I first arrived at the Leadville Campus in early May 1989. I have to admit, as I came up the hill and around the corner to the campus I thought “this looks like a summer camp instead of a college.” I immediately started wondering “what have I gotten myself into?” I hadn’t even gotten out of my car yet! As I was getting ready for my on-campus interview and heading inside Storm King, I certainly had my doubts this was something that looked very promising. All the buildings at that time were the original temporary facilities, except for the Student Center (now the Coronado Café) and Crown Point.

I spent 3 days in Leadville and quickly found out the staff and faculty (the students had just finished the semester) were dedicated and wonderful people. They really made the “Timberline Campus” quite a unique and interesting place. I knew by the time I left that I really wanted to work for CMC because of the people I had met and the challenges I knew the position would bring me. Well, the buildings grew on me, and I have worked with some great people along the way. Administration and staff like Deborah Lind, Jean Perry, Rick Christmas, Mary Cook-Duarte, Joe Forrester and John Marrin. Faculty members such as Gary Cummings, Jim Campbell, Evelyn Boggs, Jim French, Mary Ebuna, Bob Hartzell, Neil Reynolds and Joe Nachtrieb, to name but a few.

During my tenure I’ve seen the buildings Storm King, Little Pittsburg, Matchless, Crystallite, the original Rattling Jack, Camp Bird, Snowbird, Evening Star, Moring Star, and the original learning lab all be razed. I’ve seen the campus take on its current look and was present for the groundbreaking of Mountain View Residence Hall, New Discovery, Climax Molybdenum Leadership Center, Pinnacle Resource Center and the major renovation of the Coronado Café. I’ve witnessed over a thousand students cross the stage to receive their diplomas and enjoy great success in their careers and personal lives.

From my fist look at CMC to looking out my office window today at this beautiful campus — great campus, great experiences and great people (across the CMC District too). And… What a long strange trip it’s been!

CMC Leadville sent me soaring away on wings I never knew I could have.

In 1982, after floundering around in the northeast U.S., I was lucky enough to be able to get “out west” and live in such a unique town finally answering the question of “what are you going to do?” (From Mom and Dad). Besides the incredible trips with fellow students, backpacking, rafting, skiing, rock climbing and more (all were new to me, and each was amazing), I found there was an Aviation Ground School, taught by Ursula Gilgulin, also an art teacher married to a Philosophy Prof.

One flight with Ursula, from the local airport, KLXV, in the amazing Rockies, convinced me that I had found my passion. For those that don’t already know, the Leadville Airport is the “highest” in North America at 9934 feet above sea level (9927 feet when I was there… GPS?). The thin air presents all kinds of challenges to flying, and other pursuits as well. I earned my private pilot certificate in 1984 and came back to Leadville in ‘86 as a flight instructor. I also flew local scenic flights, taught the mountain flying course and tracked elk for the Division of Wildlife. All under the expert eye of Ursula.

Pilots from the “flat land” could come take a local scenic tour and get a certificate that they had flown from the “highest airport.” Ursula’s sister, Verena, worked at the little FBO, too, and was a certified NOAA WX observer. EVERY hour, during snow or more snow (daylight), she recorded the WX report, including sky cover, temp, dew point, wind and barometric pressure. That info was transmitted to the National WX Service over the dial phone and disseminated to all pilots, etc. I eventually left Leadville to train as an air traffic controller and somehow ended up in North Carolina via Connecticut.

I so treasure my time at CMC, and Leadville, and thank all my CMC teachers for their guidance, and Leadville for its charm!

It’s hard to say if it was the hands-on curriculum or the outstanding natural beauty surrounding Colorado Mountain College Leadville that inspired Sarah Snarski to pursue an environmental career. More than likely, it was the experience Snarski gained as a Natural Resource Management Field Technician that led to her current position as a Hydrotech for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) – but the stunning scenery in Leadville sure helped.

Sarah Snarski graduated from the Natural Resource Management (NRM) program at Colorado Mountain College earlier this year, in Spring 2016. After graduating, Sarah returned to Michigan to pursue an internship with USGS. An NRM faculty member and former Hydrologist for USGS introduced Sarah to her connections, laying the groundwork for the beginnings of a developing environmental career. Through the USGS Pathways Internship program, this summer internship was converted into a full-time position.

Her experience as an NRM Field Technician exposed her to a variety of applicable skills. During her time at Colorado Mountain College Leadville, she learned to calibrate equipment, take discharge measurements, and collect water samples; skills that prepared her for current position with USGS.

“The hands-on experience is the main reason I chose Colorado Mountain College Leadville.” said Snarski, “The NRM internships offer ample opportunities to get you out in the field and able to make a difference. The internship allows students to work with the community, the EPA, CPW, USGS, and many other entities.”

As a hydrotech Snarski now collects water samples from storm events and maintains USGS gauge houses. She, like many other environmental grads, hopes to make a difference.

“The most rewarding part about my job is being able to be outside, in the environment, working on projects with the USGS that make an impact on bigger things, beyond me.” said Snarski, “I’m working on a project right now looking at phosphorus and nitrogen levels in agricultural fields and how they might have an effect on algae bloom in the Great Lakes.”

Snarski’s concern for the environment and desire to make a difference is what drives her passion, but it was Colorado Mountain College that helped deliver her goals.

“The instructors really enhanced my college experience,” said Snarski, “and the internship gave me the experience I needed. If you love the outdoors and are looking to make a positive impact on our environment, the NRM program in Leadville is unlike any other.”

From an early age, Sarah Duprey craved a deeper connection to nature and the outdoors. Some of her fondest childhood memories are learning about local wildlife and playing on the trails at an Audubon Society summer camp as a six-year-old. When she discovered Colorado Mountain College Leadville, she knew it would be the perfect place for her to align her personal passions and professional goals. Today, Sarah is enrolled in both the Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies programs.

“That connection with the natural world has continued throughout my whole life,” says Sarah, “but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized I wanted to pursue a career in the environmental field. I want to be able to pass on my love and respect of the earth to others, and fight to protect the environment. It’s something really close to my heart, and if I can spend my life fulfilling those goals, then I’ll feel that I have lived my life well.”

Sarah’s double major allows her to find synergy between the recreation-based Outdoor Education program and the Environmental Studies curriculum rooted in science. She recently completed a summer internship working on Weathervane Farm in Buena Vista, Colorado. In August, she was promoted to a more permanent position living and working on the farm about 40 minutes from Leadville.

“One of my passions is my desire to build sustainable communities that work with – not against – nature,” says Sarah, “where the level of living creates a minimal ecological footprint on our environment. Being this close to the elemental processes of producing food – from planting to maintaining, harvesting, packaging, and selling our produce – my respect for the importance of local farms and farmers in each community has been solidified.”

Sarah, like many other professional women in the outdoor industry, is working towards dispelling stereotypes and breaking down gender barriers.

“It can be intimidating knowing there is often a bias towards women in leadership positions,” she says, “but I believe that this mentality has begun to change, as the outdoor industry is starting a movement to hire more and more females in their workforce.”

“It’s a perfect time for us gals to get our hands dirty in the field and hone our outdoor skills and, most importantly, learn positive leadership strategies to not only make an impact in our future careers, but also be an inspiration for younger girls and other women.”