And what a splendid day it was at Arapahoe Basin for the last of our 2024 Alumni ski/snowboard gatherings. The snow conditions were terrific, accompanied by ample sunshine and a hint of afternoon breeze. Ok, let’s be real, it was a blast of wind that added some excitement to our CMC hospitality tent! Alumni from Denver, Littleton, Leadville, Edwards and Gypsum joined us at “The Beach,” A-Basin’s famed party zone for full on hospitality. Some alum even opted to bring along family members who were eager to learn snowboarding. Among the attendees were Kim Canaday-Freidhof and Cathy Tallick, CMC Leadville alumnae ‘84, who made the trip from the Front Range. Kim shared her thoughts on the day’s skiing experience, here’s what she had to say: “I love attending the A-Basin ski days and it's always nice to meet past and future alumni. The Alumni Association always has plenty of CMC swag to share with attendees and I look forward to next year!” Additionally, Swoop made a cameo appearance and delighted everyone by posing for photos with the attendees. If you missed our Ski Sunlight or A-Basin ski/ride days this year, we promise we’ll be back for more fun on the slopes next year.
Tailgate attendees getting ready for the big game.
HEY BATTER BATTER….SWING!
The CMC Alumni Association is pleased to partner again with our friends from Alpine Bank to host the 3rd CMC Day at the Colorado Rockies. Our date is set for Sunday, June 23, with first pitch at 1:10 pm. Like the past two years, we’ll host our tailgate party from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at an Alpine Bank venue just two blocks from Coors Field in downtown Denver. We welcome you, your family and friends to attend this summertime event and by purchasing tickets to the Rockies, $7 from each ticket will support the CMC Alumni scholarship. Cost for the tailgate is $5 per person for anyone over age 12, and the Rockies tickets are $23 per person. Don’t delay in signing up here for a fun-filled day at the ballpark with your CMC family and friends! And like our good friend Humphrey Bogart said…”A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz.”
Fran Vernaza is the latest winner of our Alumni prize package. An ’86 professional photography grad from Spring Valley, Fran now lives in Tennessee. Reflecting on his time at CMC, Fran fondly reminisces, “CMC was such a great experience. Great friends and can’t beat the view of Mt. Sopris from the Spring Valley Campus. There has probably never been a better college orientation program than the week of mountain orientation! Wishing all my fellow alumni the best.”
If you want to be the next lucky alum to win our CMC Alumni prize package, simply sign up to join the Alumni Association
here(it’s free!) by May 31 and you’ll be entered in the drawing to win. Good luck to you!
CMC Alumni Spotlight
Learn more about your fellow CMC Alumni
Elizabeth Velasco
Colorado State Representative
2008 AAS, Culinary Arts
Elizabeth Velasco is a Colorado State Representative for House District 57 which includes Garfield and Pitkin counties and portions of Eagle County. She is the first Mexican-born ever to be elected to the state of Colorado, and the first Latino to represent the western slope. After earning a CMC degree in culinary arts, she entered the restaurant industry, but her career path took a turn, and she built a career as an interpreter and translator. She also became a public information officer and wildland firefighter, bringing a lens of language access and community-based fire response. She ran for office as a grassroots candidate and has since passed bills to improve water quality in mobile home parks, protect students' right to cultural expression at graduations, bring language access to emergency response and to the state capitol, and to advance affordable housing solutions.
"CMC was a lifeline for me! I was a new immigrant, and I was learning how to navigate life here and I also had to work. CMC allowed me to gain a career as a chef while working and supporting my family. My CMC culinary arts degree opened the doors to traveling the world working in kitchens and opening restaurants. I'm a huge advocate of the trade fields. Young people need access to opportunities and success, and CMC has been a leader for our rural communities."
Nanci L. Limbach
Founder and Executive Director of the Pauline S. Schneegas Wildlife Foundation
About her work, Nanci says “I have always believed that education is the key to preventing the destruction of wildlife species and their habitats.” Over the 40-year existence of the Foundation, they have cared for and treated all species of wildlife, specializing in bears and mountain lions. “Our goal is to return the animal to the proper place in nature” says Nanci. Nanci’s work has garnered several noteworthy awards including the Wildlife Commission Award from Garfield County and recognition from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. For more information about the Schneegas Wildlife Foundation, visit psswf.org
