Collegiate Peaks Forum Series begins new chapter with Colorado Mountain College

Free public event June 22 features WWII story of immigrant soldier from the 10th Mountain Division

SALIDA – A special Collegiate Peaks Forum Series event will be held on Sunday, June 22, from 7-9 p.m. at the Salida Rotary Scout Hut. Titled “Born on the 4th of July: One 10th Mountain Division Soldier’s Quintessential American Story as an Immigrant, Orphan, Dropout, Hero, and Father,” the evening will feature Dr. Matt Gianneschi, president of Colorado Mountain College.

Gianneschi will share the moving personal story of his grandfather, Staff Sgt. Harry R. Gianneschi, a decorated WWII veteran of the original 10th Mountain Division. Through this lens, Gianneschi will explore themes of immigration, opportunity, patriotism and perseverance. Drawing on firsthand family accounts, he will reflect on his grandfather’s journey from an orphaned fifth-grade dropout in Chicago to a soldier who trained at Camp Hale and fought in the battles of Riva Ridge and Mt. Belvedere in Italy.

This special evening comes after 21 years of the Collegiate Peaks Forum Series entering a new chapter. The forum has brought thought-provoking lectures in philosophy, spirituality, and science to Colorado’s Upper Arkansas Valley. Now, Colorado Mountain College’s Salida campus is assuming leadership of the beloved lecture series, ensuring its continuation as a vibrant community program.

CMC is working closely with the forum’s original leadership to ensure a seamless transition, with plans to maintain the program’s tradition of hosting leading experts and timely topics.

A Colorado native and educator, Gianneschi also teaches American history, government and economics at CMC. His talk aims to humanize the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division while highlighting how one man’s life exemplified the American Dream.

For more information about future events, visit Collegiate Peaks Forum Series.