What is a Distinguished Alum?
A distinguished alum is a leader. It is someone who has shown integrity and courage. A distinguished alum  has had great success since leaving Salt Lake Community College. A distinguished alum is someone to emulate.

Who can be nominated for the Distinguished Alumni award?
A person can be nominated for the award if he or she has taken at least one class from SLCC and exhibits the qualities worthy of this distinction.

Two Distinguished Alumni awards are given each year. One award is given to a superior former student from one of the trade and technical programs and the other award is given to a former student from one the academic programs.

When is the nomination due?
Nominations for the Distinguished Alumni award are due no later than March 1, 2010.

If you know anyone who you would consider for this award, please write a one-page essay on why you are nominating your alum and send it to matt.bunker@slcc.edu. Please include your contact information and contact information for the person you are nominating. 

Call (801) 957-4838 with any questions.

2008-2009 Distinguished Alumni

Dan (“The Laptop Man”) Young, 37, is a true “boot-strapper.” Born in 1971 and raised in Southern California, Mr. Young is a first-generation American. His parents emigrated from China to the United States in the 1940s to escape the early days of World War II.

At age six, Mr. Young began attending a computer-training camp for under-privileged children where he learned a love for computers. Mr. Young moved to Utah from California in 1988 where he graduated from Highland High School. Following high school, he attended Salt Lake Community College where he met his wife. Subsequently, he studied at the University of Utah and Stanford University.

In 1992, Mr. Young formed Elite Systems and sold computers out of his home and truck. In 1994, Elite Systems changed it's name to PC Laptops and opened its first store in Salt Lake City selling all types of desktop and portable computer systems.  PC Laptops is best known for its lifetime service guarantee and a lifetime warranty on every desktop computer they sell.

Mr. Young has now driven his company to nine locations in Utah and Nevada and three listings in the Utah 100, as well as consecutive listings among the fastest growing companies in America in Inc. Magazine. He frequently speaks at schools and colleges, and he enjoys teaching "the love" to aspiring entrepreneurs. Mr. Young says life is about giving back to the community and attributes much of his success to the education he received at SLCC.

You can see what Dan is up to at www.pclaptops.com

Paul Cardall is a three-time Billboard charting recording artist. Successful not only as a songwriter, composer, and performer, Mr. Cardall has been a successful business owner running his own independent record label Stone Angel Music for more than 15 years. As a teenager, Mr. Cardall discovered his gift of music.  After a friend’s tragic death, he found solace at the family piano.  Over the next several years, he spent hours writing songs, without much formal training.

Mr. Cardall also discovered he had a gift of working with people.  After serving a two-year mission for his church he attended Salt Lake Community College.  He was involved in student affairs, serving as the Fine Arts President and Public Relations Vice-President. While in college, Mr. Cardall took jobs playing the piano for tips in department stores and restaurants in Salt Lake City. Many listeners requested a CD of his music. In 1994 he recorded his first album titled “Sign of Affection.”  A copy made its way to best-selling author Richard Paul Evans, writer of The Christmas Box. In 1995, Evans invited Mr. Cardall to create a musical adaptation of his story. Consequently, Mr. Cardall was able to work with the author coordinating tours and other events surrounding the release of the CD and the book. The resulting album sold tens of thousands of copies its first year.

In 1999, Cardall became a full-time artist when he signed a multi-album deal with Narada, a division of Virgin Records America. After releasing two albums with Narada, Mr. Cardall left to start his own record label, Stone Angel Music.  Stone Angel Music distributes his music all over the world. Overall, Mr. Cardall has released twelve studio albums, including an album celebrating the inauguration of current SLCC President Dr. Cynthia A. Bioteau.

In addition to his own music career, Stone Angel Music has signed several successful recording artists, including cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, whose “Sacred Cello” album debuted on the Billboard Classical Charts.

Mr. Cardall said one of his most poignant professional moments was when the families of the victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing requested the use of his music during their nationally broadcasted memorial service.

Paul is married to Lynette Stewart Cardall and they are the parents of four-year old Eden.