Educating America's athletes: Salt Lake Community College waiving tuition for Olympic hopefuls

SALT LAKE CITY — Decorated American speedskater Mia Manganello is an Olympic medalist who is now in full training mode for what would be her third Winter Games early next year in Italy.

But even with high hopes for the next Olympics, the 36-year-old knows a life awaits beyond the speedskating oval. For even the most elite athletes, retirement is that eventual certainty.

"I was one of those athletes that devoted themselves to their sport from Day 1 — it was the only thing that mattered to me," Manganello told the Deseret News. "So I pushed school aside."

But like any savvy speedskater, Manganello knows when it's time to shift gears and catch up — and Utah's largest community college has become her academic catch-up "teammate."

Manganello is one of several Olympic hopefuls participating in Salt Lake Community College's Beyond the Podium program.

Because of its ongoing, global connection to Olympic sports, Utah is a hub for both competing and training. And like Manganello, many athletes making a home along Utah's Wasatch Front are anxious to pursue a college education even while they are training for spots on the medal podiums.

SLCC's Beyond the Podium program provides participants with free tuition and flexible schedules — allowing Olympics- and Paralympics-bound athletes such as Manganello opportunities to earn an associate degree or a certificate without interrupting their training and grueling global competition schedule.

The new SLCC program includes a pair of new partnerships with USA Climbing and U.S. Ski & Snowboard — and a relaunch of the school's partnership with U.S. Speedskating.

Besides the tuition waiver, the program's flexibility and online class opportunities are key for a globe-trotting athlete such as Manganello, who is studying business management.

"I don't have a ton of free time with training full time — eight-plus hours a day, six days a week.

"So, fortunately, I had the opportunity of enrolling at SLCC and can prioritize both of my current goals by having the financial stability and support from Salt Lake Community College — while also prioritizing my future and post-career."

SLCC: A second home for American Olympians

Beyond the tuition waiver, Beyond the Podium participants receive career counseling, nutrition guidance and high-performance testing to gather essential data to best optimize performance.

"We are honored to play a supportive role in the lives of these athletes as they strive for the ultimate goal: an Olympic medal and a chance to represent the United States on the world stage," said SLCC President Greg Peterson in a school release.

"Their dedication is inspiring, and we are proud to help them reach their Olympic dreams without having to sacrifice their educational and career aspirations."

SLCC has a long-established partnership with U.S. Speedskating, which is headquartered at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns.

Fourteen Olympians — including Erin Jackson, the first Black woman to win a Winter Olympic gold medal in an individual sport — have been the beneficiaries of SLCC's partnership with U.S. Speedskating.

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, SLCC was represented by 12 competing athletes and one faculty member, making it one of the largest collegiate delegations, matched only by the University of Minnesota, according to the school.

SLCC's collaboration with Utah's national governing bodies aligns with the Winter Olympic Games in Italy this upcoming February and the Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

"We are thrilled to bring Salt Lake Community College on as a new partner," said Sophie Goldschmidt, president of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, in the SLCC news release. "Our commitment is to support our athletes on and off the snow, in every facet of their life — and education is core to that mission.

"We're looking forward to working with SLCC and supporting our athletes in their career advancement."

With more than 19 athletes from the three Utah-based, national governing bodies — U.S. Ski & Snowboard, U.S. Speedskating, and USA Climbing — SLCC has one of the largest contingents of student-athletes training to compete in the Olympics nationwide.

"We anticipate more than a dozen will end up competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics," said Chris Needham, the new director of SLCC's Beyond the Podium program and a former U.S. Speedskating national team member.

"We envision a program that supports around 100 athletes in the lead-up to 2034."

The Beyond the Podium program, including Needham's new role, has been made possible through a gift from Utah philanthropists Jeff and Helen Cardon.

"We saw a critical need to help athletes navigate life after years of intense competition," said Helen Cardon in the SLCC release.

"For many, their identity is deeply tied to decades of training and performing, making the transition to new pursuits especially challenging — particularly from a mental health perspective."

Added Jeff Cardon: "This is an ongoing need, and we hope others will join us in supporting these athletes who dedicate their lives to representing America on the world stage."

Manganello believes SLCC's Beyond the Podium program signals Utah's ongoing commitment to nurturing Olympic hopefuls.

"Utah has always been a home for athletes, specifically winter athletes," she said.

"But with the Olympics coming in 2034, I think it has really driven the community here even more to prioritizing the athletes and helping them achieve all of their goals and aspirations."

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