Colorado College has joined a new sponsorship initiative to support a sustainable education pathway for refugee students as they begin their studies in the United States.

The Welcome Corps on Campus enables colleges and universities to play a leading role in resettling refugee students who were forced to flee their homes and leave behind the communities they’d built. A first-of-its kind program launched in January 2023, the Welcome Corps on Campus links higher education access to resettlement through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which provides a path to permanent legal status in the U.S.

Colorado College is one of 144 institutions that have expressed support for the program, which leverages the capacity of U.S. higher education institutions to serve as resettlement spaces and academic opportunities for refugee students, foster more diverse and inclusive campuses, and create a sustainable opportunity for colleges and universities to welcome refugee students on their campuses. Campus Private Sponsor Groups consisting of staff, faculty, and students will welcome refugee students and provide them with a softer landing, a supportive community, and set them up for academic and overall success. 

The 12th annual U.S. Open Taekwondo Hanmadang, one of the largest and most prestigious Taekwondo events in the world, will be hosted at Ed Robson Arena July 28 and 29.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. on Fri., July 28, with Opening Ceremonies, followed with a performance by the Shinhan University Korean Demonstration Team.

“We are honored to bring this tournament to the Colorado College campus in downtown Colorado Springs,” Master Jay Lee, president and CEO of the U.S. Taekwondo Center, said in the November 2022 announcement. “Colorado College has a world-class reputation for innovation and education and we are excited to use their state-of-the-art arena which will provide our athletes and families an incredible experience.”

This event is open to all ages, with athletes ranging between four and 90 years old. Hanmadang is a Korean word that translates to festival. This year’s tournament will introduce a new concept in sparring, using electronic safety gear. Additionally, the inaugural William J. Hybl scholarship, a $14,000 cash prize, will be provided to winners of the Demonstration Team competitions.

Read for more information and learn how to get tickets.

After winning the Donovan Award in June, it was recently announced that Oliver Kraft ’23 has also been named Ultimate Frisbee’s D-III Men’s Player of the Year for 2023.

Kraft’s leadership was on display all season, and his play and presence elevated his teammates, playing a major role in their championship. His teammates said it best in his Donovan nomination: “Oliver plays and leads with a humble and contagious stoicism unparalleled by anyone else on the team. In all Wasabi contexts, Oliver holds himself and his peers to an extremely high standard of humility, fair-play, kindness, hard-work, and perseverance.”

Kraft’s force on defense, composure and production on offense, and leadership made him a unanimous selection as the 2023 D-III Men’s Player of the Year.

Assistant Professor of Sociology Florencia Rojo has been named a national 2023-2024 Engaged Scholar from the Campus Compact, along with CC alum Jody Joyner ’10.

The 2023-2024 cohort of Engaged Scholars consists of 14 engaged faculty, staff, and administrators from Campus Compact member institutions across the country.

Scholars are chosen based on their commitment to centering equity in their civic and community engagement work. These highly qualified scholars come from Campus Compact member institutions across the country.

When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the adjustment to his new high school. What he isn’t prepared for are the local laws — including a ban on dancing — an edict from the local preacher bent on exercising control over the town’s youth. When the Reverend’s rebellious daughter shows interest in the “new kid,” her boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren’s reputation and many of the locals are eager to believe the worst about him. With its Oscar-nominated hit score (as well as many a nod to Kevin Bacon’s legendary performance), this musical celebrates the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom found through communication, and the power of forgiveness.

With its Oscar-nominated hit score (as well as many a nod to Kevin Bacon’s legendary performance), this musical celebrates the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom found through communication, and the power of forgiveness.

Stage Adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford
Music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Additional Music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman

July 27-30 at The Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, tickets are $13. Visit our website for more information and to purchase tickets.

This summer, Colorado College students Zeke Lloyd ’24 and Michael Braithwaite ’24, with funding provided by a CC Venture Grant and the Sheffer Fund for Catholic Studies, spent a month travelling around central Europe reporting on the Ukrainian refugee crisis. They visited Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, and reported back through stories published in the Colorado Springs and Denver Gazettes. Along the way, they kept us updated on their travels and experiences.

By Zeke Lloyd ’24 and Michael Braithwaite ’24

In our combined two pieces of luggage, we did not bring many books. Even paperbacks are heavy and take up precious space. 

But The Art and Craft of Feature Writing by William E. Blundell was one of the few that made the cut. It is required reading for the course Reporting on Human Rights. And it was that text, along with content from other journalism classes we have taken, which inspired our five-week trip to Slovakia and Georgia. 

Here, our routine consists of adventure. We interview academic experts, community organizers, and everyday citizens. We keep our ears to the ground and build new contacts in each city we visit. 

No two days are alike. As we set out each morning to collect stories, we take only what we need. Between the both of us, we carry a small hand-held digital recorder, a notebook, a pack of gum, and two DSLR cameras.