Colorado Rocky Mountain School cultivates a learning environment in which students discover their potential to excel as individuals, contribute to their communities, and thoughtfully participate in the world we share.
Ways To Get Involved
Connect
Connect with all that’s happening at CRMS @CRMSAlumni, @CRMSOysters @CRMS, @CRMSAlumni
Alumni Weekend, June 12-14, 2026 www.crms.org/alumni-weekend
Motivate
Volunteer for an event or share your expertise with a class or program
For more info email kbailey@crms.org Support
On the cover: Students traversing lava flows on the big island of Hawaii during this past spring’s Volcanology and Cinematography Interim. Photo by
Support faculty and students in the extraordinary CRMS experience through making a gift to CRMS. For more info visit www.crms.org/giving
Kayo Ogilby.
Belonging Through Shared Commitment
The term “belonging” is being used more frequently in educational circles, although it has been at the core of the Holdens’ vision for Colorado Rocky Mountain School from the beginning. At CRMS, we lead with the belief that all the members of the community are vital to its success.
The sense of belonging and feeling connected is based on the relationship between the individual and the programming at the school, and at CRMS this includes everyone. All community members, faculty, staff, and students, are expected to embrace the full program and not selectively engage in areas they choose. Only through a full immersion does the student experience the influential power of a program that requires their enthusiasm and commitment.
The assertion that CRMS serves best those members of the school community who immerse themselves in the full program is as true today as it was in the 1950s. Those students and adults who pick and choose when and where they engage only blunt and restrict the impact that the experience will have on them and, in consequence, on others. While the modern version of the school continues to evolve and adapt to address the needs of our students, the Holdens’ commitment to instill in our community members those “inner resources” that have been left unfostered by society essentially remains the same.
A good school gives students opportunities to explore their values under the mentorship of caring adults; a great school provides a wide range of learning environments that authentically allow students to lead and support others.
A good school gives students opportunities to explore their values under the mentorship of caring adults; a great school provides a wide range of learning environments that authentically allow students to lead and support others. While all boarding schools expect their students to engage in a full week of programming for all of its community members, CRMS finds an assortment of ways to engage its students beyond our classrooms that are unique to both our educational philosophy and location.
Over the course of an academic year, CRMS students will navigate important experiences that have been a part of CRMS throughout the decades: household jobs, work crews, and our hallmark outdoor sports and trip programming. These have proven over the decades to provide students with opportunities to be stretched and challenged in new ways, hone lifelong skills and attitudes towards rigor and discomfort, and develop a sense of responsibility to others. Adventure takes on a wide variety of forms at CRMS, and how we engage in the classroom, around our campus, and while out in nature has as many different versions as the programs we run. The purpose of the extended classroom is not a test of external strength and power but a test of reflection, commitment, and understanding.
Jeff Leahy P’18, ’21
Climb Team wins 3rd state title
Varsity Boys Climb Team placed first in the State! Devin Bush ’25 won the “Spirit of League” award for being the kindest and most supportive climber in the Varsity league across the state. The CRMS climbing team also competed at the first American Scholastic Climbing League's National Invitational in Eagle. The boys brought home a 1st-place finish to claim the inaugural National Championship.
Freeride Team excels at Snowmass Comp
The CRMS Freeride Team concluded their season at the IFSA competition at Snowmass with impressive results, including Finley Nolan ’28 securing 3rd place in U15 and Lexi Bier-Moebius ’25 taking 4th in U19. Twelve CRMS athletes represented the school with strength, with the boys team tackling particularly challenging and creative lines throughout the competition.
New bee program takes flight
The CRMS Garden produced over 16,000 lbs of fresh produce in 2024, including 160 oz. of honey for the first time. Most of the food is served in the Bar Fork dining hall while 800 lbs was donated to local food pantries.
CRMS student plays jazz in New Orleans
Nick Ingrahm ’26 (center with trumpet) traveled to New Orleans in March with Jazz Aspen Snowmass as part of the Street Horns program for high school musicians. During the trip Nick and students from Western Colorado played jazz at various outdoor venues and at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, pictured here (click to watch video).
Nordic Team shines at State Championships
The CRMS Nordic team concluded their season with impressive performances at the State Championships in Steamboat, highlighted by Henry O’Hagan ’25's second-place finish in the relay's first leg. Seniors Henry, Wyatt Smith ’25, and Wren Groves-Benedict ’25 finished their high school careers with strong showings in challenging conditions, while freshman Corbin Anno ’28 contributed significantly to the team's relay success.
Musician wins Berklee summer scholarship
Neema Baker ’27 will travel to Boston this summer after earning a prestigious scholarship to Aspire, Berklee College of Music's renowned five-week performance intensive. The globally recognized program attracts talented musicians from over 70 countries, offering participants private instruction, college credit, and specialized music industry training.
In January thev CRMS Ethics Bowl Team showcased impressive critical thinking during the Colorado State Ethics Bowl at CU Boulder, winning or tying two of their three matches but narrowly missing the semifinals. After months of preparation researching ethical dilemmas ranging from meat consumption to artificial intelligence, students engaged in thoughtful debates where they presented positions, responded to opposing teams, and fielded questions from judges.
Open ceramics studio a hit Morgan ’27, Payten ’25, Micah ’27, Mark ’27, and Gioia ’27 got creative on the pottery wheel during a weekend open Ceramics Studio.
CRMS debates at State Ethics Bowl
World-renowned furniture designer speaks on
campus
Luke Hughes visited campus in March to share the story behind his furniture designs for the renovated Bar Fork, bringing expertise honed through projects for Cambridge, Eton, Duke, Harrow, Oxford, Yale, Westminster Abbey, and cultural landmarks across the UK and USA.
Blacklit Friday night climbing
When weather hampered the original all-campus activity, students and faculty quickly switched gears and created a climbing by blacklight night complete with disco music and glowsticks.
Students lobby at Denver Capitol
The environmental club lobbied for two bills: one against the building of data centers in Colorado without an eye toward considering water consumption and nonrenewable energy sources and the other aimed at creating connective corridors between public transportation and people’s communities. Students met with two Colorado representatives: Elizabeth Velasco and Marc Catlin.
The Pearl Literary & Arts Magazine
The latest edition of The Pearl, the CRMS Literary and Arts Magazine, features hilarious anonymous confessions, heartfelt stories, and evocative photography straight from our students, and thoughtful contributions from faculty members Amanda Leahy and The Pearl's faculty advisor, Eliot Taft.
71 years of Spring Trip
Students traversed rivers, trails and rugged landscapes of western Colorado & eastern Utah including this trip Canyoneering Dirty Devil. Spring Trip started in 1955.
U.S. Nordic Combined skier Annika Malacinski inspires students
As part of the CRMS WOVENT (women's event) series, U.S. Nordic Combined skier Annika Malacinski visited campus in April. In town for the 5Point Film Festival, she shared her journey as an elite athlete and advocate, along with a preview of her powerful documentary, Where She Lands
From top left to right: Art faculty Noah Sakamoto led students in a study of facial expressions; skateboard by Shaunce
Yellowhair ’28; ironwork by 2025 blacksmithing Interim students; painting by Angel Zimmerman ’25; ceramics by Adelaide Moore ’28; graffiti art by Dylan Baker ’25; photograph by Zander Turner ’25; drawing by Adelaide Moore ’28; photograph by Isaac Sterling ’25.
CRMS recognizes student achievement
Each year Colorado Rocky Mountain School celebrates students whose academic and community impacts are top of their class
The CRMS Academic Excellence Award is conferred on a student whose academic performance during the year demonstrates remarkable consistency at the highest level of achievement. The intent of the award is to reward those who have rewarded us in our classes - both students and faculty – who achieve a level of excellence matched by the values of scholarship we all hold dear, and who study with intensity, motivate themselves and others, and genuinely celebrate learning in all aspects to its fullest. This year’s Academic Award winners are: left to right Charlie Dockendorf ’25, Sasha Fielder ’26, Maryam ’27 (not pictured), and Arabelle Moffitt ’28.
The CRMS Community Award is the highest recognition the school community can bestow on a student. Those who receive the award embody the enduring values that have been at the core of the school since its beginning — respect, responsibility, and excellence. The award recognizes individuals for their responsibility beyond themselves, for their willingness to work for the benefit of all, and for the legacy, through example, that endures in the memories of everyone. This year’s Community Award winners are: Sasha Fielder ’26, Gioia Liker ’27, and Abigail O’Keefe ’28 and Charlie Dockendorf ’25.
LEARNiNg By DOiNg:
CRMS’s Interim Exemplifies Experiential Education
by Katie Hyman
Mount Sopris, despite its grandeur and the tall tales of Roaring Fork River raft guides, is not a volcano. Thus for a hands-on study of volcanology, one must travel a bit further afield than the mountains of Colorado.
This February, ten Colorado Rocky Mountain School students joined CRMS’s geology and videography teachers to do just this, backpacking through Volcanoes National Park while studying the formation of the Hawaiian Islands. They filmed their adventure, created animations to convey the complex geologic processes that they witnessed firsthand, and edited their content to create a documentary.
“[Interim creates] the moment when students feel like they’re engaged with something that transcends thew alls of a classroom and hits this visceral space and captures them.”
— Kayo Ogilby
Every February, Colorado Rocky Mountain School pauses classroom studies for Interim, a two-week immersive learning program that includes sixteen diverse offerings. This year’s
Interim offerings ranged from on-campus craft and arts programming like skateboard building and blacksmithing to off-campus programs like Spanish language immersion in Oaxaca, the study of civil rights and social justice in Georgia and Alabama, and the study of marine biology in Kino Bay off the coast of Sonora.
Since its inception, CRMS has placed education through experience and action at the heart of its pedagogy. Today, CRMS’s integrated curriculum combines academics, arts, service, and outdoor adventure, and Interim (originally incorporated into CRMS’s program in 1972) has become a crowning component of this four-part harmony.
Kayo Ogilby, CRMS’s geology and biology teacher and the leader of this year’s Volcanology expedition, describes Interim as one of the quintessential CRMS experiences that shapes the soul of the school: “it is the moment when students feel like they’re engaged with something that transcends the walls of a classroom and hits this visceral space and captures them.”
Opposite page: Exploring lava flows along the coast of Hawaii. This page: students blacksmithing in the Mountain Forge; Calvin Baetz ’27 during the Make-ASkateboard, Give-A-Skateboard Interim
Like CRMS’s wilderness orientation trips, fall and spring trips, work crews, and active programs, Interim provides unmediated physical experiences to enliven, embody, and actualize intellectual inquiry.
For the students studying volcanology, one such moment of unmediated experiential education occurred forty-five feet underground in Kazumura Cave, the world’s longest continuous lava tube. The students explored a mile and a half of the 42-milelong tube (a subway-sized labyrinthine passage of basalt) by essentially spelunking under the Hawaiian jungle.
Kazumura Cave is a relic of 2,000-degree-Fahrenheit lava erupting from a Kilauea vent approximately 500 years ago. When the lava hit the air, it cooled on impact, formed a crust, and hardened into stone walls thereby insulating the river-like flow of molten
Clockwise from top left: Recent Interims include Navajo Silversmithing, Learn to Sail in San Diego, Backcountry Powder Skiing, Grand Canyon Horse Packing
lava within and creating a massive underground tunnel. It’s one thing for students to read about the formation of a lava tube from a desk in the Lower Jossman geology classroom, and it’s quite another to descend into the lava tube’s plunge pools ladder rung-by-ladder rung, apprehending the scope and scale of volcanic architecture experientially.
If the description of spelunking-CRMS students is starting to seem uncannily like an episode of the Magic School Bus, it's precisely because of Interim’s celebration and pursuit of gritty, authentic immersion.
During Interim, “hands-on learning” is literal: fingers clasp delicate saw blades, carving scalloped edges through silver (Silversmithing Interim); hands grip leather reins and saddle horns, guiding pack horses down Kanab Creek (Grand Canyon Horse
Packing Interim); palms clutch halyards, hoisting sails and turning rudders while learning to sail in Mission Bay (Learn to Sail: San Diego Interim). The busy hands of these interims are matched by the zealous feet of others: backcountry skiers steadily trekking up skin paths, earning turns through fields of fresh snow (Backcountry Skiing and Wilderness First Aid Interim) and students walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, following the path of the non-violent activists who marched 60 years ago from Selma to Montgomery to protest racial injustice (Civil Rights and Social Justice Interim).
The Interim equation (engaged students + exposure to expertise + dedicated time in a particular place) yields powerful results and profound learning. The Silversmithing Interim, one of the most popular
From top left: Civil Rights & Social Justice in Alabama & Georgia, Conversations in Clay, Roots of Film Photography, Woodworking
perennial on-campus offerings, has polished this equation: ten students rapt with attention, reluctant to break for lunch or leave at the end of the day + Lynn Pulford (CRMS’s longtime silversmithing and photography teacher returned from retirement) & Betsy Bingham-Johns (CRMS’s beloved college counselor and ceramicist) + eight hours a day for two weeks of sawing, filing, etching, and soldering in CRMS’s world-class jewelry hogan = intricate, beautiful silver jewelry & creative, accomplished students.
During Amanda Leahy’s Grand Canyon Horse Packing Interim, students travelled on horseback through the majestic and rugged terrain of Kanab Creek, a major tributary to the Colorado River in Arizona. Working with a multi-generational family-owned outfit, the CRMS students learned to tack, groom, pack, feed, water, and travel atop horses. In the evenings, the students and their cowboy outfitters shared stories around the campfire.
They draped headlamps over dummy cows to practice roping after dark. They shared their research about horse cultures throughout history and discussed cowboy culture as a global import through Mexico and the western U.S. And, having formed deep, ineffable bonds with their horses over the course of the trip, they reflected on the power of the horse-human relationship, recognizing the centrality of vulnerability and self-awareness. The learning – layered and rich, historical and intimate – was fundamentally a product of the visceral, immersive nature of Interim.
As Kayo noted, “Interim is essential to CRMS’s heartbeat.” Like Wilderness, Fall, and Spring trips, Interim provides dramatic punctuation to the rhythm of the academic year. For two weeks each year Interim plucks students out of their classrooms and thrusts them into something immediate, unique, and meaningful, facilitating enduring multidimensional growth and learning.
This page: Bluegrass Music, Swift-Water Rescue in Chile, Ski Building; next page: Spanish Language & Culture in Oaxaca, Mexico, Traditional Climbing in Joshua Tree
Indigenous Voices: Albuquerque, NM & Flagstaff, AZ
Water in the West: Glen Canyon Dam
On-Campus
Woodworking
CSI CRMS: Forensic Chemistry & Crime Scene Investigations
Ski Building
Bluegrass Music
Roots of Film Photography
Blacksmithing
Hot Metal, Hot Glass
Silversmithing
Wilderness First Responder Certification
Backcountry Powder Skiing
Renovated Bar Fork transforms community connections
While the ribbon was officially cut on March 16th, students began enjoying the new Bar Fork dining room in late March. The 11-month construction project wrapped up in time for graduation and Alumni Weekend. It has been a gamechanger for community connections and events on campus.
Originally constructed in 1964, the Bar Fork has been the hub of CRMS for over 60 years. During that time it has served as the dining hall, kitchen, student and faculty lounges, classrooms, and bookstore. The school worked with architect Olivia Emery to create an updated version that stayed true to its original design and intent. The remodel includes:
• an expanded dining room
• beautiful tables and chairs crafted of European oak
• new bookstore and college counseling spaces
• a second floor with a student lounge, meeting room, and expansive deck with incredible views of Mt. Sopris.
Sustainability was key to the remodel. Structural wooden trusses that supported the original roof were reused for treads for the main staircase. Many windows were refurbished and reused. The redstone from the original chimney was repurposed to create a striking feature at the center of the dining room. The remodel also preserved the original redstone floor.
Please visit campus to see the beautiful new building.
— Tim O’Keefe
Watch a video of architect Olivia Emery explaining the building at All School Meeting
Watch a video of students arriving for the first formal dinner
Co-agenda president Juliana Pittz ’26 notes, “The renovations added new spaces for meetings and studying, which has really helped bring people together, especially students and faculty.” Students also love the addition of a student kitchen which Juliana says, “has been used for fun things like making crêpes for the French club.”
Read Head of School Jeff Leahy’s speech at the ribbon cutting ceremony
Opposite page: The Bar Fork at dusk (photo: Greg Watts). This page from top left to right: Alumni Weekend dinner; history & English faculty Amanda Leahy and advisees; formal dinner from above; students enjoying second floor lounge; Class of 2025 at their senior dinner.
1953 Society Inductees for 2025
The 1953 Society of Colorado Rocky Mountain School honors those individuals who have made exceptional contributions that shaped the school's legacy, recognizing alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees whose impact transcends their formal roles. In 2024, the inaugural class was chosen. This past May, the second class was elected:
John Holden Founder; Faculty 1953-67; Trustee 1952-80
Harald “Shorty” Pabst Trustee 1953-65 & 1966-79
Marlyn Fiscus Staff 1953-98
Paula Mechau Faculty 1953-76; Trustee 1976-82
Ted Hepp ’61 Trustee 2003-2015
Nominate Someone
Do you have a candidate to nominate for the next class of The 1953 Society based on the above criteria? Please send the person’s name and a oneparagraph endorsement for their candidacy to Mark Bell, Director of Development, at mbell@crms.org.
Steve Shanzer Faculty 1954-79
Barb Snobble Faculty 1955-70
Jack Snobble Faculty 1955-70
Pat Fender Faculty 1961-2000
Lee Ann Eustis Faculty 1965-80; Honorary Alumna 1968; Trustee 1979-86, 1989-99 & 2003-17
Charlie Dockendorf ’25 Awarded Prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship
Colorado Rocky Mountain School senior Charlie Dockendorf has been awarded the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established as the first merit scholarship program in the United States, the Morehead-Cain is one of the most respected and valuable scholarships in the country. The scholarship covers full tuition, books, room and board, and offers an transformative four-year Summer Enrichment Program. These summers focus on outdoor leadership, community service, global experiences, and professional internships. Scholars also receive special funds for educational opportunities outside the classroom and can choose to take a gap year.
Charlie credits CRMS for providing the unique experiences that helped him stand out during the tough selection process. As student body president, dorm head, and Wilderness leader, Charlie developed strong leadership skills that matched perfectly with what the Morehead-Cain looks for.
"CRMS literally lets you do anything and take off with it," Charlie shared. "It gives you this experience that a lot of people don't get until they're in college or in the workforce."
As Charlie joins a worldwide network of scholars and leaders, his achievement shows the CRMS approach in action—where students are given both challenges and freedom to grow in the classroom, wilderness, and community.
Academic Family Ties
Virginia Invernizzi and Eliot Taft, mother and son, redefine family bonds as boarding school colleagues
Virginia Invernizzi may be the newest member of the CRMS Spanish Department, but she has spent the better part of the previous three decades teaching Spanish at independent schools (including twenty years at Deerfield as well as stints at Thatcher and St. Paul’s). Lured both by the romantic intrigue of the west – the expansiveness of space and people – and by the school’s philosophy and pedagogy, Virginia made the move to CRMS after her son, Eliot Taft (CRMS English Faculty), called to say that a teaching position was available for the 2024-25 school year. Virginia was elated by the prospect. When asked about her first year at CRMS, Virginia effuses, “I am so happy here. The people are so open, and I don’t know what it is, but they’re just nice. I feel like I fit like a glove and it’s seamless.”
Virginia’s generous enthusiasms include an exuberance for her students. Eliot notes that she is amazed and dazzled by how much CRMS students care about their relationships with the faculty.
Virginia teaches Spanish 2 and an upper-level Spanish course for CRMS. Dan Pittz, Chair of the Spanish Department, explains, “she has so much experience and so much energy. She brings fresh new ideas and opportunities to the students.”
As a native Spanish speaker originally from Uruguay, Virginia is delighted by the multicultural fabric of the Carbondale community. She uses her language skills to connect and get involved, and, in this regard, her Wednesday evenings are joyfully full! First, she attends a Spanish language gathering at a local Argentinian restaurant, conversing with Spanish language learners. Then she brings CRMS student volunteers to the local library to tutor adults learning English (a partnership with the nonprofit English in Action). She concludes the evening competing with her husband in one of Eliot’s local trivia nights.
Reflecting on her move west to CRMS, Virginia explains, “I feel like someone was watching over me and said, Virginia, here’s your gift.” And what better gift than to continue her career in Spanish language education, extend and pursue her passions, and live and teach alongside her very own son.
— Katie Hyman
Graduation 2025
This page from top left to right: John Stickney ’57 walks with Head of School Jeff Leahy as they lead the Class of 2025 to the Graduation Lawn; Lucas Berry ’25 receives his corsage; math faculty Bobby Rosati and his advisees; English faculty Alex Perkins and his advisees; Taylor Rubinstein ’25; Pippa Spaan ’25 after receiving her diploma; Caleb Imhoff ’25; the Class of 2025; Daisy Cullwick ’25 and Logan Hernandez ’25 play The House That Built Me. Opposite page: The Class of 2025; history faculty Beth Krasemann hits a "Billy ball" to the class during her speech; retiring history faculty Dave Meyer during his speech; soon-to-be CRMS alumnae; walking onto the Graduation Lawn; English faculty Eliot Taft with his advisees.
Senior Projects
The Class of 2025 conducted senior projects on six continents this spring, learning about topics including tropical farming, wildlife rehabilitation, marine ecology, teaching, engineering & manufacturing, and veteran's affairs.
Zander Turner ’25 on his work-study with the House of Lords at the UK Parliament
EllaJane Gunning ’25 working with rescue horses in Colorado
Kira Harvey ’ 25 farming with Kokua in Hawaii
Campbell Morgan ’ 25 interning at Forsythe Fine Jewelry in Colorado
Isaac Sterling ’25 taking photos at the Woodstock Music Festival in Alabama
Carol Hu ’25 doing wildlife rehabilitation in Bali
Henry O’Hagan ’ 25 working with elephant rehabilitation in Thailand
Rye Rothman ’25 teaching at the Cloud Forest School in Costa Rica
2025 CRMS College Acceptances & Matriculation
Bold font indicates matriculation
American University
Appalachian State University
Arizona State University
Bard College
Bates College
Bennington College
Binghamton University
Bowdoin College
California Polytechnic State University
Cal Poly — Humboldt
Chapman University
Colby College
College of the Atlantic
Colorado College
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University
Davidson College
Dartmouth College
Eckerd College
Elon University
Embry-Riddle University
Fort Lewis College
Furman University
George Washington University
Gonzaga University
Hobart and William Smith College
Kansas State University
Lewis and Clark College
Loyola Marymount University
Lynn University
Middlebury College
Montana State University
Northeastern University
Oklahoma State University
Oregon State University
Penn State University
Pepperdine University
Pitzer College
Point Loma Nazarene University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Salve Regina University
San Diego State University
Santa Clara University
Savannah College of Art and Design
Seattle University
Skidmore College
St. Lawrence University
St. Olaf College
Suffolk University
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
SUNY Morrisville
SUNY University at Buffalo
University of Alaska — Anchorage
University of Arizona
University of British Columbia
University of California — Berkeley
University of California — Davis
University of California — Merced
University of California — Santa Barbara
University of Colorado — Boulder
University of Denver
University of Edinburgh
University of Findlay
University of Glasgow
University of Hawaii — Manoa
University of Maine
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Montana
University of New Hampshire
University of North Carolina — Asheville
University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill
University of Northern Colorado
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of the Pacific
University of Puget Sound
University of San Diego
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Victoria
University of Wisconsin
University of Washington
University of Wyoming
Warren Wilson College
Washington State University
Westmont College
Western Carolina University
Western State University
Whitman College
Willamette College
Williams College
Summer Program, Lifelong Impact
(HS)² prepared Ginika Chukwumah for Princeton and life beyond
(HS)² is looking forward to its 19th summer session at CRMS! If you're located in the Roaring Fork Valley, we'd love to have you join us for our Third Years’ Graduation on the CRMS campus on July 25 — a special celebration of our students’ growth and bright futures.
Below is a brief interview with one the program's 2024 graduates, Ginikachukwu Chukwumah from Denver, who will begin at Princeton University in September 2025 on a full-ride scholarship. Ginika's words profoundly illustrate the impact of the (HS)2 Program at CRMS.
Q: How did (HS)² impact you academically?
A: (HS)² opened doors for me by providing strong academic support that not only helped me do better in school, but also boosted my confidence. I learned how to tackle new skills without fear, and I became more comfortable making mistakes and asking for help, something I wasn’t used to before. It created a safe space for growth that really changed how I approach learning.
Q: What new subjects did you explore?
A: Over the course of my three summers at (HS)², I was introduced to the world of STEM in a way I had never experienced before. I took Biomed classes and got hands-on coding opportunities that my local high school simply couldn’t offer. Those experiences sparked new interests and showed me that I was capable of going far in those fields.
Q: How did that affect your performance?
A: Exposure to new subjects and academic challenges helped me get better grades and constantly push myself. Even when I faced setbacks, I learned that I could improve with effort and support. It was no longer about being perfect—it was about growing, and that mindset made a huge difference.
Q: What role did college counseling play?
A: One of the biggest impacts was being connected with my amazing college counselor, Betsy. She helped me every step of the way—from brainstorming essays to navigating the Common App. I truly believe that without her constant support and guidance, I wouldn’t have known how to manage the college process, let alone get into Princeton with a full ride.
Q: Where are you now?
A: Thanks to everything I gained through (HS)²—the academics, the community, and the mentorship—I’m now starting at Princeton on a full scholarship. It’s been a whirlwind of an experience, but I’d do it ten times over for the people I met and the support I received. And I know I’ll continue to lean on that support as I begin this new chapter in college.
Thanks to outgoing trustees; new leaders joining board
Rotating Off
A heartfelt thank you to Mike Flax ’63, Alicia Dewey P’22, ’26, and Emma Juniper ’03 for their service as a CRMS trustee through this school year. Mike joined the board in 2016 and has served on the Buildings & Grounds and Future Path Committees. Alicia joined the board in 2020 and served on the Development, Marketing, and Governance Committees. Emma joined the board in 2022 and served on the Finance and Marketing Committees. We are deeply grateful for your time, expertise, and commitment to Colorado Rocky Mountain School.
Joining the Board
The following individuals will join the CRMS Board of Trustees this summer:
Nikki Goldstein P’23, ’27
After discovering CRMS in 2021, Nikki has watched two of her sons thrive as boarding students, gaining independence while experiencing exceptional academics and outdoor programming. Nikki has a background in education as a deaf and hard of hearing and special needs teacher with N.C. Department of Health & Human Services and school districts in Georgia, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Mississippi. After several years in the classroom, Nikki transitioned to administration and worked as the Director of Admissions at B'nai Shalom Day School in Greensboro, NC. She currently sits on the board of The Auxiliary of the William Breman Jewish Home in Atlanta and previously as a member of the B'nai Shalom Day School and Greensboro Children's Museum boards. Additionally, she served as the president of the parent teacher committees at B'nai Shalom and The Davis Academy in Atlanta.
Ramelle Pulitzer ’68
Ramelle brings vast educational and arts administration experience to the Board of Trustees. A dedicated alumna who credits CRMS with shaping her moral compass and work ethic, Ramelle has served as Executive Director of Associated Artists of Winston Salem and founded New View Tours. Her extensive board service includes Reynolda House Museum, St. Mark's School, and Norman Rockwell Museum. As a teacher, docent, and writer, she offers valuable perspective on education trends through her connections to various schools across the country. Ramelle views her service as an opportunity to be an ambassador for CRMS while helping strengthen the school community.
Alumni Weekend 2025
Top to bottom, left to right: Alumni from the 1960s; O’Brien Young, Ford Sayre ’54, Lee Beck, Rob Sayre ’58, and John Stickney ’57; alumni from the 1980s; Class of 2010’s 15th reunion; alumni, faculty, and spouses in the remodeled Bar Fork Friday night; 1970s graduates; Class of 1975’s 50th reunion; George Weber with 2015 graduates; 2005 graduates; Ryan Ritchie, Cory Hardie Ritchie ’92, Fiona Ritchie ’20, and Xiao Dong; Class of 2015’s 10th reunion; Suzanne deLesseps ’64 led art in the Adobe; Class of 1985’s 40th reunion.
Class Notes
Class Notes are edited for space, clarity, and style. Share details and photos of special occasions and professional achievements in your life by going to www.crms.org/alumni/alumni-information-update
1955 • 70th Reunion
Mike Mechau
Mike visited campus this spring to see the remodeled Bar Fork and looks forward to Alumni Weekend in June.
1956
John Borden
Greetings, I'm working on an NSF grant application to support the improvement of our climate change imaging technologies.
1959
Jackie Eschenmoser-Willimann
Easter Sunday April 20, 2025, we will assist at a Russian concert in the Geneva Cathédrale Saint Pierre where our American daughter in law Sandra Rose will sing!
Abby Berns Solomon
CRMS was the best 2 years of my life when I was a kid. My parents put me on a train from New York and said that in 3 days someone would meet me in Glenwood Springs. My spring trip was transformational! I credit CRMS for my love of the outdoors, hiking, and backpacking. I'm going on a backpacking trip in Alaska with my daughter and son-in-law in May!
1960 • 65th Reunion
Lynn Bradley Leopold
Life in Ithaca is good. I am still involved in several local organizations, including the Greensprings Natural Cemetery, Discover Cayuga Lake/Floating Classroom, the Finger Lakes Land Trust, Finger Lakes ReUse, and a community quilting center that provides free access to sewing machines, sewing skills, and fabric, regardless of personal circumstances. I still sing in the Cayuga Vocal Ensemble and a small compline choir affiliated with a local Lutheran church. I look forward to joining a few of my ‘60 classmates at our 65th reunion at CRMS this June!
1962
Christi McRoy
I have just completed my 76th year skiing and my 18th year teaching skiing at Telluride. I’m now on my way to Kaprun, Austria to attend the World Women’s Snowsport Summit. I feel so blessed to still be skiing and riding horses at 80. I was once asked why I chose CRMS. My answer was that it was where I could ski and bring my horse. Little did I know all the incredible life skills I would learn at CRMS.
1965 • 60th Reunion
David Strouse
I continue to spend endless hours (or so it seems) working in my woodshop. I always knew I would enjoy it before retiring, but I had no idea it would be so rewarding. My latest project is pepper mills, which I have just started to make.
1967
Katherine “K.C” Clendening
Long year with Parathyroid Cancer, but recently I have found an amazing cancer center: bone scans, genetic counseling, and the possibility of a clinical trial. I have been sober for 40 years. That alone is a miracle, and going to daily AA meetings. I have a cart I push as I walk, and sit down when I get tired. My best to everyone.
1970 • 55th Reunion
1971
Catherine Wyler Hayden
I am a new first-time Grandmother. Meanwhile, I have deepened my connection to artmaking, some Zen studies, and a study of Internal Family Systems. Next year is our 55th reunion and I am hoping the regulars and hopefully some surprise classmates will show up for that once in a lifetime showing of our New Old Selves...or our Old New Selves...either way....see you there then... one year from now....blessings...ox
Top left to right: Jackie ’59 & Jean Jacques Eschenmoser in Geneva, Switzerland; Katie Bailey and Christi McRoy ’62 last fall on campus; Rita Gould, Andy Gould ’60, and Jeff Leahy; Mary Emerson Calvin ’62, Suzanne Ringer deLesseps ’64, and Ben Niles ’72 in Yarmouth, Maine last fall.
Jonathan Siegel
Growth in place...I've lived in the same home for over 40 years, near the Rio Grande in Albuquerque. Seasons roll by, planting, growing, and harvesting, now, new seasons come with grandkids who love nothing more than a garden fresh carrot or onion for breakfast. I continue with Architecture (still loving that) and find time in summer foraging wild mushrooms, trout, and grinning at the wildflowers. I visited Nigel Peacock in Wales last winter — a rich, quiet and warm conversation about living and learning; he got a jar of my home-made tangerine marmalade, and I left with a jar of his home-harvested Welsh honey and instructions on how to graft apple trees. I loved attending "Hamlet" at a local playhouse and knowing many of the lines (thank you, Wells!); CRMS was fundamental to my ongoing and evolving life framework.
Tom Boyce
I spent 2024 sailing 13,800 miles around a North Atlantic circuit, mostly solo, while working via Starlink. I left Miami for Newfoundland
Bill Sandersen '64 made the ultimate sacrifice
Bill Sandersen '64 is the only CRMS alumnus killed in action while serving his country. A natural athlete with a gift for skiing, Bill was known for his artistic talent, linguistic abilities, and adventurous spirit. After multiple concussions and a serious skiing accident, his path led him to Vietnam, where he was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade on August 18, 1968, at just 22 years old. Buried in Aspen with full military honors, his legacy lives on through his sister Carol's memories and their mother's peace activism. His story reminds us of the profound cost of war and lives cut tragically short.
Read more: www.crms.org/blog/bill-sandersen
via Bermuda and then went to Iceland and the Faroe Islands, where my wife Sheila met me. Together we sailed south through the Shetland, Orkney, and Outer Hebrides Islands of Scotland, then through the Caledonian Canal across Scotland via Loch Ness to Inverness. Then off to Norway, Sweden solo before Sheila joined to sail Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. Solo again through the English Channel to Southampton, where Sheila joined me for the sail to Brest, France, then across the Bay of Biscay to Spain and Portugal. I sailed on from Lisbon to Trinidad solo for 31 days non-stop before returning to the US to vote, find and buy a manufacturing building, doubling the existing space to accommodate our employee-owned business's growth, before returning to Trinidad to sail Willow solo another 2,400 NM to the Annapolis, MD area.
Sarah Forbes Peterson
It has been so long since I have written in that it seems a little silly. And, going by “Sarah” now has been confusing at best. What has been sweet about these last years is keeping up with Kris Harding Dubick ’71 , John Woodin ’70 , some of A.O. Forbes ’69’s friends from ‘69, and teaching watercolor painting, re-appreciating Cici McLaughlin Runge ’71, and recently Jim Ostrem ’71, in Tucson at the International Book Fair. I published an alphabet book on insects called Six Legs, 26 watercolor paintings. Given all the challenges (we all have), I feel grateful and happy to be able to be doing what I do. It is so wild to be old!
Risto Lappala
2024-25 has been a busy year for Liz and I. After spending a good part of each year since 2017 on our sailboat, enjoying the coast of Mexico and the Baja, we realized a couple years ago that we wouldn’t cruise forever and should probably plan for that. After looking for property in several states, we bought a half-acre in Prescott, AZ. I have always wanted to design and build a super energy-efficient house for us. I took a year to design the house, and we took the last 12 months to do the site prep and build the house. We hired help, but did a lot of the work ourselves. We have been moved in for about three weeks and are really enjoying our new home. Lots of landscaping to do yet. We will continue to spend a couple months in the spring on the boat, but limiting our cruising to the Sea of Cortez. We would welcome any CRMSers to visit if you are in the area.
Best, Risto and Liz
Raym Geis
I’m finishing up my last projects on AI for medical imaging. I'm still doing CRMS-y stuff—hiking, skiing, camping, paddling—now with our 2 young grandkids, but not as intensely as before. I have good memories of everyone who treated this geeky, naive guy with such kindness way back when.
Jim Ostrem
Golden days we shared, Seventy-one’s bright spirit— Legends still alive. That will fit I think.
Judy Fox-Perry
What do I have to report? I drive by CRMS almost daily, and it is looking nice and green and tidy this spring. I often see the white buses taking students to kayak runs, x-skiing, or bike rides. The new addition/second story on the Bar Fork is almost finished. It looks a bit like the space station lit up at night.
I appreciate and miss the wonderful people who were my teachers back when I was a student. I can't believe we did all those trips in the back of cattle trucks. I remember celebrating the very first Earth Day and having the first class in "ecology" with George Eustis. I wrote my first letter in protest of the Rulison atomic test near Rifle at CRMS. That planted the seed for my continued social and environmental activism. So many memories are beyond belief in this day and age, but the desire to make a difference continues to grow.
My first two grandchildren have been admitted to CRMS for next year. I am very much looking forward to having them in Carbondale and helping me reconnect with CRMS. They will be third-generation students.
Wishing you all the best.
Laura Miller
Life is good. I am thoroughly enjoying being retired from teaching. I am so glad I do not have to teach online, deal with plagiarism, artificial intelligence, and other challenges that plague education in the 21st Century. I continue to play tennis, ride my bike, give tours to school kids at the Mpls Institute of Art, putz around in my garden, go for walks, hang out with friends, go bird watching, travel, etc. I go birding with Dutton and Caroline Foster , and David Tanner ’74, quite a bit in the spring and fall. My husband owns a screen printing business and is an incredible nature photographer. My two sons are married and are musicians who live in L.A. and Portland. Granddogs but no grandkids, a bit of a bummer, but that’s life.
From top: Jonathan Siegel ’71 hosted a reception in New Mexico attended by Helen Muller ’62, Mike Flax ’63, Ilsa Garduno ’61, Jonathan Siegel ’71, and Barrie Andrews ʼ79; Jim Ostrem ’71, Nellie Bracker ’76, Mary Jondrow (Jim’s wife), former faculty members Adele Hause and Barbara Settles P’86, and Nick Bourg ’59 in Tuscon; Jonathan Siegel ’71 with former faculty member Nigel Peacock at Nigel’s home in northern Wales.
David Thomson
Rocky Mountain School was such a big part of my growing up. Fritz, Gene, Roger. These three showed me what I could be… flaws and strengths out in the open, living life fully. I retired this fall after 43 years as a veterinarian. I am so lucky; I really loved it. Still doing a little surgery for the local shelters, but now it's time for Annie and me to do whatever. Building a van and heading west to start. Hope to see a lot of the gang from CRMS. Time for the next adventure!
David Wyler
David is still married to Jane after 41 years. They have 3 grown daughters, 2 granddaughters, and another granddaughter on the way. We have the usual aging BS: I got a new knee, and Jane got a new ankle. I managed to ski 18 days in Sun Valley this year. I am still biking, hiking, and doing lots of outdoor activities.
1974
Gina Hardin (Barnhart)
I moved from Denver to Lyons - a tiny town in north Boulder county, close to Rocky Mountain National Park, about 3 years ago - and love it. There are tons of live music, beautiful places, friends, my 3 kids, and 2 grandkids in the area. Still loving hiking, backpacking, skiing, alpine and cross-country skiing. This last year, I’ve backpacked the Canyonlands, taken a trip to the Refugio in the Hungarian Alps, and spent a few weeks in Italy with Bill. So, as the Mexican toast goes, 'Salud, amor y pesetas y tiempo para gastarlas.'"
1975 • 50th Reunion
Janine “Missy” King
Living in Colorado and traveling as much as I can.
Content of Character: Johnny Richardson ʼ70's journey from Mississippi to Chicago marketing success
Johnny Richardson ʼ70 arrived at CRMS from segregated Mississippi on an "A Better Chance" scholarship and found an inclusive community where he could express himself freely. This transformative senior year set him on a path to success, first at Ripon College, then through a 23-year career at Miller Brewing Company where he developed the "Look of a Leader" concept and negotiated major sponsorships with Chicago sports teams. These strategies helped Miller become the market leader in Chicago. After Miller, Johnny managed CBS radio marketing before starting his own promotional items company. Now a CRMS trustee, he works to create opportunities for others. "CRMS was formative in my development as an adult, giving me the confidence, fierceness, and passion to face life's challenges."
Looking forward to seeing classmates at the reunion in June, hoping many will attend.
1976
Stephanie Donovan
After moving here in the late ‘90’s, I’m still living in Bend, Oregon and loving it. My son lives close by, so I get to see my six-year-old granddaughter regularly. I have another granddaughter on the way in a couple of weeks. I stay very active with Barre and weight lifting, some pickleball and walks on the beautiful trails here. My daughter, Tamara and Joanna Miller’s niece lives in Wilson, Wyoming and we see one another as often as possible.
I have purchased a number of c.1920s properties and renovated, landscaped, and sold them over the last ten years. I can’t really call it “flipping“ houses because somehow I’ve managed to fall in love with each home and naively think I am going to live there forever until the next project comes along. The most difficult part is leaving my beautiful gardens. My current dream is to find something soon from which I do not move, and it becomes my gardening legacy. I no longer cook much, as I live alone and have a pretty simple, healthy lifestyle, but I do get lassoed into catering events from time to time. I still enjoy ceramics, writing…and I have a cat.
1977
Matthew Von Der Ahe Spent 16 days in the Grand Canyon in September. A life-altering experience for me as a geologist! I'm grateful for CRMS for introducing me to the desert SW 50 years ago.
Dr. Lynda Walters ʼ80: A life of healing and adventure
Dr. Lynda Walters ʼ80 transformed from struggling middle schooler to emergency medicine physician through her formative years at CRMS. There she discovered her passion for science and Nordic skiing, eventually competing nationally and joining the U.S. Ski Team. After a career-ending back injury, she pivoted to medicine, working as an ER doctor while balancing professional demands with outdoor adventures. Now retired in Salida, Colorado, she's writing a memoir and giving back to organizations that shaped her, particularly CRMS. "CRMS is the single most important thing that happened to me," she reflects. "CRMS experiences continue to echo into my life."
Read more: www.crms.org/blog/lynda-walters
1979
Gordon Wade
After 30 years in Ohio academia, I'm now doing advanced image processing in Albuquerque. Looking forward to moving to Crestone.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-gordon-wade/
1980 • 45th Reunion
1981
Jim Van Duzen
CRMS was the best experience of my life! I wish I had focused more on my studies than trying to be cool. However, it appears all has gone well so far:) Life is good!!
1983
David Edwards
In 2024, I decided to pivot my career into the recovery world. I am trained as an interventionist and executive recovery coach and work nationally. I have decided to make Maine my permanent home and broke ground on my home, which I will be primarily building myself. If you're in mid-coast Maine, please drop me a line, and we can hit the trails together.
Ann Hodel
I have been Happily Living in Carbondale for the past 7 years. It has been so fun to pass by CRMS daily- seeing the Barn, the Adobe, and watching the expansion of the Bar Fork. Seeing all of the familiar sights, just 40 years wiser! I’m still working part-time as a physical therapist in the Valley—I now just work with a few private clients in their homes. The “haves” of Aspen allow me to offer my time for those in need and with fewer resources, which I love doing. Melissa and I have continued our bi-annual adventures: biking trips to Mallorca and Croatia, sailing in the Greek Islands and BVIs most recently. Still Nordic skiing up at Spring Gulch! I love running into Mark and Jeannie Clark up there. And of course, fabulous Alpine skiing in Aspen… the “full circle” back to Carbondale has been a joy.
1984
Jennifer Lowe
Leave a legacy at CRMS
The Holden Circle honors those who have included the school as part of their legacies through planned gifts.
I just returned from 3 1/2 weeks in Ghana with my 23-year-old daughter, working with the Kokrobite Chiltern Centre on their aquaponics projects. This was my seventh trip and my daughter's first. CRMS instilled the importance of giving back/ contributing to the world in a positive way, and I've passed that on to my students and my daughter. I know we will both return!
Harrison Ruffin
I run a paragliding school in Bend, Oregon, with Heather Laing ’82 , the brightest star in the heavens.
1985 • 40th Reunion
Melody Chamberlain
I am now the Indigenous and Partner Relations Coordinator for the Search And Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada's (SARVAC) Humanitarian Workforce (HWF) (www.sarvachwf.ca if I’m allowed to give a shameless plug for our organization). My involvement in Search And Rescue first as a subject (yes I was one of those and quite literally owe my life to SAR), then as a volunteer, and now as an employee of our national organization was heavily influenced by my years at CRMS. The concept of giving back to the community and using the skills that you have in the best way you can to support your community is foundational in my work and personal life. The openness that CRMS had when I was there to invite First Nations in to speak about their culture and history started me on a journey of learning to be an ally and decolonize my activities as much as I can. The job I have now just builds on what started 40 years ago. I honestly pinch myself every day that I actually get paid to do what I do. I feel that my job is a huge privilege and honour. It melds my passion for giving back what was so freely given to me with my deep-rooted connection to Mother Earth and the wilderness I love. CRMS was the catalyst for a whole lot of change in my life. I was not a happy or good person when I arrived there (and arguably not when I left there either lol), but it started me on the journey of both personal and professional growth that has lasted a lifetime, and I am a happy and mostly good person now. Definitely a different journey here in Canada than it was in the US, but the seeds were planted there. CRMS was the pivot on which my life turned in a positive direction, and the ripples of those changes are still happening now, 40 years later!
Nicolas Albert
For the last 20 years, I’ve lived in Mallorca, a small beautiful island in the Mediterranean. I’ve been involved in the financial sector and now I work for myself and my family. Since we have two sons in college in the United States, the bond with America is still very present. In a way it is home for us. I miss Colorado! Best wishes to you and all my classmates. I am sure [Alumni Weekend] will be a fantastic gathering.
Dierdre McCreery Baker '87 and Alan Eldridge '88 met up in Boston. Abigail Wiebenson P’91, Jens Herberholz ‘85, Mags Miller ‘90, Randy Berger ‘96, Evelyn Petschek ‘68, Mark Bell, Rhett Tatum ‘02, and Tim O’Keefe P’27, ’28 in Washington, D.C.; Kara Hoffman ‘92 & Mali Sabatasso ‘91
1987
Diedre Baker
Dierdre lives with her husband Bill and two daughters, Maya and Sarah, in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. She is the Digital Learning Specialist and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Specialist for her school district. She supports teachers and students with integrating technology into their lessons, which connects them to the real world. These experiences help students stay engaged in their studies and teach them 21st-century skills that they will need in the future. Her education at CRMS ignited her love and passion for the sciences and for the outdoors. She has recently connected with Acacia Gorman ʼ88 and Alan Eldridge ʼ88
1988
Cheyla Samuelson
I'm still an associate professor of Spanish at San Jose State University, married to Nico Tripcevich ʼ89. Our daughter Sophia is having fun racing mountain bikes, and I help coach the MTB team at Berkeley High. Sophia excels at the longer endurance events and has ambitions of doing the Leadville 100 when she is old enough to qualify.
1989
Brooke Cardosa
I live in Newport, RI, with my beautiful 10-year-old daughter, Francisca.
Benjamin Snead
I moved to Brooklyn, NY after receiving an MFA in painting from RISD in 1997. I had my first solo gallery exhibition with Feature Inc. gallery in NYC in 2003. Since 2005, I have been fabricating paintings for the Jenny Holzer Studio, and continue to make my own paintings primarily based on the natural and unnatural. I have had shows in galleries and museums throughout the country, and
my public art commission for the MTA in NYC titled "Departures And Arrivals" was unveiled in 2009 at Metrotech subway station in downtown Brooklyn, featuring a 120' X 10' mosaic of introduced species to NYC. I divide my time between Brooklyn and the Catskills, where I enjoy skiing at Belleayre Mountain and fishing in the Esopus Creek.
1990 • 35th Reunion Mags Miller
Living in Washington, D.C., but continue to travel and explore the world for work!
1992
Kara Hoffman
For the most part, my life is pretty boring. I am still in Boulder, still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. My boys are good: Ari, 17, will graduate from Boulder High this year, Vin, 19, is studying electrical engineering at Drexel in PA. They both out-ski me, which is the desired outcome of every ski mom. Skiing is good. (I am forever hopeful of bringing Alpine skiers over to the dark side of Telemark. Climbing is super fun, and climbing ice is spectacular. I love the focus and communication climbing demands; I often find myself writing chapters for my (hypothetical) memoir explaining romantic relationship dynamics via the dynamics between climbing partners. I visited Kauai for my 50th birthday, and it was super exciting to run into Mali Sabatasso ʼ91 in Hawaii in November 2024! I fell in love with a pair of gold/pearl earrings at a store filled with locally made items, and Mali was the artist who made them! My future plans involve more skiing, sailing, climbing, and learning how to golf (I want to be a good golfer in my 70s, and it was suggested I start now), finding a career, and moving out of Boulder (not necessarily in that order).
Josh Lange ’93 pours his passion into business & community building CRMS alumnus Josh Lange took the grit he learned on wilderness trips and ski slopes and turned it into a recipe for entrepreneurial success. At 22, he launched Just Squeezed with a simple vision: work hard half the year, chase snowstorms the other half. That lemonade cart grew into a festival empire, giving Josh freedom to travel the world while building a team that shared his work-hard-play-hard philosophy. During the pandemic, he pivoted to open La Luz Coffee, then returned to his Roaring Fork roots with Mountain Heart Brewing in Carbondale and Basalt. These days, you'll find Josh creating vibrant community spaces while balancing his most cherished role as a dad to his five-year-old adventure buddy—living proof that the CRMS ethos of embracing challenges and building community can lead to a life well-lived. Read more: www.crms.org/blog/josh-lange-93/
1993
David
Greenwood
David Greenwood's novel The Cloud Intern comes out on May 27th. Publishers Weekly writes, "Greenwood debuts with an acerbic near-future tale of tech and the desire for connection...[He] offers surprisingly moving insights...This appealing satire has plenty of bite." He's goofily staring into the distance even now, imagining you being bitten by it, gently. https://www.linkedin.com/in david-greenwood-97a5b9249/
1994
Christian Baxter
I certainly have a lot of fond memories of the school and definitely miss the Colorado weather (yes, I am still living in Vancouver, BC). I've essentially been working in mining for the last 16 years, primarily on environmental issues, both from current operations and legacy properties. It is sort of a magical mix of technical, legal, First Nations, regulatory, and negotiation work that is amorphous, complex, often frustrating, and yet very satisfying. Outside of work is family (wife Alex, two kids, Sebi 11 and Ceci 8), a small zoo of pets, and I am still flying competitive aerobatics. Just for fun, here is a quick video of my son and I flying... https://youtu.be/ CgWYoE_M6B4?si=x4oAtGL2-SBCeu0N
1995 • 30th Reunion
Sylvia Johnson
I currently teach filmmaking at the University of New Mexico. In the spring of 2025, I was scheduled to be in Brazil to teach at a university there as part of the Fulbright Specialist Program. Unfortunately, the new federal government cancelled the Fulbright grant project. I did, however, go to Brazil anyway on a volunteer basis to teach the Filmmaking for Conservation workshop at the Federal University of Sergipe because the whole thing had already been planned and prepared for by my Brazilian colleagues, and we were only given a couple of weeks' notice that it was being cancelled. The workshop and collaboration went really well. I'm also working on a film we shot in Costa Rica that will be released in 2025. Unfortunately, I lost funding for the film project (also due to the federal government), which has delayed the film's completion. At this point, we are hoping
to be able to finish the film by the end of the summer. I try to spend my summers in Carbondale whenever I can!
Miranda Terwilliger
After 8 years working as a wildlife biologist at Grand Canyon, where I was recognized for my work with bison, I am now a wildlife biologist at Olympic National Park.
1998
Jake Butler
I'm having a lot of fun behind the camera. I was the B-Camera/Steadicam Operator on “Beauty In Black”, a Tyler Perry Netflix series released in the fall of 2024. We just finished a show called “Divorced Sisters” and an Amazon feature film “Sisters In Italy”. Check out my website www. jakebutlercine.com.
1999
Pascal Shirley I opened Pascal Printing Foto & Art here in Los Angeles. I print for the local community, artists, galleries, and a few commercial clients.
2000 • 25th Reunion
Jason Glaser ʼ97: From “hot mess” to global health advocate
Jason Glaser ʼ97, recently named to TIME's 100 Next list, credits CRMS for his resilience as founder of La Isla Network, which fights heat-related illnesses among workers worldwide. After self-described struggles as a student, CRMS's Wilderness program and supportive teachers became his foundation. While filming a documentary in Nicaragua, he discovered sugarcane workers dying from chronic kidney disease due to extreme heat conditions. His organization developed a simple but effective protocol of rest, shade, and hydration that transformed the industry. Now facing funding challenges, Glaser continues applying lessons from CRMS, where he admittedly was a “hot mess” to protect vulnerable workers globally.
Read more: www.crms.org/blog/jason-glaser-97
From top left to right: Esmeralda Osorio ’12 and Carey Levin ’95 work together at Castle Valley Children’s Clinic; Jake Butler ’98; Sarah Kelly Newman ’95; Pascal Shirley ’99.
Dave Phillips ʼ99: From punk rocker to MLB's official rosin supplier
Dave Phillips ʼ99 transformed his varied interests into entrepreneurial success, becoming Major League Baseball's sole rosin bag provider through his company Pelican Bat Wax. His unconventional journey from punk musician to baseball entrepreneur was shaped by CRMS's emphasis on independence and exploration. Influenced by teachers Mark Clark, who sparked his surfing interest, and George Weber, who nurtured his musical pursuits, Dave developed a creative mindset that eventually led him to experiment with making bat wax and rosin bags. When MLB needed an official rosin solution in 2022, Dave seized the opportunity. "CRMS allows students to be independent and follow whatever path really excites them," he reflects. "The road out of a lot of schools is very narrow, but at CRMS there were huge opportunities to explore different avenues."
Read more: www.crms.org/blog/dave-phillips
2002
Sami Gaston
I've been in Portland, Oregon over 20 years now and currently own and operate two independent restaurants: Bar Diane and Négociant. If you are ever passing through Portland, drop me a line!
2004
Ross Dillon
Ross and his wife Shannon are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Bronson MacGregor Dillon, in May 2024.
Miyako Sugaya
Last July Miyako and her husband Vincent visited campus all the way from Switzerland! After graduation Miyako attended Louis & Clark and then worked in Australia and Japan teaching English. Later getting married and then moving to live in Switzerland.
2005 • 20th Reunion
Scotty Pelton
All is well. I am still teaching 2nd grade and coaching basketball and track.
2006
Kara Flint
I'm currently living in Pittsburgh with my husband and four-year-old son. I have a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine and practice part-time here. Sadly, my father, Phil Haines, passed away on 10/11/2023. He was a big supporter of CRMS, well-known by many faculty back in my day.
2007
Emily Ball
We are celebrating our third year in Michigan, just North of Ann Arbor. My oldest, Silas, will be starting kindergarten in the Fall, and his little brother, Felix, will be following him to preschool. I continue working as a Nurse Practitioner in Family Medicine for Henry Ford Health. My husband Steffen and I have been dusting off the ol’ banjo and fiddle to play together after the babies go to sleep. Life is sweet :)
Ryan Webster
Life is good. My wife, Annie, our dog, Galena, and I live and work in Vail these days.
From left to right: Miyako Sugaya ’04 and husband on campus last summer; Photo of campus by Kara Flint ’06’s late father Phil Haines; Shannon, Bronson, and Ross Dillon ’04
Ali Wade Cottle ʼ04: Following passions in early childhood education
Second-generation CRMS student Ali Wade Cottle ʼ04 channeled her love for outdoor adventure and hands-on learning into founding Thompson Schoolhouse, an in-home daycare focused on nature-based education. At CRMS, Ali immersed herself in teleskiing and kayaking, building lasting friendships and developing environmental stewardship. After graduation, she became Aspen Mountain's youngest female patroller until knee injuries led to a career shift. Her substitute teaching experience sparked her passion for early childhood education. Now raising her daughter near CRMS, Ali's nature-focused curriculum reflects values she gained at school. "The wilderness trips taught me stewardship for the earth, myself, and my community. CRMS helped me learn how to be authentic, kind, and passionate."
Read more: www.crms.org/blog/ali-wade-cottle
2008
James Spicer
My company, Green Country Permaculture, works in Northeast Oklahoma to help design and build local food infrastructure. We design community and private farms and offer a training program geared toward new and beginning farmers.
2010 • 15th Reunion
2013
Jamie Ramge
In December 2024, I graduated with my master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UC Denver. I am grateful I had Betsy Bingham-Johns’ help with my resume when I applied, and Ashley Smith’s encouragement in an informational interview. I’ve started a practice called Made to Mend Counseling in the Denver area. I work with adults as individuals and in groups who are navigating grief, life transitions, trauma, and self-esteem, in addition to the LGBTQ+ community and young adults with chronic illnesses. I appreciate CRMS’s contribution to my lifelong love of learning, nature, and music.
Tim Collins
I've been living in Cape Canaveral, Florida for the last year working at Kennedy Space Center to get my spacecraft, the DreamChaser Spaceplane, ready for its maiden voyage to deliver cargo to the International Space Station!
Coleman Spence
I work in Geneva, Switzerland, for a Swiss in vitro medical device company, focusing on oncology diagnostic test regulation and development.
2015 • 10th Reunion
2016
Forrest Doherty
Moved back to Colorado from Boston, spent a few months in the valley teaching, and then moved to Fort Collins for a different job! Planning to get back into Colorado adventuring this summer!
2017
Mini Zavala
I am doing great! I currently live in Denver and am working as a surgical technician in ophthalmology! I am the lead tech at the facility and in charge of getting the OR ready and setting up to assist doctors in ophthalmology surgeries! I hope to be accepted into a surgical technology program to become a certified surgical technician and broaden my knowledge of other types of surgeries! I have my Bachelor's in psychology and hope to get a part-time job to help troubled kids!
2018
Spijk Selby
I have taken my company, Rocky Hill Forge, international! We are opening the only culinary blacksmithing company in Copenhagen, Denmark.
2019
Cole Pietsch
I have recently graduated from Colorado College with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Spanish.
From top: Ryan Webster ’07; Max Barbanell ’10 and Han Jun Kim ’09; Jose Godoy ’15 and wife Lalie on campus; Tim Collins ’13 in front of Dream Chaser Space Plane he’s helping develop.
Elevate CRMS Through The Annual Fund
The Annual Fund inspires support from our community to enhance the people and programs of Colorado Rocky Mountain School and elevate the student experience. Make a Gift Today: www.crms.org/giving
Angus Harley ʼ16: River conservation career flows from CRMS values
Angus Harley ʼ16, now working as a Film Impact Producer at Dirtroad Organizing in Squamish, British Columbia, has transformed his CRMS-cultivated love for kayaking and outdoor adventure into a career in river conservation. A Quest University Canada graduate, Angus maintains strong connections with former classmates and teachers while embodying the community-oriented values he developed at CRMS. His life revolves around outdoor activities—skiing, kayaking, cooking, skateboarding, and traveling—all passions nurtured during his high school years. "CRMS has had a profound and lasting impact on my life to this day. Being outdoors, taking adventures whenever I can and appreciating where I live and play is something I learned to love at CRMS and still do everyday now."
Read more: www.crms.org/blog/angus-harley
2020 • 5th Reunion
Emma Jean Curtis
I graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a BA in History and am starting my Master of Arts in Teaching for elementary education in May!
Belle Castillo
I spent the last few years trying to figure out what I wanted to do after COVID changed my plans. I started a new job as a Sales Associate and officially went back to school. I'm working towards a Criminal Justice degree to become a detective one day.
Tess Munro
Things are great! I’m completing my senior year at St. Lawrence University–psychology major,
double minors in studio art oil painting, and sports and exercise science. I’m a guide for the outdoor program and have been getting out sailing and biking a fair amount, and headed to LaGrave, France, over spring break for an Avy 1 certification course and some mountaineering!
Luke Penton
Life has been great. I have been working as a ski instructor at an indoor ski facility in Denver called SnoBahn. I have been busy making art and recently displayed work at an exhibit with some friends in an art gallery called No Vacancy. This summer, I received an internship position at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass, where I will work with artists from around the world and help them teach their courses.
Fiona Ritchie
I just graduated from Tufts in May 2024, and now I'm working as a mental health specialist through the McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School post-baccalaureate fellowship program.
From top left to right: Jonathan Hsu ‘19 and Henry Spaan ‘19; Kate Oldham ‘20 won National Nordic Championship in Anchorage this winter; Soren Putney ‘19 with Peace Corps in Malawi; Alumni open gym included: Sophia and Bobby Rosati, Toby Meyer ‘19, Max Seitel Hayes ‘24, Ava Lerner Sprunt ‘23, Maya Menconi ‘23, Tracy Wilson, BJ Sbarra, and Dave Meyer.
SMART WAYS TO GIVE
Below are smart ways to support to CRMS that may provide tax benefits or savings for you (contacting your qualified tax or financial advisor first).
I will be staying in DC to pursue a Master of Arts in Political Communication at American University!
Gretta Gavette
I am in my senior year at Baylor and about to graduate! I will begin the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at Baylor in January 2026!
2022
Cameron Luther
I will graduate in spring 2026. I am currently working towards a degree in kinesiology with a double minor in Spanish and business. In the summer of 2025, I will be heading to Spain to study abroad and travel all over Europe, learning about different cultures.
Yale Burns
I am currently in Bremerton, Washington, working as a motorcycle mechanic and going for a degree in the culinary arts. I have recently rescued a dog named Otto. He is an English bulldog and pug mix, and he is my absolute best friend. I am hoping to attend the Culinary Institute of America and get my degree, and eventually become a personal at-home chef who specializes in infused dishes and drinks, opening up a new world for the marijuana industry and the food industry.
Morgan Karow
Hi CRMS! Things have been going quite well on my post-CRMS journey; I am studying Economics at Grinnell College in Iowa while running Division 3 cross country and track, and I’m going into my 4th year. This semester, I am studying abroad in Granada, Spain! It has been a great opportunity to learn about a different culture and improve my Spanish. CRMS was an incredible springboard for me, and gave me a strong foundation in the Spanish language and the confidence to do new (and sometimes scary) things. This summer, I’m excited to return to campus as a teaching assistant for the (HS)2 program!
2024
Lucy Ingram
Life is going super well thus far! I'm settling into Oberlin quite nicely, getting acquainted with all my classmates and professors, and such. I'm taking introductory classes in sociology and philosophy, as well as a Spanish class, and studying the art and history of the Alhambra in Spain. It's a lot to adjust to and figure out, but I'm taking it one step at a time and enjoying myself as best I can! I’ll be back in the gorgeous Roaring Fork Valley this summer, working at the Powers Art Center and Eagle Crest Nursery, two fabulous institutions!
From top left to right: Gretta Gavette ’21; Watts Brooks ’23, Tristan Trantow ’23, and Cam Luther ’22; Will Karow ’25 and Morgan Karow ’22 in Spain; Maia Cullwick ’24, Betsy BinghamJohns, and Max Seitel-Hayes ’24 at USC.
Faculty/Staff
After 12 years as part of the English faculty Alex Perkins is taking on new ventures. During his time at CRMS Alex has coached the nordic ski team, worked with the kayak program, led trips, and served as an advisor and dorm parent. Thank you for your care for students all these years!
Dave Meyers has retired after 26 years of teaching history at CRMS. Dave’s impact on students in the classroom, in the climbing gym, on trips, and in the dorms will be missed. Congratulations, Dave!
Science faculty member Matt Bowers and his wife Kersten Vasey Bowers welcomed Bille Bowers on September 8, 2024.
English faculty member Eliot Taft married Clare McLaughlin in June 2024. Eliot was also named Best Teacher in Garfield County by the Post Independent Locals’ Choice Awards.
Annie Oppenheim married Jeff Colt in September 2024.
Maja Stark , our Front Desk Attendance Manager, and her husband, Josh Hennigan, welcomed their son Stacy Wade Hennigan on February 21, 2025.
Class notes in this issue were received by April 19, 2025
Lettering a Legacy: The artist behind 1,300 CRMS diplomas
For 33 years, calligrapher Lynne Galluzzo has been an unseen yet essential part of the CRMS tradition, handwriting every leather diploma since 1992. Her calligraphy journey began over fifty years ago, taking her from Syracuse to Philadelphia and Kentucky, where she lettered diplomas for Western Kentucky University—including her own. When CRMS needed an artisan after their silk screen printer quit, Lynne stepped up despite initial uncertainty about working with leather. Even after moving to Massachusetts in 2018, she continued her meticulous work. Having created over 1,300 diplomas, she plans to retire at age 80 after completing six more graduating classes. "I wish I could have attended every single graduation to match faces to names, knowing that each student is unique and extraordinary."
Billie Rose Bowers ’43; Clare McLaughlin and Eliot Taft; Maja Stark’s son Stacy Hennigan.
In Memoriam
Below please find those CRMS alumni, faculty, and trustees we have lost recently. Obituaries are included online at https://www. crms.org/alumni/in-memoriam/ when available. To share additional information please contact the alumni office at alumni@crms.org.
Rachel Treichler ’69 May 2025
Judy Welch P’80 Former Trustee — March 2024
Benjamin Franklin McKinley Former Faculty — March 2025
Mala Htun ’87 January 2025
Eric Saarinen ’61 December 2024
Christopher "Kit" Muller ’68 December 2024
Reubecca Luke ’86 November 2024
Richard Jefferson "Jeff" Smith ’69 September 2024
Dillon Smith ’09 September 2024
Will Miller ’14 July 2024
Ruth Kirschbaum Former Faculty — November 2023
Liz Hirschland ’78 March 2024
Nora Fisher ’58 December 2023
Pat Spitzmiller ’60 May 2023
Not just any old Barn
In 1885, Alice Cooper married Nathaniel Hubbard, an Annapolis graduate and noted railroad lawyer. They came to the valley in 1896 and Hubbard set up a cattle ranch under the brand name, Bar Fork. Captain Hubbard, believed to have been influenced by a tour of duty in Siam when he was in the Navy, built a most unusual barn, using a system of trussing unique in this country at the time. Frank Childs, a homesteader and friend of the Cooper family, cut and hauled the logs from Mount Sopris, and raised the building in 1897. Will Shoemaker helped him notch and lay the logs, and then Shoemaker, author of Pioneers of the Roaring Fork, was their ground monkey who ran errands, helped roll logs, and laid shingles.
“The barn was 100 x 100 ft square. It had a square, four-sided roof in two parts, one of which rested on the inner structure, 60 x 60 ft square. A shed-roofed outer building, 20 ft wide, entirely surrounded the inner room. the whole building was tied together with an intricate system of carefully matched corners, each carefully fitted,” quote from Len Shoemaker's Pioneers of the Roaring Fork, 1965.
In 1956, the school purchased the barn and began to convert it into a library - classroom - theater building. The first year, two classrooms and a furnace room were built at the southwest corner (to the right as you walk in the front door). The following year, the classrooms, one of which was the science room, were constructed at the southeast corner, past the furnace room. In 1958, the north side of the barn was rebuilt (a classroom at each end, plus another furnace room and dark room) and the main floor was laid.
Since 1956 the iconic CRMS Barn has served as space for classes, the library, theater, music and dance productions, all school meetings, and a host of events for the CRMS and Carbondale communities.
