The Office of Sustainability, along with many other campus and community partners, is excited to bring a full week of events and programming to the community. CC’s celebrations for Earth Week will start today, Monday, Apr. 21, and run through Saturday, Apr. 26. We invite you to engage in this week’s events.

Trash Peak  

Host: Office of Sustainability Waste Team Time: 12:15-2 p.m. 
Location: Worner Quad 

Kick off Earth Week with an interactive and eye-opening dive into CC’s waste at Trash Peak. Together, we’ll create a “mountain” of trash outside Worner—and then literally dig in to sort it. Learn how to properly divert items from the landfill in this hands-on event, designed to boost your sorting skills and sustainability know-how. Come and get your hands dirty and become a waste-sorting pro!

Earth Week Book Display & Raffle 

Host: Tutt Library 
Time: All week with results announced Friday, Apr. 25 
Location: Tutt Library 2nd Floor Research Desk 

Come by throughout the week to check out the library’s Earth Week book display. While you’re there, make sure to enter the raffle! The winners will be announced on Friday, Apr. 25. 

BYOM: Coffee & Tea 

Host: Bon Appetit x Office of Sustainability 
Time: All day (while supplies last) 
Location: Colorado Coffee 

Sip sustainably—on us! Bring your own clean, 20 oz. mug to Colorado Coffee and enjoy a FREE tea, drip coffee, or a custom-crafted limited-edition Earth Week beverage!. It’s a small action with a big impact—help reduce waste one cup at a time. Available all day while supplies last, so don’t miss out! 

Bonus tip: Outside of this special event, did you know that bringing your own clean mug to this and other locations gets you a discount any day of the week for drip coffee? 

Outdoor Industry Alumni Career Panel  

Host: Career Center 
Time: 2-3 p.m. 
Location: Career Center Carriage House  

Join us on Earth Day, April 22 at 2 p.m. to learn more about Outdoor Industry careers from awesome alums working in related leadership positions. We will have a panel and open it up to Q&A for students. 

After the panel, we will move outside for treats and games. 

Alums attending include the President and CEO of Palmer Land Conservancy, the Academic Support Coordinator with High Mountain Institute, and the Parks Operations Administrator with City of Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation. 

Conservation in the West Photo Contest Winners  

Host: State of the Rockies 
Time: Noon 
Location: State of the Rockies Website 

The State of the Rockies Project invited students to submit up to three photos taken in the Rocky Mountain West that reflect the importance of conservation—why it matters, how it happens, and what we must do to protect the natural world. Each submission included a short description connecting the image to a key theme from this year’s Conservation in the West poll.  

Winners will be announced at noon—check them out here! 

CC Exchange Spring Pop-Up 

Host: Office of Sustainability CC Exchange Team 
Time: 12:15-1:30 p.m. 
Location: Worner Quad 

Looking to refresh your wardrobe sustainably? Stop by the CC Exchange Spring Pop-Up on Worner Quad and browse a curated collection of cute, colorful, and totally FREE clothing! It’s the perfect way to give pre-loved pieces a second life while keeping textiles out of the landfill.  

The CC Exchange will be open during Weeks 1–3 of this block, from 2–4 p.m. in the Worner Basement next to the CC Pantry. Be sure to stop by while it’s open to pick up new items or drop off donations—it will be closing for the summer. 

Sense of Place: Water Treatment Facility Tour 

Host: Colorado Springs Utilities x Office of Sustainability 
Time: 12:45-2:15 p.m.  
Location: Off-Campus 

Join us for an informative behind-the-scenes tour of the J.D. Phillips Water Resource Recovery Facility, located near the Pikeview Reservoir. The facility is fully enclosed to control odors and efficiently process solids, which are sent through the Monument Creek Interceptor to the Las Vegas Water Resource Recovery Facility and further treated at Clear Spring Ranch. Gain a deeper understanding of how this facility contributes to water sustainability and the environment. Today, is the last day to register for this tour.

Outdoor Cultivation 

Host: Project Mush Club x CC Student Farm Club   
Time: 3 p.m.  
Location: TCC Farm 

Get your hands dirty at a joint inoculation day. Work with the CC Student Farm Club and Project Mush Club to cultivate plants and grow something new down at the CC Farm.  

Llamapalooza Merch Screening Printing Event

Host: Llamapalooza Planning Committee 
Time: 12-2 p.m.
Location: Worner Quad 

Come chill with the Llamapalooza Planning Committee for a Merch Screen Printing Event. Bring your funkiest, most fabulous clothes to have a Llama logo printed directly onto the item, because nothing says festival-ready like custom merch! See you there.

Timothy C. Linnemann Memorial Lecture 

Host: Environmental Studies & Science Program 
Book Signing Time: 5-5:45 p.m. 
Lecture Time: 6-7:30 p.m. 
Location: Kathryn Mohrman Theatre  

Join Dr. Hi’ilei Julia Kawehipuaakahaopulani Hobart for “Where Hawai’i Ends.” Grounded in the Indigenous environmental politics of stewardship and care, this talk emphasizes the economic and ecological debts that are set into motion when fresh lands are brought to the surface.  

Arbor Day  

Host: Facilities Services’ Landscape & Grounds Crew x Office of Sustainability 
Time: 12:30-2 p.m. 
Location: Behind the Office of Sustainability (1004 N Weber)  

Join us for an Arbor Day planting event hosted by CC’s Landscape & Grounds Crew. You’ll work alongside the crew to plant trees and native plants behind the OoS office. These plants will represent the diverse landscapes of Colorado, from the plains to the mountains. 

Put in some hard work while helping to enhance our campus environment. Free sandwiches and t-shirts will be available while supplies last, so come early, get your hands dirty, and celebrate sustainability with us! 

Pride Outside 

Host: Outdoor Education 
Time: 2-5 p.m.  
Location: Yampa Field 

Stop by for music, food, and activities. There will be student-led learning opportunities including clinics on skills like how to pitch a tent, build a fire, light a stove, water color in the outdoors, and more. There will also be other fun activities like an obstacle bounce house and a gear sale.  

Earth Week Book Display & Raffle Closes 

Host: Tutt Library 
Time: Results announced today! 
Location: Tutt Library 2nd Floor Research Desk 

This is the last day of the Earth Week book display. Make sure you stop by before it’s too late to enter the raffle. Winners will be announced today, so don’t miss your chance to participate and win some great prizes.  

Breakout Trip: Ithaka Housing Volunteering

Host: CCE 
Time: 9:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. 
Location: Location will be sent after registration, transportation is provided. 

Ithaka Housing works to help people escape the cycle of poverty and homelessness, secure stable long-term housing, and achieve a self-determined vision for their lives. Activities may include landscaping and painting. Students can register here and will be sent meet-up information from the trip leader. 

Sustainable Speaker Series 

Host: University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Date: Tuesday, Apr. 22 
Time: Varying events from 4:30-8:30 p.m. 
Location: UCCS Berger Hall   

Join UCCS for an engaging panel discussion, where you’ll have the chance to hear diverse perspectives and participate in a dynamic audience Q&A. Enjoy light refreshments throughout the event while connecting with fellow attendees. Plus, don’t miss your chance to win a prize basket worth up to $60! Please register using this link.

Host: OCC Trash Fairies 
 
Time: 9 a.m. 
Location: West Side of Vermijo Park 

The OCC Trash Fairies, a local non-profit dedicated to preserving our precious waterways, is partnering with Westside Cares for a creek clean-up. Together, they will head out to clean up the section of Fountain Creek (from 25th to Ridge Rd.) and protect these vital ecosystems for future generations. Participants never know what hidden treasures they might discover along the way.

The group will meet at the west parking lot of Vermijo Park by the community garden, with a safety briefing starting at 9 a.m. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Refreshments will be available at the end of the clean-up. 

I want to make another plea for your participation in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which asks questions about your college experience and helps us improve the education we provide at CC.

In appreciation for participating, students who complete the survey will be automatically entered in a random drawing to win a gaming system (worth $350), or an iPad (worth $350). Your chances of winning depend on how many complete the survey; 1172 students were invited to participate.

Take the Survey

For help with logging into the survey or to find answers to a variety of other questions, please visit the NSSE website. If you have other questions, please contact Benjamin Moffitt at bmoffitt@coloradocollege.edu“> bmoffitt@coloradocollege.edu or 719-389-6842..

Thank you in advance for taking a few moments to reflect on your experiences and help us strengthen CC!

Sincerely,

Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students

Please find Block 7 In the Loop and Block 8 updates and information from Staff Council below. If you have questions, comments, or feedback, feel free to email us at StaffCouncil@ColoradoCollege.edu.

We appreciate you! 

Staff Council’s Block 8 meeting was held on Tuesday, Apr. 29. Here are some key points for your information.

Presidential Planning Listening Sessions Discussion

Staff Council discussed the listening sessions that were held with executive search firm Russell Reynolds. It was agreed that staff appreciated being included in the process and asked their opinions. Russell Reynolds will supply the Board of Trustees with their assessment based on the discussions, and then the Trustees will determine next steps in the process.

Summer Retreat

Staff Council will hold their summer retreat on Thursday, Jul. 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Subcommittee Updates

The Compensation Committee is looking to fill staff vacancies for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year! There are currently three spots available (two hourly/non-exempt staff members and one salaried/exempt staff member). Staff Council is currently looking for motivated individuals who would be interested in serving on the Committee, or would like to nominate a colleague to join, with onboarding beginning in early July. 

If interested, please submit the nomination form by Tuesday, May 20. A Staff Council subcommittee will meet following this date and determine who will be recommended to join for the next academic year.

The Compensation Committee is a recommending body of staff and faculty that does advocacy for wage and benefits issues, research on upcoming compensation trends, and advises on new policies. Their primary function is to give voice to the needs of the CC community. They liaise closely with the community through listening sessions and work with HR, Finance, and other community stakeholders. On average the committee meets twice a block in the fall and on an ad hoc basis in the spring.

Free Josh & John’s Ice Cream for All Staff
Hosted by Staff Council
Date: Tuesday, May 27
Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Location: Josh & John’s Scoop Bus in front of Worner Student Center

All staff members are invited to grab a free Josh & John’s ice cream as a token of our appreciation for all that you do for CC. Simply bring your Gold Card to the ice cream bus any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to get your free ice cream. Please ensure you have your Gold Card with you.

Reminder about Questions Submitted to the Staff Council Website

Thank you!

As the academic year comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the many ways students, faculty, staff, and community partners have worked together to strengthen our communities — both within and beyond campus. 

Below, we recognize the contributions of our Community Engagement Recognition Night (CERN) awardees and celebrate the seniors preparing to carry their commitments forward into new chapters. We also share highlights and data that offer a glimpse into the breadth and depth of community engagement at CC — shaped by hundreds of individuals and partnerships working toward shared goals. 

As we mark 150 years of CC’s history, these stories remind us that we are part of something larger than ourselves — a story that is shaped by those who came before us and carried forward by each of us. We share these highlights and numbers with gratitude, as well as an open invitation to continue building together. 

Congratulations Class of 2025! Where are some of our CCE seniors going next?  

We know that their community-engaged experiences at CC have made a huge impact on the change that these students want to make in the world, and we wish all of our graduating seniors luck in whatever comes next. May you continue to build strong communities together! 

We’re thrilled to launch the fifth summer of the Stroud Scholars Program! This year, we received 92 applications from talented local high school students, and 25 outstanding scholars have been selected to join our newest cohort. 

In total, CC will host 69 Stroud Scholars from six school districts across the Pikes Peak Region. These students will take part in college preparatory classes and programming designed to build academic confidence and college readiness. 

Seven CC faculty members, alongside five local high school instructors, will lead courses that strengthen scholars’ quantitative reasoning and writing skills. 

Be sure to give our scholars a warm welcome while they are on campus, July 6–25! 

In the spirit of continuing to build together into the future, we encourage you to explore these opportunities through the CCE. 

Volunteer Opportunities 

Staying in Colorado Springs and looking for opportunities to remain engaged with the community this summer? Keep an eye on our Opportunities to Volunteer webpage! New opportunities are added regularly. 

PEAK Project 

Are you interested in transitioning a course you’re teaching this fall to community-engaged learning, but don’t feel you currently have the community connections to do so? If so, you’re invited to participate in the Publicly Engaged, Actionable Knowledge (PEAK) Project by filling out this brief interest form by the end of Block 8 (Sunday, May 18).  

Read more about the PEAK project here. 

Thank you for being part of a year of connection and impact. We look forward to building on that momentum together in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Join the campus community on Tuesday, May 6 at 11 a.m. in Shove Memorial Chapel as we kick off Commencement festivities with Honors Convocation, an annual CC tradition recognizing the achievements of our outstanding students and faculty.

Interim President Whitaker, Dean Emily Chan, and the Academic Events Committee (AEC) invite all students, faculty, and staff to honor those who have excelled in academics, leadership, athletics, and more. The program will feature departmental awards, all-college awards, and CC Student Government Association honors.

Classes will adjourn at 10:30 a.m. to allow everyone to attend and celebrate those who are being recognized. Come be part of a special moment recognizing what makes CC truly exceptional.

Join us in Shove Chapel tonight, Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. for a conversation with Representative Justin Jones and CC student leaders on how to uplift young voices in advocacy work and civic engagement. Attendees will learn about how Rep. Jones got involved in the Tennessee State Legislature, his commitment to social justice, and how young people can serve their communities for a better future for all. 

Rep. Jones is an activist, educator, and community organizer in Nashville, TN. He ran for office because he got tired of asking lawmakers to meet with their constituents and fight for change, and knew that he could serve the people whose voices were not being heard. For almost a decade, he has been involved in spoken truth to power at the Tennessee State Capitol where he was elected to represent District 52 (parts of Nashville) in 2022. 

Photo provided by Moraja

Henry Moraja ’25 has earned a Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) program placement. “CBYX is a program funded by the German government where 65 Americans spend 11 months in Germany, first doing two months of intensive language courses, then a semester of university classes in their career field, then five months of an internship. I want to be an academic librarian so I will be taking courses about library science and doing an internship in a library or an archive,” says Moraja. “I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to spend a year immersed in my passion for German and library science. I look forward to getting to know new regions of Germany, expanding my knowledge of librarianship, and making connections with other participants and students.” 

READ THE FULL STORY »

This year, there will more food trucks, more late-night bites, and more sweet treats, including a custom Llamapalooza flavor from the Josh & John’s Scoop Bus, available all day. Attendees who are of legal drinking age can also enjoy local beer and cider, served in new Llamapalooza x Klean Kanteen pint glasses, thanks to the Office of Sustainability’s EcoFund. 

In addition to the awesome music, we’ll have yoga on the grass, yard games (including a custom cornhole set), interactive art installations, and sesquicentennial-themed fun in Worner. We’ll also have sustainably-sourced merch, from sweatshirts to tote bags, and a new screen-printing area where you can bring your own clothes for a personal Llamapalooza touch. A huge shout out to CCSGA for funding this extra-special sesquicentennial edition of this CC tradition. Don’t miss it!

The CC Summer Music Festival (SMF) presents its spring Intermezzo Season concert on Wednesday, May 7, at 7 p.m. in Packard Hall, featuring Three Js at CC: The Frautschi, Manasse, Nakamatsu Trio. The trio comprises violinist Jennifer Frautschi, clarinetist Jon Manasse, and pianist Jon Nakamatsu. The program includes works by Mendelssohn, Debussy, and Stravinsky, plus “Two Rags for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano,” composed by SMF pianist John Novacek. 

Frautschi is a two-time Grammy nominee and Avery Fisher career grant recipient who has garnered worldwide acclaim as a deeply expressive, musically adventurous violinist with impeccable technique and a wide-ranging repertoire. Manasse is internationally recognized for his inspiring artistry, uniquely glorious sound, and charismatic performing style. Nakamatsu is now in his third decade of touring worldwide, and he continues to draw critical and public acclaim for his intensity, elegance, and electrifying solo, concerto, and chamber music performances. 

The CC SMF, led by music director Susan Grace and now entering its 41st season, is an annual three-week festival in June that invites more than 50 pre-professional musicians to the CC campus to study with preeminent performance artists and to present a variety of chamber and orchestral concerts to the CC and Colorado Springs communities. Intermezzo Season concerts keep the music alive in between the festival’s summer seasons. Tickets are free for all current CC students, faculty, and staff. Visit the SMF website for more information.

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Join us on Friday, May 9 at 5:30 p.m. for a fun-filled evening of crafting and cocktails. Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and this is the perfect opportunity to make your own gift. Dive into the art of macrame, where you’ll learn to knot and weave your very own Feathered Wall Hanging. No prior experience is necessary – our expert instructor, Megan Dulin, will guide you through the process step-by-step. You can also purchase a delicious drink to sip on while you craft.

Space is limited so bring your friends or come solo. Either way, you’ll have a fantastic time socializing and creating something beautiful! Tickets and more information can be found on our website.

Professor Tomi-Ann Roberts with a group of her students in Florence, Italy, recreating the famous Primavera painting by Sandro Botticelli.