ccuviewbook2

“SEE, I AM DOING A NEW THING! NOW IT SPRINGS UP;

DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT? I AM MAKING A WAY IN THE

DESERT AND STREAMS IN THE WASTELAND.”

- Isaiah 43:19

COLORADOCHRISTIAN

UNIVERSITY

What do you get whenacademics, faith,

and community meet granite, SNOWY slopes,and the Mile High City?

Want a Christ-focused college education where professors and peers will walk with you as you grow in mind, heart, and spirit? This is it. One that’s spilling over with adventure and opportunity.

A 15 minute drive west of CCU, you’ll find yourself weaving through the Front Range of the Rockies on your way to ski resorts like A-Basin,

Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Vail, and Winter Park. Or you can climb Pikes Peak or immerse yourself in the open spaces of Rocky Mountain National Park. A quick bus ride east of campus will drop you in the heart of Denver, where you can indulge

in culture and art, serve the needy, and connect with internships or jobs at numerous corporations or nonprofits. At CCU, you can even build your classes around a four-day week to make the rest of your time more flexible.

Opportunity knocks. Embrace it, Colorado style.

800.44.FAITH • www.ccu.edu

INTEGRATION:REV. DR. KEVIN TURNER

STUDENTPERSPECTIVE:RACHEL PENNER

WALK THE TALK:MISSIONS

WHERE THEY'VE GONE:ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

A bird's-eye view near Young Life's Frontier Ranch, home of the annual New Student Retreat.

Colorado Christian UniversityOffice of Admissions8787 W. Alameda Ave.Denver, CO 80226

Viewbook Winter 09-Final.indd 1 1/8/2010 4:54:49 PM

1. CCU student climbing in Morrison, CO, 10 minutes from campus; 2. Denver dressed up for Christmas; 3. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts; 4. Denver's light-rail transit system; 5. INVESCO Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos; 6. Columbine, Colorado's state flower; 7. Camping with friends; 8. Red Rocks Amphatheatre, a world-renowned concert venue overlooking Denver; 9. Maroon Bells peaks in Aspen.

TABLE OF CONTENTS□ Integration: Rev. Dr. Kevin Turner - 3□ Making the College Choice - 4□ Owning My Faith - 5□ Majors & Minors - 6, 7□ Alumni Outcomes - 8, 9□ Student Missions: Poland - 10, 11□ Student Ministries: FatBoys - 12, 13□ Discover Denver - 14, 15□ Questions & Answers - 16, 17□ Internships - 18□ Study Abroad - 19□ Campus Community - 20, 21□ Cougar Athletics - 22, 23□ Mentorship - 24□ Preview CCU - 25□ Campus Services/Facts & Stats - 26□ Admission & Financial Aid - 27

OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION:• Derry Ebert

Dean of Enrollment, 303.963.3338• Kristen Fundenberger

Associate Director of Admissions, 303.963.3202• Jo Leda Martin

Associate Director of Admissions, 303.963.3206• Simeon Turner

Associate Director of Admissions, 303.963.3207Enrollment Counselors:

• Jameson Dillon, 303.963.3208• Brock Glenn, 303.963.3212• Abby Herreman, 303.963.3209• Christopher Ray, 303.963.3203• Beth Schneider, 303.963.3213• Janae Weidmann, 303.963.3029

CAMPUS VISITS:• Becky Palisuri,

Visit and Preview Coordinator, 303.963.3368

Special thanks to University Communications andall who contributed to this publication:• Lisa Zeller, Director• Jon Watters, Assistant Director and writer• Danielle Hull, Graphic Designer and contributing phototgrapher

Additional thanks to contributing photographersJosh Barrett and Kylie Watters.

REV. DR. KEVIN TURNERAssociate Professor of Youth Ministry and Theology

• D.Min. – Reformed Theological Seminary• M.Div. – Multnomah University

• B.S. – Washington Baptist College• Guest lecturer at multiple C.S. Lewis Institutes,

Seattle Pacific University• Board member, Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je

• Charter member, American Association ofChristian Counselors

• Former director, Camp McCullough andseveral church youth programs

• Former instructor, Washington Baptist College

CHRIST ISN’T AN ELEMENT HERE. HE’S AN EMPHASIS.Integration: A popular and perhaps overused word throughout Christian higher education. In general, it involves the connecting of biblical truths and ideas with all areas of our lives. In the context of a Christian university, it translates into things like academic disciplines taught from a biblical perspective, sports teams focused on glorifying God through how they compete, and campus-life programs that promote Christ-centered community. Integration is good, but when applied without the right starting point, even the best intentions can yield to several common mistakes.

The first is superficiality. The Bible addresses very important issues about how to think and live. Those issues must be thoroughly explored (at times down to the original, historical context) if we are to understand and significantly apply them today. The second mistake is overgeneralization. New Testament ethics can’t be reduced to statements like be nice. What about the applications, for example, where we are taught to take a difficult path toward loving someone, a path that may be hard on them?

The way we approach integration steers whether we end up reducing biblical meaning and its implications in our lives. When we come up with our own standards and then look for how the Bible fits into them, we may have the basics down, but are we really changed from the inside out the way Christ intended?

What I’m saying is this: MAKE THE BIBLE YOUR FIRST AND FOREMOST GUIDE IN ALL THAT YOU DO. I think that’s the defining difference of an excellent Christian education. This is my hope for you. ▪

3 • INTEGRATION: REV. DR. KEVIN TURNER

COLORADOCHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

What do you get whenACADEMICS, FAITH, and COMMUNITY meet granite, snowy slopes,and theMile High City?

Want to visit us? Learn more at www.ccu.edu/Preview

800.44.FAITH

Where is God leading you?1.

7. 8. 9.

1. CCU student climbing in Morrison, CO, 10 minutes from campus; 2. Denver dressed up for Christmas; 3. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts; 4. Denver's light-rail transit system; 5. INVESCO Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos; 6. Columbine, Colorado's state flower; 7. Camping with friends; 8. Red Rocks Amphatheatre, a world-renowned concert venue overlooking Denver; 9. Maroon Bells peaks in Aspen.

TABLE OF CONTENTS□ Integration: Rev. Dr. Kevin Turner - 3□ Making the College Choice - 4□ Owning My Faith - 5□ Majors & Minors - 6, 7□ Alumni Outcomes - 8, 9□ Student Missions: Poland - 10, 11□ Student Ministries: FatBoys - 12, 13□ Discover Denver - 14, 15□ Questions & Answers - 16, 17□ Internships - 18□ Study Abroad - 19□ Campus Community - 20, 21□ Cougar Athletics - 22, 23□ Mentorship - 24□ Preview CCU - 25□ Campus Services/Facts & Stats - 26□ Admission & Financial Aid - 27

OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION:• Derry Ebert

Dean of Enrollment, 303.963.3338• Kristen Fundenberger

Associate Director of Admissions, 303.963.3202• Jo Leda Martin

Associate Director of Admissions, 303.963.3206• Simeon Turner

Associate Director of Admissions, 303.963.3207Enrollment Counselors:

• Jameson Dillon, 303.963.3208• Brock Glenn, 303.963.3212• Abby Herreman, 303.963.3209• Christopher Ray, 303.963.3203• Beth Schneider, 303.963.3213• Janae Weidmann, 303.963.3029

CAMPUS VISITS:• Becky Palisuri,

Visit and Preview Coordinator, 303.963.3368

Special thanks to University Communications andall who contributed to this publication:• Lisa Zeller, Director• Jon Watters, Assistant Director and writer• Danielle Hull, Graphic Designer and contributing phototgrapher

Additional thanks to contributing photographersJosh Barrett and Kylie Watters.

REV. DR. KEVIN TURNERAssociate Professor of Youth Ministry and Theology

• D.Min. – Reformed Theological Seminary• M.Div. – Multnomah University

• B.S. – Washington Baptist College• Guest lecturer at multiple C.S. Lewis Institutes,

Seattle Pacific University• Board member, Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je

• Charter member, American Association ofChristian Counselors

• Former director, Camp McCullough andseveral church youth programs

• Former instructor, Washington Baptist College

CHRIST ISN’T AN ELEMENT HERE. HE’S AN EMPHASIS.Integration: A popular and perhaps overused word throughout Christian higher education. In general, it involves the connecting of biblical truths and ideas with all areas of our lives. In the context of a Christian university, it translates into things like academic disciplines taught from a biblical perspective, sports teams focused on glorifying God through how they compete, and campus-life programs that promote Christ-centered community. Integration is good, but when applied without the right starting point, even the best intentions can yield to several common mistakes.

The first is superficiality. The Bible addresses very important issues about how to think and live. Those issues must be thoroughly explored (at times down to the original, historical context) if we are to understand and significantly apply them today. The second mistake is overgeneralization. New Testament ethics can’t be reduced to statements like be nice. What about the applications, for example, where we are taught to take a difficult path toward loving someone, a path that may be hard on them?

The way we approach integration steers whether we end up reducing biblical meaning and its implications in our lives. When we come up with our own standards and then look for how the Bible fits into them, we may have the basics down, but are we really changed from the inside out the way Christ intended?

What I’m saying is this: MAKE THE BIBLE YOUR FIRST AND FOREMOST GUIDE IN ALL THAT YOU DO. I think that’s the defining difference of an excellent Christian education. This is my hope for you. ▪

3 • INTEGRATION: REV. DR. KEVIN TURNER

COLORADOCHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

What do you get whenACADEMICS, FAITH, and COMMUNITY meet granite, snowy slopes,and theMile High City?

Want to visit us? Learn more at www.ccu.edu/Preview

800.44.FAITH

Where is God leading you?1.

7. 8. 9.

RACHEL PENNERMajor: Biology, Pre-Med Studies

Hometown: Marble Falls, TX

When I was a child, my dad read the Bible tome every morning before school. Sitting at the

dining table, I’d spoon a steaming bowl of oatmeal and listen to him. On one of those mornings, Iaccepted Christ as my Savior.

Of course things weren’t perfect after that. My life was full of people who kept me grounded in the Scriptures and challenged me to pursue God. But it wasn’t until after high school that my faith really came of age.

I enrolled in a six-month Youth with a Missionprogram along Australia’s Sunshine Coast. During that time, I began to internalize the distinct differ-ence between asking God into my life and weaving His presence into all parts of it. One night I declared, This is real and you are real—take me, Father, I’m yours. It was like God took me by the hand and walked me straight into His personality and nature.

Since coming to CCU, my spiritual growth has been taken to the next level. Everyone is so real and strives to be in God’s presence without pretense. It’s been refreshing, challenging, transforming, and purifying. I’ve also learned the value of solitude with God, and since nature is a great place for that, where better to live than right beside the vast mountains? Every day they inspire me. I feel like a little child basking in Christ’s splendor.

“As a father, I wanted to lead all my children in the prayer of salvation, and God granted me that prayer beginning with Rachel. Attending CCU has empowered her to actively seek God's will for her future. Being far from home has taught her to balance personal independence with embracing God and the community He’s

given her. It is a continual joy to watch her mature intowomanhood and work out her salvation.” – Rod Penner, Rachel’s dad

5 • OWNING MY FAITH4 • MAKING THE COLLEGE CHOICE

A NEW BEGINNING:MAKING THE COLLEGE CHOICE.Phil True

Major: Communication

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

I 've always loved the mountains, snowboarding, and God’s

wilderness. So when I was a senior in high school, I looked into

attending CCU. But my father was on staff at a Christian college

near our home, which meant free tuition.

During my first two years at that school, I was involved on

campus and felt good about my faith. But I started to

spend time with the wrong crowd. By October of my

junior year I was partying a lot, and one day I came to

campus high. A resident director confronted me, and

that was followed by weeks of meetings with faculty

members and school administration. This was my first

formal offense, so I thought I would be reprimanded or

put on probation. Instead, I was expelled.

My father’s co-workers started

looking at him differently. Many of

my peers no longer accepted me. It

was hard to see how my mistakes

hurt people, even harder to find

myself shut out by a Christian

community that I trusted. Looking

back, however, that month was the

best thing that ever

happened to me.

I started thinking again about

CCU, so I decided to apply. The

University accepted me, but asked

that I take a semester off to focus

my life and draw nearer to God. It

was such a real example of

Bible-based community and

accountability put into action.

Now I’m getting ready to graduate

from CCU. The semester off was

so beneficial to my growth, and

my family is thrilled at

who I’ve become. I think

God has a plan for my life,

and CCU was always part

of it. But I’m glad He let me

make my own choices along

the way, so that the lessons I

learned would really take

root. ■

Owning My Faith

RACHEL PENNERMajor: Biology, Pre-Med Studies

Hometown: Marble Falls, TX

When I was a child, my dad read the Bible tome every morning before school. Sitting at the

dining table, I’d spoon a steaming bowl of oatmeal and listen to him. On one of those mornings, Iaccepted Christ as my Savior.

Of course things weren’t perfect after that. My life was full of people who kept me grounded in the Scriptures and challenged me to pursue God. But it wasn’t until after high school that my faith really came of age.

I enrolled in a six-month Youth with a Missionprogram along Australia’s Sunshine Coast. During that time, I began to internalize the distinct differ-ence between asking God into my life and weaving His presence into all parts of it. One night I declared, This is real and you are real—take me, Father, I’m yours. It was like God took me by the hand and walked me straight into His personality and nature.

Since coming to CCU, my spiritual growth has been taken to the next level. Everyone is so real and strives to be in God’s presence without pretense. It’s been refreshing, challenging, transforming, and purifying. I’ve also learned the value of solitude with God, and since nature is a great place for that, where better to live than right beside the vast mountains? Every day they inspire me. I feel like a little child basking in Christ’s splendor.

“As a father, I wanted to lead all my children in the prayer of salvation, and God granted me that prayer beginning with Rachel. Attending CCU has empowered her to actively seek God's will for her future. Being far from home has taught her to balance personal independence with embracing God and the community He’s

given her. It is a continual joy to watch her mature intowomanhood and work out her salvation.” – Rod Penner, Rachel’s dad

5 • OWNING MY FAITH4 • MAKING THE COLLEGE CHOICE

A NEW BEGINNING:MAKING THE COLLEGE CHOICE.Phil True

Major: Communication

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

I 've always loved the mountains, snowboarding, and God’s

wilderness. So when I was a senior in high school, I looked into

attending CCU. But my father was on staff at a Christian college

near our home, which meant free tuition.

During my first two years at that school, I was involved on

campus and felt good about my faith. But I started to

spend time with the wrong crowd. By October of my

junior year I was partying a lot, and one day I came to

campus high. A resident director confronted me, and

that was followed by weeks of meetings with faculty

members and school administration. This was my first

formal offense, so I thought I would be reprimanded or

put on probation. Instead, I was expelled.

My father’s co-workers started

looking at him differently. Many of

my peers no longer accepted me. It

was hard to see how my mistakes

hurt people, even harder to find

myself shut out by a Christian

community that I trusted. Looking

back, however, that month was the

best thing that ever

happened to me.

I started thinking again about

CCU, so I decided to apply. The

University accepted me, but asked

that I take a semester off to focus

my life and draw nearer to God. It

was such a real example of

Bible-based community and

accountability put into action.

Now I’m getting ready to graduate

from CCU. The semester off was

so beneficial to my growth, and

my family is thrilled at

who I’ve become. I think

God has a plan for my life,

and CCU was always part

of it. But I’m glad He let me

make my own choices along

the way, so that the lessons I

learned would really take

root. ■

Owning My Faith

CCU ALUMNI HAVE ATTENDEDGRAD SCHOOL AT:□ Bowling Green State University□ Claremont School of Theology□ Colorado State University□ Denver Seminary□ Duke Divinity School□ Florida State University□ Fuller Theological Seminary□ Georgetown University□ Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary□ Johns Hopkins University□ Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University□ Monterey Institute of International Studies□ New York University□ Pepperdine University□ Purdue University□ Tulane University□ University of Chicago□ University of Colorado-Boulder□ University of Denver□ University of Edinburgh□ University of Notre Dame□ University of Oxford□ Vanderbilt University□ Virginia Commonwealth University

6 • MAJORS & MINORS

STUDY ABROADAt CCU, you have access to more than a dozen worldwide, Christian-based study programs where you can live and learn alongside students from other universities. And if you’re interested in a program not offered by us, we’ll see what we can do to help you get there.

WWW.BESTSEMESTER.COM

WHY CCU? “CCU has a special, contagious, uplifting spirit. One cannot help but be touched by the goodness of the people here, and moved by the desire in our students’ hearts to study and learn for the purpose of bettering the world around them.”

- Tamara Hannaway, Associate Professor of Economics and Public Affairs

UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS□ Accounting□ Biblical Studies/Theology□ Biology□ Business Administration□ Communication Mass Media Rhetoric□ Education Licensure* Elementary: Liberal Arts Secondary: English Secondary: General Science Secondary: History Secondary: Mathematics Music: K-12 (general, choral, or instrumental)□ English Creative Writing□ Global Studies□ History

□ Liberal Arts Communication English Global Studies History Psychology□ Mathematics□ Music Performance Sound Recording Technology□ Music Education (see Education Licensure)□ Psychology□ Science□ Social Science Global Studies History Psychology

□ Worship Arts□ Youth Ministry

MINORS □ Accounting□ Biblical Studies□ Biology□ Business□ Chemistry□ Communication□ Education□ English□ Finance□ Global Studies□ History□ Leadership Studies□ Mathematics□ Music

□ Outdoor Leadership□ Psychology□ Theology□ Young Life Leadership□ Youth Ministry

PRE-PROFESSIONALSTUDIES □ Pre-Law□ Pre-Medicine

DIVERSIFY:Minoring outside of your major gives you more résumé power.

TRY:Business Administration with aLeadership Studies minor.

Education Licensure with aPsychology minor.

Biblical Studies/Theology with a History minor.

Communication with aGlobal Studies minor.

• B.A., Our Lady of the Lake University• MFA, University of Alaska• Ph.D., University of Denver

A talented writer previously nominated as Poet Laureate of

Colorado, Dr. Woodruff has published numerous individual poems, articles, reviews, and a book of her own poetry entitled Before the Burning. She hasalso presented her work internationallyat the universities of Salamanca andCambridge, and participated in 1998in a women’s studies delegation topost-Apartheid South Africa.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHTDr. Elaine Woodruff,Professor of English

*Depending on your degree program,you’ll graduate from CCU with recommendation for state teachinglicensure for grades K-6 or 7-12, ormusic education licensure for grades K-12.

LEADERSHIP STUDIESCCU places huge emphasis on developing students as leaders, and that’s why we offer three leadership minors, all cultivated by Christian principles and ethics. We were even among the first and only schools nationwide to offer one in Young Life Leadership.

THE LIFE DIRECTIONS CENTERA unique approach to student advising. Find out more on page 25.

Did You Know? Students from CCU’s School of Business and Leadership have a history of landing internships with major companies. The School of Education has been recognized as a “gold stan-dard” by the Colorado Department of Education.

Did You Know? At CCU, your classes can be built around four days, so you get more time to study, work, intern, serve, and enjoy life in the Rockies.

Want to learn more? Turn to page 18.

Professor Hannaway invests in her students.

To view the Academic Catalog visit www.ccu.edu/Catalog

CCU ALUMNI HAVE ATTENDEDGRAD SCHOOL AT:□ Bowling Green State University□ Claremont School of Theology□ Colorado State University□ Denver Seminary□ Duke Divinity School□ Florida State University□ Fuller Theological Seminary□ Georgetown University□ Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary□ Johns Hopkins University□ Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University□ Monterey Institute of International Studies□ New York University□ Pepperdine University□ Purdue University□ Tulane University□ University of Chicago□ University of Colorado-Boulder□ University of Denver□ University of Edinburgh□ University of Notre Dame□ University of Oxford□ Vanderbilt University□ Virginia Commonwealth University

STUDY ABROADAt CCU, you have access to more than a dozen worldwide, Christian-based study programs where you can live and learn alongside students from other universities. And if you’re interested in a program not offered by us, we’ll see what we can do to help you get there.

WWW.BESTSEMESTER.COM

WHY CCU? “CCU has a special, contagious, uplifting spirit. One cannot help but be touched by the goodness of the people here, and moved by the desire in our students’ hearts to study and learn for the purpose of bettering the world around them.”

- Tamara Hannaway, Associate Professor of Economics and Public Affairs

UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS□ Accounting□ Biblical Studies/Theology□ Biology□ Business Administration□ Communication Mass Media Rhetoric□ Education Licensure* Elementary: Liberal Arts Secondary: English Secondary: General Science Secondary: History Secondary: Mathematics Music: K-12 (general, choral, or instrumental)□ English Creative Writing□ Global Studies□ History

□ Liberal Arts Communication English Global Studies History Psychology□ Mathematics□ Music Performance Sound Recording Technology□ Music Education (see Education Licensure)□ Psychology□ Science□ Social Science Global Studies History Psychology

□ Worship Arts□ Youth Ministry

MINORS □ Accounting□ Biblical Studies□ Biology□ Business□ Chemistry□ Communication□ Education□ English□ Finance□ Global Studies□ History□ Leadership Studies□ Mathematics□ Music

□ Outdoor Leadership□ Psychology□ Theology□ Young Life Leadership□ Youth Ministry

PRE-PROFESSIONALSTUDIES □ Pre-Law□ Pre-Medicine

DIVERSIFY:Minoring outside of your major gives you more résumé power.

TRY:Business Administration with aLeadership Studies minor.

Education Licensure with aPsychology minor.

Biblical Studies/Theology with a History minor.

Communication with aGlobal Studies minor.

• B.A., Our Lady of the Lake University• MFA, University of Alaska• Ph.D., University of Denver

A talented writer previously nominated as Poet Laureate of

Colorado, Dr. Woodruff has published numerous individual poems, articles, reviews, and a book of her own poetry entitled Before the Burning. She hasalso presented her work internationallyat the universities of Salamanca andCambridge, and participated in 1998in a women’s studies delegation topost-Apartheid South Africa.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHTDr. Elaine Woodruff,Professor of English

*Depending on your degree program,you’ll graduate from CCU with recommendation for state teachinglicensure for grades K-6 or 7-12, ormusic education licensure for grades K-12.

LEADERSHIP STUDIESCCU places huge emphasis on developing students as leaders, and that’s why we offer three leadership minors, all cultivated by Christian principles and ethics. We were even among the first and only schools nationwide to offer one in Young Life Leadership.

THE LIFE DIRECTIONS CENTERA unique approach to student advising. Find out more on page 25.

Did You Know? Students from CCU’s School of Business and Leadership have a history of landing internships with major companies. The School of Education has been recognized as a “gold stan-dard” by the Colorado Department of Education.

Did You Know? At CCU, your classes can be built around four days, so you get more time to study, work, intern, serve, and enjoy life in the Rockies.

Want to learn more? Turn to page 18.

Professor Hannaway invests in her students.

To view the Academic Catalog visit www.ccu.edu/Catalog

8 • ALUMNI OUTCOMES 9 • ALUMNI OUTCOMES

ERICA GREEN Major: Education Licensure, Secondary Hometown: Des Moines, IA

Erica walks a student through the steps of developing and editing research papers.

they've gone...What sets a CCU education apart from others?The numerous campus activities and leadership roles forstudents. Those opportunities provided me with lessons and skills that added to my success as a professional. CCU’s campus and student body are also the perfect sizes for connectingwith professors and peers inyour field of study. ▪

GARRETT SHIELDS Major: History Hometown: Rapid City, SD

After CCU, Garrett was accepted into Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International

Studies, recognized by Foreign Policy magazine as home to one of the nation’s top

international-relations programs. He’sworking toward a master’s degree ininternational relations with dualconcentrations in international economics and international policy, and aspecialization in internationalenergy policy.

What’s it like to be part of such aprestigious program?

It’s been a rigorous, competitive experience. The professors are world renowned. My peers are some of the most intelligent, motivated people I’ve ever

Tell us about some of yourSAIS experiences.

I’ve studied international economics, the Mandarin Chinese language, and have done

extensive research and written policy memos on current issues. As an intern at the Institute for

Multi-Track Diplomacy, I helped organize a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian officials to draft an

agreement over water issues. I also worked in the Department of Energy’s Biomass Program, helping research and coordinate globalefforts in alternative fuels.

How did CCU prepare you?CCU equipped me by pushing my research, critical-thinking, andcommunicative abilities to the next level. The community was also very uplifting, which was an ideal setting while I figured out who I was and what I wanted to do in life. ▪

Erica teaches English at Faith Christian Academy in Arvada,Colorado. She’s also the student council co-director and helps plan events like Homecoming Week. She recently began grad-uate studies in educational psychology and plans to someday move into guidance counseling or school administration.

Why did you decide to become a teacher?I knew from a very young age that God had gifted me withteaching and leadership abilities. Although I began college at a school in Minnesota, I transferred to CCU because of its amazing education department, location, and campuscommunity.

How did CCU prepare you for your own classroom?Even though my first years of teaching were challenging,other teachers and principals commented on how prepared I seemed right out of college. Much of that credit goes to the faculty and curriculum at CCU, which kept me verycurrent with information and research. My professorsbecame my mentors and friends, and they invested countlesshours into my growth and success. Their strongconnections within the educational community alsohelped me enter the professional world.

At St. Anton, a ski Mecca in the Austrian Alps.

hereWGarrett’s first year in SAIS took place at the Bologna Center in Italy. During his free time, he

toured centuries-old sites like the Sanctuary of the Madonna di

San Luca.