Alumni

Janice Kauvar CMC Spring Valley Alumnus (1976) Janice Kauvar moved to Colorado at the age of 18 to attend Colorado Mountain College at Glenwood Springs-Spring Valley. After receiving her associate degree, she moved to Boulder in 1975 where Kauvar worked at Storage Tek during its start-up years, and then began working at the National Center for Atmosphotopheric Research where she stayed for 25 years. Kauvar received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Regis University in Denver in 1995, graduating magna cum laude, while raising her two children and working full time. Kauvar passed away in 2013 after a long battle with cancer. Family, friends, and colleagues remember Kauvar as a woman of tremendous grace and character, dedicated to her family and her work. She is described by those close to her as selfless, modest, and kind, someone who was unflinchingly professional yet caring with colleagues. Kauvar’s devotion to her education, career, and family make her a noteworthy alum of Colorado Mountain College. She went on to become a leader at NCAR and continued her studies at Regis University. Her passion for excellence in her own way is an inspiration.

George Jardine CMC Spring Valley Alumnus (1974) After graduating from Colorado Mountain College’s professional photography program, George Jardine contributed his photographs to a handful of publications including Better Homes and Gardens, Sports Illustrated, and Interior Design magazine. In 1993, Jardine joined Adobe Systems and in 2003 began work on the company’s Lightroom project in a managing role. Adobe Lightroom is now used by professional photographers around the world as the source for photo processing and image management. Jardine now freelances from his home in Colorado as a video producer consulting digital photographers and teaching workshops. His blog is an active source for written and video tutorials that instruct users on the benefits of Lightroom. Jardine continues to be an incredible asset to the professional photography world and an example for students of the college as they pursue their professional photography goals.

Amy Jackson CMC Breckenridge Alumnus (1999) Amy Jackson graduated from the Colorado Mountain College campus in Breckenridge in 1999 and then completed her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Denver. She then attended the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver, graduating in 2003. At both CMC and the University of Denver, she never achieved less than a 3.9 GPA. Jackson now works as the executive director of Advocates for Victims of Assault, Inc. in Summit County and has elevated the organization to one of the most effective and valued service organizations in the area. Jackson and members of her team bring hope to victims of trauma and they provide bullying prevention, youth education and suicide prevention programming for thousands of community members in Summit County. Jackson was part of the team that launched the Peace Maker Campaign in the Summit School District that creates opportunities for students to learn about positive social behaviors, as well as demonstrate those behaviors in the classroom and at play. Additionally, Jackson has coordinated the delivery of suicide intervention services for individuals in crisis. The program has become a trusted service and provides a safe intervention for individuals who may pose a threat to themselves or others. Jackson’s highest levels of integrity, dedication and compassion to her community and those around her make her an exemplary CMC alum.

David Delaplane CMC Founding Father / Honorary Member In 1962, David Delaplane became manager of the Glenwood Springs Chamber of Commerce. During his time in that role, he was responsible for bringing the idea of having a community college in the central Colorado mountains. Delaplane resurrected an education committee that pounded the pavement to sell voters on establishing a five-county taxation district consisting of Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle, Lake, and Summit counties. “Night after night for a year,” David explains, “we traveled miles to meet with every service group in every community to show everyone how important it was to have a junior college.” There was a lot of convincing to do. Three counties would not get a campus, yet their approval was needed. By a margin of more than 2 to 1, voters approved the formation of the junior college district that would be home to Colorado Mountain College. Delaplane was elected to the first governing committee of the college. Thank you, David Delaplane, for carrying forward the idea of a college in the central Colorado Rocky Mountains into the reality we know today as Colorado Mountain College.

George Bagwell Faculty / Honorary Member Colorado Mountain College hired George Bagwell in 1974 as full-time faculty member teaching anthropology and psychology at the college in Leadville. In 1985, he was appointed campus dean at CMC in Steamboat Springs, a position he held for four years. For the next 25 years, from 1989 to 2013, Bagwell served as a faculty member at the Steamboat Springs campus. In addition to participating in a faculty exchange program in Hawaii, Bagwell was a pioneer in distance education. Bagwell was one of the first faculty to develop web and distance education courses at CMC. Bagwell also served as a consultant for North Central Association Commission on Institutions of Higher Education and was appointed to its Review Council from 1991-1995. Bagwell retired from the college in May of 2013 after serving CMC for an impressive 40 years. His unwavering commitment to students and to the college is an example for everyone at Colorado Mountain College.