Celebrated milestone at Colorado Mountain College ceremony in Keystone May 2
Shawn Biehl never set out to be an overachiever, but the title stuck after she graduated from Colorado Mountain College with three associate degrees in 2008 – an Associate of Arts in business and two Associate of Applied Science degrees (one in accounting and the other in office administration).
Biehl is celebrating yet another milestone of achievement – this May she earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a minor in management and marketing. Her accomplishments are especially notable because she is a working adult who graduated from high school 28 years ago, returning to the classroom many years later.
“Looking back, it was probably the right decision not to go to college right away,” said Biehl. “But it’s a much harder road to go as an adult.”
Location, quality, affordability made CMC an ideal choice
Biehl isn’t quite a native of Dillon, but she comes pretty close. Her family moved to the area in 1979. For 18 years, her parents owned and operated what used to be the Frontier Sports ski shop (in the former Dillon Center Building). After high school, Biehl started working and putting down roots. Together she and her sister began taking classes at Colorado Mountain College..
“For me, as a working adult, CMC has been ideal,” said Biehl, who is employed by a local contracting company. “I work less than a block away from campus. Getting to Denver for classes just wasn’t an option for me.
“It’s amazing the quality of education you can get here,” she added. “And then, there’s the affordability factor. I paid for my education out of my pocket and with scholarships from Summit County Rotary and CMC.”
She was also quick to note the quality of her professors. “It seems like teaching is a passion for all my professors,” she said. “They excite and engage their classes, and I’ve developed friendships with some of them that have lasted through the years.”
As she prepared for her graduation day, Biehl had no regrets. “A bachelor’s degree is something I’ve always wanted,” she said. “It’s been a really rewarding experience, and I’m excited at the prospect of what the future holds.”