Saw Sow ’28, 3rd place winner at the Tiger Lookalike in 2025. Photo by Jamie Cotten.

The Tiger Lookalike Contest returns Friday, Feb. 27 in the Student Event Space in Worner, with doors opening at 6 p.m. Come early for the pre-show from 6-7:30 p.m., featuring face painting, henna tattoos, tiger-themed snacks, and interactive activities to get the crowd buzzing.

The main event kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Dress up as your boldest, most creative tiger self and strut your stuff to the song of your choice in front of a panel of CC celebs. Compete for legendary prizes or cheer on your friends. Either way, bring your squad, your stripes, and your Tiger energy.

This block, Professors Jessica Sanchez-Flores (Spanish and Portuguese) and Rebecca Garcia (Mathematics) are teaching in México, leading students through SP307/MA110: Mayan Resilience: Ancestral Knowledge through Mathematics and Science. The course centers living Maya knowledge systems, highlighting how creators and intellectuals are actively shaping fields like mathematics, science, and medicine today—not as remnants of a distant past, but as vibrant, evolving practices that continue to thrive.

Through readings, art, and immersive, hands-on experiences, students explore Maya mathematical systems, visit archaeological sites, and engage directly with local healers and bee protectors in Yucatán. The course and its impact have drawn attention from regional media in México, which have highlighted the collaboration between CC students and Maya communities and the importance of sustaining and honoring ancestral knowledge in contemporary contexts.

Jason Helmer

Please welcome Jason Helmer to the Bon Appétit at Colorado College family! Jason joined the team as Catering Manager in January and has been busy getting to know the campus community.

Born in Colorado Springs, Jason has nearly 20 years of experience in catering and events. He loves the variety that comes with catering and the positive energy and happy customers at the end of a successful event.

Outside of work, Jason enjoys hiking and traveling to warm destinations with his family, especially with his 2-year-old son. Jason also has a passion for gemstones and is connected with gemstone collectors and miners around the world.

Jason can be reached at jason.helmer@cafebonappetit.com or 702-350-1115.

Luke Ortiz-Grabe ’25

By Katie Branham

After graduating from Colorado College, Luke Ortiz-Grabe ʼ25 began working as a judicial clerk at the Denver District Court. The role gave him a front-row seat to the criminal justice system, including alternatives to incarceration. At a DIVERT Court graduation—a program offering people with felony drug possession charges a chance to seek treatment instead of serving lengthy prison sentences—he watched as former defendants returned to court not for another case, but for a celebration.

After graduating from CC with a degree in International Political Economy, Ortiz-Grabe has his sights set on law school in the future, but first he’s relishing the chance to gain hands-on experience.

READ THE FULL STORY »

The Office of Communications & Marketing website has been refreshed to make it easier to find what you need, when you need it. The updated navigation brings key resources front and center, with a streamlined Brand Central menu designed to help campus partners move quickly from guidance to action.

To find tools and assets, head to Brand Central in the OCM navigation. From there, explore Build Your Own: Guidelines & Assets for logos, colors, typography, words, and photography, or visit Templates, Tools, & Resources for practical helpers like the Business Suite, Email Signature Generator, QR Code Generator, and more. Everything is organized to support consistent, confident communication across campus.

Photo provided by the FAC.

On Stage Feb. 12-March 1

After her divorce, Midwestern housewife Sharon takes on a roommate for the first time—brash New Yorker Robyn, whose past raises a few questions. Recently on Broadway, this funny and deeply moving play explores identity, connection, and the possibility of reinvention.

Special opening night offer for CC staff and faculty on Saturday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.! Snag two tickets for just $30 each and get two FREE drink tickets! Use promo code CCRoommate at checkout to get this deal. Pick up your drink tickets at the front desk when you arrive for the show.

Get your tickets today!

Guinness, the handsome pup belonging to Ann Marie Gonzalez in Facilities, loves being on campus. Photo provided by Gonzalez

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Beginning Sunday, Feb. 22, you will see upgraded versions of time sheets and/or leave reports in Banner. These are direct replacements for the current pages, featuring a streamlined, modern, mobile-friendly interface. 

These new features are available now for you to explore in a testing environment that contains data from the previous day. You’re free to make any changes. Nothing you do in the test environment will affect the live Banner system. Any changes you make in the test environment will be overwritten when production data refreshes overnight.  

After visiting the Banner 9 test environment, click on either “Time Sheet” or “Leave Report” (whichever you currently use). 

Or open the Employee dashboard and click the links in the right-hand panel:

You’ll see either “Enter Time Sheet” or “Enter Leave Report,” depending on the nature of your job. 

Note: The Banner 9 test environment is only available on campus. It is not accessible off campus.  

Upgraded Time Sheet and Leave Report User Guides: 

Feedback and Questions

If you encounter issues, have questions, or notice unexpected behavior, please contact the EIS-SA@coloradocollege.edu“> EIS team or plynch@coloradocollege.edu“> Patrick Lynch. Feedback is essential to ensuring a smooth transition.

Thank you!

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Rithya Kunnawalkam Elayavalli

Join the CC community on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 5-6 p.m. in Kathryn Mohrman for a presentation by Rithya Kunnawalkam Elayavalli, Assistant Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Vanderbilt University. Come early for the cocktail hour from 4-5 p.m. in Armstrong Great Hall.

The second half of the 20th century saw the advent of large-scale particle accelerator and collider physics experiments. International collaborations involving thousands of scientists at places like CERN in Switzerland, as well as across national laboratories in the U.S., have focused their studies on addressing gaps in our understanding of the fundamental building blocks of nature. We discovered various species of quarks, gluons, and the Higgs particle—which earned Nobel and Breakthrough Prizes for those involved—and also recreated the early universe through the production of quark-gluon plasma in heavy-ion collisions. As we have learned more about physics, we have gained massive utility as a byproduct of this research, including advancements in magnet, storage, data-pipeline, and medical physics technologies. Even though we have learned a great deal about quarks and gluons, several key concepts still elude us! In this talk, I will walk us through a brief history of discoveries from particle colliders and highlight many of the unsolved problems—especially in emergent phenomena, where the rules that govern the many differ significantly from the rules that govern the individual. Lastly, we will focus on the pathway toward the projected impact of the upcoming Electron Ion Collider, both in terms of physics and in developing a competent and excited scientific workforce for this discovery machine. 

This seminar is generously supported through the Harold D. and Rhoda N. Roberts Memorial Lecture in the Natural Sciences endowment, which supports and enhances science teaching at Colorado College.

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Stay informed and engaged with the latest HR updates, including:

Thank you to everyone who completed winter Performance Conversations. Your commitment to regular feedback helps us grow stronger together. 

Looking ahead, the optional spring check-in conversation will be available Monday, March 2–Tuesday, March 31. This brief conversation is a helpful way to align goals, progress, and support needs. 

Important: Employees who received a rating of 1 or 2 in the last conversation are required to complete this spring check-in. 

If you have questions, please reach out to us at HR@coloradocollege.edu“>HR@coloradocollege.edu. 

Types of Leave 
CC offers a variety of leave options to support you as an employee, and we know navigating those options can sometimes feel confusing. While HR is always available for guidance, below is a summary of the most common leave options. 

Supervisors’ Role in Supporting Leave 

Leave Conversations 
Supervisors should listen when employees mention medical needs, time away, or potential leave, and promptly refer them to Human Resources. Supervisors should not attempt to interpret policy, determine eligibility, or manage medical documentation on their own. 

Ensure Policy-Aligned Leave Use 
When an employee is out for an extended period or has qualified for a leave type, supervisors should help ensure the employee is using the appropriate leave category and following the required steps. 

Maintain Confidentiality 
Employee privacy is critical. Supervisors should not share medical or personal details with others. At times, supervisors may ask the employee what (if anything) they are comfortable sharing with the team—and keep it minimal. 

Support Intermittent Leave Communication 
Employees on intermittent leave (including intermittent FMLA) must notify their supervisors when they are out and ensure their time entries are accurate. Clear communication keeps records consistent and helps teams plan coverage. 

HR Is Here to Help 

Employees and supervisors should not navigate leave policies on their own. HR is available to answer questions, clarify requirements, and guide both employees and supervisors through the process. 

For more detailed guidance, please refer to the policies for Colorado College Family and Medical Leave and Colorado Family Leave, or contact us at HR@coloradocollege.edu“>HR@coloradocollege.edu with any questions. 

Photo provided by Debi O’Connor

During CC’s Week of Action, held Jan. 12-16, Human Resources had the opportunity to volunteer with Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado. This meaningful experience allowed HR staff to support local efforts to address food insecurity while strengthening our connection to the broader Pikes Peak region. 

We are especially grateful to Sarah Elsey and the Collaborative for Community Engagement (CCE) for their outstanding coordination. Their work—organizing logistics such as transportation, volunteer waivers, and partnerships with local nonprofits—ensures that community engagement opportunities are both accessible and impactful for departments across the College. 

Colorado College’s ongoing commitment to service extends far beyond campus. HR is proud to contribute to that mission, and to be part of an organization that values giving back to the community we call home. 

Visit the HR Updates page to check out past editions of People Connections, along with recent updates from HR.

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Just a reminder to join the Office of Communications & Marketing tomorrow for the next Work of the College: Brand Refresh Miniseries event:

“Writing the CC Way: Style, Voice, and Tone”
Thursday, Feb. 12
1-2 p.m.
Bemis Great Hall

This interactive session dives into CC’s refreshed Editorial Style Guide and explores how voice and tone bring our brand to life in everyday writing. Expect practical tips, real examples, and a few permission slips to bend the rules (yes, really).

If you write anything at CC and have ever wondered, “What’s the CC way to say this?”—this one’s for you. We’d love to see you there.

The Work of the College Series is a year-long program of events with four goals: (1) clarify organizational structures and decision-making processes; (2) offer campus constituencies the opportunity to dialogue with leadership about campus affairs; (3) increase decision-making transparency in hopes of building trust; and (4) build community.

The Work of the College Series consists of:

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Don’t forget to join your colleagues for the Block 5 In the Loop all-staff meeting tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 12, at 8:30 a.m. in Celeste Theatre. The program will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Stay afterward for a light breakfast and conversation in Cornerstone Main Space.

Topics will include:

See you then,

14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903