CMC Foundation
Leigh Widmer, CMC Alumna and Mother
Leigh Widmer felt as if the rug were pulled out from under her when she suddenly lost her job of 14 years. She worried about how she was going to support herself and her two children as a single mother. As she weighed her choices, Leigh recalled “I remembered how close I was to finishing my associate degree with Colorado Mountain College, so I made a call to Cory Rikard, my college counselor. After reviewing my transcripts, he thought a new program that CMC was just launching would be a perfect fit for me. Turns out, he was right!” With the support of family, the faculty and staff at CMC, and donors like you, Leigh went all in and juggled a full-time course load while caring for her family. “There wasn’t a single instructor who wasn’t completely invested in my success. I really thrived with that kind of encouragement. It gave me an extra sense of responsibility because it’s hard to drop the ball when someone is watching you hold it.” Leigh believes that scholarships covered roughly 85% of her total cost of attendance. “As the sole supporter of my family, debt was something I couldn’t take on. Without this financial support, obtaining my degree would have been impossible.” This May, Leigh was part of the first cohort of graduates to earn their Bachelor of Arts in Human Services degree. Local employers are in desperate need of qualified individuals to support the social and emotional health of our mountain communities, now more than ever. The Bachelor of Arts in Human Services emphasizes the unique aspects of human services in rural communities, and prepares students to gain positions in businesses, schools, hospitals, recovery centers, government agencies, community organizations, and readies students for graduate school programs in most areas of human services.… Read more: Leigh Widmer, CMC Alumna and Mother
Read MoreWhy I Give - The Montgomerys
Why I Give Inspired, and grateful, for the support provided to their son Ned while he pursued his education at Colorado Mountain College, Dan and Jana Montgomery recently joined the Davenport Legacy Society. Their thoughtful planned gift will establish an endowed fund benefiting CMC’s disability services program.
Read MoreWhy I Give - The Penningtons
Why I Give Sharon and Bob Pennington had been giving Colorado Mountain College a donation for a scholarship each year in remembrance of their late son Jason when they realized their gift could continue on in perpetuity. The Jason Pennington Second Chance Scholarship is now part of the college’s Davenport Legacy Society. Jason was 15 years old when he passed away, though his parents believe that he would have wanted to attend CMC, possibly because of his interest in a law enforcement career. “Because our son struggled in school, we felt like we wanted to help kids or older people who maybe don’t have a strong academic background, but who really know the value of an education,” said Sharon. “We’re trying to turn a sad situation into a positive one. Something told us to do this. We like to think it was Jason.”
Read MoreWhy I Give - The Warnicks
Why I Give For Connie and Jon Warnick, including CMC in their estate plan was a natural fit with life in the Rockies. As members of community boards and organizations, including Jon’s service on the CMC Foundation Board as both treasurer and chairman, the Warnicks are clear about the critical role CMC plays in our communities. As lifelong learners, they have seen for themselves the quality of instructors and students that come together in CMC classrooms. By letting the CMC Foundation know their wishes, Jon and Connie became members of the Davenport Legacy Society, and their gift will help keep CMC accessible for generations to come. “We are comfortable with CMC meeting the needs of our students and communities in the short term,” said Jon. “In our view, a legacy gift is like an insurance policy to make sure resources are available to meet CMC’s long-term needs.”
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