By Mike McKibbin
LEADVILLE/BUENA VISTA — Jessica Green was a new mother, recently married, when she started taking classes at Colorado Mountain College. Looking back now, the longtime Chaffee County resident praised the college’s flexibility for allowing her to complete classes toward her associate degree and care for her young daughter at the same time.
Green earned her Associate of Applied Science in accounting: bookkeeper in December and took part in Friday’s commencement ceremonies at the Leadville campus. More than 1,000 graduates are receiving degrees and certificates from Colorado Mountain College May 2-6, at 10 different graduation ceremonies held throughout the CMC district.
While a student at Chaffee County High School, Green started taking some CMC courses. After high school graduation, she attended Northwestern Colorado Community College in Rangely for a time before marriage. The couple moved back to Chaffee County and Green re-enrolled at CMC.
And her employer helped provide an opportunity to put what she learned in class to good use.
“I worked at the Brown Dog Coffee Co. (in Buena Vista) and the boss there was looking for someone to do the bookkeeping,” Green said. “So I took that over while I was attending CMC.”
Green said along with offering her flexibility, CMC taught her time management skills.
“It all helped to give me a richer and more rewarding experience,” she said.
Green was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for students earning two-year degrees, while attending CMC. After three years of taking classes in Buena Vista, Leadville and Breckenridge, and online, Green graduated with a 3.8 GPA.
“I took some extra math classes, too,” she said.
Green praised Dr. Susanna Spaulding, professor of business and entrepreneurship, for helping her stay on track.
“She would meet with me whenever to go over things and made my school experience a lot more manageable,” Green said. “She was absolutely amazing.”