the only way to “level the playing field” in municipal elections is through government-funded elections, in which no candidate may fund their campaign and everyone running for office receives the same amount of city funding.

“I will be willing to entertain that. But I will only be willing to entertain that if we put it on the ballot for the voters to vote on because it’s their money,” Sharkey said.

When concluding the deliberation, Dekeyzer said the council will have follow-up discussions on the campaign finance measures. He added that government-funded elections would be his ideal outcome from continued discussions.

“I am completely surprised … of the thought that we could work together on publicly funded elections because … that is the ideal outcome. This [proposal] to me is about baby steps about getting there, not thinking there would be a chance we could ever get to that, but that would be awesome, so we will talk about that and see what comes of it.” l

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Voice recorders in hand and cameras slung on their shoulders, Life Skills Academy students are stepping into roles familiar to any newsroom. They are brainstorming story ideas, interviewing staff, photographing classmates and drafting articles as part of the school’s journalism class.

The class produces a monthly, student-run newsletter that documents life at Life Skills Academy, a post-secondary transition program.

“We have a group of students who report and publish the newsletter each month,” said first-year Life Skills Academy Principal Stacey Nofsinger. “Their first one was in October and it’s a student-voice publication. They do every step of it from coming up with article ideas to interviewing, writing, taking photographs and laying it out. It’s great.”

The newsletter introduces readers to Life Skills Academy’s community members while giving students a platform to express themselves creatively.

“They like the variety,” Nofsinger said. “In one section, they’re introducing staff members and students; in another, they might include a word search or crossword puzzle. It’s what they determine should be published.”

For Nofsinger, the importance of student voice goes beyond producing a newsletter.

“It’s important for our students to use their voice and develop skills in writing, organization and talking to people,” she said. “They’re representing their peers and themselves versus just following directions from adults.”

Post high school

Life Skills Academy is a post-secondary program for about 75 students with disabilities ages 18-22 who have completed high school, but need additional time to develop life and job skills.

Nofsinger emphasized independence is the program’s central goal.

“We’re teaching money skills, self-advocacy, meal planning and boundaries, all of those things build independence, so students don’t rely on other people fully to handle those tasks,” she said.

While some students may eventually live on their own, Nofsinger said most will continue to need supervision or support, either at home or in a group home setting, but through hands-on lessons and internships, they’ll learn many skills needed for real life.

Students create their own schedules, typically taking six classes four days per week,

with one day reserved for community experiences where many will attend adaptive county library programs or try adaptive bowling.

Life Skills Academy integrates classroom learning with real-world experiences. Students spend part of their week in classes on topics such as home management, internet safety or cooking and part of it out in the community, learning shopping, dining and workplace skills.

Many, like Luke Hanks, also participate in job placements, taking public transportation.

“I go out in the community every week,” said Hanks, who previously attended Alta High. “Sometimes we go to lunch and shop after. I work at Sam’s Club organizing and throwing away empty containers.”

He recently was recognized there as the employee of the month.

Some opt to perform school-based learning opportunities, practicing stocking shelves, floral arranging, custodial work, nutrition planning and delivery or caring for the school’s hydro farm to gain skills.

The hands-on approach extends to future goals Nofsinger envisions for Life Skills Academy.

“I would love to have a fully functioning cafe, a bakery, even a laundromat-style space so students can practice real-life skills,” she said. “We want to them to learn to cook, clean and manage tasks independently.”

When students turn 22 and complete that year of schooling, many receive a post-secondary certificate of completion, acknowl edging the additional four years of prepara tion for life beyond high school.

“This is continuing education,” Nofsing er said. “It’s a robust program designed to teach students what they need for life beyond high school.”

Students voice in action

Back in the journalism classroom, stu dents like Hanks are discovering the power of their voice.

“I’m working on spotlights about the students and teachers,” he said. “I’m taking the important and interesting parts of the in terviews for the spotlights.”

For him, the newsletter is more than an assignment; it’s an opportunity in gaining confidence and advocacy.

“I’m learning how I can write and make sense on my own and share what I know,” Hanks said.

His classmate, Jaxson Smith, said he has learned how to be more assertive.

“I’ve learned how to ask questions and get answers,” he said. “Sometimes, when I go into a big class, it takes a while to write them all down. Then, I find the best answers to use in the newsletter.”

Every issue reinforces Life Skills Academy’s dual mission of developing essential life skills while giving students an opportunity to decide what is important and be heard.

“They’re adults,” journalism instructor Tessa Marrelli said. “Their opinions matter,

and a lot of them are learning how to advocate for themselves in this new adult role. This allows them the opportunity to have a voice; they’re learning the skills and gaining the confidence they will use as they become more independent.”l

Other students say they’ve also devel oped skills in technology, art and photography through producing the newsletter in addition to writing.

Vitalia Sun and Nivetha Karthikeyan will engage with other Student Fellows around the country.

By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Twentystudents from across the country were selected to participate in a highly competitive civic education and leadership development program after earning a Bill of Rights Institute Student Fellowship. Two of those students are from Salt Lake County.

Vitalia Sun, a junior at Waterford School in Sandy, and Nivetha Karthikeyan, a senior at Providence Hall High in Herriman, will be part of the rigorous academic program, which includes a trip to Philadelphia. The six-month educational opportunity teaches students to develop leadership skills necessary to build a civil society.

As a Midvale resident, Vitalia is excited to be part of the Bill of Rights Institute, a nonprofit that creates educational civics and history programs. She said she’s witnessed firsthand how the stifling of free speech, often as a result of self-censorship due to fear of retribution, can silently weaken our social fabric.

“One of the key values of being American is the freedom of speech, established by the First Amendment of the Constitution,” Vitalia said. “The implications of freedom of speech extend far beyond what is often thought, as free exchange of ideas without the fear of persecution guarantees our liberty and strengthens our democracy…I hope to deepen my knowledge of the ideals and principles at the core of our nation, many of which, like the freedom of speech, are enshrined in

Midvale resident and Waterford School student, Vitalia Sun, was one of 20 students in the country selected to participate in the Bill of Rights Institute Student Fellowships. (Photo courtesy of the Bill of Rights Institute)

the first 10 amendments.”

Providence Hall High senior Nivetha Karthikeyan was chosen to take part in the Bill of Rights Institute Student Fellowship, a national program that builds future civic leaders. (Photo courtesy of Nivetha Karthikeyan)

Karthikeyan, a Herriman resident, applied for the program as part of an extra credit assignment for her AP government class. She was thrilled and surprised to be selected and she’s looking forward to making new connections, meeting a diverse group of students and getting to know future civic leaders in the country.

“I want people to put more effort, or at least take more interest, in civic duties and what it really means to be citizens of the U.S.,” she said. “I want more people to thoughtfully

interact with what we can do to better our communities, because that’s what civics is. It doesn’t have to be truly political. It’s about being compassionate with our own local communities, like here in Utah or Herriman, or on a national scale.”

The 20 students will meet virtually every two weeks to discuss things like how to be a mentor, how to create community interaction and engagement, and how they can contribute to the overall good of the country.

In July, the Student Fellows will travel to Philadelphia to learn more about U.S. history, meet with civic leaders and take part in activities and projects. Previous participants have met with members of Congress, toured historic sites in the nation’s capital and even started initiatives in their local communities

“At the Bill of Rights Institute, we equip students to become principled, productive citizens,” said Bill of Rights Institute President and CEO David Bobb. “Our Student Fellowship Program provides some of our most gifted young people an opportunity to explore our nation’s principles and civic virtues and gain the skills to positively shape its future.”

This year’s student fellows were chosen through a national process that included being nominated by educators and composing essays that explored topics about leadership and how to be a good citizen. For more information, visit billofrightsinstitute.org.

“One focus of the fellowship is civic participation, and the knowledge and skills gained through the fellowship will allow me to become more effective in promoting free exchange of ideas in my school, my community and beyond,” Vitalia said. “This, in turn, can inspire more youth to proudly embrace the founding principles of our nation. In a sense, the fellowship will not only benefit me but will also help prepare many more youth for the future through my actions.” l

Canyons District takes another look at school consolidation plans

Families and neighbors are being invited to weigh in on proposed school consolidation plans that could affect Sandy elementary schools starting in 2027-28 school year.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Facingimmediate and projected long-term declining student enrollment, Canyons School District is continuing its districtwide long-range study that includes possible boundary changes and proposed school consolidations east of 1300 East in Sandy.

District leaders say the process is focused on preserving feeder systems, maintaining academic opportunities and planning responsibly for the future as student numbers continue to dip.

Utah’s declining birth rates and rising housing costs have contributed to shrinking elementary enrollments in many parts of the district. District officials say Canyons has fewer students this year and is expected to have a dip in enrollment in future years.

Karen Pedersen, a member of the Canyons Board of Education and its Long-Range Planning Committee, said it’s a matter of simple math.

“Take the kindergarten class going in and subtract it from the class graduating, and you can see where the problem is. When the graduating class is larger than the incoming kindergarten class, our numbers are fewer and that’s going to create long-term sustainability challenges,” she said.

After the school board members decided to study below-capacity elementary schools in spring 2025, they’ve researched facilities and met with communities and city leaders. In September 2025, the committee made recommendations which were discussed at meetings and public hearings last fall.

In December, the Board unanimously approved the merger of Bella Vista Elementary and Ridgecrest Elementary in Cottonwood Heights for next school year, creating a school of about 600 elementary students at Ridgecrest. Bella Vista’s special education students will move to Brookwood Elementary in Sandy.

However, the 2025 proposals for Sandy schools were not approved.

At the Jan. 20, 2026 board meeting, two new proposals for Sandy schools were introduced.

“We restarted last board meeting, the whole process, so we have 90 days to make a decision, which puts us in the end of April, first part of May, to decide whether we’re going to combine those schools or not,” Pedersen said.

Proposal A would combine Granite Elementary and Quail Hollow Elementary at the Quail Hollow building, while shifting a section of Granite’s southeastern boundary to Lone Peak Elementary. The Granite-Quail

geographically closer to Eastmont, strengthening the Jordan feeder system; Jordan High has the fewest students in Canyons’ comprehensive high schools.

Granite-Quail Hollow students would follow the Albion Middle and Brighton High feeder.

The new proposals keep Granite and Park Lane special education students with their neighborhood peers although Quail Hollow’s students in Academic Behavioral Support program and impacted schools’ preschools would relocate to other facilities yet to be named.

Pedersen said none of the proposed vacated schools are slated for sale.

“We have no intention to sell any of these buildings; as of right now, we haven’t decided what to do with these schools,” she said in late January.

Hollow school would have about 555 students.

Proposal B would consolidate Park Lane Elementary with Willow Canyon Elementary to form a school of 580 students at the Willow Canyon campus.

These proposals, which would begin in the 2027-28 school year, are intended to strengthen middle and high school feeder patterns and avoid enrollment issues at those schools.

“We’re trying to look at all the boundaries and see if we can shift them to help our middles and highs so they don’t run into

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problems down the road,” Pedersen said.

Pedersen said Willow Canyon and Park Lane are currently the primary elementary schools feeding into the Eastmont Middle-Jordan High feeder system.

“Eastmont does an absolute fantastic job of getting students they’re supposed to have, but they have 1,000 less students boundaried for their school compared to other (Canyons) middle schools,” she said.

Under Proposal B, Park Lane students would move to Willow Canyon, which is

Public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 at Granite Elementary, 9760 S. 3100 East, and Thursday, March 19 at Park Lane Elemenary, 9955 S. 2300 East. Both will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Feedback gathered during the 90-day period will help shape final recommendations and decisions, which also could include boundary adjustments for other parts of the district, Pedersen said and added that current and additional information is available at: www.canyonsdistrict.org/boundarystudy/l

WIGHTMAN LEGAL

Floccinaucinihilipilification fun

Students and teachers faced challenging words during their spelling bee fundraisers, resulting in laughter and big rewards.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

At Peruvian Park Elementary, a spelling bee turned legendary when a teacher faced the word, “floccinaucinihilipilification.”

The word’s meaning, estimating something as worthless, couldn’t have been further from the truth as the students’ own spelling bee fundraiser raised more than $23,000 for PTA programs.

However, it was “bumbershoot,” another word for umbrella, that made fifth-grade teacher Amie Jones the champion, crowned in a surprise visit from retired kindergarten teacher Christine Bond.

Other adult contestants faced playful consequences for misspellings from singing and dancing to donning wacky costumes, keeping the audience laughing.

“It was OK to get out early; we wanted it to be both fun and funny,” said Laura Miller, PTA president-elect.

Alta View students light up school with hopes and dreams

An art show featured elementary students’ aspirations inspired by the words of Martin Luther King Jr.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

During art class at Alta View

Elementary, students explored the concepts of goals by studying Martin Luther King Jr.

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The fun continued with other rewards such as a dirty soda bar. Students ordered their favorite dirty sodas or lemonades and all 560 were served at lunchtime, thanks to the PTA, with contributions from WinCo.

The first and second graders were top fundraisers and earned Chick-fil-A meals.

The funds exceeded the $20,000 goal, supporting literacy night, STEM night, reada-thon, the school musical, “Lion King,” field day, field trips, chess club, Reflections, positive behavior prizes and school shirts.

The bee isn’t just about spelling words, it’s also about community and fun.

“The spelling bee is a low-cost fundraiser and we see great rewards from it,” she said. “Students are learning while earning; they’re supportive of one another and everyone is excited about it.” l

Art teacher Elaine Lindsay said after examining King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, students created artwork representing their own dreams, goals and aspirations. They used neon oil pastels and later displayed their pieces under black lighting at the school’s art show on Jan. 23.

“We talked about how a goal is more likely to be achieved if we write it down and share it with others, so we drew about it, including a title, and then shared it with the school,” Lindsay said. “One of my favorite Dr. King quotes I discovered in preparing for this was ‘If I cannot do great things, I will do small things in a great way.’”

Some students aimed high with goals such as achieving world peace, while others focused on smaller, personal objectives, such as not fighting with a sibling.

“I think our project was a good example of doing something small in a great way,” she said. l

Dreaming big starts early at Lone Peak Elementary

When Cosmo, Swoop and Willy excited the crowd at Lone Peak Elementary, students didn’t just see the mascots; they saw a glimpse of what their futures could hold.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Bursting with college colors, logos and mascots, Lone Peak Elementary brought big energy — and even bigger ideas — to students during its annual College and Career Week, a PTA-led event inspiring future education and careers.

Throughout the week, students participated in themed dress-up days that encouraged them to think about their futures, such as “Dream Big Day,” where students wore pajamas to school or “Taking Steps to the Future” crazy socks day. There was a college gear day and a career day where students dressed as what they hoped to become when they grew up.

The week also included a district-coordinated career day, which brought adult volunteers from the community into classrooms to talk about their professions.

“Our whole purpose in College and Career Week is to get the kids excited about going to college and be aware of all the options Utah has,” said Julie Randall, PTA College Week volunteer who has coordinated the event for three years. “We have so many colleges and universities in our state, some that kids have never heard of.”

The school campus transformed into a colorful college showcase where the hallways, library, gymnasium, cafeteria and other spaces were decorated to represent universities across Utah. Balloons, banners and logos helped students be-

universities outside of Utah lined the school hallways as well.

The highlight for many students was the mascot assembly, welcoming Cosmo from Brigham Young University, Swoop from the University of Utah and Willy from Utah Valley University.

Students learned a little about each mascot: Cosmo, who learns about leadership, knowledge, faith and service as well as about “jumping through rings of fire, skydiving and making every moment more fun;” Swoop staying active, with outdoor recreation activities such as biking and walking and joining the MUSS (student fan club) during the third down jump at football games; and Willy, who meets students across the campus and learns new things every day.

come familiar with school names and colors.

One popular lunchtime activity invited students to place stickers on a chart where they may attend college and also, their possible major. Rather than tracking the most popular schools, Randall focused on students’ interests. This year, languages topped the list, fitting for the Chinese dual immersion school. Other top choices included entertainment and performing arts, architecture, engineering and computer game design.

“It was fun to see them be a bit more thoughtful about it this year and think about what they want to study and where they could go for that,” Randall said.

Teachers and staff joined in by sharing their own educational backgrounds, which brought in some out-of-state and out-ofcountry university awareness. Pennants of many colleges and

Then, the mascots participated in interactive games like charades with students where they acted out how they stay healthy — such as drinking water and lifting weights — to what they like to learn — math, reading and writing. Then, the mascots performed tricks and stunts, which was a favorite with the students.

A third grader said her favorite thing was watching Cosmo do a back flip and spin on his head while a fifth grader said she cheered on Swoop and may want to go to the U of U, following her dad’s footsteps.

On the way out of the assembly, the mascots gave students high-fives and posed for grade-level photos, providing students with a lasting memory.

“The mascots are so good with the students; (we) make it collegial between the schools and the mascots are always friendly with each other while they’re here. I love the kids get to see that,” Randall said. “The kids are excited for this; we want our students to look forward and expect they’ll be a part of college when they’re that age.” l

Local educational leaders honored for impact on Utah high school sports

UHSAA honors Tom Sherwood and Craig Morris for their distinguished service and leadership in advocating and expanding Utah high school sports and activities.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Afteryears spent shaping opportunities for Utah’s high school student-athletes, Tom Sherwood and Craig Morris received one of the highest honors given by the Utah High School Activities Association. In January, the longtime education and athletic leaders received the UHSAA Distinguished Service Award for 2025.

The Distinguished Service Award honors those who sustained leadership has made a lasting impact on high school athletics, said Rob Cluff, UHSAA executive director.

For Sherwood and Morris, the recognition reflects years of committee work, advocacy and the aspiration to improve experiences for students statewide.

Sherwood, Canyons School District’s director of high schools, was nominated by region 6, where he previously served as Jordan and Brighton high schools’ principal and was a volunteer UHSAA executive committee member for 12 years. He also was on the

The award is there to show appreciation for those who have given good service over the years — and it means a lot to me that I would be thought of in that regard and feel like my contributions have made a difference.”

This is the second UHSAA award he has received. In 2023, he received the Athletic Director of the Year for 2022.

The former Waterford athletic director, who stepped to the associate position this year after more than 30 years, served a dozen years as an UHSAA executive committee member and also served on the board of trustees, was an advocate for lacrosse and helped develop a formal process for sanctioning new sports.

“I was heavily involved with lacrosse and getting it sanctioned even before I got on the executive committee,” Morris said. “But it was certainly nice to be the voice in the room when we got closer to making that happen.”

The process later helped guide the sanctioning of additional sports and activities, including boys volleyball and esports.

association’s board of trustees for four years.

“The award is for our contribution,” Sherwood said. “It’s nice to be recognized, but it’s definitely not why I do it. I do this because I really enjoy being involved with teenagers and high school athletics.”

During his tenure with UHSAA, he helped to expand opportunities for students by supporting the sanctioning of new sports

and activities.

“I helped lacrosse and cheer become sanctioned sports,” he said. “Most recently, I helped get esports sanctioned as an activity, which I think was important because it reaches a new and growing segment of our kids. It helps them find connections to school and other kids with like interests.”

Sherwood, who as a student played football for Bingham High, said high school sport and activities provide life lessons that extend beyond the competition.

“I think for a lot of kids, they don’t know what they’re capable of until they get someone who tries to push them to be a better version of themselves,” he said.

Both Sherwood and Morris emphasized the educational value of high school athletics, citing teamwork, commitment and personal growth as key benefits for students.

Morris, who currently serves as Waterford School’s associate athletic director and played football, basketball and lacrosse when he was a student, was equally taken aback by the honor.

“I was very surprised,” he said. “I had no idea it was coming, but I’m really honored.

“It’s good to see those opportunities expanded for kids throughout the state,” he said.

Morris said serving on the committee was a great opportunity to be involved in athletics and activities throughout the state and make decisions which would affect student-athletes, both in small private schools such as Waterford and the larger public schools.

“I appreciated my role as a private school representative, to have a voice for the smaller schools in the state and try to do things that would work well with our counterparts,” he said.

For Sherwood and Morris, the recognition shows an appreciation for the years supporting students, coaches and schools from behind the scenes.

“It’s gratitude — I’m thankful to be recognized, but the experience has been its own reward,” Sherwood said. “You couldn’t ask for a group of finer people then those I met serving on the board of trustees and executive committee. They’re exceptional people, with like minds in terms of wanting to give their time and talents to make things better for kids.” l

Ukrainian leaders tour Utah cities looking for ways to develop, thrive

The delegates toured cities with hopes of helping their own communities to progress and develop and not just survive despite war.

By Rachel Aubrey r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

In a unique opportunity of collaboration and cooperation, city leaders along the Wasatch Front in partnership with the Utah based non-governmental organization, forPeace, hosted a delegation of municipal leaders from Novovorontsovka, Ukraine from Feb. 9-12.

The delegates came with the intention of learning more about local governments, local public works, and local parks and recreation departments in hopes of finding ways for their town’s residents, to not only survive, but thrive in the wake of the Russian invasion.

The delegates included Head of Military Administration Andrii Seletskiy, County Advisor Juliy Morozov, Director of Public Utilities Serhii Pylypenko, and Chief Specialist of Project Work and Investments Karyna Dobrovolska.

The multiday city tour included Sandy, North Salt Lake, Bountiful, West Jordan, Spanish Fork and Nephi.

“We really enjoy Utah,” Morozov said. “We expected to meet a lot of great people who care about Ukraine.”

During the West Jordan City Council meeting held on Feb. 10, city leaders from West Jordan unanimously approved a motion to sign a memorandum of understanding, a “soft law,” non-binding agreement that outlines a willingness to collaborate with Novovorontsovka.

“We want to learn and to think correctly and have the right vision,” Seletskiy said. “We want to discuss our questions of development with you.”

That same day in Sandy, leaders toured the parks and recreation building and the Utah Mammoth practice facility.

Watermelons and resilience

Located in the Southern territory, in the Kherson region, the town of Novovorontsovka is primarily agrarian and the main crop is watermelon.

Geographically, Novovorontsovka is situated five miles from Russian occupied Ukraine. Before the war, the 10 villages that comprised the region had approximately 13,000 residents. Currently, the population has decreased by half with one village lost, due in large part to the destruction that has overwhelmed the area.

Part of that destruction included the

Kahhovska dam, which once held the equivalent amount of water as the Great Salt Lake. Residents were without adequate water to drink for approximately two years.

Town leaders had to rely on 200-yearold water wells, known only through historians and American archival maps from the 1940s.

The delegates came to Utah in hopes of gaining knowledge and understanding of public works systems, especially water systems.

“We don’t [only want] to survive,” Dobrovolska said. “We want to develop. We have people in our community, so we have to create any opportunities for their normal life.”

After being occupied by Russian forces for seven months, the area was liberated in October of 2022 by the Ukrainian Army.

forPeace for progress

Britta Ellwanger, Ukraine relief project director with forPeace, has lived and worked in Ukraine for approximately 10 years. She accompanied the delegates on the various tours of Utah cities. Her mission is to facilitate not only tangible relief but also long-standing solutions to help the Ukrainian people press forward.

“First of all, you see how ordinary

Ukrainians have been reacting and responding to the war, which is extraordinary,” Ellwanger said. “These are heroes. But they’re heroes because they’re ordinary and they’re just people.”

According to the website, “The forPEACE Ukraine Relief Project deals in hyperlocalized targeted aid. We focus on precise, small assistance that has force multiplying impact. We work with Ukrainians in the war zone effectively connecting the power of international financial support with the expertise of Ukrainian networks, medical professionals, and trusted community organizers that know what is needed, where it is needed, and how to get it there in record time.”

The Ukrainian leaders along with the leaders of West Jordan City agreed that help and aide come in lots of different ways.

“Once you humanize the crisis, like there’s a natural link, and there’s something you can do, and it’s real, and it has lasting impact,” Ellwanger said. “You know, it’s more than just survival, it’s continued life, and it’s victory.”

Head of Military Administration Seletskiy admitted that there was a lot of work to do once they return to Ukraine.

For more information about how to help and become involved visitforpeace.us. l

KindlyMD™ Comprehensive Care Redefined

After witnessing the opioid epidemic disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, TIM PICKETT decided to remove barriers to care and improve health outcomes for individuals who are often overlooked by the traditional healthcare system.

With a background in GI surgery, trauma and emergency medicine, Pickett founded KindlyMD in 2019, providing primary care, medication management, weight loss assistance, mental health support, pain treatment, therapy services and medical cannabis cards.

What sets you apart from your competitors?

We strive to treat the whole person, not just their symptoms. Our clinic has an integrated behavioral health program where prescribers, like myself, work alongside mental health experts and therapists to ensure we are treating all facets of the condition.

With a refreshing combination of prescription medicine, alternative therapies and mental healthcare, our team offers custom, complete care to every patient, every time. This method is rare in Utah. You can think of us as a mental health-focused family practice clinic.

Does your business solve a problem for clients?

We solve the age-old problem of not being

heard in a healthcare setting and not getting the care you deserve. We approach patient concerns by listening, incorporating mental health to address contributing social factors and closely following data-driven, best-practice treatment plans. This supports our dedication to improving patient health outcomes. Who is your ideal client?

Our ideal patient is a person who wants to live better, a person who understands that mental health is an important factor in overall health. Many of our patients have tried multiple medications, often at the same time, and are eager to break free from the vicious cycle of traditional prescription medicine. For patients who’d rather try something more “natural,” our providers are highly trained in medical cannabis treatment and can guide your alternative medicine journey with honesty and compassion.

How do clients choose between you and a competitor?

If you’re looking for a clinic or provider who is open and honest, who won’t judge you, who lets you have a say in your treatment plan, and takes your insurance, KindlyMD is an easy choice.

What factors should potential customers base their decision on when working with you?

Are you interested in strengthening your

mental health to improve your physical health? Do you want to speak freely about alternative medicines (cannabis, etc.) with your provider without fear of being judged or punished? Do you need primary care, labs or prescriptions? Do you want to go to one clinic for all of these things? Then visit KindlyMD.

What’s your best advice for someone considering doing business with you?

Give us a call! Our team is eager to answer all your questions and help you feel better. We likely take your insurance plan, so what do you have to lose? If we don’t take your insurance, we have affordable self-pay options.

We want people to know that we’re here, we’re patient-focused and we accept most major insurance plans. We want what is best for our patients, and we love what we do.

What is your favorite product/service your company offers?

I like the way we help people lose weight with GLP-1 medication and the way we help people reduce opioids and prescription medications. Our team’s incorporation of mental healthcare has shown to improve outcomes in both areas, and they remain promising aspects of our program.

KindlyMD was started solely as a Medical Cannabis Card clinic, so I’ll always have a soft spot for what we’ve accomplished in Utah’s cannabis space and for cannabis patients.

Olympians ignite inspiration at Willow Canyon Elementary

Three Olympic athletes brought medals, memories and life lessons to students, launching the school’s literacy month with stories from on and behind the world stage.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Faye Gulini may have 275 more young viewers turning in to watch snowboard cross this Olympics, thanks to being one of three Olympians who recently helped with Willow Canyon Elementary’s literacy month’s opening ceremony.

The celebration welcomed five-time Olympian snowboarder Gulini, two-time Olympic skiing freestyle medalist Shannon Bahrke and 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games gold medalist skeleton racer Tristan Gale, where they spoke to a gym full of students, sharing their dreams, injuries, perseverance and stories that started before becoming elite athletes.

Gulini, a Cottonwood Heights native who grew up on the slopes of Snowbird, explained the intensity of snowboard cross to students.

“It is four people and we’re racing down a course, bouncing off each other, running each other over,” she said. “We’re falling; we’re crashing. It’s very exciting to watch, but it’s also very dangerous.”

After four Olympics, Gulini stepped away from the sport and started a family and had doubts about returning to competition.

“I always thought once I’m a mom, I can’t be an athlete,” she said, but added she was inspired by her children to return and wanted to motivate youngsters. “Even with my training and kids, I don’t ever want to pass up an opportunity to talk to the younger generation or inspire kids.”

Gale, a Brighton High graduate who was studying at Salt Lake Community College when she was the first woman in history to win Olympic gold in skeleton, showed students some of her equipment and broke down a sport many people only watch on TV every four years.

“I’m a fast slider; I go about 80 miles per hour,” she said.

To achieve that speed, she worked with Nike shoe engineers to design a shoe she can wear on the ice which protects her toes from injury, but it also has spikes to ensure a fast start. She showed her aerodynamic race suits, one which had a layer of warmth to ensure she could stand the winds at the top of the icy course.

Racing skeleton was not part of her childhood plan, but when a student asked if she knew she would be an Olympian, Gale smiled and said yes. It was in second grade, before she started any sport, she wrote a letter saying she wanted to go the “O, l, k, y, m, p, i, x.”

The former ski racer turned skeleton racer said her first run was memorable.

“My first run ever was the scariest and I was nervous, but no run has ever been as much fun,” she said. “I train like I race, and I race like I train. Mentally, the hardest part is when everybody’s watching you, and it can be a lot of pressure, but I’m about having fun, because that’s the way I am.”

Bahrke, who won Olympic silver in 2002 and bronze in 2010 in moguls, remembered her second run of her silver-medal run at Deer Valley. Standing at the gate before her race, she was grateful, proud and focused as she gazed around the mountains, knowing her family was there, and that she wore the Olympic rings on her shoulder.

“I pushed out of the gate and had one of the best runs in the whole world,” she said.

But it didn’t come easily. Bahrke told students about her injuries – ankle, shoulder, broken jaw and multiple knee surgeries – and overcoming fear and setbacks, which shaped her resilience.

“I dug deep and found out who I really

am and what I’m made of,” she said.

The athletes connected with students, answering their questions, posing for photos and letting them check out their Olympic medals.

For many students, it was their first chance to hear Olympians talk about their stories firsthand, said Willow Canyon literacy month chair Kat Torello.

“It was really cool to have the Olympians at our opening ceremonies,” she said, adding the Olympic reading theme tied into the school’s yearlong focus. “My favorite part was the interaction when students asked questions and the Olympians answered with such in-depth answers.”

When students first entered the gym by class, they carried handmade banners, which they created in art class. That Olympic-themed art now fills the cafeteria.

Throughout the month, students were expected to track their reading minutes by reading independently, listening to audiobooks or being read to by an adult. Weekly

raffles, classroom readathons, a bookmark design contest and a book swap were planned to keep the momentum going, along with donated prizes.

“The whole point is to get kids reading,” Torello said. “They’re excited. I hope we can get these kids into the reading habit and keep it going.”

Past PTA President Chelsea Hunt helped students realize improving their reading was similar to improving as an athlete.

“Olympians train every single day; they set goals, they celebrate progress on their way to big victories,” she said. “Do Olympians just wake up as Olympians? No, they have to work hard. In the same way, reading gets better and better with practice and patience. When you set a reading goal and spend time each day, you’re training your brain the way athletes train their bodies.”

While there were individual and team prizes to achieve, the overall school goal was set to exceed last year’s 189,000 minutes. If the students meet that accomplishment, Principal Halley Nelson was set to kiss a pig at the literacy month’s closing ceremony. When Bahrke gave kids high-fives as they left the gym, she encouraged them to “read, read, read” to accomplish their goal.

As Gulini was preparing to compete in Italy, her newest Olympic fans at Willow Canyon were making plans to cheer on an Olympian they met and were inspired by.

“I want these students to know they can accomplish anything or any milestone in their lives,” Gulini said. “Ultimately, anything can be accomplished with hard work and dedication.” l

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Monthly memberships for physical and mental health care

cer or any of those diagnoses,” said Chief Business Development Officer Arliss Fernandez. “For everyday things like a cold, strep, bronchitis, pneumonia…stitches, fractures…and x-rays we can take care of that at urgent care clinics.”

By Cassie Goff cassie.g@thecityjournals.com

Paying a monthly membership is a somewhat expected norm now for services like streaming, deliveries, spas and gyms – but what about health care? Medallus Medical has been reimagining what healthcare can look like for individuals, families and companies.

“We come up with innovative solutions to help people with high deductibles and companies who have increasing health care costs and reduce those while giving quality care with friendly delivery,” said the founder of Medallus Medical Dr. Rachot Vachathrone.

Working in the healthcare industry since 1997, Vachathrone noticed his patients were waiting until their health was severe before seeking treatment. They would tell him about their stresses and fears of high insurance deductibles and co-pays. Vachath rone began imagining how he might encour age patients to be more proactive with their healthcare if it were more affordable.

“Insurance is supposed to be for major things like surgeries and, God forbid, can

Vachathrone’s “aha” moment came when he was reviewing his own personal finances and skimmed over the monthly gym membership charge. What if there was a membership for urgent and primary care? Now, Medallus Medical’s memberships provide patients with predictable access to care at an affordable monthly rate.

“Medicine should not be expensive,” Fernandez said. “We are trying to transition where we’re not going to be so reliant on insurance. It gives the opportunity for the provider to have more one-on-one with the patient.”

Medallus Medical offers urgent care and walk-in primary care for individuals, families, school districts, companies and cooperations based on a monthly membership structure. Medallus Medical can treat minor injuries and illnesses to ongoing primary care needs

way our day is not scheduled full and patients don’t have to go somewhere else and wait another day,” Vachathrone said.

This year, Medallus Medical is working to partner with third-party companies to offer a handful of new or updated programs for physical and mental health. Medallus Medical is

vices, and expanding our employer programs because we believe families and businesses deserve better options than what traditional healthcare usually provides,” Fernandez said. “Mental health and medications are what people need.”

New companies signing up for Medallus Medical’s membership and/or programs can meet with their Patient Advocate Team who will visit with their employees to teach them how to use the Medallus membership and invite them in for their first primary care visit.

“We want you to be proactive,” Fernandez said. “If you’re getting vitals checked or same-day prescription refills – just walk-in. We encourage that.”

Medallus Medical has eight locations throughout the Wasatch Front; all open at 9 a.m. and close at either 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.

Medallus Medical’s urgent care locations can be found in: Holladay (3934 S. 2300 East), Draper (1126 E. Draper Pkwy.), Sandy (7998 S. 1300 East), South Jordan (10433 S. Redwood Road), Riverton (13348 S. Market Center Drive), West Valley City (3451 S.

Brighton student gets gold, silver in Ice Climbing Championship

At school, he can be found on the wrestling mats strengthening his muscles and mind.

By Jerry S. Christensen j.christensen@mycityjournals.com

Mathias

Olsen entered Brighton’s 2025 freshman class as a seemingly regular 14-year-old student. Aside from his red hair he may be fairly indistinguishable from the other 600 aspiring class of 2029 freshmen.

It turns out that Olsen is no ordinary Brighton freshman. He is a world champion climber with podium finishes in both ice climbing and lead climbing.

His mother, Stephanie Olsen notes, “Mathias is someone who always gravitated towards climbing things since he was a toddler. When he asked for me to put him in climbing I was very hesitant because I am scared of heights and didn’t understand it. I pushed him to swim since he was 2. Mathias then talked me into a week-long summer camp with Momentum Climbing Club. He later joined their programs and their team. At age 10, his Momentum teammate introduced him to dry-tooling at the Scratch Pad in Bountiful.” Dry tooling is indoor ice climbing and the Scratch Pad is a simulated ice

climbing facility where climbers can practice year round.

At Brighton, Olsen looked for a similarly demanding sport that could improve his focus and competitiveness. His search brought him to the Brighton wrestling room and to high school wrestling—a similar individual sport known for discipline, individual performance and strength.

“Wrestling is a good help for my climbing,” Mathias said. “Climbers are known for strong upper body strength, but legs are not typically developed among climbers. Just this season in wrestling, the daily workouts have strengthened my legs and grip. More importantly, I have gained a mental toughness that has helped my climbing skills. Wrestling is teaching me how to endure through painful situations. I am better able to work through tough moments.”

To the chagrin of his wrestling coaches, Olsen has missed several wrestling workouts. In December, he competed in the Continental Climbing Cup in Prague, Czechia (the Czech Republic), and then again he was back in Europe in late January/early February competing in UIAA Ice Climbing World Youth Championships in Malbun, Liechtenstein.

He had always placed favorably in the region competitions in Utah, Colorado and Montana. In lead climbing (climbing with

GRIEF HAS NO TIMELINE

Grief is an individual journey with a path as unique as each one of us. To o er support and hope, we provide various Grief Support Services for those who are mourning a recent or past loss.

a belaying rope) he placed in the division which includes Nevada and California. In Nationals, he earned a silver medal in ice climbing and a silver in lead climbing. However, the world competition introduced a new level of competition and “tricky walls and handholds” as Olsen describes them.

Early in February, the unassuming 14 year old returned from Europe to the wrestling mats of Brighton as newly crowned Ice Climbing World Youth Champion. He earned the gold medal in speed climbing, and he complemented the gold medal with an equally impressive silver medal in lead climbing. l

From ashes to agency: Women find renewal through community

Beauty from Ashes nonprofit emphasizes empowerment for survivors of domestic abuse.

By Holly Curby hello@hollycurby.com

arch carries a quiet promise. It’s the month when light stretches a little longer, winter begins to loosen its grip and renewal quietly takes root. For many women navigating trauma or abuse, healing unfolds in much the same way—gradual, unseen at first and requiring immense courage.

Lori Smithson knows this journey intimately. Widowed at 39 and later emerging from a destructive marriage marked by control, isolation and fear, she understands how disorienting trauma can be—especially when you don’t yet have the language to name what’s happening. “I just knew something was off,” she has shared, echoing the experience of countless women who sense danger long before they can articulate it.

Today, Smithson serves with Beauty from Ashes Ministries, a Utah-based nonprofit dedicated to walking alongside survivors of domestic abuse. Founded in 2019 after its director received a call from a woman hiding in her closet, the organization was born from a clear and urgent need:

long-term, compassionate support rooted in truth, dignity and hope.

The statistics are sobering. One in three women will experience abuse in her lifetime. Yet numbers fail to capture the bravery required to reach out for help. At Beauty from Ashes, the first goal is simple but profound—that every woman feels heard, believed and respected. There is no pressure to make immediate decisions, no imposed timelines and no shame. Survivors are met exactly where they are.

What distinguishes Beauty from Ashes is its emphasis on empowerment rather than rescue. Women are not told what to do; they are supported as they reclaim agency over their own lives. Trained advocates walk alongside survivors as they explore options, build safety plans and begin to trust their voices again. Support groups offer something many women have never experienced before: a space where their stories are met with understanding rather than doubt.

Healing often extends beyond emotional wounds. Trauma can fracture trust, relationships and even faith. For some survivors, spiritual manipulation or deep disappointment has made it difficult to reengage with God at all. Beauty from Ashes honors that complexity, allowing women to move at their own pace—whether that means studying scripture together or sim-

ply holding space for grief, anger and unanswered questions. Healing, as Smithson emphasizes, is not a race. It is a long, intentional process.

Hope, however, has a way of appearing in unexpected places. Smithson recalls women facing overwhelming odds—no financial support, limited community and ongoing hardship—

who nonetheless find stability, provision and renewed purpose through faith and connection. Many eventually give back, becoming advocates themselves. These stories are reminders that restoration is not theoretical. It is happening, one life at a time.

March also invites reflection. It asks what must be released for growth to occur. For survivors, that first step might be journaling to recognize patterns, seeking trauma-informed counseling, setting boundaries, or simply speaking the truth aloud. Truth, after all, is often where freedom begins.

Perhaps the most important message is this: no woman has to walk this path alone. Fear thrives in isolation, but healing grows in safe, supportive community. When women are believed, empowered, and surrounded by care, even the deepest wounds can give way to something new.

For those seeking support, or for individuals interested in volunteering or getting

involved, Beauty from Ashes Ministries welcomes connection. Help is available, and no one has to navigate abuse or healing alone. To learn more about services, request support or explore volunteer opportunities, visit www.BeautyfromAshesMinistries.org. To hear more stories like this and learn how women are reclaiming hope and purpose, listen to the Holly’s Highlights podcast wherever you stream podcasts and at www.hollycurby.com. l

Nominate a Utah Top Workplace for 2026

Greatworkplaces don’t happen by accident. They are nurtured and built to bring out the best in people. If you know of one, nominate it as a Utah Top Workplace.

For the 13th year, employers with outstanding workplace culture in the state will compete for Utah Top Workplaces recognition. This is the first year the award is in partnership with the Salt Lake Business Journal. Any organization with 35 or more employees in the state is eligible to compete for a Top Workplaces award. Standout companies will be honored in fall 2026.

The nomination deadline is April 10. Anyone can nominate an outstanding employer: Public, private, nonprofit, a school or even a government agency. To nominate an employer or for more information on the awards, visit slenterprise.com/nominate or call 801-803-6841.

There is no cost to participate. To qualify as a Utah Top Workplace, employees evaluate their workplace using a short 26-question survey that takes a few minutes to complete. Companies will be surveyed through late June.

“As a people and culture leader, I know the strongest organizations invite honest feedback and use it to get better,” said Eliz-

abeth Sweat, people and culture leader of the City Journals and Salt Lake Business Journal. “Utah Top Workplaces provides leaders with a meaningful way to measure culture, celebrate what’s working and identify opportunities to invest even more intentionally in their people.”

Energage, the Pennsylvania-based research partner for the project, conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 65 markets nationwide and surveyed more than two million employees at more than 8,000 organizations in the past year.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a celebration of excellence,” said Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. “It serves as a reminder of the vital role a people-first workplace experience plays in achieving success.”

For the 2025 awards, more than 3,500 organizations in Utah were invited to survey their employees. Based on employee survey feedback, 154 earned recognition as Top Workplaces. l

THE SANDY CLUB

“A

Safe Place for Boys and Girls” Members of the Month

Congratulations to our February Members of the Month: Liam Casper, Huxley Osmun, & Bryan Flores Ramos!

Liam is 10 years old: Liam wants to become a pro soccer player when he grows up, he has been attending the Sandy Club for about 5 years, in that time he has learned that it’s a safe place to have fun and enjoy yourself.

Huxley is 8 years old: she wants to become an artist or interior designer. Huxley has been attending for 6 months, in that time she has learned dance.

Bryan is 6 years old: he wants to become a policeman, he has been attending for 1 year, and in that time, he has learned social & emotional skills through Friendzy.

Congratulations once again, we are so proud of you all!

Top spellers to compete at the Greater Northern Utah Spelling Bee

The Greater Northern Spelling Bee will be held on Saturday, March 7, at Wasatch Jr. High.

By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com

More than 100 schools will be represented at the Greater Northern Utah Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 7, at 9 a.m. at Wasatch Jr. High in Millcreek (3750 S. 3100 East). Sponsored by the City Journals community newspapers, the winner of the event will travel to Washington, D.C., to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee during the final week of May.

Students participating in the regional bee will complete a written test before the competition, and everyone will have the opportunity to spell one word on stage. After finalizing the written test results, the top spellers will be announced and they will compete for the state championship, starting at approximately 11 a.m.

“The spelling bee teaches children the importance of hard work and aiming for the best,” said City Journals People Leader Elizabeth Sweat. “Preparing for an experience like this helps them gain confidence while strengthening language skills that further their education.”

The City Journals has hosted the regional spelling bee since 2014 and covers the trip to Washington, D.C. for the winner and one parent. City Journals Publisher Bryan Scott is proud to host the event each year, allowing these students to shine.

“I’ve been honored to host and sponsor this event for the last 12 years because it’s an investment in future leaders,” Scott said. “It’s been so much fun sending the winner to Washington, D.C., and watching them compete at the highest level. We’ve had some really smart kids come through this program.”

Last year’s winner, Roshan Kaushik from Challenger School Traverse Mountain, won the regional bee and took the stage at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, finishing tied for 36th.

Help send the regional champion to Washington, D.C., to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee by donating through the QR code. l

Last year’s winner, Roshan Kaushik, won the Northern Utah Regional Spelling Bee presented by the City Journals and went to Washington, D.C., to compete in the national bee. This year’s regional bee will be held on Saturday, March 7. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)

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women’s SECTION

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

The small team holding up the hope of change for Utah women

By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com

The Utah Women and Leadership Project, founded by Susan Madsen, is a research pumping machine with a goal of making Utah a better place by empowering women and removing obstacles.

A lone silhouette is a harsh contrast against the glare of a lit monitor.

Before the sun comes up, Susan Madsen sits at her computer: inbox and task list open for the day. While the house is quiet, her inbox starts to fill up for the day.

“Early morning…it’s been invaluable for me,” she said. “I always was up earlier than anybody, and it would be quiet, and I could make sense of the world.”

She uses the slow time to plan out her day and answer each email, following her team standard that “everyone deserves an answer.”

“I have a process of looking at my day, looking at my workload, figuring things out,” she said. “I reprioritize every single day.”

She might even reprioritize multiple times in a day. She’s constantly moving and pushing forward despite the odds and a small team.

Madsen, in addition to her professorship at Utah State University, is the founder of the Utah Women and Leadership Project, which has published 21 research-based white paper reports, 65 research snapshots and infographics, 68 research and policy briefs and hosted 45 “Think Tank” gatherings in Utah since 2010.

Madsen and four full-time employees — associate director Brie Sparks, local outreach and curriculum manager Deborah Lin, marketing and communications coordinator Emmalee Chastain, program assistant Kylie Hollingsworth — have made a

big push to raise awareness of the existing gaps in Utah for girls and women.

“Our work is having an impact across the state, and that is what motivates me,” Lin said. “In my role, I have visited 20 of our 29 Utah counties to get to know residents and build relationships to help with grassroots efforts to raise awareness and impact change around issues facing girls, women and families.”

“Everywhere I have been, men and women recognize the need for change.”

The “change” she is referring to encompasses topics like making more leadership opportunities available for more women, daycare options in the state, and homelessness resources for women.

Currently, the project involves close to 7,000 people statewide, with 500 partners and 300 leaders in different counties and cities, Madsen said.

Four counties and seven cities/towns have passed official resolutions to support the project’s initiative they call “A Bolder Way Forward.”

“Our efforts to equip Utah communities with the data and resources needed to help more girls, women and families thrive are just one piece of the way forward,” Sparks said. “Creating lasting change for future generations of girls and women requires a systems-based approach, and I’m honored to help build the strategic connections that make that possible.”

Madsen admits that it hasn’t been

easy for any of them, but she continues in her efforts because she feels called to help women through the best way she knows how: research.

“What has driven me for decades is research,” she said, “and getting it into the hands of people that are making decisions.”

And in the hands of decision makers it is.

Madsen, in addition to her professorship and affiliation with USU, considers herself an activist and encourages others to be too. She is frequently on Capitol Hill

advocating for change with her research and “works alongside legislators.”

“We should all be advocates and into the work of social justice,” she said. “If we care about other people, if we care about our communities, if we care about our state, if we care about our extended family, if we care about any of that, we should be in whatever topic connects with us.”

For the research and recommendations on how to get involved in UWLP for Salt Lake County or any other country in the state, visit www.usu.edu/uwlp/research/what-can-i-do.

Utah Women’s Day in Sports empowers next generation of female athletes

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

More than 400 high school student-athletes from across the state gathered for a morning focused on teamwork, leadership, mental health and empowerment in girls’ sports.

It began as a simple game of rock, paper, scissors, but quickly became a lesson in teamwork. Everyone played at first, then losers backed their opponents until only two players remained. Silence fell as they competed, then cheers erupted when the round ended in a tie. After four rounds, one girl finally emerged victorious.

The exercise wasn’t about winning, but about being a good teammate.

“How does it feel to be celebrated by your peers?” asked Poudre School District (Fort Collins, Colorado) health and physical education coordinator Jo Dixon, who emphasized that every player has a role — scorer, defender, supporter, teammate. “Being a part of someone else’s fan club is just as important and powerful as being in the spotlight, because lifting others up feels awesome.”

The interactive activity was part of a breakout session at the third annual Utah Women’s Day in Sports conference held Feb. 4 at the Delta Center, the day before National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

Dixon continued the partner activities designed to build unity. Student-athletes stood toe-to-toe and told each other: “Everyone is battling something in life, and I’m glad you’re battling with me.” Then, they stood back-to-back and said, “I’m so glad someone has my back — and I have yours.” The activity ended with a pinky promise and the words: “I pinky promise to help you unlock your greatness so the world can see it like I do.”

“We want you to be a good teammate from the inside out,” Dixon said.

The event’s origin began with Andee Bouwhuis, past president of Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and Deseret Peak High School athletic director, along with Utah High School Activities Association Assistant Director Jan Whittaker and UIAAA communications coordinator and Cedar Valley High School Athletic Director Sharon Mardesich.

“Our goal is female empowerment; support our female athletes; grow leaders,” Bouwhuis said. “We’re letting these female athletes know that we hear them and we see them. We want them to be successful.”

More than 400 student-athletes statewide attended, supported by about 100 coaches and athletic directors. Participation from each school was limited to ensure broader representation.

“The athletes are charged to take back what they learned and teach it to their teammates,” she said.

Another breakout session focused on nutrition, led by Intermountain Health’s Josseline Kelley, who emphasized fueling, hydration and sleep.

“Our goal is to make sure that we’re eating something every three to four hours as athletes,” she said as she gave the student-athletes specific suggestions. “The worst thing you can do is go into a competition or training session without fueling. Under fueling can be very common in teens.”

University of Utah Assistant Director of Olympic Sport Performance Carly Fehler addressed competing in college athletics.

“Your whole life is going to change

overnight,” Fehler said. “Your city, your bed, your routine, your team and coach. Literally, everything changes. And are you prepared for that? Only nine percent of high school girls will go on to play in college. Two percent of all high school athletes will play Division I.”

While some student-athletes attended workshops, adults participated in a “Coach Beyond” session focused on supporting athlete mental health.

“I’ve been an athlete for my whole life, and I’ve seen the way mental health affects the performances of athletes,” said college athlete and presenter Makayla Pitcher. “Coaches are the front line, so it’s important for them to understand and help.”

Cottonwood High Principal and presenter Justin Pitcher emphasized the need for better training and resources for coaches.

“We need to do better by our athletes here in Utah, he said. “Our data shows over half of every female team has experienced significant sadness or depression. We look at our coaches and their training. Many of them were former athletes so they understand the game well, but they don’t always know how best to handle these tough situations that we’ve been put in.”

Speaker Amy Donaldson highlighted the origins of Title IX and opportunities it presented.

“They drafted a piece of legislation that was unlike today, with 37 words,” she said. “Even though everyone thought it was this little administrative adjustment… they had no idea of (the impact of) that law.”

Donaldson encouraged student-athletes to examine their journey, to be optimistic, to wire their brains for gratitude and forgiveness, to know “no accomplishment is an individual accomplishment.”

Karissa Niehoff, National Federation of State High School Association’s executive director and CEO, challenged the next generation to continue advancing opportunities for women.

“Look at the women who came before us, and look at where we are now, and look at the future of growth in women’s and girls’ sports,” she said. “We’ve come a long way. As a woman CEO in a sports world, I feel blessed, but I challenge you as a younger generation…to carry this forward. We have to be committed to working forward so we continue the growth we need in girls who play sports in Utah.”

UHSAA Assistant Director Jeff Cluff said the progress in girls sports, including expanded championships and the addition of girls wrestling, has helped to equalize opportunities.

“We’re trying to create equal opportunities for the girls that boys have been getting for years,” he said. “We have still more to do and more to change.”

Copper Hills High seniors Brynlee Morton and Kaysha Millet said the conference left a lasting impression.

“I love how inclusive it is,” Morton said. “Everyone has valuable knowledge, and they’re sharing their expertise with us.”

Millet added: “They’re spreading awareness and information; it’s empowering to us as women athletes.”

Women are stepping up to lead Utah’s cities

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Female mayors move from the exception to the norm.

When South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood was first elected in 2010, she was a notable exception. Along with Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini, Wood was only the second female mayor serving in Salt Lake County at the time.

She and other women, including Riverton Mayor Sandra Lloyd, Taylorsville Mayor Janice Auger and Holladay Mayor Liane Stillman, were trailblazers and glass ceiling-breakers, setting the stage for women to take the lead, and it’s paying off.

“It’s always been a passion project for me to make sure we have women at tables where decisions are being made,” Wood said. “So I’m always encouraging women to run for office.”

Entering such a male-dominated field wasn’t easy. While many of their male counterparts offered support and encouragement, the women also encountered misogyny and roadblocks. Learning to navigate their leadership roles took patience, balance and a thick skin in order to stay the course while representing their cities.

Now, many cities in Salt Lake County are led by female mayors, including the new-

ly elected Cottonwood Heights Mayor Gay Lynn Bennion and Riverton Mayor Tish Buroker. Add in Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, and female leadership is becoming the norm, rather than the exception.

“It is so important that young women and young men see women in leadership,” Bennion said. “It’s important for them to know that women can do a great job as leaders.”

Organizations like Utah Women Run and the Women’s Leadership Institute have provided training for women who want a leadership role, whether in politics or business. Women are taught to participate on boards, campaign, fundraise, advocate for themselves and develop a platform and voice that others want to follow.

Initiatives like A Bolder Way Forward focus on creating safe spaces for women in boardrooms, education, political office and civic organizations.

WLI’s Director of Programs and Operations, Nicole Carpenter, said the organization’s founder, Pat Jones, is a former Utah Senator who believes women need a seat at the table.

“We need the voices of women in all areas of leadership, particularly on Capitol

Hill, where women can make decisions,” Carpenter said. “It’s important for women to have a vote, but it’s even more important for women to have a voice. To have a voice in those political circles, you need to hold an office, or you need to be a lobbyist, or have some type of political influence. So we encourage women to run for political office.”

It’s not just Salt Lake County; Utah County and Davis County have also had their share of female leaders, including Kaysville Mayor Tami Tran, who was just elected to her second term. Not only is she a political leader, but she’s the CEO of a tech company, Rylex.

“When I became a mayor five years ago, for my first term, there were nine mayors who were new in Davis County, so almost half, since there are 15 cities,” Tran said. “Nine of us were new and three of us were women, so it was awesome to mentor each other and learn from each other. Women can see things in such a unique way, because we bring different perspectives to the room.”

Tran hopes more women run for political office, whether on the local, state or federal level, but acknowledges some women worry about balancing leadership roles with family.

Wood was a single mother, raising two boys, when she became mayor in SSL. She understands the fear and uncertainty, but she found support and people who believed

in her. She said behaviors are slowly changing, with more understanding and empathy for women in leadership.

“I know it’s intimidating,” Wood said. “But there’s so much value to having different lived experiences and perspectives on councils and in elected office seats. When you invite all of those perspectives and give them a safe place to be heard, that’s when you’re going to solve big problems.”

For information about running for office, visit UtahWomenRun.org.

The Boob Bus makes mammograms accessible for all women

By Cassie Goff |

“Let’s get all the girls together to go get dinner and mammograms!” is the vibe Rena Vanzo is going for with mammogram screenings on The Boob Bus.

One in every eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. For every Utah woman, that translates to about a 12.5% chance of developing cancer.

“Every family, every community, every church group, every book club—all of them will be impacted. Prevention is the best medicine,” said CEO and co-founder of The Boob Bus Rena Vanzo.

The Boob Bus is a mobile unit that offers mammograms, health care screening, breast cancer assessment and other healthcare services to women locally. The main goal of The Boob Bus is to make mammograms more accessible and comfortable.

“Utah women are just not doing their mammograms. We’re way below the national average,” said Vanzo. In 2022, Utah was ranked 48th out of the 50 states in the nation for mammogram screening.

Vanzo and her team have been working to change that statistic by transforming typical health care screenings into modern experiences. The Boob Bus was fully customized as a health care space with neon

pink lights and vaulted ceilings.

“On The Boob Bus, you can expect to feel like an individual,” said driver and Patient Care Coordinator Kayla Pacheco. “Your history, your experiences and your fears are heard.”

An average visit to The Boob Bus begins by checking in to answer medical history questions. The data collected related to menstrual changes, hormones, breast density and personal medical history is used to calculate individual cancer risk.

“Breast density is really becoming more of a topic of conversation,” Vanzo said. “And it should be. Women with dense breasts do have a higher risk of breast cancer.”

Patients are offered heated pink robes instead of hospital gowns during their appointment. Individual women will meet with a licensed certified technologist privately in the mammogram suite for a screening.

Results are within one week. (Vanzo emphasizes that patients may be referred to a hospital for diagnostic screening depending on risk.) Patients leave The Boob Bus with branded lip balm, nail files and educational cards.

The entirely female Boob Bus team emphasizes the importance of destigmatizing women’s health with less shame and embar-

rassment through more conversation.

“I want to live in a world where even the men are saying to their partners ‘Hey, did you get your mammogram yet?’” Vanzo said.

Vanzo and her cofounders started The Boob Bus in 2022 after being personally impacted by individual family members battling cancer diagnoses. It took her two years to get The Boob Bus fully operational.

“I had to learn all of these extra things that are very useful in your life but you wouldn’t think they’d intersect in business,” Vanzo said.

Vanzo needed to get a CDL so she could drive the oversized custom bus. In preparation, she worked for UTA for six months to get trained as a driver in a structured environment.

“Rena is a superstar. I have never met anyone so driven to help others,” said Office and Billing Manager Jen Bartunek.

The Boob Bus primarily meets women for their mammograms all across Salt Lake, Utah and Davis Counties. Through their partnership with the Central Utah Health Department, The Boob Bus also travels to Central Utah.

The Boob Bus works with the Utah Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (UCCP) so uninsured women can still access their mammogram screenings through a voucher program.

The Boob Bus provides heated robes for mammogram appointments so it “feels more like a spa experience,” The Boob Bus founder Rena Vanzo said. (Photo courtesy of Rena Vanzo, The Boob Bus CEO and co-founder.)

El Programa de Detección del Cáncer de Mama y de Cuello Uterino es facilitado por el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Utah y está financiado con fondos estatales y federales. El formulario de solicitud está disponible en español a través de lo siguiente: www. cancer.utah.gov

Individual women can book appointments online (even same day) through The Boob Bus website: www.theboobbus.com. Organizations, businesses or school districts can email or call The Boob Bus team (866-747-BOOB) to set up a day for group appointments.

Four Simple Ways to Build a Happier Life

As a county councilmember, I spend a lot of time listening to concerns from constituents. I hear from parents who are stretched thin, seniors who feel lonely, young people who are anxious about the future, and workers who feel burned out even when they’re doing everything “right.” One thing is clear: many people are searching for happiness, but they aren’t sure where to find it.

Research from social scientists points to a clear answer. Happiness does not come from money alone, social media attention, or having an easier life. Arthur Brooks,

a Harvard professor, social scientist and bestselling author teaches the science of happiness. He says that happiness comes from four things: faith, family, friendship and meaningful work.

The first is faith. People are happier when they believe their lives matter and are part of something bigger than themselves. For some, this comes from faith or spiritual beliefs. For others, it comes from serving their community, caring for others or living by strong values. Faith gives people strength during hard times and helps them see challenges as part of a larger purpose. Even small habits—like volunteering, mentoring, or reflecting on what matters most—can build a deeper sense of meaning.

The second is family. Strong family relationships are one of the most reli-

able sources of long-term happiness. This doesn’t mean family life is easy. It takes patience, forgiveness and time. But people who invest in their families tend to feel more supported and less alone. Family can mean parents and children, grandparents, chosen family or relatives who show up when it counts. Simple actions—shared meals, regular check-ins or family traditions—can make a big difference.

The third is friendship. Healthy friendships protect people from loneliness and stress. They give us someone to laugh with, talk to and lean on when life gets hard. Yet friendships often get pushed aside by busy schedules and screens. Reaching out, making time for face-toface connection, and being present for others helps build trust and belonging. Often you will have to be the one to reach out and make this happen. Communities are stronger when neighbors know each other, not just online, but in real life. Do you know the people who live three houses on either side of you and across the street? If not, make it a point this year to get to know them better. It helps keep your neighborhood safe and builds connection when you can all look out for each other.

The fourth is meaningful work. This does not mean everyone has to love every

part of their job. But people are happier when they feel useful and see how their work helps someone else. Whether paid or unpaid, work gives people dignity and purpose. Parents raising children, volunteers, caregivers, students and workers all contribute value. When people feel needed, their confidence and happiness grow.

One important idea connects all four of these areas: happiness is not about chasing pleasure. Pleasure fades quickly. Real happiness builds slowly through effort, relationships and responsibility. It grows when we use things but care for people— not the other way around. Being “happy” doesn’t mean you will never have sadness, anger, frustration or problems. Everyone has hard times. But by focusing on the things that really matter, you increase your opportunities for better overall happiness.

As a community, we should make it easier for people to build these four foundations. That means supporting families, creating spaces for connection, valuing service and helping people find meaning in their lives. Happiness is not something government can give—but it is something we can support by strengthening the places where people live, work and belong. Make a goal this year to find ways you can help increase your own happiness.

Remember when you thought Mr. Monopoly wore a monocle, or you were convinced Curious George had a tail? Memory is a funny thing.

Or how about when NBC anchor Brian Williams “misremembered” being in a helicopter hit by anti-tank weapons in Iraq? His faulty memory got him suspended.

We all misremember things, but when an entire group does it, it’s called the Mandela Effect, a phenomenon that occurs when millions of people are confidently wrong. Like, remember when we all believed Vladimir Putin was a war criminal? LOL. Good times.

If you’re a Gen Xer, you might remember when the VHS tape got eaten by the VCR and you had to use brain surgeon-style techniques to carefully respool the video. But then the tape always had a wrinkled section where the movie would go wonky for a few seconds. That’s what my memory feels like most days: warped and staticky.

My husband is basically a human computer. He remembers everything. When we meet new people, he lights up like an exploding star. He’s curious about their background, hometown and their connection to any celebrity-type person.

Months later, he’ll say, “Remember at the Yankees game when we met that guy who was married to the cousin of a friend who knows Ryan Reynolds? I think his name was George.”

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

“No.”

“Yeah, you do. He owned a horse farm outside of Albany and loves the color orange.”

“What are you talking about?”

His memory recall is slightly unsettling. He’ll drop info like, “I remember the 1968 World Series when the Detroit Tigers came from behind to beat the Cardinals. They hadn’t won since 1945 and Mickey Lolich was the MVP.”

And then there’s me, having to watch a recap for a TV show I watched the night before. But then I remember random things, like when Sen. Mike Lee advocated for term limits. Hahahaha. The good ol’ days.

I was playing a “Frozen” matching game with my 9 year old granddaughter, trying to remember where the pair of Olafs were hiding. I kept turning over the same two cards, a Sven and an Elsa, convinced I’d finally cracked the code.

My granddaughter found it hilarious watching her doddering old granny lose a game. But there was a time I was the matching

game champ. At least that’s my recollection.

I can still sing Abba’s entire “Arrival” album from 1976 but I’m not quite sure I actually attended a single day of high school. I used to know dozens of phone numbers, but now I couldn’t call my daughters if the world were ending and I had to use a rotary phone.

When it comes to remembering the names of dogs I met at the dog park, I’ve got it down. But their owners’ names? No clue. I can make my mom’s mac and cheese by heart, but need to read the directions on a cake mix four times before I get it right.

It makes me second-guess my memory, like, do you recall when Gov. Spencer Cox took the side of trans kids? Or was that also the

Mandela Effect?

If you’ve ever had a sibling contradict your side of a story, or you can’t remember your eighth-grade science teacher, you’re not alone. Or maybe you had an existential crisis when you realized C-3PO’s lower right leg was silver, not gold.

Memory isn’t just fleeting, it’s fluid. When time blurs the moments we fell flat on our faces, it’s a reminder that our flashbacks are edited highlight reels, usually with a laugh track.

Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com