Eldon Litton
Technology Support Specialist I970-947-8492 | elitton@coloradomtn.edu
Loves traveling, hiking, camping, foraging wild food and floating down the river.
Chris Peterson was looking to expand his education in snow science and avalanche forecasting when he discovered the Avalanche Science program at Colorado Mountain College Leadville. Having recently earned an Adventure Guide diploma in British Columbia, he knew CMC would give him a competitive edge in the guiding industry while teaching the skills, knowledge and providing the mentorship he was seeking.
Now, almost halfway through the two-year program, Chris has already gained critical skills and hands-on experience while building his professional network.
“I have gained a community of classmates and instructors who all share a similar interest in snow and avalanches,” says Chris, “Not only are we a community within the college but we’re a community within the snow and avalanche industry.”
For Chris, it’s the quality of instructors and their professional experience, that puts CMC’s Avalanche Science program ahead of the rest. The curriculum is designed by avalanche professionals from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), CMC and USFS. Notable instructors include Dr. Ethan Greene, the Director of the CAIC, Dr. Kelly Elder, USFS Research Hydrologist, and Roger Coit, EMS and Outdoor Studies faculty at CMC.
“The entire faculty currently works in the snow and avalanche industry in various job types,” says Chris, “This gives students an insight into different positions and opportunities to learn from them in their workplace.”
Faculty connections have created many hands-on learning opportunities outside the classroom for Chris and his peers. He’s collected snow-pit data for instructor Dr. Kelly Elder at the Fraser Experimental Forest and shadowed instructor Becs Hodgetts who is the CAIC highway forecaster for the Monarch Pass corridor.
The Avalanche Science program was designed with working professionals in mind. The hybrid curriculum is a mix of online coursework and three on-site sessions each year. Students take classes in meteorology, snow and avalanches, weather observations, forecasting and safety operations over the course of two years. There is also a required field internship and a portfolio seminar.
“I really enjoyed the forecasting class with Dr. Ethan Greene,” says Chris, “We put together weekly weather and avalanche forecasts for a wide variety of applications. The only difference between our class and what the CAIC forecasters do was not having to put the forecast together at 4am every day.”
A low student/ instructor ratio encourages enhanced learning opportunities while mitigating risk during field work in avalanche terrain. Enrollment is capped at 12 students per year, with program entry requirements geared towards current and aspiring avalanche professionals. Current students include a roster of ski patrollers, backcountry guides, rescue groups, and other outdoor professionals.
Classes begin this fall and interested students are encouraged to contact Colorado Mountain College Leadville directly for more information. Email lvaviscience@coloradomtn.edu or call 719-486-2015.
Colorado Mountain College students Diana Hernández, Kelli Ludwig, Ana Chavira and Tiffany Simonson were recently selected for the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Future Educator Honor Roll and were acknowledged at a ceremony at the state capitol.
In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week in May, the ceremony recognized outstanding students from Colorado’s educator preparation programs. At the ceremony CDHE Executive Director Dr. Kim Hunter Reed gave remarks, followed by Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne.
“This ceremony recognizes the tremendous impact our future educators will have on their students and the state of Colorado broadly,” said Reed. “Educators are training the next generation of artists, engineers, scientists and health professionals that will power our economy and enliven our communities. They truly make all other professions possible. We want all teachers and administrators — and especially our young educators — to know Coloradans support and appreciate their invaluable work.”
“Our four teacher candidates have implemented promising practices for all students,” said Dr. Leticia Burbano de Lara, Colorado Mountain College’s teacher education program associate professor. “Their strong lesson plans, instructional conversations, and ways of contextualizing the teaching and learning process create a classroom ecology in which students’ assets are embraced. Those are elements and conditions needed for engaging, relevant and meaningful learning.”
Profiles of the candidates are available at the CDHE’s website at https://bit.ly/2G27njk and below.
CMC student profiles on the Future Educator Honor Roll
Student: Diana Hernández
Institution: Colorado Mountain College – Vail Valley at Edwards
Program: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Endorsement
About Diana: Diana is originally from San Diego, California. She came to Colorado hoping to improve her English language skills and decided to pursue her passion for teaching. She currently teaches English and Spanish math and literacy to moderate needs students from K-5 and is a full-time student. As a Spanish heritage speaker, Diana develops strong lessons for English and Spanish literacy and math to differentiate the needs of newcomers and students with moderate needs students. She incorporates the Social Justice Standards in her lessons to address identity, diversity, justice, and action issues to create spaces for mutual accommodation.
Student: Kelli Ludwig
Institution: Colorado Mountain College – Vail Valley at Edwards
Program: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Endorsement
About Kelli: Kelli lives in Gypsum and currently owns a small event and marketing company that subcontracts with outdoor companies. Two years ago, Kelli downsized her company when she decided to return to school and pursue her dream of becoming a teacher for children. She will be entering her internship year in the 2018-2019 school year. Kelli has implemented strategies and techniques, such as biograplhotophy cards and cultural quilts, to know her students in four dimensions: linguistically, cognitively, academically and socioculturally. This information has been used effectively during planning instruction and assessment.
Student: Ana Chavira
Institution: Colorado Mountain College - Glenwood Springs
Program: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education
About Ana: Ana Chavira grew up in the Roaring Fork Valley. She is Mexican-American and the daughter of Mexican immigrants. She has worked in the field of education for five years. Currently, she is pursuing her bachelor’s in elementary education with an endorsement, and she is proud to say she will be the first person in her family to have a college degree come May 2019. She values her family and community: her six-year-old son is her drive and motivation. She is passionate about teaching and strives to meet every student’s needs. Her strongest skills are her work ethic and compassion. She considers herself a lifelong learner that wants to be a force of good.
Student: Tiffany Simonson
Institution: Colorado Mountain College - Glenwood Springs
Program: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Endorsement
About Tiffany: Tiffany is a dedicated, caring, skilled, reflective and passionate teacher candidate who builds strong relationships with her students. Tiffany demonstrates a high level of commitment to her scholarship and field experiences. This is apparent in her growing leadership in her school, as school leaders seek her out to train other paraprofessionals. As a teacher candidate, Tiffany consistently incorporates best practices in lesson design, instructional strategies and strategies specifically intended to include cultural and linguistically diverse students. Tiffany’s high level of professionalism and commitment to culturally and linguistically diverse students makes her a great candidate for recognition as one of Colorado’s top teacher candidates.
By Carrie Click
Antonio Tavoletti has just completed his first year in the professional photography program at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School for Communication, Arts and Media. So far, it looks like he’s picked the right major.
Earlier in the year, Tavoletti’s photography professor, Derek Johnston, was impressed by a series of photographs the student was working on, of Glenwood Springs’ emerging bridge as it was being constructed.
“My goal,” wrote Tavoletti in his artist’s statement, “was to create images that isolate the bridge from all other surroundings and focus purely on the architectural mastery.”
Johnston showed Tavoletti’s bridge work to Tracy Trulove, Colorado Department of Transportation’s Region 3 communications manager. CDOT was so impressed with the photographs, they asked to feature one of the student’s images on a large commemorative plaque permanently installed under the bridge at the Seventh Street plaza.
It doesn’t end there. At the bridge’s official dedication on June 22, Tavoletti was treated like a dignitary. Trulove invited him on stage where he received a round of applause for his bridge photography.
Then, he not only met and was photographed with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper at the ceremony, but the governor turned the tables and took Tavoletti’s photo standing in front of the plaque featuring the student’s bridge image.
To cap it off, from now through July 15, the Glenwood Springs Visitor Center, in the lobby of Colorado Mountain College’s central administrative offices at Eighth and Grand Avenue, is exhibiting several of Tavoletti’s bridge photographs.
Called “A Beautiful Span,” the exhibit showcases some of Tavoletti’s unique photos of the bridge. The exhibit is on view in the lobby at 802 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, through July 15. Call the visitor center at 970-945-6580 for more information.