News briefs

Kesler, Marjanen honored as Volunteers of the Year

Grand River Hospital District honored its volunteers on May 13 at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Gala.

The event honored the 2010 Volunteer of the Year, Victoria Kesler, and the 2010 Young Adult Volunteer of the Year, Gina Marjanen.

Kelser has been a volunteer with the hospital for many years. She manages the gift shop at Grand River Hospital and Medical Center and volunteers at many events including the Grand Chance for Chocolate and the health fairs hosted by Grand River. She was the 2010 Grand River Volunteer Association President and now serves as the Colorado Association of Hospital Auxilians/Volunteers (CAHAV) District Co-Chair.

Marjanen has volunteered at Grand River for two years. Starting when she was 15, Gina spends two days a week in the marketing department, where she aids the department in filing, recording, event preparation, relocation marketing efforts, and everyday duties. In addition, she volunteers her time to help at Grand River health fairs.

The Volunteer Appreciation Gala also paid tribute to new volunteer programs, such as HOPE emergency pet therapy and Gracenotes music program.

A large portion of the volunteer base at Grand River helps with Meals on Wheels of Garfield County, which has been supported by Grand River since 1976.

In 2010, the Meals on Wheels program had 100 volunteers and delivered over 10,000 meals.

CMC expands student options

Many of the more than 25,000 students attending Colorado Mountain College (CMC) now have more opportunities to take the next step in their higher education, while potentially saving time.

That's because Colorado Mountain College and Colorado Technical University (CTU) recently announced an articulation agreement permitting CMC students transfer eligible credits and receive tuition grants for select bachelor's degree programs at CTU.

The credit transfers and tuition grants are available now to all qualifying students at CMC's 11 locations, including the West Garfield County campus in Rifle (as well as campuses in Carbondale, Glenwood Springs and Aspen).

Tuition grants to help save education costs. CMC students who enroll in a qualified program through a CTU Colorado-based ground campus, including campuses in Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, will be eligible for a 30 percent tuition grant for their junior year and a 20 percent tuition grant for their senior year.

The agreement also includes a 5 percent tuition grant for eligible students who enroll in a qualified CTU online bachelor's degree program for their junior and senior years. 

Credit transfers to save time. CMC students can transfer up to 60 semester hours earned in select associate degree programs to corresponding, industry-relevant bachelor's degree programs at CTU. Students taking advantage of this agreement will be classified as juniors at CTU when enrolling in an eligible CTU transfer program.

Electronic waste collection

The Garfield County Landfill has provided an Electronic Recycling Program to the citizens of Garfield County for several years. In order to maintain and continue this event, it has become necessary to incorporate a fee structure to sustain this service. Beginning June 1, 2011 the following fee structure will be charged for electronic waste.

Televisions: Small $10 (up to 15”); medium $20 (15” to 32”); Large $30 (larger than 32”)

Personal computers: $10

CRT Monitors: $10

Laptops and flatscreen monitors: $5

Printers and faxes $3

Large copy machines: $50

Misc cords, keyboards, mouse will be accepted free of charge.

Drop off Locations are Located at:

West Garfield County Landfill, 0075 County Road 246-A, near Rifle anytime during regular business hours.

Or at the Road and Bridge shop at 7330 Hwy 82 in Glenwood Springs on the second Thursday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m.

Colorado Mountain College outreach wins national awards

Colorado Mountain College's marketing and communications department, under the leadership of director Doug Stewart of Carbondale, continues to draw national-level attention to the college by winning top awards.

The department recently received gold and silver Paragon Awards in the categories of college promotional video and social marketing at the annual national conference of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations.

The first-place award went to the college for a promotional video in Spanish titled “Para Ti. Para Tu Familia,” or “For You. For Your Family.” The video tells the story of one family achieving the dream of a better future for their daughter as a result of her college education.

Second place was awarded for the college's social marketing efforts, including outreach through student blogs and social media sites Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

The college competed against more than 1,850 entries in the NCMPR competition that recognizes excellence in communications at more than 650 two-year colleges across the U.S., Canada and other countries.