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Colorado Springs/Pueblo News Releases for Mon. Feb. 10 - 3:38 pm
Fri. 02/07/25
District 11 Awards Jenkins Middle School Design/Build Contract to Bryan Construction
Colorado Springs SD 11 - 02/07/25 3:31 PM

Colorado Springs, CO -- Colorado Springs School District 11 is pleased to announce that Bryan Construction has been awarded the design/build contract for the Jenkins Middle School project. Bryan Construction will partner with CRP Architects for design and engineering expertise as the district moves forward with a significant investment in the Jenkins community.

 

The first phase of work will focus on evaluating options for improving the school facility, beginning as soon as the geotechnical report is received. This process, expected to be completed in early March, will determine the best approach--either addressing and replacing problematic areas within the existing building or constructing new additions. The evaluation will be guided by a thorough cost and timeline analysis to ensure the most effective path forward.

 

At this stage, the district has identified key areas of focus for the design/build effort, including:

  • The 7th and 8th grade wings

  • The Media Center west wall (a non-load-bearing structure)

  • The gymnasium, where CMU cracking has been observed; however, the walls remain plumb, and the roof joists at the roof-wall connection are structurally sound

"We are pleased to partner with Bryan Construction and move forward with this significant investment in Jenkins Middle School," said Superintendent Michael Gaal. "This project reflects our commitment to ensuring safe, high-quality learning environments for our students, staff, and the greater Jenkins community."

 

Board President Parth Melpakam echoed the district's enthusiasm, stating, "We are excited to bring this team on board so we can continue working as quickly as possible to get answers to our Jenkins community. We recognize how important this project is, and we are committed to finding the best path forward for our students and families."

 

As the project progresses, the district will continue to provide updates to the school community and stakeholders.

 

Jessica Wise, Executive Director Of Engagement
Jessica.wise@d11.org
520-2286

Thu. 02/06/25
Fountain Valley’s City-Wide “Athenaea” Poetry Contest Now Accepting Submissions from High School Students Across Colorado Springs (Photo)
Fountain Valley School - 02/06/25 9:30 AM
On April 17, Judge Ashley Cornelius, the 6th Pikes Peak Region Poet Laureate (bottom right), recognized Fountain Valley School’s top 2024 “Athenaea” Poetry Competition contestants. They were: (from top-left) Charlize LeClaire, Molly Friedman, Lea Mossanen, Lauren Chappell, Annabelle Cabaniss, Adeline Butler, Lily Christofferson, Brynn Jensen, Tialer Willis, and Tarek Murad; (from bottom-left) Lucy Kim, Emily Safyan, and Stella Rhee.
On April 17, Judge Ashley Cornelius, the 6th Pikes Peak Region Poet Laureate (bottom right), recognized Fountain Valley School’s top 2024 “Athenaea” Poetry Competition contestants. They were: (from top-left) Charlize LeClaire, Molly Friedman, Lea Mossanen, Lauren Chappell, Annabelle Cabaniss, Adeline Butler, Lily Christofferson, Brynn Jensen, Tialer Willis, and Tarek Murad; (from bottom-left) Lucy Kim, Emily Safyan, and Stella Rhee.
http://www.flashalert.net/images/news/2025-02/3567/178793/DSC_0716.JPG

For the 16th straight year, Fountain Valley School is delighted to host a city-wide "Athenaea" poetry competition open to high school students in grades 9-12 throughout Colorado Springs.

 

The competition, which will include judging across two separate categories -- English and bilingual -- is open for submissions now through Saturday, March 1, 2025. Students may submit up to three poems in each category, with the latter bilingual category requiring the submission of an original work written in a language other than English and accompanied by an English translation. (Electronic translation devices may not be used.)

 

The Prizes

In addition to receiving prize money -- ranging from $150 for first place to $75 for second and $50 for third per category -- each winning poet will be invited to read their piece at a ceremony held in April 2025 on Fountain Valley School's 1,100-acre campus. All winning pieces will also be published in the spring edition of Fountain Valley School's student-produced literary magazine, Athenaea. Since the School's founding in the 1930s, two editions of FVS's award-winning Athenaea, named for the Greek goddess of wisdom Athena, have been released yearly and feature student poetry, prose, and artwork. 

 

Submission Requirements (Due Saturday, March 1, 2025)

  • Students may submit no more than three poems, each on a separate page, in each category. (Poems will not be returned. If emailed, please paste directly into the body of the message with no attachments.)

  • The typeface must be Times New Roman (or equivalent) and a point size of 12

  • Each poem submission must include the: 

    • student's name; 

    • mailing address; 

    • school name; 

    • phone number; and 

    • email address

  • Poems must be original and previously unpublished. While there are no formal guidelines or topics, remember that good poetry uses fresh language and images with precise words. (The Athenaea will have one-time publishing rights only.)

  • Submit entries by email to eynolds@fvs.edu" style="text-decoration-line: none;">dreynolds@fvs.edu or by mail to:
    ATTN: David Reynolds
    6155 Fountain Valley School Road
    Colorado Springs, CO 80911

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Founded in 1930, Fountain Valley School of Colorado is a boarding and day school for grades 9-12. Situated on 1,100 acres of rolling prairie in Colorado Springs, the School provides a rigorous, global curriculum in academics, arts, athletics, and the outdoors to develop young adults who are courageous, open-minded, self-reliant, curious, and compassionate. Enrollment is approximately 240 students from 20 countries, 26 states, and the Pikes Peak Region. www.fvs.edu

 
Meg Winnicker, Director Of Marketing & Communications
Mwinnicker@fvs.edu
719-391-5622



Attached Media Files: On April 17, Judge Ashley Cornelius, the 6th Pikes Peak Region Poet Laureate (bottom right), recognized Fountain Valley School’s top 2024 “Athenaea” Poetry Competition contestants. They were: (from top-left) Charlize LeClaire, Molly Friedman, Lea Mossanen, Lauren Chappell, Annabelle Cabaniss, Adeline Butler, Lily Christofferson, Brynn Jensen, Tialer Willis, and Tarek Murad; (from bottom-left) Lucy Kim, Emily Safyan, and Stella Rhee.

Tue. 02/04/25
Fountain Valley School Celebrates Four Senior-Athletes Headed to Compete at the Intercollegiate Level (Photo)
Fountain Valley School - 02/04/25 10:19 AM
Lily Christofferson, a dedicated soccer player for 13 years, will be taking her talents to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).
Lily Christofferson, a dedicated soccer player for 13 years, will be taking her talents to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).
http://www.flashalert.net/images/news/2025-02/3567/178769/Lily_Christofferson_-_Soccer.jpg

Fountain Valley School, home to both day and boarding students in southern Colorado Springs, Colo., is celebrating four senior athletes--Lily Christofferson (Colorado Springs), Sofia Bedoya-Correa (Pueblo, Colo.), Tyler Schaller Nisbet (Driggs, Idaho), and Allie Hocking (Colorado Springs)--selected to continue their athletic journeys at the intercollegiate level. Although they will not be participating in National Signing Day on February 5, 2025, each athlete highlighted below demonstrates exceptional talent and dedication to their respective sport. 

 

Two, Christofferson and Bedoya-Correa, will go on to compete for the National Collegiate Athletic Association--at the Division III level.  

 

Lily Christofferson

Colorado Springs, Colo.
 

Christofferson, a dedicated soccer player for 13 years, will be taking her talents to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). A goalkeeper for Fountain Valley throughout her high school career, Christofferson's achievements have earned her First-Team All-League honors for three straight years. In the spring 2022 and 2023 seasons, she also earned First-Team All-State recognition, leading the Danes' varsity girls' soccer team to its first-ever appearance in the Colorado State Championship during her sophomore year. Christofferson, who likewise competes in games and tournaments across the nation with her travel team, is excited to bring her expertise and skills to CMU's women's soccer program beginning in the fall. "CMU provided the perfect intersection between my academic interests and what I wanted to pursue athletically," said Christofferson, who looks to obtain a dual degree in materials science and biomedical engineering while playing for the Tartans. 

Sofia Bedoya-Correa

Pueblo, Colo.

 

Bedoya-Correa, a competitive swimmer for over a dozen years, will join Grinnell College's Women's Swimming and Diving program. This three-year Fountain Valley School sprinter--who earned a top-13 placement in the 100 fly during last winter's Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) 3A Girls' State Championship--is eager to continue swimming in college. This year, while participating in the New Mexico High Desert Classic with the Colorado Springs Area (COSA) Swimming team, Bedoya-Correa placed 2nd in the 200 fly and 9th in the 100 fly.

 

 

 

 

 

Schaller Nisbet and Hocking will meanwhile be competing for two institutions within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). 

 

Tyler Schaller Nisbet
Driggs, Idaho
 

Schaller Nisbet, whose lacrosse career began in elementary school, looks forward to attending the College of Idaho this fall. A defender and team captain for the FVS Danes in the spring 2024 season, Schaller Nisbet offered invaluable guidance and insight to the younger players on Fountain Valley School's newly reestablished boys' lacrosse team. He is eager to see just how far he can take his skills at the next level of play.  

Allie Hocking

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Hocking, who has spent the past several years diving competitively, will continue her career at St. Thomas University in Miami. After winning a gold medal at the Rocky Mountain State Games in 2023, and qualifying for States during the 2023-24 FVS swimming and diving season, Hocking is ready to pursue both her academic and athletic passions at St. Thomas. "The welcoming environment and strong coaching staff made it feel like home," shared this future Bobcat.

 

As these athletes transition to the next phase of their careers, they represent the enduring spirit of the Fountain Valley School athletics program, which has nurtured thousands of well-rounded student-athletes since 1930. 

 

###

 

Founded in 1930, Fountain Valley School of Colorado is a boarding and day school for grades 9-12. Situated on 1,100 acres of rolling prairie in Colorado Springs, the School provides a rigorous, global curriculum in academics, arts, athletics, and the outdoors to develop young adults who are courageous, open-minded, self-reliant, curious, and compassionate. Enrollment is approximately 240 students from 20 countries, 26 states, and the Pikes Peak Region. www.fvs.edu

 
Meg Winnicker, Director Of Marketing & Communications
Mwinnicker@fvs.edu
719-391-5622



Attached Media Files: Lily Christofferson, a dedicated soccer player for 13 years, will be taking her talents to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). , Sofia Bedoya-Correa, a competitive swimmer for over a dozen years, will join Grinnell College’s Women’s Swimming and Diving program. , Tyler Schaller Nisbet, whose lacrosse career began in elementary school, looks forward to attending the College of Idaho this fall. , Allie Hocking, who has spent the past several years diving competitively, will continue her career at St. Thomas University in Miami.

UCCS College of Public Service Public Safety Initiative helps law enforcement catch criminals
University of Colorado Colorado Springs - 02/04/25 7:34 AM

In today's online world, the process to convict criminals is more complex than ever, with many criminals hiding mounds of evidence online that can be buried deeply -- or worse, deleted. Anyone can erase text messages or a hard drive, so law enforcement needs to be one step ahead: they must be able to uncover less obvious online sources or recover deleted information. That's not as easy as it sounds -- and that's where the UCCS College of Public Service Public Safety Initiative (PSI) comes in. 

The UCCS PSI helps Colorado crime-fighting efforts by providing specialized digital forensics and cybercrime training to law enforcement and public safety personnel throughout the State of Colorado.  

 

In part due to the training opportunities provided by UCCS, the Denver District Attorney's Office collected evidence that assisted in what has now resulted in a 158-year sentence for Dr. Stephen Matthews, a board-certified cardiologist and serial rapist who has actively targeted women online since at least 2019, and a 448-year sentence for Robert Hawkins -- believed to be the longest human trafficking sentence in U.S. history -- a convicted human trafficker and pimp now classified as a sexual predator and habitual criminal. 

 

"Phone and social media data played a crucial role in securing the conviction of human trafficker Robert Hawkins," said Chris Gray, an Analyst in the Denver District Attorney's Office. "In another case, because of the training from the UCCS Public Safety Initiative, our team was able to use digital evidence to prove that two defendant phones were powered off immediately prior to a robbery/homicide and powered back on immediately after. This became critical at trial." 

 

In 2023 alone, the UCCS PSI sponsored 42 specialized training courses and trained 237 law enforcement/public safety personnel across 106 Colorado agencies to enhance cybercrime investigative abilities. These trainings include topics such as Undercover Chat and Vehicle Systems Forensics, helping law enforcement uncover critical information used in prosecuting criminals who now rely so heavily on online means to identify, target and prey on victims. 

 

"Not only has digital evidence helped the DA's office in these cases, but it is becoming prevalent in all our cases," said Denver District Attorney Beth McCann. "Criminal activity has evolved immensely in the last decade, given the prevalence and use of digital assets and people's online presence. Law enforcement has to evolve along with it. The PSI training from UCCS has been a valuable resource to assist in that evolution." 

 

UCCS is one of the few higher education institutions that has embraced cybersecurity as a key skill not just for technology majors, but for its criminal justice students. CPS offers a Cyber Crime and Cybersecurity Option Area for its Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree seekers and ensures its students are being trained on the latest online challenges that both the private and public criminal justice sector face. 

 

"There is nothing better than knowing what we do truly impacts our communities," said Janet Van Kampen, PSI Program Director for in the College of Public Service. "These two criminal cases highlight the impact of the Colorado CSI funding from the State Legislature. Without this funding, many law enforcement agencies throughout the state would not have access to the training offered by the Public Safety Initiative on the emerging techniques used in fighting crime online." 

 

The work of the UCCS Cybersecurity Programs Office and the College of Public Service, including the Public Safety Initiative, is made possible by funding secured through the State of Colorado Cybersecurity Initiative -- a funding source provided by Colorado Senate Bill 18-086. Unfortunately, these programs are at risk. The UCCS Cybersecurity Programs Office, who secured the state funds and provided the funding to the UCCS Public Safety Initiative to offer this specialized training for Colorado law enforcement beginning in 2018, is at risk of being de-funded from the 2025 Colorado state budget. 

 

Although the most recent round of funding was originally awarded for a three-year term beginning in July 2024, it was not included in the Governor's 2025 draft budget to the Legislature that was put forth in November 2024. To continue the progress that Colorado law enforcement has made, the funding must be renewed. 

 

Understanding the criticality and effectiveness of the digital forensics methods that Chris Gray has learned in his career, he adds, "The PSI digital forensics training underscores the importance of online data, extractions of phone records, cloud data, and online open-source intelligence (OSINT) that enables law enforcement to solve crimes and hold offenders accountable; these are the "Digital Witnesses" to today's criminal activity," said Chris Gray, the analyst in the Denver District Attorney's Office. "My team has been able to show links in many human trafficking cases between disparate buyers, sellers and traffickers. Much of the time, in these cases, the digital footprints we have been able to examine have led to guilty pleas from traffickers while limiting the impact on victims at trial and during testimony." 

 

To learn more about the Cybersecurity Programs at UCCS or find out how you can support funding for these programs, please visit our website at cybersecurity.uccs.edu or email cyber@uccs.edu. 

Jenna Press
Jpress@uccs.edu
719/255/3732

The Colorado Springs School Brings Clean Water to African Village (Photo)
The Colorado Springs School - 02/04/25 6:56 AM
Of the 703 million people worldwide who lack access to clean water, the majority live in isolated rural areas and spend hours every day walking to collect water for their families. To simulate collecting water, students at The Colorado Springs School engaged in a hands-on activity by carrying jugs weighing 40 pounds over a short distance.
Of the 703 million people worldwide who lack access to clean water, the majority live in isolated rural areas and spend hours every day walking to collect water for their families. To simulate collecting water, students at The Colorado Springs School engaged in a hands-on activity by carrying jugs weighing 40 pounds over a short distance.
http://www.flashalert.net/images/news/2025-02/700/178758/CharityWater_02.jpg

Sixth grader Maddy Palmer of The Colorado Springs School knows many people around the world lack access to clean water and must walk long distances to collect contaminated water, but she hadn't realized how serious the situation truly is.


"I didn't know how diseased the water could be," she said. "They're walking all that way just to get water that's dirty. They're putting themselves in danger doing that, so it's really sad and frustrating."


During a presentation recently by Charity: Water, a non-profit organization that brings clean water to people worldwide, Maddy and her classmates learned that 703 million people in the world live without clean water -- and diseases from dirty water kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.


The Colorado Springs School is making a difference by partnering with Charity: Water to drill a well in an African village in Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries, thanks to a generous donation from Rhodora and Dr. Kurt Steward, whose son attends 5th grade.


"We all know that many people lack access to clean water, and Malawi starkly illustrates how fortunate our students are," said Head of School Dr. Ryan Kelly, adding that CSS is considering sponsoring a well each year. "I want them to understand the impact they can have and realize they are part of a global community."


The global service project is being integrated with the 5th-grade curriculum, which focuses on human rights, and the 6th-grade curriculum, which studies Africa. Together, they are developing a strategy to raise awareness across the PreKindergarten through 12th-grade student body.


"This project represents more than a charitable effort," said Erin Cerezo, Director of the Lower and Middle School. "The Colorado Springs School is committed to teaching our students about global responsibility and empowering them to make a real-world impact. This is experiential learning at its best."

 

Since 2006, Charity: Water has completed more than 171,000 water projects in 29 countries, serving more than 19 million people. Of the nearly one in 10 people worldwide who lack access to clean water, the majority live in isolated rural areas and spend hours every day walking to collect water for their families. Children as young as eight years old collect water. In addition to the water often carrying diseases that can make everyone sick, walking for water keeps children out of school and takes up time that parents could be using to earn money.

 

Planning for CSS's well is already underway. Students will receive updates throughout the 12-month project, including photos and the well's GPS coordinates in Malawi, where 66 percent of people are living below the income poverty line.


"You're going to be able to see and learn more about Malawi and the lives that you changed on the other side of the globe," Kaitlyn McDonald, a key relationships officer for Charity: Water, said during her presentation to 5th and 6th graders. "We are talking about kids who have the same dreams, the same aspirations, the same hopes as you, and you are going to make a world of difference for them." 


Students asked several questions including, How many people will be helped by the well CSS is building? (It's expected to be several hundred with a final number provided once the well is completed.) 

 

To simulate collecting water, students engaged in a hands-on activity by carrying jugs weighing 40 pounds over a short distance on the Trianon Terrace. They were asked to imagine how it would feel to carry that water for an entire hour. Some students struggled even while carrying the water for less than a minute.


Maddy, who helped a classmate carry water, is so moved by the global service project that she wants to do even more. She's hoping to hold a craft day in her driveway in which she provides supplies and neighborhood families pay a small fee to create art, with the proceeds going to Charity: Water.


"I'm super excited to be involved," Maddy said. "It feels really good because part of my dream is to make sure everyone has equal rights all across the world."

Click here to learn more about the Malawai water project.

 

About The Colorado Springs School (CSS)

The Colorado Springs School is an independent day school serving students from PreKindergarten through 12th grade. Through superior academics and mentoring, CSS prepares students to think independently and to meet the needs of a dynamic world with leadership, ingenuity, problem-solving skills, and personal integrity through learning by doing. Visit css.org. The school is located on a historic property of 28 acres at 21 Broadmoor Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

 
 
 
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Marie Newbrough
Director Of Communications & Marketing
The Colorado Springs School
Office: (719) 434-3514 Cell: (719) 440-6454
Mnewbrough@css.org
Contact To Schedule Interviews With Faculty, Staff, And/or Students.

Charity: Water Contact: Kaitlyn.mcdonald@charitywater.org



Attached Media Files: More on the Malawi water project with The Colorado Springs School and Charity: Water. , Of the 703 million people worldwide who lack access to clean water, the majority live in isolated rural areas and spend hours every day walking to collect water for their families. To simulate collecting water, students at The Colorado Springs School engaged in a hands-on activity by carrying jugs weighing 40 pounds over a short distance. , The Colorado Springs School is making a difference by partnering with Charity: Water to drill a well in an African village in Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries. , During the presentation, students asked several questions including, How many people will be helped by the well CSS is building? (It's expected to be several hundred with a final number provided once the well is completed.)