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The Geiman Fellows is a program at Western for juniors that focuses on teaching students how to become leaders and productive members of society. Fellows are taught important values that they will use after graduation. Not only do the fellows learn from the staff and faculty members, as well as Dave Geiman—the benefactor of the program—they also learn from their peers.

The Alumni Awards for Excellence celebrate Western State Colorado University as a community of teachers and learners. The Award, established by former President Harry Peterson in 1997, is an opportunity to recognize the talents and achievements of our graduates and remains the University's highest honor for its graduating seniors.

Peace Corps Prep is a Western program run in conjunction with the international service-oriented Peace Corps. It focuses on specialization in one of the corps’ six sectors: education, health, environment, agriculture, youth in development, or community economic development, in addition to developing foreign language skills, intercultural competence, professionalism and leadership through selected coursework and service projects.

In recent years, Mountaineers studying Business fields have seen a great deal of new opportunities emerge. As one of the most popular areas of study on campus, the majors under the Business umbrella—which include Business Administration, Accounting, and Economics—have seen significant growth.

Faculty and students are optimistic about future developments in Business curriculum. The interest in Western’s Business programs has generated support for new areas of study, some of which will be arriving in Fall 2017.

A $200,000 grant from the Join Fire Science Program—an interagency research program—funded the study, “Integrating Fuels Treatments and Ecological Values in Piñon-Juniper Woodlands: Fuels, Vegetation and Avifauna.”

The researchers set out research the effects of fuel fire reduction program on area ecology, particularly on bird species. Most frequently, these programs involve thinning out trees as a way to reduce fuel levels in the event of a forest fire. 

From February 17 to 19, students from all over the nation came to Western to work together, create an idea and present it to faculty of the Borick School of Business. This is the third year that the business school has hosted this event.

“This year we had a total of 17 students attend this scholarship event. This is the largest group we have had since starting. The question that they are working to answer is ‘How might we reimagine the classroom experience to improve learning outcomes?’” said Annie Westbury, a Program Coordinator at Western who was working the event.

Increased efforts across campus to promote sustainability have opened new doors, allowing Mountaineers to address environmental issues in state government.

On February 4, students and Gunnison residents gathered in Quigley Hall for the Conservation Priorities Summit. Hosted by Conservation Colorado, the event provided information about Colorado environmental measures and efforts. It also enabled lawmakers to hear the voice of Western’s student population.

Graduation will feature 402 graduates: 342 will receive their bachelor’s degrees and 60 will receive graduate degrees. Students hail from 37 different states and three foreign countries.

Alumna Nancy Chisholm ‘90 will serve as commencement speaker. Chisholm is the former vice president and general manager of Tyco Retail Solutions, a $1 billion vertical business unit of Tyco, headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland.

Konieczek has been running track for more than nine years. She is from Poland and while looking for colleges, was on the hunt for the perfect place to train at elevation.

 “I was considering somewhere to train in elevation. I asked around, and decided to come to Colorado. My brother came [to Western] in the summer for an elevation sports camp. He sent me pictures and talked about the coach,” Konieczek said.

Konieczek wanted to make sure that Western would be a great fit for her.

“Googler” and former CEO and co-founder of NextSpace Jeremy Neuner spoke at the ICELab this past week to share his insights on collaborative workspaces and thoughts on why the Gunnison Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit is such a good fit for them. Listeners dragged in chairs, moved couches and flung their legs over armrests; the space appeared to manifest its creative potential before a word was spoken.

Seavey, a Bostonian who came to Western in 2013 to pursue a degree in Exercise and Sports Science with an emphasis in Sport and Fitness Management, reveled in the prospect of snowboarding after class on mountains far larger than out East. While the wall of mountains that appear upon leaving the Gunnison city limits still capture his heart and imagination, his sights are currently set on Cranor Hill just 4 miles north of town.

Starting in 2010, Partners In The Parks (PITP) Black Canyon and Curecanti has taken between 72 and 90 students on a life changing adventure through the Black Canyon in Gunnison. These honors students experience a week in the parks learning about the history around them and the importance of having National Parks in the world. 

This year PITP is offered in 10 National Parks around the nation, with seven of them taking place during the summer time when students are more available for the weeklong programs.

Peterson joined the Western community in 2005 and quickly made his mark on the university with his congenial spirit, drive for knowledge and ability to persuade even the most reluctant to join him on an adventure.

This year was the Amigos’ 30th year celebrating Carnaval. All students could enjoy food and drinks in the front of local establishment, Timbers, and those who were 21 or over were able to enjoy the bar in the back. The dance floor was open to everyone to enjoy the music.

The program allows students from participating universities to spend a semester at another institution in the United States, its territories or Canada. This means Western students can spend time elsewhere, returning to Gunnison with new perspectives and diversifying the learning experience back on campus. Meanwhile, many students from other universities and colleges choose to “study abroad” at Western, bringing with them new ideas and points of view.

Western’s Peak Out recently hosted three nights of improv. Each night had a different theme; Thursday night was “Love and Turmoil,” Friday night was “Good O’l Standard, Regular Run O’ The Mill,” and Saturday night was “Do or Die.” Each night needed audience participation to help fill in the blanks for on-the-spot story ideas.

Amidst making great strides in increasing enrollment, adding new academic programs and renovating facilities, matters of diversity, equity and inclusion are working their way to the forefront of Western’s attention.

Earlier in the semester, passionate students from all corners of campus made clear that diversity is an absolutely essential component for a vibrant learning community. The administration and student organizations responded readily with initiatives that have shown a promising commitment to increasing diversity and promoting equity and inclusion across campus.

The program allows students from participating universities to spend a semester at another institution in the United States, its territories or Canada. This means Western students can spend time elsewhere, returning to Gunnison with new perspectives and diversifying the learning experience back on campus. Meanwhile, many students from other universities and colleges choose to “study abroad” at Western, bringing with them new ideas and points of view.

In an address entitled “Dare to be Powerful,” Greenfield encouraged Mountaineers to build community during challenging times. Joined by performers, student leaders, and faculty, Greenfield spoke passionately on some of the biggest issues facing students today.

Held in Western’s university theater, the black-tie keynote address encouraged attendees to leave the room with a newfound respect for other people. The event was sponsored by numerous organizations on Western’s campus, including the Student Government, Black Student Alliance, the Office of the President and the Lead Office.

When:
Monday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Where:
University Center Theater
Western State Colorado University
600 N. Adams Street, Gunnison, CO

Tickets:
Free and open to the public