Congratulations to the following students who received CBPWEF scholarships in Fall 2006 and Spring 2007:

Madeline Arroyo, 49, of Colorado Springs is studying Teach Now—Linguistically Diverse Education at Western State College in Gunnison. During commencement exercises at CU-Colorado Springs, where she finished requirements for a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers College in New Jersey, the chancellor of UCCS spoke of Ms. Arroyo: “Madeline had not set foot on a college campus for 24 years, having left a few credits short of a degree, starting a family, and having a successful career in the advertising business. Madeline has two children, both of whom have learning disabilities. She hoped to use her experiences to learn to help others and to complete her degree. Through CU-Colorado Springs, Madeline Arroyo’s completed the requirements for her degree at Rutgers and will realize her hopes and dreams.”

Madeline Brockish, 44, is studying at the CU Health Sciences Center to become a school counselor. She hopes to someday help high school students with personal growth issues and develop and teach programs on subjects such as date rape, teen pregnancy, drugs and alcohol. She also wants to work in an environment of ethnic, socioeconomic or ability-based diversity. An earlier experience helped her “get past my fear of young people and see that as much as I had something to share with them, they had a lot to teach me.”

Michele Brown, 40, of Colorado Springs studies business administration at Everest College where she has earned a 4.0 grade-point average. She plans to become a financial planner and “help people in financial trouble, showing them a way to better their lives on paper and in life.”

Jennifer Carson, 32, of Pueblo, studies criminal justice at Pueblo Community College and plans to transfer to Colorado Technical University. She hopes to someday apprehend pedophiles for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. To qualify for the program she must complete a rigorous educational program and serve at least two years in a related field before she turns 37. The mother of three, she is determined to meet that goal and maintain her 4.0 GPA.

Barbara-Lynn Concienne, 44, of Broomfield is a student at the University of Colorado at Boulder pursuing a bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolutionary biology and a secondary teaching license. The mother of three, she has worked extensively with adolescents. Her interest in science and science discovery began in high school, when a male teacher showed her that girls could (gasp!) excel in the sciences.

Sally Easter, 30, of Loveland, a single mother of four, attends Front Range Community College in Fort Collins, where she has earned a 4.0 GPA. After completing the pre-pharmacy program at Front Range and pharmacy school later, she would like to research the treatment of genetically induced birth defects with new pharmaceuticals. “I feel like the luckiest person on earth to be able to take on this challenge,” she says.

Tammy Garton, 25, of Fort Collins is pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in early childhood education at Front Range Community College. The divorced mother of three, she plans to transfer to Colorado State University and study human development and family studies. After she receives a teaching license she plans to teach kindergarten.

Amanda Gordon, 25, of Colorado Springs is studying toward a paralegal certificate at Pikes Peak Community College.

Denise Hurtado, 52, of Loveland plans to receive a medical assisting diploma from the Institute of Business & Medical Careers, Inc. in Fort Collins. She has provided foster care to physically and emotionally abused adolescents for more than twelve years. In the future she hopes to own an assisted living home for the elderly and work with Hospice “and give back some of the care and kindness I received” when her husband died of cancer.

Theresa Johnson, 44, of Craig decided to become a nurse when she discovered she was allergic to the products she had used as a manicurist for twenty years. She is studying to be an RN at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Craig. “It’s important to serve people and to give back to our community whenever we can,” she says.

Athena Krein, 39, of Fort Collins is working toward an associate degree in nursing at Aims Community College in Greeley. A divorced mother of two, she has a “strong interest in health and helping others. I would like to assist people in achieving the highest level of health possible.”

Tamara Ann Manthey, 33, of Wheat Ridge is a psychiatric technician who is studying to become a licensed practical nurse at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School in Denver. She hopes to eventually earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing and work with Hospice patients.

Ashley Matthews, 32, of Boulder is working toward a post-bachelor’s degree in elementary education at CU-Boulder. Her goal is to teach in a rural or inner-city school system and later to teach in China or Vietnam.

Emily McCormick, 25, of Colorado Springs, a student at Colorado College, plans to earn a master’s degree and teach English to secondary school students. Ms. McCormick was a mentor in a program that served youth identified as the fifty most at-risk adolescents in Colorado Springs when she made a life-changing decision. At 25 she became a foster parent to a 17-year-old girl in the program who was released from a correctional facility and “had nowhere to go.” Ms. McCormick plans to earn a Ph.D. degree and hopes to someday establish a school for orphans of civil war. “Young adults need to have dreams and aspirations in addition to good role models. … I believe that another world is possible, a world without hunger and violence,” she says.

Rochelle Reiter, 43, of Canon City plans to attend Colorado State University-Pueblo after completing her associate degree program at Pueblo Community College. With a master’s degree in business management, she hopes to found a nonprofit organization to serve adolescent girls. “I am excited to put my education and experience to work in a job that I find rewarding and satisfying and that I believe will make a contribution to society,” says Ms. Reiter.

Alison Rosell, 27, of Denver is working toward an associate degree in radiologic technology at Concorde Career College in Aurora. Living with a disabled family member and experiencing devastating financial hardships, she believes her family has grown through their struggles. As a radiologic technician, Ms. Rosell wants to “always treat patients and individuals as if they were family” and to raise her two children in a safe environment free from poverty.

Cyndra A. Shisler, 35, of Pueblo is an honor student in social work at CSU-Pueblo. The single mother of four and a foster parent to at-risk children, she plans to work toward a master’s degree and become a high school counselor. “It is my will, determination, motivation and focus to make a difference with the children and youth of Pueblo,” she says.

Angela Shoberg, 28, of Grand Junction studies psychology and business at Mesa State College. She hopes to earn a master’s degree later and start a nonprofit organization to serve at-risk youth and families. She has been involved extensively in volunteer work, including work as a mentor to an at-risk girl.

Diane Stiegler, 64, of Aurora, studies paralegal and management at Community College of Aurora. After her son was convicted of a crime, the court mandated that he receive treatment as a condition of parole. While he was incarcerated, his treatment was terminated without his consent and without a due-process hearing. Ms. Stiegler became an activist championing the rights of prison inmates. She has since presented a report on the subject to the Colorado General Assembly, and a state legislator has agreed to sponsor a bill on the issue. She plans to start her own paralegal business and partner with her son when he is released.

Trisha Turner, 37, of Greeley is working toward two degrees in allied health at the Institute of Business and Medical Careers in Fort Collins, where she has earned high honors. She also hopes to eventually become a registered nurse in obstetrics and gynecology. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to better myself so I can have a career I love,” Ms. Turner says.

Tina Wake, 37, of Denver is studying dental hygiene at Community College of Denver. She supports her three children and one grandchild and will be the first in her family to pursue a higher education. She hopes to encourage more minorities to become dental professionals. “I hope to encourage other single parents to pursue their dreams through higher education while enabling my children to become successful and respectable adults in the community,” she says.

Jessica Yates, 26, of Longmont attends Pima Medical Institute in Denver, where she is studying to become a dental assistant. The single mother of a disabled child, she resumed her education when her 10-year-old daughter was able to attend school full time. She has volunteered extensively and has received numerous honors, including an award for great achievement in the face of adversity.

Two scholarship recipients prefer to remain anonymous.