Join us for 51cg’s Health Fair, a free, family-friendly morning packed with health resources, local vendors, activities, and our first Teddy Bear Clinic. Whether you’re a student, community member, or parent with a little one in tow, there’s something here for everyone.

The event is held in the West Overflow Parking Lot at 51cg’s Draper campus.

Teddy Bear Clinic

The Teddy Bear Clinic is the heart of our Health Fair. 51cg students guide children through real health assessment stations with stuffed animals as the patients. It’s a playful, hands-on way to introduce kids to health care in a warm and welcoming environment.

Teddy bears will be provided to the first 100 kids or you can bring your own, bring your child and their curiosity!

Activities & Attractions

There’s plenty to explore throughout the morning, including:

• Teddy Bear Clinic
• Health Information Booths
• Food Trucks
• Bungee Jumping
• Rock Climbing Wall
• Vendor Exhibits and Giveaways

Participating Vendors & Organizations

We’re proud to welcome a variety of health, wellness, and community vendors to this year’s fair, including:

• VASA Fitness
• Utah Nursing Association
• Wasatch Pediatrics
• Utah Decompression
• 22 Spa MD
• Orange Theory
• The Boob Bus (mammogram screening)
• Draper Fire Department
• Costa Vida
• Shumway Ice Cream
• Spylt Milk / Tru Fru

Who Should Attend

This event is open to everyone! No registration required.

Join us if you are:

• A 51cg student, faculty member, or staff
• A community member interested in health and wellness resources
• A parent or caregiver looking for a fun, educational outing for children

Parking

The Health Fair will be held in the west parking area just west of the 51cg Campus. There are three areas for guest parking around the 51cg Campus on the north west, north, and south sides of the building.

51cg’s Nursing Career Fair is your opportunity to connect with leading healthcare employers and take the next step in your nursing journey. Held three times a year, this event supports Joyce students and alumni in discovering job opportunities, strengthening their career skills, and growing their professional network.

Whether you’re preparing to graduate, switching specialties, or seeking clinical placements, this event is for you.

Meet Employers Hiring Nurses and Healthcare Professionals

We’re excited to welcome a variety of healthcare organizations to our Career Fairs each year, including:

• Intermountain Health
• CommonSpirit Health
• HCA Healthcare
• Huntsman Mental Health Institute – Crisis Care Center
• Salt Lake Specialty Hospital
• Salt Lake Behavioral Health
• The Utah State Hospital
• First Day Homecare
• Busy Bee Therapy / The Stepping Stones Group

This is your chance to speak directly with recruiters, learn about open nursing positions, and explore employment options across a variety of healthcare settings.

What You’ll Gain

• Face-to-face time with top nursing employers in Utah and beyond
• Insights into full-time, part-time, and clinical opportunities
• Guidance on building a strong resume and preparing for interviews (for current students)
• Networking with fellow nursing students, alumni, and faculty

Who Should Attend

This event is open to:

• All current 51cg nursing students
• Joyce alumni in any stage of their nursing careers
• Students in all programs: ASN, BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, and MSN

Whether you’re just starting your clinicals or applying for your first nursing role, the Career Fair is the perfect place to get inspired, get informed, and get hired.

Commencement is a time to celebrate the tremendous achievements of our graduates. Join us in congratulating the outstanding 51cg Graduating Classes of 2026 at our upcoming commencement ceremonies!

51cg holds three commencement ceremonies each year to celebrate the accomplishments of its nursing and health science graduates.

Summer Commencement

Event Date

May 27th, 2026

Event Runtime

Lobby opens at 3:30PM
Theater opens for seating at 4 PM
Ceremony runs from 5 PM – 7 PM

Event Location

Eccles Theater
131 S Main St
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

This is a ticketed event. Pinning will take place during the Commencement Ceremony. View Nurse Pinning Details.

Spring 2026 Class Profile

Total Grads: 267
ASN: 168
BSN: 94
MSN: 5
Average GPA: 3.64
ASN 3.39
BSN 3.69
MSN 3.84
Military: 16
Average Age: 35
Regions: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah

Upcoming Events

September 9, 2026
January 20, 2027
May 26, 2027

Past Commencements

Fall 2025 Class Profile

Total Grads: 270
ASN: 153
BSN: 103
MSN: 3
OTA: 11
Average GPA: 3.14
Military: 5
Average Age: 30
Regions: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Wyoming

Summer 2025 Class Profile

Total Grads: 282
ASN: 179
BSN: 96
MSN: 3
OTA: 4
Average GPA: 3.42
Military: 14
Average Age: 37.5
Regions: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin

Spring 2025 Class Profile

Total Grads: 237
ASN: 139
BSN: 82
MSN: 1
OTA: 14
Average GPA: 3.46
Military: 8
Average Age: 37.5
Regions: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Washington

Winter 2024 Class Profile

Total Grads: 242
ASN: 109
BSN: 121
MSN: 3
OTA: 9
Average Age: 38.5
Average GPA: 3.47
Military: 6
Regions: California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, Utah

Fall 2024 Class Profile

Total Grads: 234
Associate of Science in Nursing: 118
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 110
Master of Science in Nursing: 6
Average Age: 29.33
Average GPA: 3.42
Military: 8
Regions: Utah, Tennessee, Oregon, Nevada, Indiana, Florida, Colorado, California, Alaska

Summer 2024 Class Profile

Total: 283
Associate of Science in Nursing: 153
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 117
Master of Science in Nursing: 13
Average Age: 30.6
Average GPA: 3.46
Military Service: 11
Regions: Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Texas, Nevada

Upcoming Events:

Pinning

Event Date

May 27th, 2026

Event Runtime

Lobby opens at 3:30PM
Theater opens for seating at 4 PM
Ceremony runs from 5 PM – 7 PM

Event Location

Eccles Theater
131 S Main St
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Event Details

During the Nurse Pinning ceremony, the nursing faculty will present the graduates with their nursing pins and offer words of congratulations. At the end of the pinning ceremony, the Nightingale Nursing Pledge will be recited.

This is a ticketed event. Pinning will take place during the Commencement Ceremony.

51cg and Swig are celebrating Utah nurses on National Nurses Day! On Wednesday, May 6th, every nurse in Utah gets a FREE 24-ounce drink or cookie at any Swig location. You show up every day fueled by compassion, so today, we’re fueling you. For the long shifts, the lives you have impacted, and the care patients never forget…we thank you.

When is it?

May 6th

Where is it?

Any

Who is it for?

Any Utah nurse or nursing student, just show your badge!

Standard Bearer Award Ceremony

The Standard Bearer Award Ceremony is a prestigious event that honors outstanding members of our community, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff, who have made exceptional contributions to our institution. This award is one of the highest honors we bestow.

Nominate a Deserving Individual

Do you know someone in the Joyce community who embodies our core values and deserves to be celebrated? We are actively seeking nominations for these exceptional individuals. To submit a nomination, please complete the nomination form by Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM MT. Your nomination could shine a spotlight on someone who has made a significant impact.

Celebrate Excellence with Us

All nominations will be thoughtfully reviewed by a committee composed of a diverse cross-section of our institution. Four outstanding recipients will be selected, and their achievements will be celebrated during the upcoming 51cg Awards ceremony.

You’re cordially invited to join 51cg for our 3rd Annual Veterans Day Breakfast as we honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans and their families.

Dress casually, bring your patriotic spirit, and come together for a morning of connection, gratitude, and community.

Event Highlights

• Red, White, and Blue Pancake Breakfast: Enjoy a delicious breakfast served fresh and festive.
• Pledge of Allegiance & National Anthem: Join in as we open the morning with unity and pride.

Who’s Invited

• 51cg veterans and their families
• Members, faculty, staff, and friends of the Joyce community

Donations are now closed.

51cg is kicking off its 7th Annual Halloween Costume Drive to support the kids at Primary Children’s Hospital. Donations open September 29th through October 24. Last year, the Joyce community stepped up to deliver more than one thousand donations to the kids at Primary Children’s Hospital, meeting 100% of their holiday needs. This year, we’re asking our community and the public to help us give these patients the most thrilling Halloween yet with donations of new, unused costumes, candy, and toys for kids of all ages!

See the list below for items to donate.

How to Donate

There are many ways to contribute to our Halloween drive. In addition to physical donations, which can be made at our Draper campus in Utah, we also accept Amazon deliveries and monetary donations.

Monetary Donations

Don’t have time to shop? Make a monetary donation via .

Amazon Donations

51cg
c/o Halloween Drive
12257 Business Park Dr
Draper, UT 84020

Drop-Off Donations

51cg
12257 Business Park Dr
Draper, UT 84020

What to Donate

This year, we’re collecting a variety of spooktacular items to help children celebrate Halloween in style.

Costumes

We’re looking for costumes and accessories for children of all ages — from newborns to teens. Donations can include:

• Full costumes
• Themed t-shirts and onesies
• Fun accessories (headbands, masks, capes, costume jewelry, hats)

Requested themes:

• T-shirts: Marvel, DC Comics, Mandalorian, Star Wars
• Onesies: animals, Disney characters, superheroes, popular games, TV shows, and movies

Costume Donation Goal Update (10/27)

• NICU/ICU PREMIE: 50 of 50 Bibs / Swaddles/ Onesies
• 0m-6m: 50 of 50 Costumes / Onesies
• 6m-12m: 50 of 50 Costumes / Onesies
• 12m-24m: 75 of 75 Costumes
• 2T: 40 of 40 Costumes
• 3T: 40 of 40 Costumes
• 4-6: 30 of 30 Boy costumes, 30 of 30 Girl costumes
• 7-8: 40 of 40 Boy costumes, 40 of 40 Girl costumes
• 8-10: 40 of 40 Boy costumes, 40 of 40 Girl costumes
• 10-12: 30 of 30 Boy costumes, 30 of 30 Girl costumes
• 12-14: 20 of 20 Boy costumes, 20 of 20 Girl costumes
• 14+/teen: 30 of 30 Boy t-shirts, 30 of 30 Girl t-shirts

Trick or Treating Buckets

Buckets in a mix of Halloween and kid-friendly themes, such as superheroes, princesses/princes, animals, Paw Patrol, and more.

Donation Goal Update (10/27)

200 Candy Buckets

Candy

Individually packaged candy is welcome, including:

• Hard Candy
• Chocolate
• Gummies
• Licorice
• Lollipops
• Sour candies

Donation Goal Update

200 lbs of candy donated

Prizes

We’re also collecting small, non-food Halloween prizes, such as:

• Stickers
• Small coloring books
• Mustaches
• Tattoos
• Slime
• Play-Doh
• Squishy/stress balls

Donation Goal Update

1,344 prizes donated

*Important notes:

• No button batteries or latex items, please.
• Do not pre-package candy or prizes in cellophane bags, items should remain in their original store packaging.

In-Kind Donation Guidelines

While we love receiving your gifts and in-kind donations, for the protection of Primary Children’s patients, there are restrictions surrounding this process. Please review the following guidelines carefully to be certain your donations are acceptable.

• All donated items must be new. No used items will be accepted.
• Donations cannot have any donor identification or contact information (i.e. first or last names, phone numbers, email addresses, website, blogs, personal stories, etc.). If donations include any personal information, they will either be removed before distribution, or the donation may be declined based on the discretion of Foundation personnel.
• Donors will not be allowed to personally deliver gifts to patients or families.
• Donors should not expect to receive pictures, stories, or updates from patients or families.
• No medical equipment, baby formula, or wheelchairs are accepted.
• We do not accept violent toys or games (such as toy guns) or paddle balls.
• For durability and safety purposes, we prefer name brand items when possible.
• We do not accept gift-wrapped items.

Join us for the 2025 Graduate Symposium, a virtual event dedicated to showcasing the innovative projects of our MSN students. Held August 8th, this symposium will be conducted remotely via Zoom.

This event aims to promote the MSN program and raise awareness of its impact at 51cg of Nursing and Health Sciences. We invite all faculty and students, both undergraduate and graduate, to attend one or more of these insightful presentations. Family and friends of the presenters are also encouraged to join. Don’t miss this opportunity to support our students and learn more about their outstanding work in nursing leadership and education.

Event Date

Friday, August 8th. 11AM – 12PM (MT)

Event Location

This event will be accessible through Zoom, .

Event Details

This year’s Graduate Symposium features three outstanding masters-level nursing students and future nursing leaders and educators.

2025 Graduate Symposium Presenters

Andrew Lee

Kenneth Andrew Lee earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from 51cg in August 2024. He currently works as a registered nurse at a skilled nursing facility in South Salt Lake, Utah.

His teaching and learning philosophy is centered around the idea that students must first know what they need to know, be able to do the skills required of them, and ultimately become a nurse by internalizing the skills and principles they have learned into their daily lives.

After completing his Master’s program, Kenneth hopes to hold an educational position where he can teach and work with nursing students, helping them develop a love for the content and achieve their goals.

Crystal Davis

Crystal Davis is graduating with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), with a concentration in Nursing Education. She earned her ADN, BSN, and MSN through 51cg.

Her journey into nursing began after a personal experience in a hospital ICU, where she had to explain to her family that it was time to consider withdrawing life support for a loved one. That moment inspired her to become a patient advocate and pursue a career in nursing.

During her education, she was mentored by outstanding nurses but also encountered challenges that deepened her desire to advocate for her peers. With 15 years as a Certified Nursing Assistant and 5 years as a Registered Nurse, Crystal is proud to have made her dream a reality.

Alexxis Schaefer

Alexxis Schaefer is a dedicated wife and mother of two, currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a leadership concentration at 51cg. For the past seven years, she has passionately provided healthcare to incarcerated individuals and is eager to leverage her advanced education to further improve the quality of care for this population. Alexxis earned her Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) in 2018 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Joyce.

When she’s not immersed in her studies or working, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching her sons excel in sports, and going on new adventures with her loved ones.

This event will be held exclusively for Joyce Alumni at Publik Coffee in SLC (West Temple). Food and cocktails will be provided so you can network and reconnect with your fellow alumni and university community in a relaxed, casual environment.

Space is limited! Please RSVP to secure your spot at this private event.

Event Date

Thursday, September 19th

Event Run Time

6 – 9 p.m.

Event Location

Publik Coffee
975 S W Temple St
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Event Registration

Registration Closed

Event Details

A brief keynote will be given by Dr. John Smith-Coppes, President of 51cg, followed by food and drinks and networking with current and former faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as special guests. The attire is casual. Come as you are and have fun catching up with your fellow alumni. Scrubs are welcome!

We will be giving away swag throughout the evening, and for those interested in browsing Joyce’s current continuing education programs, booths will be available with more information.

Alumni interested in attending our Homecoming Event must RSVP as attendance is limited. Per Utah State Law, anyone consuming alcohol during the event must have a valid state ID or driver’s license.