New business ideas at this year's Hawk Tank ranged from outdoor gear companies to luxury streetwear brands and everything in between. The variety of pitches highlighted the underlying purpose of the business plan competition—to give students the tools they need to realize their dreams.
Alumnus Ryan Lazo (Anthropology and Environmental Studies, ’13) is thrilled to be back at Fort Lewis College and in a sphere of collaboration with his peers while also reconnecting with faculty who inspired his journey as a student.
Julie (Levy) Duvall (Political Science, ’05), the Board of Trustees' newest member, is ready to reconnect with campus and engage students, staff, and faculty in building the future of Fort Lewis College.
Protecting Powder
Meet FLC alum Torrey Udall (International Business, ’13). As VP of Development & Finance at Protect Our Winters in Boulder, Colo., Udall aligns his passion for outdoor adventures with his professional path.
Making a Splash
Waking to the propane blast of water heating for coffee, Tish Varney looks up to see tiny bats swooping along the dawn-lit walls of Grand Canyon.
Where the Learning Never Stops
From whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon to sipping scotch in the Scottish Highlands, the FLC Adventure Club has a little something for everyone.
Still Climbing After All these Years
After graduating in 1988, Stephen Sullivan went on to earn success in the outdoor recreation and business realms. In 2011, he launched Stio, a direct-to-consumer, analytically driven, outdoor apparel company.
Learn about two of FLC's historic community partnerships: the Heart Fund Drive and Radio KIUP.
This year, the annual Hawk Tank Business Plan Competition included a Four Corners region high school track, recent FLC alumni track, FLC student track, and—for the first time ever—a San Juan College student track.
Jason Stanley (English, ‘08) is from a family that believes in the power of education and in his leadership roles as high school principal and college regent, he's hosting field trips to FLC to introduce students to “the campus in the sky” and the opportunities that college provides.
High Country News featured the years-long mule deer migration research of Anna Ortega (Biology, '14). Now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wyoming, Ortega fondly recalled Jo, a celebrity ungulate whose migration data turned her into an internet sensation.
Greg LeBlanc (Biology, '13) has been hired as the new assistant town manager of the community of Snowmass Village, CO, home to Snowmass Ski Area.
Filmmaker, wilderness first responder, chef, professional snorkeler—river guides can wear more hats than just those floppy straw ones. Greg Cairns (Humanities-English Concentration, '13) talks all about the guide life in his new autobiographical film, I’m A River Guide.
Ryan Evans (Business Administration, ‘03) has made waves in the niche Belgian-style beer market with his very own “Bruz Beers.” Having struck a deal with Ska Distribution, Evans hopes to take his business to the next level and bring Belgian-inspired beers to the Southwest.
Lucas Clancy (Biology, '19) and Josh Bonar (Biology, '19) recently completed training and earned permanent positions as District Wildlife Managers with Colorado Parks & Wildlife—a competitive job that requires applicants to score at the very top of their cohort on written and oral exams just to be considered for training.
Fort Lewis College alumnae Isabelle Farrell (Philosophy, ‘19) and Annie Farrell (Political Science, '20) showcased their film “Route One North” at the Durango Independent Film Festival. Produced during the pandemic, the film follows the story of two sisters tracking down their absentee father.