Photo by Jamie Cotten

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 17, begins the celebrations for our 2025 graduates.

Below are the what, when, and where for the events you might want to know about during Commencement Weekend.

Baccalaureate, Saturday, May 17, 3 p.m., Shove Memorial Chapel

This event kicks off Commencement Weekend with a chance to reflect and express gratitude. Eric Popkin, Associate Professor of Sociology, will give this year’s Baccalaureate Address. Don’t forget, today is the deadline to submit Baccalaureate Blessings to be displayed on the jumbotron in Ed Robson Arena during Commencement. Ideas and instructions for how to submit a message can be found on our website.

Commencement, Sunday, May 18, 8:30 a.m., Ed Robson Aren
(Doors will open to guests at 7 a.m.)

This is the culmination of the academic year, and a time to honor the graduates of the Class of 2025. Mike Shum ’07 will deliver the Commencement Address.

NOTE: Baccalaureate and Commencement are open only to graduates and ticketed guests. A livestream for both ceremonies will be available online.

Photo provided by Akinchina

Sasha Akinchina ’25 has been awarded an El Pomar Fellowship, a program for recent college graduates and early career professionals to support the pipeline of leaders in the state of Colorado.

“Making resources accessible and approachable is a cornerstone of my work and values. I am so grateful to earn a spot in the El Pomar Fellowship, where I can give back to my state of Colorado, explore my passions, and grow as a leader,” says Akinchina. “The fellowship’s emphasis on leadership will help me continue learning how I can best position myself in the community to give back and lead with purpose. I have always wanted to work for a foundation and gain experience in the philanthropic sector, so I am looking forward to making an impact and working towards a shared mission of promoting the well-being of the people of Colorado.”

Akinchina would like to thank Roy Jo Sartin, Professor Kat Miller-Stevens, Leah Brown, and Emma Fairburn for their support during her time at CC and throughout the fellowship application and interview process.

Interim President Dr. Manya Whitaker is a panelist at today’s Colorado SunFest 2025, hosted by University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies. Whitaker is part of the panel on The State of Higher Education, which takes place from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Other panelists include Dr. Jeremy Haefner (Chancellor, University of Denver) and Joe Garcia (Chancellor, Colorado Community College System), with the keynote address by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.

CC has been named the top Peace Corps’ volunteer-producing small college for 2025. There are currently 13 CC alums serving in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and the Philippines. In 2024, it was announced that CC was ranked seventh all-time in small colleges and universities producing Peace Corp volunteers. To date, CC has had 375 alums who have served abroad through the program.

“Colleges and universities from across the nation are providing us their talented alumni to serve in countries around the globe,” says Allison Greene, Peace Corps’ CEO. “These top-ranked schools understand the transformative power of public service and human connection. The Peace Corps builds invaluable intercultural communication skills, a broadened worldview, and adaptive leadership qualities needed in the American workforce today.”

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Photo provided by the FAC

Unleash your creativity at Bemis School of Art, where a dynamic world of artistic exploration awaits! Our diverse range of art classes cater to all ages and skill levels. Guided by passionate instructors, spacious studios, and small class sizes, you’ll discover an inspiring haven that nurtures your artistic spirit and fuels your creative journey.  Register today!

L-R: Estefanía Izarnótegui ’26, Pang Pongsirirushakun ’25, and Alex Reynolds-Scheel ’25 bite their honors medallions as a joke to see if they’re real gold. Photo by Jamie Cotten

We have learned that some CC employees and their families are being directly impacted by the emergency water restrictions in Manitou Springs. The city announced Monday that they are experiencing a critically limited potable water supply and have enacted strict water use restrictions, limiting use to essential drinking and sanitation until repairs can be made to a back-up supply pipeline later this week.

Because of this, we would like to remind you that you are welcome to use the locker room facilities with showers at the Adam F. Press Fitness Center. This is open to all faculty, staff, and their dependents with valid Gold Cards. Please bring your own towels.

The hours of operation for the rest of this week thru next Friday are:

If the Fitness Center staff can be of help outside of these hours, please contact Andy Obringer and/or Chris Starr for assistance.

I’m thrilled that CC will serve as the primary venue for the 2025 Department of Defense Warrior Games, taking place July 18–26. This remarkable event will bring more than 200 warrior athletes to our campus—along with hundreds of their families, friends, coaches, and supporters—from across the country and around the world.

The Warrior Games celebrate the strength, resilience, and determination of wounded, ill, and injured active-duty and veteran service members through adaptive sports. Over eight days of spirited competition, athletes will participate in events such as wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, archery, cycling, swimming, and more—building camaraderie, community, and healing.

We are honored to host this inspirational event, and we need your help to make it a success.

Volunteers are essential to every aspect of the Warrior Games, from event logistics and hospitality to athlete support and operations. Volunteering is an incredible opportunity to connect with these courageous individuals, represent CC, and be part of something truly meaningful.

👉 To volunteer for the Warrior Games, please register here.

👉To learn more about CC’s Volunteer Policy, read it here.

👉 To help you prepare, we’ve created a dedicated 2025 Warrior Games at CC webpage that outlines how campus operations will be impacted during the event—including parking lot closures and limited building access. We encourage you to review this information in advance so there are no surprises during the week of July 18–26.

👉 And mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 22—CC Day at the Warrior Games! Wear your CC gold, bring your family and friends, and join us in cheering on these incredible athletes. In addition to competition events, we’ll have entertainment and fun for all ages. More details coming soon on our Warrior Games webpage!

Thank you for helping us welcome the Warrior Games to Colorado College with the energy, hospitality, and heart that define our campus community. I am so grateful to all those on campus currently working to help make this a success.

Go Tigers!

VP & Director of Athletics