Herriman City Journal | June 2020

June 2020 | Vol. 30 Iss. 06

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FORMER HERRIMAN FOOTBALL PLAYER LEKI FOTU HEADED TO THE NFL

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erriman High School is turning 10 years old this summer, and as its ranks of alumni continue to grow, those alumni continue to make names for themselves. One such alumnus is Leki Fotu, who was drafted to the NFL in April.

Fotu played football for the Herriman Mustangs for one year after his family moved from California to Utah. Ironically, Fotu was initially drawn to the Herriman area because of the hugely successful rugby program. But Herriman football coaches convinced him to also play football his senior year.

And it’s a good thing they did.

Playing defensive end, Fotu tallied 79 tackles and 7.5 sacks as he led the Mustangs to a 5A state championship victory and was later named the 5A MVP by the Deseret News.

“He was fanatical. He only knew one speed,” said Herriman football coach Dustin Pearce of his time spent coaching Fotu. “I never ever coached a kid that ran as well as he did.

Very coachable. Very good kid. The ultimate teammate.”

Pearce described Fotu’s leadership style as being quieter and humble, leading by example. That humility, which sets Fotu apart, is apparent when he talks about his time at Herriman High. In an interview with the Herriman Journal, Fotu didn’t mention championships or personal accolades when asked what stood out to him about that year. Instead, he spoke about the friends he made.

“The biggest standout for me was how welcome I felt — moving into a brand-new state and basically having to start all over with no friends. We only had one family that we knew here in Utah. Other than that, everyone was a new face.”

Former Herriman Mustang Leki Fotu is headed to the NFL after a successful four years at the University of Utah. (Photo via University of Utah) Continued page 12

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Herriman City Journal

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June 2020 | Page 3

Come get your ‘Licks’: New extreme mountain biking trail opens in Herriman

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

A

brand-new mountain biking trail opened in Herriman last month, one that offers a challenge like no other in the area.

The Hardlick trail is located in the Herriman Hills area and is designated as a mountain biking-only trail.

“Hardlick is a technical black-rated downhill flow trail,” said Jo Darton, the chair of the Herriman Trails Committee who spearheaded the effort to get the trail built. “It has some chunky features: steep technical rock features with some optional jumps and gaps. There are some drop lines and some double black diamond rock rollers.”

If that’s all gibberish to you, just know that it’s an advanced trail for experienced riders only. A stray hiker going up the trail would get “plowed down,” said Darton.

The trail has been years in the making and has involved the efforts of many people, starting with Darton.

Two years ago, she brought some hardcore mountain bikers up to the area to see if they thought it had potential. She expected them to say the terrain was too steep and too intense. Instead, they loved it.

“They were like kids on Christmas morning,” Darton said. “After I saw how enthusiastic they are, that gave me the motivation to keep going on.”

After receiving a green light of support from Herriman Parks and Rec Director Wendy Thomas, Darton began working on acquiring the needed money for the project.

She worked with the organization Trails Utah to write an application for funds from Salt Lake County, an application that was eventually successful, rewarding the

Journals

city with $30,000 to put toward the project.

After going through the regular planning commission process of submitting plans and holding neighborhood meetings, construction began in the fall of 2019 and finished up this spring.

The trail was constructed by a company called Apex Trails, which previously built Eric’s Trail and the Sidewinder Trail, also in the Herriman Hills area.

There were plans for Apex to build another less intense mountain biking trail this spring, using the second installment of the county’s grant. Unfortunately, that fund was pulled by the county to be used for coronavirus relief funds. Still wanting to complete the second trail, the Herriman Trails Committee is hoping to raise funds from the community.

“We’re asking locals and anyone who uses our trails regularly to give maybe the price of a meal to the trail cause,” said Darton. All money donated will be generously matched by the Spencer and Amanda Millerberg Trust, a South Jordan family whose son is on the Bingham High Mountain Biking team. Those interested in contributing to the fundraiser can find more information on the Herriman Trails Committee Facebook group.

The need for more trails in the area is highlighted by the current situation with the coronavirus, said Darton, noting that Draper reported a 400% increase in trail usage during the pandemic.

“Getting outside is so important, and people are realizing that,” Darton said.

“Bike sales are up. Trail usage is up. We need more trails to accommodate all the new users.” l A sign warns hikers not to head up the Hardlick trail. (Photo courtesy of Jo Darton.)

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Herriman City Journal

Virtual County Library available as reopening takes shape

By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com

R

esidents of Salt Lake County have gone without a lot of things over the past couple months. Some resources and services previously taken for granted have suddenly been dearly missed. One of those resources is the Salt Lake County Library system. Since midMarch, all 18 full-service physical branches

have been closed. However, many of the library system’s services have been available online, and its staff members have worked to expand virtual offerings while the community stays at home.

“Everything is online right now,” said Sara Neal, marketing and communications

manager for Salt Lake County Library. “Limited staff is going into branches to do some prep work for opening the libraries.”

In the meantime, and for the past several weeks, librarians have worked to make themselves more available online to the community. They started a daily online story time for kids on the library’s Facebook page each morning at 10:30. The library’s focus on children home from school has driven an expansion of online book offerings for kids of all ages.

The County Library has developed programs like its Stay at Home Challenge encouraging people to do things like write a letter to a grandparent they can’t see in person. Kids were also challenged to read a short book in a half hour. “We wanted to help people fill some time and try to take their minds off things,” Neal said.

Online offerings have expanded to include access to more books, magazines and movies. People can even get their library card by applying online.

“Librarians are not at a desk right now, but they are still getting resources available Salt Lake County Library is offering many of its usual programs and events in a digital format during to the community,” Neal said. The virtuCOVID-19 shutdowns. (Photo courtesy of Salt Lake County Library) al Ask a Librarian service offers the kind

of help that librarians typically offer when physical branches are open. People can ask their librarians online for help with research, writing a resume, or how to apply for unemployment.

That type of online assistance will not go away when physical branches start to reopen.

“We are working on how to serve members of the community who might be high risk,” Neal said.

The County Library has worked with government officials to plan how to reopen safely. “We are working closely with the county and state,” said Cottonwood Heights Communications Manager Timothy Beery.

“We have to take into account our needs and the needs of our neighbors.”

As communities work toward reopening, the County Library has worked on how to keep patrons safe when libraries reopen.

Everything from a safe curbside pickup program to properly cleaning materials as they come in has to be considered.

“How do you monitor a 6-foot distance in a library?” Neal asked. “We are looking at what other urban libraries are doing to find what’s safest for the community.” l

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June 2020 | Page 5

Local moms create nonprofit to help working single parents

By Stephanie Yrungaray | s.yrungaray@mycityjournals.com

Alissa Harrod (second from left) and Meghann Brimhall (fourth from left) with volunteers at a fundraiser at Chick-fil-A. (Photo courtesy of The Single Parent Project.)

S

erendipity, fate, a higher power—whatever you want to call it, there has been something at work in how quickly the nonprofit organization The Single Parent Project has come together.

Meghann Brimhall had long recognized how valuable her support system was when she was a single mom. As she interacted with other single parents who didn’t have as much help, her desire grew to do something about it.

“The vision came to me about how great it would be to pay it forward,” Brimhall said.

“I wanted to be a support system to somebody else who is a single parent and who doesn’t have nearby family or friends.”

Brimhall’s goal for 2019 was to start

a nonprofit organization for single parents.

On Dec. 26, she was upset that another year had passed, and she hadn’t accomplished her goal.

“I started doing research, and The Single Parent Project name came to mind,” Brimhall said. “There was no group with that name on Facebook, so I hurried to create a page. I saw I could use the name on Instagram, and there was an available website with that name, so I went for it.”

This past January, Brimhall started working on the Facebook page and added close friends to get feedback. One of her friends misunderstood and shared the fledgling page, and The Single Parent Project took off.

Members of The Single Parent Project team at a community needs drive at Valley High School. (Photo courtesy of The Single Parent Project.)

Page 6 June 2020

“We raised $1,500 fairly quickly and were able to help three parents right off the bat,” Brimhall said. “It was super exciting, and I started posting on social media.”

Enter Alissa Harrod.

A former Riverton High classmate, Harrod saw Brimhall’s posts and offered to help.

She, too, had always had a dream of starting an organization to help others.

“I’ve worked in mental health and was the director of business development for a hospital,” Harrod said. “I wanted to have an organization that helped with mental health in general, and at the same time Meghann was pushing play, I was writing up a program of my own. We were able to mix our drive and passion to help those in need and it has been phenomenal.”

Although Brimhall and Harrod had no experience starting or running a nonprofit organization, they have been able to learn and accomplish many goals in a short time.

They applied for the nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in February.

“We were told by multiple other nonprofits that for some people it was taking between nine months to three years to get approved,” Harrod said. “We got the approval in eight weeks.”

They moved into a physical space in Draper in April, and in just 12 weeks, The Single Parent Project raised more than $15,000 in monetary and in-kind donations.

They were able to provide financial help for 120 families that ranged from rent money and daycare expenses to groceries and gas bills and many other expenses in between.

The focus of the Single Parent Project is to help working single parents who fall in the gap between receiving government assistance and making enough money to live comfortably.

“When I was a single mom, I applied for Medicaid and got denied,” Brimhall recalled.

“I had a house payment, and I was also paying for type 1 diabetic insulin and diabetic needs. [Government assistance] doesn’t take everything into consideration.”

Besides helping with unmet physical needs, Brimhall and Harrod want The Single Parent Project to provide families with mental health resources and a supportive community.

“We are going to provide outpatient service and support groups for families,” Brimhall said.

“We’re working on programs to help parents with resiliency, trauma and dealing with conflict,” Harrod said. “These group settings are important to single parents, and we want to help them develop confidence.

It’s important to take care of yourself so you can be a better mom, a better employee and a better person all around.”

Brimhall and Harrod have a one-year goal to assist 500 families in 2020.

South valley moms Alissa Harrod and Meghann Brimhall have started a successful nonprofit to aid single parents called The Single Parent Project.

“I would say that we are on track to hit that goal,” Harrod said. “We are hoping with grant opportunities we will hit the $150,000 mark and then some. We’ve already started working on educational courses and support groups.”

“Our goals are always changing as we learn all we can do to assist these families,” Brimhall said. “We’ve always said that we want to help with short-term housing, and now we also want to assist with long-term housing.”

They also hope to help families reach educational goals and would love to partner with local universities and offer scholarships.

The Single Parent Project is a passion project for the cofounders who also have jobs and are moms to a blended family of six kids (Brimhall) and three kids (Harrod). They hope that helping people will one day be their full-time gig.

The duo is amazed and excited about how quickly their project has grown and appreciate all of the support from friends and community members.

“We’ve had a lot of support from people who were single parents or raised by single parents,” Brimhall said. “It has been very rewarding to see these people give back and have our community rally behind us. It is fun to see it grow and have everybody celebrate successes with you.”

“To raise the amount of money we have in such little time helps us know that we have found that niche that is overlooked,” Harrod said. “This is happening for a reason.”

They still need as much help as they can get to reach their goals and assist as many working single parents as possible. Find out more information on how you can help or receive help on their website www.thesingleparentproject.org or their social media pages on Facebook or Instagram @thesingleparentproject.

“Anytime we feel like there is a roadblock something else happens and pushes us forward,” Harrod said. “We know we are in the right place doing the right things. It has been a great experience.” l

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What’s your legacy?

Next round of stimulus money: Herriman Bucks?

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

A Herriman Journal imagining of what a “Herriman Buck” might look like.

B

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y the time this newspaper reaches your mailbox, you’ll likely have already received your next round of economic stimulus money. No, not another $1,200 from the federal government but $10 worth of Herriman Bucks.

The idea came from Assistant City Manager Tami Moody as a way to help stimulate the local economy as Herriman businesses contend with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As shoppers are starting to venture out into the public, we want to connect our two greatest resources: our residents and our businesses,” Moody said. “We’re providing a little incentive to the shopper and the business as well.”

Residents will receive a $10 Herriman Bucks voucher card in the mail that they can spend at participating Herriman businesses on a purchase of $20 or more. Those businesses can then turn in the Herriman Bucks to the city for a reimbursement.

At the time of Herriman Journal’s press deadline, it wasn’t yet known which businesses will be participating, but Moody said that several businesses had already signed up within 24 hours of receiving a letter explaining the opportunity.

And it won’t be limited to the brick and mortar stores that line Herriman’s busier

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streets. The offer to participate is extended to all of Herriman’s 600-plus businesses, many of which are conducted out of residents’ own households — businesses such as basement hairdressers or landscaping services can take advantage of the program as well. All you need is a Herriman business license.

The estimated cost to the city ranges from $110,000 to $190,000. The final cost will depend on how many residents take advantage of the program.

This is just one of the ways that Herriman City officials have been trying to help local businesses since the beginning of the pandemic.

Early on, city leaders loosened sign restrictions so businesses could place banners and A-frames near roadways to inform residents about their status. As previously closed businesses have opened more recently, city officials have celebrated them with extra signs and balloons, which have been so successful that Moody said several businesses have asked to keep the signs up for longer than originally planned.

City leaders also hosted a virtual lunch meeting to which they invited local business owners, where they were able to listen to state economic development experts as well as a lobbyist with extensive knowledge of the work being done at the federal level. They helped explain all the resources being made available to business owners and how to take advantage of them.

Why go to all this effort to help the people and businesses of Herriman when it might be easier to say, “We’ll let the federal and state governments come up with the solutions?” Moody said it’s because the city is a family.

“I think it definitely comes down to the culture in Herriman,” she said. “Our motto is ‘We are Herriman.’ Everyone is included in that: the staff, the schools, businesses, residents. Herriman is family, and family supports each other, especially through tough times.” l

Herriman City Journal

Utah graduates showered with love in special Adopt a Utah Senior project

By Stephanie Yrungaray | s.yrungaray@mycityjournals.com

H

igh school seniors across the Salt Lake valley are sharing a common experience they never anticipated…graduation during a pandemic. Although every school district is handling the end of the year differently, there is no doubt that the class of 2020 is not getting the graduation they dreamed of or deserve.

One Utah mom is trying to soften the blow of unmet expectations through a project called Adopt a Utah Senior and teens across the valley and state are being recognized by strangers in a very special way.

Monica Kennedy from Erda, Utah saw what her senior daughter Paige was experiencing and wanted to make a difference for all high school seniors.

“I was really sad for my own senior,” Kennedy said. “I reached out to family and friends for ideas to get some excitement into this season because I can’t make up for the stuff she’s missed out on.”

Modeling a Facebook group after a similar one in Alaska, Kennedy started the Adopt a Utah Senior project which has paired over 2,500 seniors with “adoptive” individuals and families. Parents or legal guardians share pictures and information about their high school graduates, and angel adopters offer to recognize the senior with cards and/or gifts.

Once they are paired, the adopter is encouraged to send or deliver something to the grad within two weeks.

Kimmy DelAndrae posted about her daughter Haley who is graduating from Bingham High School. After reading posts from other parents she decided she wanted to adopt another senior.

“I wish I could adopt every one of these kids,” DelAndrae said. “They are missing so much. I want to let them know that one, they are not alone and two, everyone is rooting for them. The whole thing just made my heart so happy.”

Haley helped her mom pick out another senior and together they put together a gift basket for him.

“It was a really fun experience to get one and to give one,” said Haley DelAndrae.

Luke Vickery, a senior at Alta High School, was adopted by Shalysa Meier from West Valley City. Meier also adopted two other seniors.

“Anytime I see a good thing it is a no-brainer to be a part of it,” Meier said. “Not only do I feel it impacted seniors on the receiving end, it brightened my spirits on my end. It gave me something to look forward to and a project I could do to spread kindness beyond my social circle.”

“As seniors, it’s a bummer we don’t get to experience the traditions that most people do,” Vickery said. “Everyone is trying to make a difference and [the Adopt a Senior Project] is a really cool way that people are

HerrimanJ ournal.com

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Shalysa Meier gave a personalized gift basket to Alta senior Luke Vickery as part of the Adopt A Utah Senior project. (Photo courtesy of Kourtney Vickery)

doing something for our class to brighten our days. It’s really cool.”

Luke’s mom Kourtney, said she can’t believe how generous people have been.

“I love reading the kids’ stories and seeing the things they are involved in,” Kourtney Vickery said. “[The project] is giving people a chance to forget about what’s going on, all of the negative stuff in the world, and focus on other people. It is a bright spot I think.”

Kennedy said she was overwhelmed at how quickly the Facebook group grew.

Along with a team of eight other volunteers, she is spending many hours a day trying to make sure each senior is accounted for and matched to an individual or family.

“There is a lot of work involved,” Kennedy said. “We watch for posts that come in, make sure they have correct information including their high school and make sure they are posted by a parent or legal guardian. We tag them so it is easier for people to find who hasn’t been adopted and answer a lot of questions.”

Kennedy said the stories and pictures that come from the adoptions have been heartwarming.

“I love it when they find a common interest,” Kennedy said. “We will get emails with people who want to find someone who plays a certain sport or went to the high school they went to. We have people adopting from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii.

It isn’t about getting stuff, it’s about cheering up the class of 2020.”

Just like all good things, Adopt a Utah Senior must end. Kennedy said they will take their last senior on May 23 and allow 24 more hours for adoptions to be finalized. The following week they plan to allow gratitude posts.

Kennedy isn’t worried about any of the graduates not being adopted because of all of the generosity she has seen so far.

“Anytime we’ve gone on and said we need angels to take a referred senior we’ve had so much support,” Kennedy said.

She is sad to see the project come to an end.

“There has been so much love and random kindness,” Kennedy said. “It’s been so awesome to see smiles on these kids’ faces that have had so much taken away.” l

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June 2020 | Page 9

Crafty family entertains neighbors with 200 free grab bags

By Stephanie Yrungaray | s.yrungaray@mycityjournals.com

Families Creating Memories.

The Crescent Way.

A Herriman family made more than 200 craft and activity bags and placed them outside for families to pick up. (Photo courtesy of Tiffanie Brownlee)

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he idea was simple and special. Herriman mom and grandma Tiffanie Brownlee loves to craft and has an entire basement full of supplies. As stay-at-home orders from the pandemic began, Tiffanie looked around her basement craft room and thought her extra supplies could help kids stuck at home.

“I got to thinking, ‘I have all of this stuff that we could put to good use,’” said Brownlee. “We thought we could make up bags for kids, and that is what we did.”

Wearing masks and gloves, and with the help of her fiance and her 14-year-old daughter Kambrie, the family went to the basement and got to work.

“We wandered around and thought about what things could go together,” said Brownlee. “We laid everything out on a table and decided, and then put the supplies into paper sacks.”

In their first run, they assembled 20 craft grab bags with all of the supplies each child would need. They put the bags in front of their house and posted a message on their neighborhood Facebook page.

“People kept messaging and commenting and asking if there were any bags left,” said Brownlee. “We would run outside and check and let them know. When they were all gone people keep commenting and we thought, ‘We have to make more bags.’”

“We thought a few people would come to get them,” said Kambrie Brownlee. “But they went really quickly. It was exciting; we weren’t expecting them to be gone that quickly.”

Realizing that their idea was a huge hit, the Brownlees wanted to expand their grab bag project beyond their neighborhood. After gathering supplies and making a second round of 30 grab bags they posted on even more Facebook pages for Herriman residents. The bags were quickly claimed again, and the Brownlees just kept on going.

Over the past month, they have assembled and given away more than 200 grab bags including supplies to make a DIY catapult, stuffed animals, DIY monsters, bugs, and various other crafts and activities. Brownlee even created teen

grab bags with headbands, fun question prompts and bath bombs. She said their family has had so much fun with this service project.

“It is a good feeling,” said Brownlee. “What was really special to us is when people sent messages or pictures about how much their kids were enjoying it. One person said it was the first time their kids had smiled in days.”

Kambrie Brownlee said her mom has always taught her about the happiness that comes from helping other people.

“She is always big into helping others and making sure to brighten people’s days,” said Kambrie Brownlee.

Brownlee said they have lots of supplies left, and they will continue making grab bags to spread joy during this uncertain time. “[The grab bag project] has really made us happy,” said Brownlee. “It is nice to know that what we are doing was good and worthwhile.” l

Kambrie Brownlee in her mom’s craft room, which has provided supplies for more than 200 free grab bags to entertain local kids. (Photo courtesy of Tiffanie Brownlee)

Herriman City Journal

More traffic on local trails as residents seek escape

By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com

S

alt Lake County’s trails have afforded residents a nearby escape from COVID-19 restrictions. While crowded routes have added waste and social distancing concerns, they have also helped grow community appreciation of local trails.

Mitt Stewart and members of the Wasatch Trail Run Series still hold out hope for some form of in-person running events later in the summer. Meanwhile, they have taken their popular series online. Stewart has worked on developing an online feature that will enable people to find challenges and trail routes to run, log their times, and compete with others.

“The whole reason for doing this is to offer people some connection while we’re not connected,” Stewart said. “We’ll be running virtual races.”

To do that, people can look up the race route and take it on individually. They can then submit verification of their effort using their favorite fitness app. Stewart hopes to help people connect as a running and biking community while they maintain a safe distance.

Keeping that distance has been a challenge with increased trail usage.

“Any increase in trail or usage is anecdotal, but it is clear that our public spac-

es have been a place of refuge during this time,” said Clayton J. Scrivner of Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation. “Last month we launched our ‘Be Park Smart, Stay Apart’ campaign that is designed to educate users of

our public spaces on responsible use according to current health guidelines.”

Stewart has noticed the increased traffic on the trails as well. While more people on the trails can create problems, it also gives

people throughout the community a healthy outdoor activity.

“A big reason to go out is to have solitude, so that’s been a bit of a buzzkill,” Stewart said. “On the flipside, it’s healthy and good for people.”

Stewart likes the idea of people connecting by sharing their appreciation of local trails and their achievements on them. He also thinks measures could be taken to help vulnerable members of the community enjoy the trails. More signage at trailheads instructing people on trail etiquette and social distancing could help, he said. Stewart would also like to see special hours set aside for the elderly to enjoy trails without the crowds.

Those crowds have plenty to enjoy, though. “Salt Lake County maintains over 100 miles of trails and pathways,” Scrivner said. “Jordan Parkway, Dimple Dell, Rose and Yellow Fork Canyons, Parley’s, and Utah and Salt Lake Canal trails are the most extensive.”

While increased trail use has produced things like more garbage and animal waste bags left behind, it has also helped the community through unprecedented times.

“People need to get out and exercise,” Runners have been able to connect online until they can race together in person again. (Photo courtesy of Stewart said. “It’s a great way to keep people Mitt Stewart) motivated.” l

Paid for by Fred C. Cox, Campaign Fund

TAXES Too often, it seems, government officials seem to forget whose money is being spent. One reason I sponsored the Utah 2019 Tax Referendum was to stop the direction of the legislature that would have made it easy for them to balance the state budget, but it would have been harder for Utahns to balance their budgets.

YOUR RIGHTS The US Constitution specifically says: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”. This is an area that is worth fighting for.

A STABLE & GROWING ECONOMY Utah is among Forbes best fiscally managed States and one of the best for business and careers. Many families are still struggling. We need to continue to improve. The Economy will grow when Government will allow it. In many cases Government is holding business growth back with too many regulations.

HerrimanJ ournal.com

CIVILITY We should engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that others come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion for solutions to our challenges.

SOLUTIONS NOT PARTIES I have no problem working with different political parties. That was the key reason the 2019 Tax Referendum was a success.

"I believe we must stand up and be heard or watch our constitutionally protected rights disappear. As a former member of the State House, I have been heard standing up to protect your rights.

That fight continues."

June 2020 | Page 11

Technically talented student plays role in transition to online lessons

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

A

lec Reynolds, a technically talented senior from Herriman High School, was instrumental in making the transition to online teaching easier for teachers. As part of an internship last year, he and a partner rewrote a program to allow teachers to easily incorporate YouTube videos into their online Canvas lessons.

“Little did we know at that time, our tool would be very important in the case of this pandemic,” Alec said.

“Teachers don’t have to worry about such a problematic system and can simply focus on providing content for the students and find videos with ease without having to learn to code themselves.”

As with everything Alec takes on, he deepened his learning of coding through the experience.

“Taking on the internship with only a basic understanding of a single code base, I came out of the internship learning three whole new systems,” he said.

Alec takes every opportunity to increase his programming skills, taking computer science classes and taking on programming jobs.

“It has been a wonderful experience for me to see a student absorb what I teach and then try to take this knowledge to a deeper level,” said HHS computer science teacher Samuel Puich. “He constantly wants to learn and experiment.”

Puich said Alec is a one-of-a-kind student.

“In my nearly 30 years of teaching at the high school

and collegiate levels, I have rarely had the privilege of teaching and mentoring a student of his caliber,” he said.

“Alec is highly intelligent, very motivated, incredibly passionate, and his respect for others is unmatched.”

Alec admits he pushes himself to be the top, constantly trying to one-up himself.

“I have learned I am capable of doing far beyond my self-set preliminary expectations,” he said.

Alec’s high school career has been full of activity in school clubs, music, sports, community service and fundraising for school and community. Alec joined Future Business Leaders of America and DECA (a business club) and frequently advanced to state and national competitions with his projects. He participated in the local technological Lassonde Challenge and was also awarded $750 for his web development business plan by South Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Alec’s love of learning and focus on his schooling is a survival instinct. School has become his escape from reality as he deals with unstable and emotionally trying family circumstances at home.

“One thing I have learned is that the hardships never change,” he said. “I just have learned to take control of my own life and not let my family dictate it for me.”

Alec focused on earning good grades so he’d be able to leave home and go to college. He is headed to the University of Utah to study computer science. l

Alec Reynolds (Photo courtesy of Alec Reynolds)

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Continued from front page Those high school friendships still endure to this day. Fotu said he still keeps in touch with “his boys” from the 2016 class.

After graduating from Herriman, Fotu moved about 30 miles northeast to continue his education and football career at the University of Utah. He moved from defensive end to defensive tackle and began supplementing his athletic potential with more polished technique under the tutelage of the Utah coaching staff.

“He was really raw when he came to Herriman, but he’s coachable,” Pearce said.

“That’s what he was able to do at Utah.

That’s as good a coaching staff as there is in the nation.”

After climbing the depth chart his freshman and sophomore year, Fotu established

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himself as a force on the Ute defensive line during his junior and senior seasons. He earned a spot on the All-Pac-12 team both years and helped lead his team to back-toback appearances in the conference championship game.

All of Fotu’s years of hard work paid off on April 25 when he was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the NFL draft.

True to character, when asked what the draft selection meant to him, Fotu didn’t talk about himself but about his family.

“Being drafted is kind of like a payment to my mom for everything she’s done for me and my siblings,” he said. “To have that call on draft day took a huge burden off my mom.

It means the world to me to see her reaction.”

As for what it means to Herriman High and the Mustangs football program, Pearce believes it will inspire the current players.

“I feel like it’s really important for our program,” he said. “It gives kids optimism to work hard. If you have potential and work hard, and you’re a good student, it’s a huge thing to be able to show our program.”

While he’ll be playing a whole state away now, Fotu said he won’t soon forget the community that welcomed an out-of-state high school student with open arms.

“Just to have that community, the school, support me — it means a lot to me,” he said. “Whenever I get a chance to come back and give back, I’ll make sure to do that.” l

Herriman City Journal

Debate senior leaves her mark

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

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Monique Cauley (Photo courtesy of Monique Cauley)

M

onique Cauley is leaving her mark at Providence Hall High School.

“I’m trying to leave as many resources as I can for the next generation,” she said. This includes a book of resources she compiled for future presidencies of the school’s National Honor Society.

Monique has also had an impact on the culture of the school, especially among students in the International Baccalaureate program, who tend to be independent and competitive.

“One of the things that we’ve worked on, just as a group and individually, is dismantling the idea that education knowledge has to be a commodity,” Monique said. “It’s the feeling of free-flowing knowledge that actually contributes to being more productive.”

Monique pushed for more study groups and for students to get to know their peers better. She also helped promote the school’s Gay Straight Alliance club and its ideals.

Monique’s biggest effect at PHHS is her legacy of excellence in debate.

As one of the most decorated debaters in the state, she is ranked No. 1 in the state in her event. She won three state championships, several region titles and

HerrimanJ ournal.com

qualified for the National Debate Tournament four years in a row. She received the Outstanding Distinction Award from the National Speech and Debate Association.

Debate coach Steve Porter said Monique is an example and mentor.

“She has been a remarkable student and has won the admiration and respect of her peers and of her opponents as well,” he said. “She has been a great leader and an incredible person. She has left her mark on our team in a lot of ways.”

Monique is thrilled to leave a legacy of excellence.

“I have my name on a plaque in the school, which is really exciting because it is a little piece of my legacy left with the students who will come generations after me,” she said. “But it’s also for myself and knowing that I’ve worked so hard to become a great communicator and to have these abilities to analyze on the spot. I feel like those kinds of things will follow me into the future.”

Her plans for the future include studying pre-law at Fordham University in New York and spending a year or two in the Peace Corps before becoming a lawyer. l

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Outstanding senior finds biggest competition is himself

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SHOULD I REPLACE MY AC? Here are some general guidelines when considering upgrading/replacing your central air conditioner. Most manufactures current life expectancy for your HVAC equipment is 18-20 years. If you have had small repairs during the 18-20 years of running your equipment and your central air all of a sudden stops working. It may be time to look at replacing your AC/Furnace system. With that age of equipment repair cost can get expensive and those funds could be better used to replace vs repair. When you consider replacing your HVAC equipment you will likely gain higher efficiency equipment, reduced operating cost and more comfortable living environment. Ask for details on Variable speed, 18-20 Seer and smart phone controls. A new system will be reliable for years to come and keep your family comfortable year round.

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Page 14 June 2020

Andrew Ruiz (Photo courtesy of Andrew Ruiz)

A

s a twin, Mountain Ridge High School senior Andrew Ruiz said he has always been competitive. However, instead of always trying to one-up his brother, he has learned to look elsewhere for a challenge.

“I’ve turned more like an internal challenge where I’m just competing against myself or a mark I see from a past student or just a challenge set by teachers or a question posed,” Andrew said.

That’s what he did in Wendy Solomon’s calculus class.

“I mentioned to the class that no one had ever achieved a perfect score on a unit test in calculus,” Solomon said. “He responded with a ‘challenge accepted’ and has scored higher than any student before him on both the unit two and unit three tests.”

MRHS teachers have been impressed with Andrew’s attention to detail, love of learning, work ethic, courtesy and curiosity.

“He is constantly challenging my own thinking with high level application questions and interests,” said chemistry teacher Rachel Barlow. “He catches on to

difficult, high-level AP chem concepts super quickly and is constantly seeking out the next challenge.”

Spanish teacher Cody Denton is also impressed with Andrew’s work ethic.

“He is not discouraged by a challenge but instead motivated to find a solution,” he said.

One of Andrew’s biggest challenges came when his family moved to Utah two years ago.

“Starting over and sort of finding myself was a big challenge for me,” he said. “Back in St. Louis, I was a really big sports guy. But ever since I moved here, I kind of shifted, and I’ve been more academically focused.”

Andrew discovered a passion for science as he studied at Real Salt Lake Academy High School last year and MRHS this year. His participation in HOSA led him to learn more about biomedical engineering as he participated in medical debate competitions. Now as a freshman in the Honors College at the University of Utah, Andrew plans to study biomedical engineering. l

Herriman City Journal

Graduate is incredible student, athlete, person

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

T

ommy Silva is an outstanding student and a top-caliber soccer player at Real Salt Lake Academy High School.

“Academically, he is incredible; he’s No. 1 in his class,” said academic counselor Lee Basquin. “Athletically, he is amazing.

Tommy exemplifies what you’d want to see someone with these talents be.”

Baquin said because of his humility and genuine kindness, Tommy is respected on and off the field by both the coaches and the players.

The secret to Tommy’s success is his ability to create a positive environment and his focus on lifting others.

“If you want to achieve things in your own life, then first you have to be a good person and help the other people around you,” he said.

Although he is currently a top soccer player at RSLHS, Tommy had to work his way up. When he arrived from Arizona as a sophomore, he found stiff competition. With so many skilled athletes, he wasn’t getting the playing time he wanted to. But he kept a positive attitude and he worked hard.

“Every day I just brought really good energy,” Tommy said. “I was really upbeat,

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June 2020 | Page 15

I was tested for COVID-19.

It was a lot easier than I expected

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To advance community, business, & civic-related interests to ensure continued improvement in the way of life.

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SUSTAINING PARTNERS: • American West Credit Union • Riverton Hospital • Herriman City • Bluffdale City • Hello Story • Expand Business Solutions • The City Journals

CONTACT: Susan Schilling 801-280-0595 susan@swvchamber.org

CHAMBER NEWS This is difficult and unique time to be doing business. We have helped many local businesses to get necessary information to keep their business going. We look forward to a time when we can meet in person but until then we will continue meeting virtually.

Please continue supporting your local businesses.

TEACHERS HONORED We are excited to honor teachers from our local schools. Each school in Bluffdale, Herriman and Riverton can honor a teacher. The following teachers are honored: Amber Allen

Bastian Elementary

Julie Randazzo

Mountain Point Elementary

Ashlee Urry

Blackridge Elementary

Kasey Chambers

Mountain Ridge High School

Bailey Ritchie

Bluffdale Elementary

Katie Probert

North Star Academy

Bradley Moss

Butterfield Canyon Elementary

Larisa Nageli

Oquirrh Hills Middle School

Dacia Peterson

Copper Mountain Middle School

Lisa Clark

Ridge View Elementary

Dawn Taylor

Foothills Elementary

Megan Murdock

Riverton Elementary

Devionare Howland

Ft. Herriman Middle School

Nichole Valerio

Riverton High School

Doris Rynearson

Herriman Elementary

P.J. Smalley

Rose Creek Elementary

Edson Rabelo

Herriman High School

Sharman Holloway

Silver Crest Elementary

Genevieve Randall

JATC South

Silvina Lee

South Hills Middle School

Jade Weinheimer

Kauri Sue Hamilton

Zachary Baggett

Southland Elementary

Jen Curdie

Midas Creek Elementary

Joy Anderson

Mountain Creek Middle School

We are accepting applications for our scholarship program.

The awardees will be announced next month. This is a great thing to be able to offer graduating seniors this year.

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By Alison Brimley | a.brimley@mycityjournals.com

F

or a week, just as I was drifting off to sleep, my body seemed to forget how to breathe and I’d jolt awake, gasping. My husband suggested maybe I was developing sleep apnea. A friend said it sounded like asthma. I didn’t rule either of them out, but I also knew shortness of breath is one of the indicators of COVID-19.

I didn’t have any other symptoms. Still, I wanted to rule it out while I sought other treatment. I decided to get tested.

The morning of April 27, after a bad night’s sleep, I downloaded the app Healthy Together, which I’d seen friends mention on social media. I gave it basic information (my age and gender), and it asked me to identify my symptoms. Yes, I was experiencing “new or increased shortness of breath,” and yes, I felt short of breath while sitting or resting. The app said I needed to be tested for COVID-19.

Since I’d indicated that I preferred to be treated in the Intermountain Healthcare System, and Intermountain performs telephone screenings, I was given a number to call before being approved for a test. I prepared to explain over the phone specifically what I was experiencing and justify why I wanted a test even though I was pretty sure it wasn’t COVID — but the Intermountain employee didn’t ask me about any of that. Instead, we ran through the same list of symptoms the app had asked about. Yes, I did feel short of breath; no, I didn’t have fever, muscle aches, sore throat or diarrhea. After I gave my address, she told me the nearest testing facility was the Alta View InstaCare. She put my name on the list for testing that day, so I could have a drive-through test any time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

My call ended at about 8:45 a.m., so I left for InstaCare right away. Signs in the parking lot pointed me in the direction of the drive-through testing site. I pulled into a numbered parking stall beneath a tent, where a posted sign gave me a number to call when I arrived. Over the phone, the employee confirmed my name, birth date, insurance information (though testing is free to all Utah residents, insured or not), and which stall I was in. Within minutes of hanging up, I saw a man in full protective gear at my window.

This was the part I was nervous about: I’d heard the test was a nasal swab that went painfully deep. The tester asked me to look straight ahead with my head against my headrest. What followed was something like having my brain briefly dusted with a pipe cleaner; I forced myself not to sneeze or jerk away. It wasn’t terribly comfortable, but it was quick — just a few seconds in each nostril. Less than 10 minutes after I had pulled into the parking lot, I was on my way home, a tickle in my nose but no residual pain.

The state of Utah ranks fifth in the nation for percentage of the population tested for COVID-19, one sign that made officials comfortable loosening restrictions as long as people take precautions like wearing masks in public places. (Photo by Engin Akyurt)

Between the telephone screener, the tester, and the information packet I’d been given in the Instacare parking lot, I was told I would either receive my test results via phone call in three to five, five to seven or five to 10 days. I was tested on April 27 (a Monday); as of this writing (one week later), I still haven’t received a call. However, by Wednesday morning, I was able to see my lab results using Intermountain’s online MyHealth portal. As I expected, SARS-Cov-2 (more commonly known as the coronavirus) was “not detected.” My results had taken less than 48 hours.

Happily, I have joined the ranks of the 95% of Utahns tested for COVID-19 whose test was negative. Given the horror stories of inadequate testing across the country, I was pleasantly surprised by how quick and hassle-free the process was for me personally.

No longer are tests being restricted to those who have recently traveled to China or Italy, who have come in contact with a known infected person, or who appear in the emergency room in severe respiratory distress. I was fortunate to receive a test simply because I asked for one. Given that widespread availability of testing will be a prerequisite for safely reopening our state and resuming normal life, this seems like a hopeful sign. l

Herriman City Journal

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One of the most common DIY graduation gifts are graduation leis, similar to those Polynesian garlands of flowers, but without the flowers. You’ll need a lot of plastic wrap for this one. Gather the things you wish to include in your lei. This may include snacksized candy bars, gift cards, rolled-up dollar bills, mints, etc. Be very careful as you lay out a long piece of plastic wrap. (Alternatively, you may choose to use smaller pieces of plastic wrap and tie all the pieces together at the end.) Place all your goodies out, side by side, leaving about 2 inches between each item, down one edge of the plastic wrap.

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capped. You might buy a small jar from your local Michael’s or Handy Dandy (my nickname for Hobby Lobby) and make the lid of the jar a graduation cap. Then you can fill the jar with candy, gift cards, anything your heart desires. You can do the same thing with a lightbulb and use a cheesy saying about how bright the graduate’s future is. You could put little graduation caps on a handful of different candies. You might even attach a cap to the lid of a drink tumbler and fill the tumbler with confetti and the aforementioned goodies. Lastly, you could stick a cap on the top of a money cake: a cake made out of rolled-up dollar bills placed in a circular shape.

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can fold dollar bills and tie them together to create a beautiful flower-resembling lei.

If you, or your graduating human, really likes being cheesy (like me, I usually go so-cheesy I approach Gouda territory), you can make small graduation caps to put on almost anything you may think of. You’ll need a circular base, something resembling a lid of a jar or a bottlecap, some parchment paper, a button, and some string. Wrap the parchment paper around the circular base and glue or tape it down. Then, glue or tape a square-shaped piece of parchment paper on top of the circular base to create the top of the cap. Glue or tape (hot glue might work best for this part) a button to the middle of the top of the squareshaped parchment paper. Lastly, wrap the string, (which needs to be tied to create a circle, with cut segments of the string draped through the middle, and tied together to create a tassel) over the button.

As mentioned, almost anything can be

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In a subtle attempt to calm me down, my husband enrolled me in a meditation course. I love meditation, in theory, and had a random practice that included meditating in bed, grocery store lines and during TV commercials, but I didn’t have an actual sitdown meditation practice.

Now I do. Twice a day I sit for 20 minutes and watch the thoughts in my brain battle to the death. According to Instagram, nothing proves to the world how spiritual you are more than sitting for a long time in silence. The longer you sit, the better a person you are. Fact.

So now I’m a super-spiritual Zen person. I make sure I talk about my meditation practice all the time. The more you talk about how you’ve merged with your inner self, the more interested people around you become. They could listen to you talk about your meditation practice for hours.

You also need an expensive meditation cushion. Here’s a conversation I had with my husband, who just couldn’t understand the complexities of meditation.

Husband: Can’t you just sit in a chair?

Me: To be uber-spiritual, I need an $80 meditation cushion so I’m closer to Mother Earth.

Husband: Why don’t you just sit on the floor?

Me: Don’t be crass.

I tried sitting on the ground to meditate.

I was in San Luis Obispo at a conference, and I went to the beach early in the morning.

I listened to the waves, communed with my inner being and radiated calm as I left the

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beach to go back to the hotel.

As I ran up the trail from the beach, I tripped on a rock and fell face-first onto a wooden stair, nearly breaking my nose and spending the rest of the weekend with a bruised and swollen face. If I’d been sitting on a beautiful cushion instead of the ground, my inner being wouldn’t have been pissed off and try to kill me. Fact.

Meditation in nature is supposed to be super-relaxing, but right when I close my eyes I feel an ant crawl across my foot and I have to look to make sure it isn’t a spider because then I have to jump up and scream.

The only reason to meditate outside is so people can see you mediate and understand you’re a super-spiritual person.

I’m teaching my puppy to mediate with me, hoping my calm energy will soothe her.

After 10 minutes of getting her to settle down, I’ll place my hand on her back, syncing our breath and heart rate.

Just as I create an intense connection to her heart chakra, she jumps in my lap to lick my face and ruins everything. She’ll never be as spiritual as me. Fact.

People ask what I do when meditating.

First, I sit quietly on my expensive cushion, noticing the thoughts running across my mind. I spend several minutes trying not to notice the thoughts running across my mind.

I achieve two seconds of stillness before the thoughts start up again.

Soon I become numb from the waist down. The more numb you feel, the more spiritual you are and the more disconnected from those pesky thoughts you become.

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Soon, I can’t feel my toes and my knees are screaming for help. But that just proves to the Universe that I’m dedicated to my meditation practice. Sometimes I fall asleep and jerk awake before I hit the floor.

I expect I’ll achieve enlightenment any day now since I’m so good at meditating. If there’s one thing I excel at it’s doing absolutely nothing. Fact.

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