Creating pathways to education – CMC ENews Archive

Scholarship donors and students — Colorado Mountain College scholarship recipients and benefactors gather with CMC students staff, faculty and friends at a scholarship reception held in September at CMC Spring Valley. The reception gave benefactors opportunities to spend time with recipients, and gave students time to thank their benefactors in person. Photo Charles Engelbert

In September the Colorado Mountain College Foundation hosted a scholarship luncheon at the new J. Robert Young Alpine Ascent Center at Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley at Glenwood Springs. At the Aspen, Rifle and Roaring Fork Donor & Student Scholarship Luncheon, benefactors who have donated funds for CMC scholarships were brought together with students who are attending the college because of these local donors’ generosity.

Marianne Ackerman and student — Glenwood Springs residents Marianne Ackerman and nursing student Justin Kulacz at a recent luncheon at CMC Spring Valley. Kulacz is the recipient of the Ellen Quigley Memorial Scholarship that Ackerman established in her mother’s honor. Photo Charles Engelbert

The regional community was well represented at the get-together. Paul Bushong of Aspen Glen came to the luncheon and met with three students he has supported with scholarships and grants, including the Fast Forward Scholarship he established for students pursuing a certificate or two-year degree. The Fast Forward Scholarship recipients at the luncheon were Carbondale resident Alondra Silvas, who’s pursuing her associate degree in resort

Paul Bushong with students — From left Natalie Price, Alondra Silvas, Paul Bushong and Wendy Avila recently attended a luncheon at CMC Spring Valley where scholarship recipients and benefactors met. Photo Charles Engelbert

management and works at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Carbondale, and Wendy Avila of Glenwood Springs, who attends Colorado Mountain College Carbondale and takes online courses as she pursues an associate degree in paralegal. Another student at the luncheon who received an education grant from Bushong is Natalie Price, who in May 2019 graduated from CMC Spring Valley with an associate degree in veterinary technology, and now works at All Dogs and Cats Veterinary Hospital in Glenwood Springs.

Connie Calaway of Aspen Glen spent time with Calaway Scholars Keyri Penaloza of Marble and Marco Rojas of Parachute. Founded by Connie and her late husband Jim, who passed away in 2018, the scholarship provides support for regional first-generation students.

Martin Carrasco, recipient of the Debi Martinez-Brun Memorial Scholarship, met with Janeth Niebla. Niebla attended the luncheon as a friend of Martinez-Brun, an active Carbondale community member and longtime Colorado Mountain College employee who passed away in 2018. Her scholarship is allowing Carrasco to pursue a degree in education.

Connie Calaway and students — From left, Calaway Scholars Keyri Penaloza of Marble and Marco Rojas of Parachute at the luncheon with Connie Calaway of Aspen Glen at CMC Spring Valley. Photo Charles Engelbert

Donors from Glenwood Springs and Rifle had opportunities to spend time with scholarship recipients. Rick Colomitz of Eagle County, who’s attending

The Spuhlers with scholarship recipient — From left, Jaci Spuhler, Rick Colomitz and Dr. Bob Spuhler, a former CMC president. Colomitz is the recipient of the Sphulers’ Alice Peterson-Erickson Scholarship for Nursing. Photo Charles Engelbert

the nursing program at Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley and Vail Valley, thanked Jaci and Dr. Bob Spuhler (past college president) of Glenwood Springs for their support of the Alice Peterson-Erickson Scholarship for Nursing. The scholarship supports returning adult learners.

Marianne Ackerman’s family was among the original land donors who gifted Colorado Mountain College with over 800 acres at Spring Valley in the 1960s. Ackerman was able to spend time with student Justin Kulacz. He is attending the nursing program at Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley because of the Ellen Quigley Memorial Scholarship, named for Ackerman’s mother.

Ted and Sheryl Doll of Glenwood Springs established the Doll Family Endowed Scholarship to support first-generation students of nontraditional ages. Recipient Irwin Munoz of Rifle is now studying veterinary technology at Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley.