CMC graduates more than 150
lglendenning@vaildaily.com
Vail, CO Colorado

ALL |
EDWARDS, Colorado – The day of graduation is a day filled with emotion – all of the time, effort, studying, financial stress of going to college, energy and dreams of someday graduating become a memory, and the dreams of what the future holds become a reality.
For the graduates of Colorado Mountain College, Saturday was their day to shine and think about their futures. The theme of the graduation was to “be the change you wish to see,” inspired by the quote from Gandhi.
Peggy Curry, chief executive officer of the Edwards CMC campus, told graduates Saturday that this accomplishment carries great value because it expands the possibilities for the future.
Colorado Mountain College handed out more than 150 associate degrees and professional certificates Saturday, and for many of the graduates, the journey has only just begun.
Jessica Trujillo, for example, hasn’t even graduated from Eagle Valley High School yet but she walked across the stage at Battle Mountain High School on Saturday and accepted her Associate of Arts diploma from CMC.

Support Local Journalism
Trujillo represents the very kind of education CMC provides – an education where busy people within the community can make the time to pursue their goals. Trujillo, 18, a busy high school student, took dual-enrollment classes and has just one summer class left before she officially earns her degree.
She has her sights set on Regis University, which she plans to attend this fall, and then perhaps law school after that.
Trujillo said it feels awesome to not only graduate but also to know she saved her parents some money.
Nayeli Hernandez earned her Associate of Arts business degree Saturday and gave the graduate address. She talked about challenging fear and how making it to graduation means all of the graduates have already done exactly that.
“The bad new is there are more challenges to come the rest of our lives,” Hernandez said.
But that shouldn’t stop anyone from continuing to pursue their dreams, she said. It’s time to leave the past behind and be responsible for the future, she said.
“It’s normal for you to fear what you don’t know,” Hernandez said. “Now it’s in our hands to decide how to form our own destiny.”
Graduates such as Rebecca McFarland already have their destinies in mind – McFarland told faculty that she plans to be the first person to earn a bachelor’s degree from the Edwards CMC campus, which will begin offering bachelor’s degree programs in the fall.
State Rep. Millie Hamner, who was appointed to the state House of Representatives in the fall when Christine Scanlan went to work for the governor’s office, gave the commencement address and told students the best way to be the change they want to see is to care about what they do in life.
“You’ve already demonstrated that you care by being here today,” Hamner said. “Your journey continues as you receive your diplomas and certificates.”
Associate of Arts
Rachel Arrigo
Allison Baptist
Matthew Durbin
Bailey Gates
Nicholas Lovell
Odil Macias
Jeffrey Maus
Amanda Musyl
Eric Thoades
Camille Sawtelle
Krista Schumacher
Tarrah Suman
Michael Terrell
Jessica Trujillo
Airam Gonzalez
Dylan Washburn
Associate of Arts, Business
Nereyda Blanco
Yadira Chavira
Joel Donzalez
Nayeli Hernandez
Araceli Ramos
Rebecca McFarland
Connie Parra
Associate of Arts, Early Childhood Education
Rhonda Lee
Majorie Montiel
Associate of Arts, Elementary Education, Mesa State Agreement
Laura Hannum
Juana Palacios Serna
Associate of Science
Lana Hymes
Associate of Science, Biology
Valerie Alpin
Kylara Hosman
Colton Sobieski
Associate of Science, Environmental Science
Jamison Bair
Associate of Arts, Visual Arts
Renata Marshall
Associate of General Studies
Dylan Cox
Jennifer Gallegos
Elena Hernandez
Kimberly Ozerkan
Associate of Applied Science, Culinary Arts
Jacob Walker
Mark Wohl
Associate of Applied Science, Early Childhood Education
Marie Barajas
Virginia Trujillo
Associate of Applied Science, Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic
John Avery II
Rebecca Cherry
Eric Daninger
Walter Hutton III
Timothy Lavin
Associate of Applied Science, Fire Science Technology
John German
Andrew Schmidt
Sean Turley
Associate of Applied Science, Medical Assistant
Samantha Schaub
Associate of Applied Science, Resource Management
Jacque Clark
Certificate, A+ Computer Technician
Mark Luzar
Certificate, Accounting
Fara Denhart
Certificate, Automotive Service Technology, Brakes
Paul Avila
Keith Carrieri
Dustin Eachus
John Ellis
Joseph Hawley
Jason Klatte
Slade Lyon
Rafael Macias
Roberto Ramos
Rayman Rivera
Joseph Salazar
Antonio Serna
Hector Serna
Ian Talbot
Brooke Tulk
Zachery Wamboldt
Craig Wilmers
Certificate, Automotive Service, Technology, Suspension and Steering
John Ellis
Samuel Farnen
Mariah Loud
Brooke Tulk
Craig Wilmers
Certificate, Certified Nurse Assistant
Yessenia Almanza
Teresa Avila
Ashley Baker
Tara Chenoweth
Melissa Denton
Richard Dom
Charlene Halsey
Betzabe Justo
Farrah Lane
Carl Lipp
Natalie Maes
Angela Phillips
Karalea Platt
Arielle Richard
Erica Ross
Nadia Schaffino
Brittany Taggart
Certificate, Culinary Arts, Apprentice Cook
Justin Johnson
Certificate, Early Childhood Education, Director
Jeaninne Carty
Karen Chandler
Nora Seng
Certificate, Early Childhood Education, Group Leader
Jeaninne Carty
Certificate, Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic
Miguel Arias
Rebecca Cherry
Zurette Glickman
Shawn Kiefner
Morgan Murri
Stephen Ramsey
Aaron Resnick
Steven Wille
Certificate, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
Fall:
Ann Adair
Eric Blitzstein
Ivette Caballero
Ashley Darrough
Evan Disser
Corey Gonyea
Jason Hamrick
Christopher Heftka
Benjamin Hill
Jason Holt
Jeffrey Layman
Robert Matthews
Zachary Miller
Andre Mora
Patrick Murphy
Jamee Nowlin
Kimberly Ozerkan
Ian Peluso
Slavina Rindone
Jennifer Silva
Joel Vaughan
Spring:
Lawrence Benway
Brian Blomquist
Neil Bunker
Brendan Campbell
Geralyn Campos
Sara Davies
Mathew DeVito
Anthony Feit
Michael Friel
Tricia Molloy
Christine Murray
Danielle Niehls
Margaret Olson
Travis Owens
Kendra Pardee
Quinn Parsons
William Ponder
Gregory Shaw
Robert Smith
Amelia Van Dyke
Andrew Vonesh
John Wawro
Certificate, Real Estate
Bruce Barth
Phillip Hoyos
Katie Morris
Jay Peterson
Jason Plante
