ESPORTS CLUB

Neumont College isn’t your run-of-the-mill school with a football team, cheerleaders, and Friday night lights. We have an Esports team who prefers the glow of screens as they compete digitally while fans cheer them on from a chat stream. Neumont’s Esports Club is made up of dedicated competitors who participate in gaming tournaments, as well as other members from our student body who enjoy gaming socially. Club President, Joseph Rodriguez, shares with us how his club is more than just gaming in this installment of our ongoing club series.

Club President, Joseph Rodriguez

Joseph is a sophomore from San Diego, California. While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, he’s also a senator serving in our Unified Student Government, all while leading the Esports Club. Joseph has always had an inclination to work hard and revels in competing. In high school, he was a member of his school’s varsity wrestling team as well as captain of their Esports team, Xbox Rainbow Six Siege. Upon starting college, he wanted to start a new type of competitive team on campus, he said “I wanted to create a fun and thrilling Esports environment at Neumont,” which led to establishing Neumont’s Esports Club and competitive team.

Their mission statement is Esports Club gives students a place to socialize and test their communication skills, quick thinking abilities, intelligence, and hand-eye coordination. In addition, Joseph describes that his club teaches its members to work collectively and how it instills the value of determination when pursuing one’s goals.  

Team member’s personal gaming setup.

Roommates and teammates practicing in their dorm room.

With over 40 members, Esports Club is a great way to meet new friends in the Neumont community. In addition to casual gaming nights open to the student body at least once per week, members on the competitive team practice twice weekly and compete on Fridays and Saturdays.* This winter, the club has eight members slated to compete in the Rainbow Six Siege–team-based tactical shooting game–North American Qualifying Winter Tournament against other colleges. Looking forward to 2021, Joseph intends on taking a big leap and graduating his club to a school-sponsored team that would include official uniforms, gear, and additional funding as they continue competing in gaming tournaments.

If you are interested in joining the Esports Club or have additional questions about Neumont College clubs, email Chiara Lane in the Student Affairs Department.

*Amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic, all members participate in casual gaming nights, practices, and tournaments from their own home and not at in-person gatherings.

card game club

Earning your bachelor’s degree takes focus and dedication, but who says you can’t have a little fun along the way? College is not only a time for developing intellectually but exploring your own interests. Neumont is the right college to do that because our student culture is free of cliques and made up of techies, gamers, athletes, board game lovers, anime fans, and more. To showcase our eclectic culture, we’re highlighting each club individually to show there’s a club for everyone, because everyone here is just like you. Scary, right? Read on for our first installment in the club series featuring Neumont’s Card Game Club from Club President, Salem Najera.

Salem is a sophomore in the software & game development program and came to Neumont from Topeka, Kansas. With a lifelong interest in card games, he quickly became interested in the Card Game Club early on at Neumont. He was inspired to step into the role of club president after realizing a large portion of members would be graduating in the next class and wanted to do all he could to ensure the club went on. Salem also loves teaching newcomers and fellow members about card games–a key component to the role.

Card Game Club is open to anyone with an interest in card games. However, the game most frequently played is Magic: The Gathering (MTG)–a fantasy-based strategy card game. Club gatherings happen each Friday evening* where members join in The Commons on campus to play MTG, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokémon Trading Card Game, and more. Members are encouraged to introduce and teach a new card game during these sessions. In addition, there are multiple MTG tournaments throughout the year and all Neumont students are welcome to participate.

The Card Game Club’s mission statement is, Everyone should be able to enjoy their card game of choice without judgement and with encouragement and support. Salem wants people who are considering joining to know, “They can learn in a safe environment and continue to play for as long as they want.” 

With 50+ members, newcomers will have the opportunity to meet new friends and play their favorite card games amongst peers who have their same interests.

Looking to the future, Salem intends to host more MTG tournaments and will continue teaching his peers MTG and other card games. In 2021, Salem is also planning to host a Building Budget Commander Deck event. If you are interested in joining the Card Game Club or have questions about other clubs available at Neumont College, email Chiara Lane in the Student Affairs Department.

*The Card Game Club only play in person when permitted by the Utah State Health Department’s guidelines for social gatherings amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

CHRIS CANTERA BSCS CHAIR

Chris Cantera–Neumont College’s recently appointed computer science degree chair–is new to the position, but not computer science. His successful career has spanned over thirty years in tech and we’re grateful to have his expertise, and years of experience to the Neumont classroom.

His interest in technology began in high school during the early 1980s where he not only learned how to code, but found his passion for it. This interest carried on through college and after graduating from Brigham Young University, a Utah-based university, he realized there was an immense opportunity for growth in the state’s impending tech scene. He decided to reside in Utah and over the course of the next three decades, Chris took on roles as a technical account manager, software engineer, and for the last twenty years, a director of software engineering.

Throughout his career, Chris has hired a number of Neumont graduates via the Neumont Enterprise Partner program, in which Neumont students complete tech projects for local and national companies. It was through Enterprise Projects that Chris discovered our tech-centered college, prompting him to make a career change into academics because he had long enjoyed working alongside our students.

“I chose Neumont based on what I observed –the quality and intelligence of the students, the expertise of the faculty, and the laser-focus the college has on producing outstanding, industry-ready graduates.”

After joining Neumont as an adjunct professor, Chris found a new love in higher education and made the full-time transition permanent in 2020. When asked about what type of student would excel in the broad-based computer science program, he said those who have an interest in software development, mobile development, distributed systems, databases, or modern programming paradigms would be the ideal fit. He went on to recommend to those with an interest in tech, “begin to explore those technologies which are most interesting and compelling for you.”

Looking forward, Chris believes the future is bright for those working in the technology industry—especially after obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Neumont College. We’re grateful to have Chris’ expertise and leadership as he prepares the next generation of tech heroes on our campus.

CATCHING UP WITH DANIEL NOSTROM

Neumont General Education Instructor, Jeremiah Harrison, virtually sat down with recent graduate, Daniel Nostrom, to discuss his time with the college and passion for computer science.

As a high school student in Douglasville, Georgia, Daniel Nostrom had a like for computers that quickly became a love. After finding support in his school’s computer science teacher, Daniel became engrossed in computers. His first technology course was Intro to Programming in which he discovered he had a knack for coding, and he began learning Java. He soon realized that he wanted to pursue a career in computer science. During his senior year of high school, Daniel was sent a postcard in the mail from a small college across the country, Neumont College of Computer Science. Daniel immediately connected with Neumont and said, “It was the first place I wanted to go, and it was the only place that I applied to.”

Daniel initially planned on pursuing a degree in Software and Game Development. However, after taking the Networking 1 course with instructor Benjamin Fletcher–now Neumont’s Vice President of Business Operations–his views shifted.

“Networking 1 with Professor Fletcher changed my whole career and outlook on computer science, and I’ve been with the information degree path since then. I realized I loved it and I stuck with it.”

Daniel Nostrom

Fast forward to the summer of 2020 and Daniel is a proud Neumont College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems. He’s currently working remotely for Axxess Technology in Dallas, Texas, as an IT Engineer 1, a company he originally interned with during Neumont’s Enterprise Project program. Daniel’s looking forward to his career with Axxess and plans to make the permanent move to Dallas soon.  

PARTNERING WITH INTEL

Enterprise Projects are partnerships with local, regional, and national companies in which Neumont students execute day-to-day development and deliverables on a project of the partner’s choosing–as if they are company employees. This opportunity provides students with real-world experience in industry long before graduation. The student teams are managed by both a Neumont representative–Director of Career Services Britta Nelson, or Career Services Manager Amy Whittaker–and a representative from the partner company to ensure all expectations are met. Recently, Neumont College was thrilled to partner with Intel Corporation, global technology company based in Silicon Valley, for an Enterprise Project centered around technology readiness.

Intel inquired about a partnership in search of students to work on their oneAPI Toolkits–an initiative to bring a unified program to industry that cultivates a common developer experience across many different accelerator architectures. Neumont students, Savannah Krause, Elijah Shauermann, Jesse Leal, and Kaedian Maxfield were assigned to Intel’s team based on their experience and abilities. Each student was then allocated tasks pertaining to different applications related to their skillset and interests. Individually, they were responsible for analyzing the code base toward migration to oneAPI DPC++ language. Right off the bat, Intel’s representative had encouraging words stating, “I am very pleased with everyone. I think we are off to a good start and beating expectations.”  

Savannah Krause

Most of the technology being utilized wasn’t familiar to Neumont students, requiring them to adapt quickly and analyze new code they didn’t have previous experience with. Savannah Krause, software and game development major and Capstone Project Invitational Alumni Choice winner, described the project as challenging. Krause said, “Almost everything we are touching is new. Whether it be the language, the workflow, licensing, or anything else, every application has presented a new challenge and we must adapt quickly to get things done. We have to dig really deep into some massive code bases and be able to pick it apart for functionality and architecture.”

In the ten-week partnership period, the students utilized Python, Fortran, and C++ to analyze migration readiness of multiple third-party applications into DPC++. Enterprise Projects often span over multiple quarters and this was only the beginning of our partnership with Intel.

OUTFITTING OUR CLASSROOMS

Benjamin Fletcher, VP Business Operations

As the world is rapidly changing around us in the age of a pandemic, it’s our responsibility as a college to adapt on behalf of our students. Being a tech school, Neumont is better equipped than other institutions to quickly transition into an uncharted world of virtual classrooms, new teaching styles, and preparing for long-term unexpected difficulties in education. To best inform our community on how we’re currently combating these challenges, we spoke to the Vice President of Business Operations at Neumont, Benjamin Fletcher. He oversees all classroom advancements and describes Neumont’s current position as we continue teaching amidst a global pandemic.

In the middle of our Spring Quarter, Neumont College shifted to virtual teaching in the best interest of our students’ and community’s health. While this was an unforeseen and swift change, Neumont’s transition to teaching solely from virtual classroom wasn’t as challenging as you’d expect. Our institution has been utilizing the popular meeting tool, Zoom, for the past two years–meaning our faculty and students were already experienced with the platform. Fletcher implemented the usage of Zoom after attending the annual EDUCAUSE conference in 2018, making our classrooms fully wireless. In addition, Neumont students were outfitted with laptops featuring state-of-the-art webcams, resulting in a prepared student body readily able to succeed while learning a virtual curriculum. In addition to classes, students are able to attend virtual meetings with their instructors via Zoom, giving them access to faculty outside of the classroom during their office hours. We’re proud to say that from day one of the transition to an online format, classes and business carried on as usual.

In preparation for the upcoming quarter and the hybrid teaching format, Neumont’s IT department installed a 4K camera in every classroom and outfitted the teachers with lapel mics. These enhancements allow each class to be streamed in real-time and recorded so students can review the lesson as needed. Fletcher pointed out there was no need for third-party support because our IT department is made up in part with our own well-trained alums. “We expect a seamless transition back to Fall Quarter,” said Fletcher. 

Looking to the future, Benjamin Fletcher isn’t too worried about Neumont’s virtual teaching capabilities if we have to make that transition again. Fletcher describes Neumont’s wireless structure as, “The densest wireless network west of the Mississippi.” While we can’t predict impending hurdles, we’re confident Neumont College is capable of successfully teaching the next generation of tech professionals, despite the pandemic and ever-changing field of computer science.  

NEUBIE PACKING LIST

Move-in Day 2019

The air is cooler, summer has come to an end, and you’re about to flip the page onto a new chapter. Fall Quarter will soon be in session and you’ve most likely got a hefty to-do list that needs to be completed ASAP. If you’re struggling to figure out what to pack for your freshman year, let us help lighten the load by outlining our recommended packing list. Before you start this big task, refer our tips below as well as this detailed packing checklist on our website.

Clothing for each season

In Salt Lake City, we experience all four seasons, meaning you’ll need everything from shorts to scarves. Make sure to bring a heavy coat, gloves and your Neumont beanie you received in your Supply Drop for the upcoming winter weather.

Bedroom bedding

Your room comes equipped with the necessary furniture, but you’ll need to bring your own bedding, blankets, and pillows for a standard, twin-size bed. Move over childhood bedroom, and hello cool college dorm room.

Bathroom essentials

This task has two components—shower accessories and personal toiletries. Bring your own towels but coordinate with your housemates on a shower curtain and rug if you choose. As far as personal items, consider drawer dividers to organize your toothbrush, toothpaste, brushes, etc. and then a shower caddy for your shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

School materials

While Neumont is providing your laptop, it’s recommended you still have pens, notebooks, and index cards. Many students often opt to bring additional monitors as well for a bigger visual to optimize your study sessions. Plus, gaming on bigger monitors is always a bonus.

Laundry necessities

You’ll need more than just detergent. To keep your towels and bedding extra soft, pack fabric softener as well. If this will be your first experience doing your own laundry, make sure you’re comfortable with the process before you come to school.

Tech devices

Move-in Day 2019

We’re a tech school so we know you’ll have plenty of devices in tow. First, consult with your roommates to see what shared electronics you can share in a common area like a television or gaming consoles. Then you’ll have a better idea of what personal tech you’ll still need to pack like chargers, printers, etc.

Basic kitchen supplies

This is a shared space, so initially we recommend you consult your housemates to organize who will bring what. Collectively, your kitchen will need silverware, plates, cleaning materials, dishtowels, etc. Wait to go food shopping until you’re moved in to prevent your items going to waste.

Health/safety requirements

You’ll need face masks on campus, in the common areas of your student housing complex, and when visiting Salt Lake businesses. Be sure to bring an adequate supply of washable and/or disposable face masks. In addition, it’s a good idea to also carry anti-bacterial sanitizer with you. The use of both a mask and sanitizer (as well as social distancing) will help keep you and our Neumont community safe.  

Miscellaneous items

Additional items to consider are recreational equipment like a bike or skateboard for exploring both downtown and the great outdoors that are in close proximity to campus. Also, don’t forget personal documents like your photo ID, and a copy of your health insurance card.

Move-in Day 2019

Once you get settled into your new space, it’s common to forget one or two things. Luckily, our campus is in the middle of downtown Salt Lake City near grocery stores, electronic shops, drugstores, and what you can’t purchase in person, you can have delivered to your apartment. If you have any questions about what to bring with you to Neumont, reach out to your Admissions Officer. We’ll see you soon and can’t wait to greet you on campus!

Tom Beatty BSWD Chair

Tom Beatty

Tom Beatty–tech connoisseur and web design enthusiast–is Neumont College’s degree chair for the Web Design and Development program. After joining Neumont’s faculty in 2013, his potential was evident, and he was quickly promoted to degree chair one short year later.

As a child, Tom describes himself as being a computer geek long before it was cool. He began coding at just 12 years old and knew then that his career would include computers in some capacity. In college he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer art from Savannah College of Art and Design. Looking back, Tom recalls not making a conscious decision to pursue tech, but rather computer science chose him.

After graduation, Tom launched into a successful career where he taught at his alma mater, Savanna College of Art and Design, for a few years before launching his own company. This shift included owning and operating a web design and development company for over 16 years, specializing in creating websites, internet games, animation, digital video, and online training courses. His résumé also includes work with well-known clients including Frito-Lay, CEC Entertainment (Chuck E. Cheese), Boy Scouts of America, Tribune, B.U.M. Equipment, and Paws, Inc. (owners of Garfield the Cat).

When asked what drew him to the web design facet of tech, he attributed his allure in two trains of thought. “First was the fact that I have a lot of hobbies and interests. I really love and am passionate about art, coding, user experience, digital video, interface design, and game development. The web allows me to bring all those passions together. The other great attraction to web is that I can create something, put it online, and immediately, someone on the other half of the globe can see it and experience it. That’s so amazing to me, even though I’ve been doing it for decades,” said Tom.

Tom credits his transition into teaching full-time to his long and successful career in industry. Bringing his life experience into the classroom enhanced his ability to better guide and prepare his students for the same industry he spent years in. After seven years an instructor, Tom is still enjoying his career change, “I love coding and design because I get to create things, but now I get to help create designers and developers that have limitless potential.”

Just as web technologies are constantly evolving, so is our BSWD program. In the last year, Tom spearheaded two new courses–Projects in Full-Stack Development I and II–where students learn more about testing their code and creating server-less web applications in the cloud. Next year, Neumont is debuting a new Projects in Web Security course in which web design students will work alongside information system students to create secure web content on secure servers. It’s clear that the future is bright for the Web Design and Development program with Tom at the helm.

Corey Burk BSIS chair

Corey Burk

In the summer of 2020, Neumont announced the new Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Chair, Corey Burk. Corey came to Neumont with a lifelong passion for tech and three decades of industry experience. We’re thrilled for the exciting challenge he’s taken on and bright future for our Information Systems program.

Corey enjoyed working and playing with computers as a kid. “I have always been intrigued by big, expensive, powerful servers. I remember seeing a DEC minicomputer for the first time (which was larger than a pickup truck) and thought they were pretty cool,” said Corey. In his teen years, he preferred working on his Commodore 64 instead of playing on the Atari 2600. In college, rather than following his expected path of accounting, he decided to pursue his passion for tech and earned a degree in Business Information Systems.

Once Corey obtained his degree, he proceeded to fill roles as a consultant to IT operations engineers, cloud series engineer, vice president of managed services, data center manager, systems integrator, IT manager, and international systems engineer. Not to mention tackling the challenge of consulting for Federal Government agencies where he built and maintained two 911-type centers supporting over 2,000 federal law enforcement agents. His résumé emanates his passion for technology which he translates to his students

As his career continued through the decades, and many late nights resolving IT issues, he came to the conclusion he was ready to transition into teaching. “I thought, how great would it be to help the next generation of IT admins do it better than I ever could,” said Corey.

Today, Corey is guiding Neumont students through the constantly evolving field of information systems. When asked about the direction he sees the program going, he said it’s an interactive degree that will introduce students to multiple computing environments and how to administer and maintain them. They’ll personally work directly with Windows Servers, Linux Servers, AWS Cloud Services, Vmware Virtual Systems, and the networks that connect them all together. He went on to explain that the BSIS degree is perfect for anyone who loves electronics and has a need to figure out how things work. Students in this program will gain experience through hands-on activities that will help them become a great administrator, architect, or engineer.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in information systems, Corey Burk is here to not only support, but inspire you. “Let your fascination with technology be a wonderful foundation for a great career that will in-turn feed your fascination with technology. Never stop learning and trying to figure out how things work. Always look for ways that you can improve on a design or use a piece of technology in a new way.”

We’re looking forward to seeing him succeed in this new role and his positive impact around campus! To hear from Corey personally, check out the video below were he talks about our on-campus servers.

TOP 10 SLC EATS

When heading off to college, you’re met with a plethora of opportunities including new cityscapes, a campus to explore, friends to make, and our favorite–food options to try. While we’re all grateful for home-cooked meals, your college years are your chance to further develop your pallet and find some new, local favorites. Being in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, Neumont is in close proximity to about every cuisine you could want–especially quick and cost-efficient spots for the average college student always on the go. Here’s Neumont’s guide to the best SLC eats in no particular order:

1. TOASTERS

toastersdeli.com

With a location downtown and close to campus, you’ll never go wrong by choosing Toasters. Their paninis, salads, soups, or in our opinion, awesome wraps are only five minutes from our campus. We highly recommend stopping here in the mornings as well before class to grab a bagel sandwich. You’ll thank us later.

Toasters, 215 S. State St. SLC

2. RICH’S BURGERS ‘N’ GRUB

richsburgersngrub.com

Sometimes you just need a burger, am I right? At Rich’s Burgers ‘N Grub, they offer not a few, but twenty-two burger options. No matter your fav burger, Rich’s is guaranteed to have it. Plus, they have side dish, griddled house mac-n-cheese with Chipotle mayo that is worth attending Neumont College in itself. You can walk to this heavenly spot for lunch in only five minutes from campus.

Rich’s Burgers ‘N ‘Grub, 30 E. Broadway SLC

3. PRETTY BIRD

instagram.com/prettybirdchicken

This local hotspot arguably has the best fried chicken sandwich in town. Located just east of campus and a fifteen-second walk away, students can have their hands on a sandwich and fries between classes–pickles optional. It’s worth noting the chef/owner, Viet Pham, is a Food Network famous chef and beat Iron Chef Bobby Flay–twice!

Pretty Bird, 146 S. Regent S. SLC

4. CITY CREEK FOOD COURT

shopcitycreekcenter.com/dining

If you’re the indecisive type, then heading to the local City Creek Mall’s food court is always a safe bet. In a short five-minute walk, you’ll arrive at lunch heaven with favorites like McDonald’s, Chik-Fil-A, Subway, Costa Vida, Jimmy John’s, Sbarro, and more. Whether you’re feeling a salad or a burger, you’ll find your heart’s desire here. We definitely recommend comparing the Pretty Bird chicken sandwich to that of Chik-Fil-A’s so you’re prepared to debate this popular topic. 

City Creek Food Court, 50 S. Main St. SLC

5. J. DAWGS

instagram.com/jdawgs

We know we’ve shared quite a few sandwich options up until now, so this time we’re throwing a gourmet hot dog your way. Yes, gourmet and hot dog are used in the same sentence. If you’ve attended FReX at Neumont, then you’ve experienced a local restaurant close to our hearts–and campus–J. Dawgs. Go with a classic beef dawg or if you’re feeling bold, a loaded polish dawg. We promise, you can’t go wrong. 

J. Dawgs, 341 S. Main St. SLC

6. Robin’s Nest

robinsnestslc.com

When you’re in the mood for an average-joe sandwich, but with more than average flavor, head a couple blocks south to Robin’s Nest. This is a great spot for a sunny day when you have the time for a ten-minute walk over and then enjoy your meal outside at the close-by park, the Gallivan Center. This is a favorite of both Neumont students and employees. Bonus: they offer gluten-free and vegan options.

Robin’s Nest, 311 S. Main St. SLC

7. HARMONS

harmonsgrocery.com

Kill two birds with one stone by grabbing groceries along with lunch at local grocery store, Harmons. A brisk five-minute walk from Neumont, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with all of your dining options here. Head to the salad bar, deli, choose sushi made in-house daily, soup bar, or Asian-style buffet. See–told you there were plenty of options. Don’t forget a gelato or coffee as well, served on the top level of the store.

Harmons, 135 E. 100 S. SLC

8. MAIZE

instagram.com/maizetacosut

Get your taste of authentic Mexican food with Maize’s handmade corn tortillas. This popular spot is just east of campus and about a twenty-second walk from our back doors. If you’re up for it, you have to try the Super Nachos that truly are super.  

Maize, 135 S. Regent St. SLC

9. DP CHESSESTEAKS

instagram.com/dpcheesesteaks

Whoever said you have to go all the way to Philly for an amazing cheesesteak sandwich has never been to DP Cheesesteaks. This is a great option for when the everyday sandwich is overplayed, yet you’re still looking for carbs. Take a five-minute walk over to DP Cheesesteaks for cheesy goodness loaded up with onions, peppers, mushrooms, and garlic.

DP Cheesesteaks, 268 S. State St. 160 SLC

10. FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS

facebook.com/FoodTruckThursdays

Thursday is an exciting day at Neumont because it’s Food Truck Thursday downtown! At the Gallivan Center, a few minutes from campus, a dozen local food trucks gather for the best lunch hour of the week. You’ve got crepes, sliders, sushi, ramen, and traditional Hawaiian to name a few. It may take many Thursdays to try every option, but it’s definitely worth the commitment.

Food Truck Thursdays, 49 Gallivan Avenue SLC

Feeling hungry yet? Us too. When you attend Neumont, there’s no need to live off of Top Ramen and PB&J’s with dozens of dining options in close proximity to campus. Set yourself up for success by eating a proper breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You won’t be solving the world’s tech problems if you’re only focused on a growling stomach.

History of Our Campus

While Neumont College of Computer Science has been around since 2003, our downtown campus has an extensive past. Our building which currently houses our bustling students, staff and faculty had a very different beginning starting in the 19th century.

Beginning in 1860, the building was the location of The Salt Lake House, which served as a home station for weary Pony Express riders. Famous author, Mark Twain, even stayed at the Salt Lake House for a brief time during his travels. In 1924, Ezra Thompson, local entrepreneur and former mayor of Salt Lake City, spearheaded construction of the twelve-floor building you see today that went on to be listed with the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

Ezra self-titled his work, the Ezra Thompson Building. In 1937, the building was purchased by a local newspaper, the Salt Lake Tribune. The building was home to some of the most advanced technology in the region at that time. Utah’s largest daily newspaper operated out of this building until 2005.

We were thrilled to relocate our computer science college to this campus in 2012. Neumont’s custom renovation took place in 2012-2013 and preserved much of the original design. Our new doors opened in 2013 as we welcomed students to Neumont’s new location. We’re proud to still be a source of education and innovation here at 143 South Main Street.

Recently in early 2020, we welcomed a new neighbor at our front entrance. An eight-foot, bronze statue of beloved Salt Lake City property developer, Vasilios Priskos, debuted in its new home standing tall outside of our front windows. Priskos was a key player in ensuring historical preservation downtown and was one of the developers who helped transition the building for other opportunities following the Tribune’s exit in 2005.

Today, we couldn’t be happier with our campus in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. Just like our building has changed, so have our surroundings. Next door, the George S. and Dolores Eccles Theater went up in 2016 and hosts Broadway tours, concerts, and an array of other entertaining events. We look forward to welcoming changes in our growing city and continuing teaching at our historic downtown campus.

The Salt Lake House in about 1860.

Main Street in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1939.

The Salt Lake Tribune marquee on the Ezra Thompson Building.

Neumont College in 2020.

Neumont College in 2020.

Neumont College front entrance in 2020.

Vasilios Priskos statue in 2020.

Full Vasilios Priskos statue in 2020.

Vasilios Priskos point of view at Neumont College in 2020.

Eccles Theater next door to Neumont College in 2020.

NEUMONT ALUM VOLUNTEERS WITH SHETECH

Being in the field of technology comes with more than just cool gadgets and tech know-how; you have an entire tech community to be a part of. Neumont alum, Brett Kotter, learned this as a volunteer mentor with SheTech, the largest industry-led STEM program to engage high school girls to follow STEM college degree paths.

Brett graduated from Neumont with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science 11 years ago. Today, he is a Software Engineering Manager with Vivint Smart Home, a Utah-based and founded company that provides home monitoring systems. In the last two years, he’s been involved with SheTech, as a mentor. Most recently, his work included mentoring a team of six girls from Utah in a virtual event in which they had to navigate a course with a Sphero robot.

“My team blew me out of the water with their creativity! They brought good ideas to the table and fought for the ideas they believed in. I was proud of what we did and that I could mentor them!”

On Brett’s current team at Vivint Smart Home, only two members are women– “Statistics like these must change and SheTech encourages that change,” said Kotter. He went on to explain that the growing Utah tech hub, Silicon Slopes, won’t succeed long-term unless more women are encouraged to pursue roles in technology.

“Programs like SheTech encourage young women at a pivotal time to pursue a career in tech. I pled with each of the girls that I mentored to start, or continue, taking STEM courses and pursue a career in technology.”

Looking forward, Brett says SheTech gives him hope that the future team he manages will be more diverse, resulting in better ideas, products, and services to customers. He’s going to continue combating the stigma that only men are interested in technology and breaking down any barriers preventing women from pursuing careers in tech.

Neumont College of Computer Science echoes these sentiments and encourages women to follow a career path in technology. We’re proud to be a SheTech partner and look forward to inspiring young women and sharing their message with our community of fellow tech companies.

SOCIAL DISTANCING, NEUMONT STYLE

The realities of social distancing have set in, and we are staying indoors and hunkering down. Although our classes have all gone virtual, there’s still a lot of downtime you’ll need to plan for. So, when you’re bored out of your mind, here are Neumont’s top ten recommendations for passing time:

1. Try a new video game. Yeah Super Smash Bros. is fun and all, but you’ve logged plenty of hours playing it and we recommend branching out. Even better, try another multiplayer game so you can continue to virtually interact with others.

2. Head to our social pages. Social media is a great way to stay connected with your community and friends. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram for weekly contests and giveaways.

3. Put on a flick. In times like this, it’s best turning to the Marvel and DC worlds. Or watch both the Star Wars and Star Trek series, then decide which is truly the best (Star Wars cough cough).

4. Learn something new. You can find tutorials on just about anything on YouTube, so take the time to learn the inner-workings of a computer, get tips on beating your favorite video game, or start a new coding language.  

5. Turn on some tunes. Find some new rhythms for your day at home by making new playlists, sharing music with loved ones, and finding new artists. You can only play your favorite song so many times, so do yourself a favor by gracing your days with new jams.  

6. Deep cleaning your space. Stop the spread of germs by diving deep to clean every crevice of your tech gear. We know this doesn’t sound fun, but we guarantee your boredom will soon get the best of you and this will look like an appealing activity. Put on some of your new tunes (as recommended above), and scrub away.

7. Get to know other Neumont peeps. If you’re an accepted student for the 2020-2021 year, then we’ve got a Discord server you need to join. This is a great way to make new friends, all from the comfort of your couch.

8. Virtually call friends and family. We’re lucky to be isolated in a time with a ton of accessible tech. Use Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, Google Hangouts, or Marco Polo to video chat with your peeps. This is a great way to stay connected without being together.

9. Read, read, read. Diving into a book is an extremely distracting activity. Maybe it’s time you re-read or start Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, or the Game of Thrones series–all three will keep you occupied for quite some time.

10. Play with your furry friends. While you’re stuck home, this is their dream come true. Spend some quality time with your pets playing fetch, teaching them new tricks, and endless snuggles.

Although this unprecedented time doesn’t have an end date, it doesn’t mean you can’t make the best of this situation. You can still branch out while staying at home and we encourage you to try our recommendations. Let us know in the comments which activities worked for you or if you have any isolation advice for us!