Professional:

Kelci is fairly new to the Southwest prevention team, jumping on board in November, 2021. She works as the new Panguitch Prevention Coaltion Coordinator. She is also over the Panguitch Youth Prevention Coalition and the Panguitch Middle and High School’s HOPE squad. She recently completed the Substance Abuse Prevention Skills training and became a certified Prevention Specialist.  She will begin her National Coalition Academy training in March and complete in September of this year. 

Hobbies:​

• My most favorite thing is spending time with my family. We especially love being outside doing many different things. Some of our most favorites are playing ball in the yard. Whether it’s baseball, playing catch, shooting hoops, passing a volleyball, jumping on the trampoline or tossing bags for cornhole, we’re having fun. We travel together to support the kids with everything they’re involved in. Another that tops the list is spending time at the lake. Powell is our favorite. (we need a miracle for it to fill again) I’m lucky and blessed enough to have three sisters and a brother, who are my closest and dearest friends. Most of us live pretty close geographically and jump at any opportunity to get together. Most frequently are family birthday dinners and holiday gatherings.
  
• I grew up dancing, training in a variety of genres, adding cheerleading in the mix while I was in High School. This background led me to open my own dance and cheerleading studio in Panguitch. I’ve been teaching for just over 15 years and loving it! The last 3 years I’ve also had the privilege to coach our High School cheer team. They recently took the 1A state title in the co-ed show division. I enjoy being active and getting good exercise. My involvement in these things have provided me a way to do so, along with other things. 
  

Personal:

I grew up in Utah. I was born in the Uintah Basin area, then moved to Panguitch just before starting High School. I met my husband, AJ, here where we became best friends, high school sweethearts, and were eventually married. AJ and our three children Maddix, Kwinlee, and Nixon are my world. We spend the majority of our time supporting them in the activities they are involved in. I love soaking in the sun while watching baseball games, sipping on diet dr. pepper, with a snack bag nearby. Bleachers aren’t the most comfy, so you’ll see us toting stadium chairs about everywhere we go. It’s incredibly rewarding watching those you love grow and progress in something they’re passionate about. We also like to do whatever traveling we can fit in, exploring, learning, and making memories together. We love the Panguitch valley and plan to grow old here. 

Why I chose prevention:

I have a great education and have really enjoyed my career in cosmetology up until now. With some personal and physical snags, I was unexpectedly inspired to explore my career options. I don’t feel it was an accident that I came upon this opening in prevention. I am so happy and excited to be part of this team and am learning so much! My favorite and most relatable part of prevention so far, is further understanding the importance of bonding and being connected as a family and community. It’s so rewarding to be part of something that not only promotes complete positivity, goodness, and improvement, but a program that works at the root to create good, healthy ideas, values, and habits that (as evidence based research shows) work as  protective factors against risk factors. I’m absolutely loving, and working to take in every drop of prevention that I can. I haven’t quite come up with a way to explain the gratitude I have getting the opportunity to be involved with a program that is so amazing.