Chef David Cuntz (Art, ‘90) was honored with the Colorado Restaurant Association’s Stars of the Industry Chef of the Year Award. The award, typically given to chefs in Denver, is both a prestigious accolade for Cuntz and a recognition of Durango’s status as a food mecca.

Sarah Sturm (Art, ‘12) finished in second place at the USA Cycling Singlespeed Cyclocross Championship, smiling and gritting her way through what was a tough race. 

Jessica Morrison (M.A. Education-Teacher Leadership, ‘15) wrote an op-ed in The Durango Herald on the importance of the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative. In partnership with K-12 school districts across the Four Corners, Fort Lewis College formed the collaborative to give K-12 students learning tools to pursue their career goals and opportunities to shadow working professionals.

A cohort of 140 Fort Lewis College students was celebrated during Fall Commencement. Hosted inside Whalen Gymnasium, it was the first indoor ceremony since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic—a testament to FLC’s commitment to public health protocols. 

Jenni Trujillo, dean of the Fort Lewis College School of Education, wrote an op-ed for The Durango Herald on teacher shortages. She acknowledges the issues the shortage presents but also sees this disruption as an opportunity to affect change in the field of education.

Gigi Richard, director of the Four Corners Water Center, spoke to The Durango Herald about the lack of precipitation this winter season. Keeping a close eye on abnormally warm temperatures, Richard is concerned that the soils in the surrounding area will dry out—increasing the chance of wildfires this summer.

Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (Athletic Training, ‘13) is the new editor of Indian Country Today, a nonprofit news site with nearly a million readers each month. Bennett-Begaye hopes to build the newsroom of the future, serving as an example of how far Fort Lewis College students can go.

Former Durango mayor John Gamble wrote an op-ed in The Durango Herald commending Fort Lewis College's Village Aid Project. Praising its efficiency, effectiveness, and heart, Gamble encourages locals to support the VAP in its endeavors.

The Fort Lewis College Cycling Team secured second place at the 2021 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Illinois. In spite of fierce competition, the team once again brought prestige to both the program and Fort Lewis College as a whole.

Ben Waddell, associate professor of Sociology & Human Services, authored an op-ed for The Salt Lake Tribune. Waddell drew attention to workers from Mexico, their inability to afford housing, and how that signifies a decline of the “American Dream.”

Angel Benally (Political Science, ‘20) was interviewed on her work with FirstNet to build a public-safety broadband network for tribal nations. Indigenous nations, historically underserved populations in terms of cell coverage, stand to gain a crucial tool when responding to emergencies.

On the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, Fort Lewis College students debated the meaning of patriotism in today’s context. In a discussion facilitated by Andrew Gulliford, professor of History and Environmental Studies, the students arrived at differing answers on what patriotism means to them.

Indigenous women are the most underrepresented group of scientists in the field of physics. With a new internship, Fort Lewis College and Los Alamos National Laboratory are working to change that.

With their markedly high rates of vaccination, college campuses across Colorado have become safe havens in the COVID-19 pandemic. At a vaccination rate of 92%, Fort Lewis College leads this welcomed trend in public health.

With over 25 years of successful banking experience, Kent Curtis (Business Administration, '82), president & CEO of First Southwest Bank, will serve on the Colorado Bankers Association Board of Directors for a multi-year term.