PAUL CARDALL

Paul Cardall was granted a full-ride leadership scholarship to Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) while serving as the Student Body Historian at Olympus High School in 1991. During his time at SLCC, he actively participated in various roles, including the student activities committee, freshman leadership activity, Student Body Public Relations VP, and assistant to the VP of college recruitment, ultimately graduating with an Associates Degree.

In 2009, amidst severe heart failure and on the organ transplant waiting list, SLCC honored Paul with the Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of his dedicated years of service as a student. Following a miraculous heart transplant, SLCC, in collaboration with the Utah State Board of Education, bestowed upon him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his outstanding community service.

During a critical period when Paul faced uncertainty about his survival, the Utah community rallied behind him. In an interview with the SLCC Globe, he emphasized the importance of utilizing time, even while on an organ transplant waiting list, to pursue education. He remarked, "Even if you're on an organ transplant waiting list and not sure if you'll live or die, use your time to get an education. We take our knowledge with us."

Grateful for the support he received, Paul sought to give back to the community. In 2010, he organized a sold-out concert at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, featuring a silent auction. The event generated proceeds that were used to establish an Endowment. Since then, SLCC annually awards a scholarship to assist students affected by congenital heart disease, spina bifida, Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, fetal alcohol syndrome, or other birth defects, or those who have undergone an organ transplant. Paul explained, “Because of medical bills, not everyone with congenital heart disease can afford college. This is why our family established the scholarship at Salt Lake Community College for those affected by Congenital Heart Disease or CHD.”