"This honor would not have happened to me without Colorado Mountain College and Dave Harmon, the professor who took me to Nicaragua and exposed me to understandings that have changed my life."

Dave Kolstad transferred to the University of Colorado and was named one of five students nationwide to receive the Howard R. Swearer Student Humanitarian Award in 1999. He was also named the winner of the Jacob Van Ek Award, the highest honor given in the College of Arts and Sciences for academic excellence and outstanding contributions to the community at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

“I had great support from staff, from faculty, and from peers at CMC. The professors love the community. They’re highly qualified in their field. CMC helped me find my way as a first generation student. It’s where my interest for public policy, politics, and community service began.”

Alex Sánchez transferred to CSU from CMC and earned a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications. He was a successful political organizer and communications director in Colorado before relocating to Florida. Alex now works as the Chief Strategic Communications Officer for the Palm Beach County School District.

"The teachers I had at Colorado Mountain College pushed me to not just do the minimum. They encouraged me to keep my curriculum rigorous and not slack off. CMC is a great place to put your roots down and get good grades. It is a fun place to be, but at the same time, it’s a feeder system to the big schools."

Sarah Chase transferred to Colorado State University, and then moved on to California Western Law School. Now, as an attorney for Crocs, Inc., she finds herself immersed in contract review, employment law and intellectual property law.

I would have had trouble transferring credits back to my University in Wisconsin, but since I had obtained the actual AA degree I had no problems transferring and moving right into my BS in Psychology with a minor in Biology.”

Kara Norby earned a Bachelor's of Science from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She has habituated red leaf monkeys and observed orangutans for a research project in Borneo and has volunteered at two different primate sanctuaries in Cameroon. She hopes to attend graduate school after a few years spent working at a camp for children with learning disabilities in the summer and coaching skiing in the winter.

"Coming to CMC provided a base for me when it came to knowing what I liked in schools. When I transferred I looked for something that met CMC's standards."

Esgar Acosta transferred to the University of Northern Colorado. He hopes to continue to a master's degree in counseling. He is very optimistic about all the opportunities available to him because of the encouragement and assistance he received.

If it weren't for the encouragement of the CMC faculty and staff I would have never been able to achieve my dreams.”

Terence Sinclair-Wood recently received his Doctorate of Education from Hamline University, and is currently teaching at Cretin-Derham Hall, a private high school in Saint Paul.