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February 5, 2015 VOLU M E 7 | I SS UE 6 | 5 0 ¢
BrightonBanner.com
A D A M S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O A publication of
FALLING FOR SCIENCE
State of Brighton Chamber of Commerce breakfast Chamber reflects on its beginnings and look forward to the future By Lou Ellen Bromley
bromleyclan@hotmail.com
Carl Resurreccion, a 5th grader from Valley View, won Overall Top Performance Award for his project “Factors Affecting the Time of Descent of a Parachute” during the Mapleton District Science Fair. The 2015 fair celebrated the work and scientific achievements of 102 students. The third and fourth grade first place group award went to Helena Calderon and Kevin Calderon from Explore Elementary for “Bubble Gum’s Biggest Bubble.” Photo by Courtesy photo
Salazar revives tuition bill for American Indians POSTAL ADDRESS
Back for second time, bill moves to committee By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com
BRIGHTON BANNER (USPS 290)
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P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
A bill to allow Native Americans with historical ties to Colorado to receive in-state tuition passed the House Education committee by a 6-5 majority vote on Jan. 26. This is the second time the bill has been introduced by Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton. Last year, the bill passed the House and its committees but failed in the Senate. Native Americans who belong to one of Colorado’s 48 federally recognized historic tribes would benefit from Salazar’s bill. As it stands, American Indian high school students can only receive in-state tuition in the state they currently live in rather than the state that their tribes once called home before being relocated and placed on reservations. The bill highlights statistics on American Indian high school students. In 2011, fewer than 42 percent of Native American high school students chose to attend college, which is below the national average of 57 percent of all students. “This bill will empower many American Indian students wanting to attend state public colleges and universities,” said Darius Lee Smith, representative from the Colorado Indian Education Foundation, a Denver based nonprofit that offers scholarships to American Indian students. “This bill will also assist many of our public higher education institutions to achieve and increase enrollment of American Indian students.” Fewer than 1 percent of students attending the state’s public colleges and universities, like the University of Colorado and Colorado State University, are American Indian, Smith said. “Colorado is falling behind when it comes to recruiting, and retaining and graduating American Indian students,” said Deborah Esquibel
AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENT ENROLLMENT BY COLLEGE CU Boulder, CSU and Western State University: 0.3 percent UNC: 0.4 percent University of Colorado Denver: 0.5 percent Metropolitan State University of Denver: .7 percent CSU Pueblo: 0.8 percent Colorado Mesa: 1 percent State Fiscal Impact Institutional Tuition Revenue loss: $2,684,866 annually Additional State Expenditures: At least $374,220 annually
Hunt, director of American Indian Services at the University of Colorado Denver. “We have a record in Colorado and a reputation that is not good for support of American Indian students.” The vote to pass the bill was anything but bipartisan with Democrats supporting it and Republicans opposing it. Rep. Paul Lundeen R-Monument, said he voted against the bill because it doesn’t include American Indian tribes that have yet to be recognized by the federal government. “Why are we choosing to draw the line here, why not extend it further?” Lundeen said. “There are other groups that are certainty pre-territorial in their relationship with Colorado that may have come and gone from the state and they are yet excluded from the opportunity of in-state tuition.” The bill had trouble last year based on the appropriations the bill requires, which have been reduced this time around, Salazar said. “I’m hoping that there won’t be a challenge of the appropriation,” he said. “I am a little shocked, however, that Republicans, unlike last year where they passed it out of committee bipartisanly, … have now apparently locked down … it didn’t garner not one vote from Republicans and that is kind of disappointing.”
The Brighton Chamber of Commerce hosted a state of the Chamber breakfast Thursday morning at the Armory in Brighton, with more than 80 guests attending. Current chamber members were recognized. Then the organization listed the benefits of the different levels of chamber membership. There are currently 310 members of the Brighton Chamber, including 59 new members in 2014. Dick Hodge was recognized as the oldest member of the organization, being a member for over 40 years. The outgoing board members of the Chamber of Commerce Board were thanked for their service and new board members welcomed. Chamber staff members Holly Hansen, president; Kara Reygers, Service Coordinator; and Yvette Martinez, Community Concierge, were recognized for all their continued work as “the face” of the Brighton Chamber The three women are often in the office in Old City Hall and work directly with the community. The Brighton Chamber of Commerce hosts several fund raising events in Brighton, included the Annual Rubber Duck Race, that raises money for nonprofits, and the Teacher of the Month program. The Business after Hours program helps showcase a local business. The annual Eggnog Social at Old City Hall is an opportunity for the chamber members to gather and socialize at the end of the year. And of course, there are several ribboncuttings throughout the year, welcoming new business to Brighton. The Chamber listed the things it will focus on for the coming year; Brighton Youth Professionals, CO-OP Marketing and Lodging Tax Funding. The Chamber is also encouraging Brighton businesses to become involved in the Georgetown University Energy Prize contest and Brighton Sustainable, to become more energy efficient and help the city toward winning the $5 million energy prize. The Brighton Chamber also hosted a Trivia game at the breakfast that looked back on several fun events and happenings from past years in the city. Mayor Dick McLean, Dr. Ron Fair and Jan HeppStruck volunteered to be contestants for the chance to win a gift card. The winner of the trivia contest was McLean. The Brighton Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 60th year anniversary this year and is sponsoring a 60th Anniversary Cash Raffle. Tickets for the raffle can be purchased at Chamber of Commerce office in the Historic Old City Hall on 4ths St and Bridge throughout 2015. Proceeds from the sale of the tickets go to support local non-profit organizations, new member programs and operational needs. Prizes will be awarded during the Chamber Anniversary Celebration in October.