Colorado Mountain College commencement ceremony

Colorado Mountain College will celebrate the accomplishments of its graduates during in-person commencement ceremonies on May 7 and 8. COVID-19 restrictions set by the county where each ceremony is held will be followed to ensure the health and safety of those in attendance.

Colorado Mountain College in-person, limited commencements set for May 7, 8

Colorado Mountain College will celebrate the accomplishments of its graduates during in-person commencement ceremonies this May.

Over May 7 and 8, hundreds of students from all 11 CMC campuses will receive certificates of occupational proficiency, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees.

To ensure the health and safety of all graduates, their family, friends and supporters, campus faculty and staff and the surrounding communities, the college has made adjustments to the traditional graduation ceremony experience.

Students are limited on the number of guests they may invite to coincide with COVID-19 restrictions set by the county where each ceremony is held. At this time, all ceremonies will also require those in attendance to wear masks, unless someone is medically unable to wear a mask.

Each ceremony may be modified to meet future health guidelines.

For those who are not able to attend in person, Colorado Mountain College will livestream several of the graduation ceremonies. Check to see if the ceremony you are interested in is being streamed at https://coloradomtn.edu/graduation.

For more information and for details on each commencement ceremony, visit https://coloradomtn.edu/graduation.

US Department of State awards IDEAS grant to Colorado Mountain College

Colorado Mountain College recently received an IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Capacity Building Program for U.S. Study Abroad. The grant is intended to expand the college’s capacity to offer affordable and meaningful study-abroad

Colorado Mountain College students took part in Chile 2018 and 2020: Rivers of Life, a two-week study abroad course utilizing the Pucon Kayak Retreat on the Rio Trancura as a base of operations.

opportunities for students who less often take study-abroad courses – including low-income, first-generation and other underrepresented students.

CMC is one of 24 colleges and universities from across the United States, selected from 115 applicants, to create, expand and/or diversify American student mobility overseas in support of U.S. foreign policy goals.

The IDEAS grant amounts to $35,000 and is specifically funding the creation of the Pucon Kayak Retreat Cooperative Leadership and Management program, a new CMC study abroad educational opportunity in Chile that will be offered in the 2021-22 academic year. The course will be introduced depending on health and travel considerations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To further support students, the CMC Foundation is continually looking into scholarship opportunities for students interested in studying abroad.

CMC 2018 and 2020 study abroad location

The new program is centered on the Pucon Kayak Retreat, a world-class outdoor education and recreation business on the Rio Trancura in Chile. Owned and operated by educator and kayaker David Hughes, the retreat previously served as a base of operations for Rivers of Life, a two-week 2018 and 2020 CMC study abroad experience. Students will enroll in the new program for either a semester or a full year, focusing on sustainability, business and outdoor leadership skills to complete coursework toward their degrees.

According to Dr. Kathryn Regjo, CMC vice president of Academic Affairs, Colorado Mountain College is now formulating an articulation agreement with the University of La Frontera in Temuco, Chile, to credential faculty to teach for Colorado Mountain College while in that country. The grant is also supporting an on-site visit by Matt Jost, CMC Steamboat Springs assistant dean of instruction, and plans are in place for two to four faculty to take intensive Spanish-language training.

Colorado Mountain College is carefully monitoring the status of international travel as it relates to COVID-19. The grant has a year-long cycle, though the State Department is prepared to be flexible now and in the future in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘A strong return’

 Colorado Mountain College’s grant is possible through the Capacity Building Program for U.S. Study Abroad, a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the federal government and supported in its implementation by World Learning, an international nonprofit based in Washington, D.C.

“We are committed to continuing our support for U.S. colleges and universities as they build their study abroad capacity now, in anticipation of a strong return to U.S. student mobility in the future,” said Marie Royce, assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. “When American students study abroad, they support critical U.S. foreign policy goals by building relationships with foreign peers, sharing American culture and values, and developing valuable career skills. With these international experiences, the next generation of Americans is being equipped with the skills necessary to compete and succeed globally.”

For a full list of 2020 IDEAS grant recipients, visit the Capacity Building Program for U.S. Study Abroad website at www.studyabroadcapacitybuilding.com. Go to https://coloradomtn.edu/academics/study-abroad/ for more information about all of Colorado Mountain College’s study abroad offerings.

El Departamento de Estado de EE.UU. otorga la beca IDEAS a Colorado Mountain College

Colorado Mountain College recibió recientemente una beca IDEAS (Incrementar y Diversificar la Educación en el Extranjero para Estudiantes Estadounidenses) del Programa de Creación de Capacidades para Estudios en el Extranjero de EE.UU. del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos. La beca tiene por objeto ampliar la capacidad de la universidad para ofrecer oportunidades asequibles y significativas de estudios en el extranjero a los estudiantes que con menos frecuencia toman cursos de estudios en el extranjero – incluidos los de bajos ingresos, los de primera generación y otros estudiantes con escasa representación.

Los estudiantes de Colorado Mountain College participaron en Chile 2018 y 2020: Rivers of Life, un viaje de estudios de dos semanas en el extranjero utilizando el Retiro Pucon Kayak en el Río Trancura como base de operaciones.

CMC es uno de los 24 colegios y universidades de todos los Estados Unidos, seleccionados entre 115 solicitantes, para crear, ampliar y/o diversificar la movilidad de los estudiantes estadounidenses en el extranjero en apoyo de los objetivos de la política exterior de Estados Unidos.

La beca IDEAS asciende a $35,000 y está financiando específicamente la creación del programa de Retiro Pucon Kayak de Liderazgo y Gestión Cooperativa, una nueva oportunidad educativa de estudios en el extranjero de CMC en Chile que se ofrecerá en el año académico 2021-22. El curso se introducirá dependiendo de las consideraciones de salud y de viaje relacionadas con la pandemia de COVID-19.

Para apoyar aún más a los estudiantes, la Fundación CMC está continuamente buscando oportunidades de becas para estudiantes interesados en estudiar en el extranjero.

Ubicación de los estudios en el extranjero de CMC 2018 y 2020

El nuevo programa se centra en el Retiro Pucon Kayak, un negocio de educación y recreación al aire libre de clase mundial en el Río Trancura en Chile. Propiedad del educador y aficionado a los kayaks David Hughes y dirigido por él, el sitio de retiro sirvió anteriormente como base de operaciones para Rivers of Life, una experiencia de estudio en el extranjero de dos semanas en 2018 y 2020 de CMC. Los estudiantes se inscribirán en el nuevo programa ya sea por un semestre o por un año completo, centrándose en la sostenibilidad, los negocios y las habilidades de liderazgo al aire libre para completar el trabajo de curso hacia sus títulos.

Según la Dra. Kathryn Regjo, Vicepresidenta de Asuntos Académicos de CMC, Colorado Mountain College está formulando un acuerdo de articulación con la Universidad de la Frontera en Temuco, Chile, para acreditar a los profesores para que enseñen en Colorado Mountain College mientras estén en ese país. La beca también apoya una visita in situ de Matt Jost, decano adjunto de instrucción de CMC Steamboat Springs, y hay planes para que de dos a cuatro profesores reciban una formación intensiva en español.

Colorado Mountain College está monitoreando cuidadosamente el estado de los viajes internacionales en relación con la COVID-19. La beca tiene un ciclo de un año, aunque el Departamento de Estado está preparado para ser flexible ahora y en el futuro a la luz del impacto de la pandemia COVID-19.

‘Un regreso fuerte’

 La beca de Colorado Mountain College es posible a través del Programa de Creación de Capacidades para Estudios en el Extranjero de EE.UU., un programa del Departamento de Estado de EE.UU. con fondos proporcionados por el gobierno federal y apoyado en su aplicación por World Learning, una organización internacional sin fines de lucro con sede en Washington, D.C.

“Estamos comprometidos a continuar nuestro apoyo a los colegios y universidades de EE.UU. a medida que construyen su capacidad de estudio en el extranjero en la actualidad, en previsión de un fuerte retorno a la movilidad de los estudiantes de EE.UU. en el futuro,” dijo Marie Royce, secretaria de estado adjunta de la Oficina de Asuntos Educativos y Culturales. “Cuando los estudiantes estadounidenses estudian en el extranjero, apoyan los objetivos fundamentales de la política exterior de Estados Unidos estableciendo relaciones con sus pares extranjeros, compartiendo la cultura y los valores estadounidenses y desarrollando valiosas habilidades profesionales. Con estas experiencias internacionales, la próxima generación de estadounidenses está siendo equipada con las habilidades necesarias para competir y tener éxito a nivel mundial.”

Para obtener una lista completa de los beneficiarios de las becas IDEAS 2020, visite el sitio web del Programa de Creación de Capacidades para Estudios en el Extranjero de EE.UU. en www.studyabroadcapacitybuilding.com. Ingrese a https://coloradomtn.edu/academics/study-abroad/ para más información sobre la oferta de estudios en el extranjero de Colorado Mountain College.

Dotsero Training Facility

Throughout fall semester, the CCMC's Fire Academy is giving students live structure fire experience in the college's Dotsero Training Facility located just off I-70. Photo Ed Kosmicki

CMC Fire Academy students training with live fire at Dotsero Training Facility

For over 50 years Colorado Mountain College has been training first responders. The college’s commitment continues this week, as firefighter trainees from CMC’s Fire Academy receive hands-on experience inside the Dotsero Training Facility with live fire near the 32,000-acre Grizzly Creek Fire.

The center is housed in a large vertical building that sits north of I-70 on the east side of Glenwood Canyon.

“With the Grizzly Creek Fire being so close to where our training is being held, it is important for our trainees to learn the importance of structure protection and how to apply it to their communities,” said Zak Miller, CMC’s college-wide fire science program coordinator based at CMC Vail Valley at Edwards.

Motorists traveling along I-70 may see smoke and fire as a result of this training, which is under strict guidelines and will be permitted to only burn in the center’s non-combustible building with favorable weather conditions.

Due to the increase in fire starts, drought conditions and a statewide fire ban, the college needed approval from Gypsum Fire and the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office to allow the fire academy to train with live fire in the facility.

“It’s the goal of Colorado Mountain College to put as many firefighters as possible into departments to help fight these fires,” said Miller.

The college also offers firefighting instruction in Leadville and Rifle.

“Colorado Mountain College prides itself on providing education to better serve our communities and to do it in a safe manner,” Miller said.

Live structure fire training will be held sporadically through fall semester, from Sept. 9-Dec. 11.  For questions about the Dotsero Training Facility, contact Zak Miller at zsmiller@mail.coloradomtn.edu. For more information about the CMC Fire Academy visit https://coloradomtn.edu/programs/fire-academy/.

CMC Steamboat student honored as 2020 Colorado TRIO Achiever

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – Just a few years ago, it was hard for Eleysa Schofield to imagine how she would achieve her dream of attending college. Now, she is a successful student at Colorado Mountain College Steamboat Springs and one of only two 2020 Colorado ASPIRE TRIO Achievers, chosen from 17,000 participating students in 59 TRIO organizations across the state.

Elyesa Schofield

CMC Steamboat student Eleysa Schofield, here at Lookout Mountain above Golden, has been named a Colorado TRIO Achiever award recipient.

Partially funded by the U.S. Department of Education, TRIO programs help low-income, first-generation students and those with disabilities access higher education. Colorado Mountain College offers TRIO support services at its Steamboat campus, as well as campuses at Spring Valley near Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Vail Valley at Edwards and Leadville.

The purpose of the Colorado Chapter of ASPIRE is to provide professional development and education policy advocacy for TRIO professionals in the state.

Schofield credits TRIO, and Amy Phillips, her campus’s TRIO Student Support Services coordinator, with putting a college education within reach.

“My senior year in high school, I was a homeless independent youth with a 4.0 GPA, wondering if there were any resources for someone like me to go to college,” she said. “Academics were a priority, but so were my other bills.”

In the fall of 2017, she took a leap of faith and signed up for classes at CMC Steamboat Springs.

At orientation, she learned about the opportunities and funding that TRIO could help her to access. With assistance from Phillips, Schofield applied to the program. Soon after, she was accepted and awarded her first scholarship.

“When you’re working full time and going to school full time, the gift of time a scholarship provides is priceless,” Schofield said.

Scholarship in hand, she jumped into every opportunity the TRIO program offered. She worked closely with an advisor and attended every student success seminar offered. Now she serves as the student body president of the campus’s Student Government Association.

TRIO support available – and on solid ground

Beyond funding, TRIO has helped connect Schofield to countless academic and career advancement opportunities, including tutoring support, work-study jobs and professional internships. Recently, the college secured a new five-year grant to support TRIO services, helping ensure programming for CMC students like Schofield in the future.

Now, even during a global pandemic, Schofield is forging ahead toward her educational goals. This summer, when she was furloughed from her job due to COVID-19 concerns, TRIO funding helped her stay in school. Phillips also helped her connect with the college’s new CMC Responds: Back to Work Scholarship, which she was awarded at the beginning of fall semester. Schofield is now nearing completion of her associate degree and plans to earn her bachelor’s by the spring of 2021.

“TRIO support gave me the confidence to commit to the four-year degree,” she said. “I really couldn’t have achieved a lot of what I’ve accomplished without it. I want to give other students the awareness and courage to ask about these resources. The benefits of this program have been unreal.”

For more information about Colorado Mountain College’s TRIO Student Support Services, visit Colorado Mountain College's TRIO Support Services.