Colorado Mountain College scholarship honors Eagle woman’s life

Friends of Mylissa Memorial Scholarship supports future teachers. By Carrie Click.

mylissa eckdahl in wheelchair
The late Mylissa Eckdahl, who taught developmental education at Colorado Mountain College, has inspired a new scholarship that will help to train teachers.

It has been nearly six years since Eagle resident Mylissa Eckdahl passed away as a result of respiratory failure, leaving two teenage daughters and a life filled with learning, teaching others, giving back and overcoming extreme challenges.

In January 2001, Eckdahl was working on a doctorate degree from Colorado State University and teaching developmental education at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards. That’s when she was severely injured in a rollover car accident after hitting black ice near Wolcott. Living life as a quadriplegic, Eckdahl learned how to flourish in a new way, serving as an inspiration to many in Eagle County.

Out of Eckdahl’s strong belief that learning is a lifetime activity, a new scholarship has been established at Colorado Mountain College.

“Mylissa was first and foremost an educator,” said former colleague and Professor Jan Attoma, who teaches English as a second language at the college’s Edwards campus. “She had great passion for the success of her students.”

Attoma remembers Eckdahl in her last days, taking a Spanish class at CMC at the same time her caregiver, Leony Malvar from the Philippines, was taking Attoma’s ESL class.

“This was beautiful in so many ways,” said Attoma. “Mylissa was back at CMC with her unwavering desire to learn, her caregiver had time to improve herself, and together they could share learning each other’s language and culture.”

Learning and sharing knowledge is what is behind the Friends of Mylissa Memorial Scholarship, which is exclusively for any qualifying student attending Colorado Mountain College in Edwards entering the teaching profession, seeking either a teaching certificate or associate degree, or the proposed bachelor’s degree that is currently pending accreditation. The scholarship is need based, and preference will be given to students with at least a 3.0 GPA from high school or college. The award amount is $1,425, which covers most of the cost of a year’s in-district tuition. The application deadline is March 1.

Mylissa Eckdahl with daughters Erin and Rachel,
The late Mylissa Eckdahl, who taught developmental education at Colorado Mountain College, has inspired a new scholarship that will help to train teachers. The deadline to apply for scholarships through the CMC Foundation is March 1. Shown here in 2008, left to right, are Eckdahl, center, with daughters Erin, left, and Rachel, right.

For Eckdahl’s parents, the scholarship is exactly what their daughter would have wanted so that Colorado Mountain College students can continue their education and, ultimately, teach young students.

“Mylissa truly had a love of learning,” said her stepfather, Jerry Nemanic. “She was especially sensitized to young people from modest backgrounds who might not have been encouraged to seek out an advanced education. It was her job, she felt, to seek out and enable such students.”

Also new this year, Colorado Mountain College has instituted an improved scholarship application process. After submitting one application online, students will be automatically considered for all available scholarships administered by the CMC Foundation.

Hundreds of scholarships totaling more than $600,000 are available this year, and any CMC student pursuing a degree or certificate is eligible to apply. Scholarships are based on achievement, residency, financial need or career goals and do not have to be repaid. Like the Mylissa Eckdahl scholarship, these awards also have a March 1 deadline. Go to coloradomtn.edu/scholarships for more information and to apply.