Colorado College
2024–25 Annual Report
Table of Contents
The Annual Report
A Message from the President
Highlights from a Year of Progress and Purpose
Excellence in Research and Innovation
Learning Without Boundaries
Preparing Tigers for Lives of Impact
Life Beyond the Classroom
Tiger Pride: Champions in Sport and Scholarship
Connecting Campus and Community at the FAC
Bridging Campus to Career
Honoring Our Legacy, Shaping Our Future
A Message From
The President
Dear CC Community,
The 2024-25 year marked a defining moment for Colorado College: our 150th anniversary and the beginning of a new era. We celebrated and reflected on the generations who built this institution and kept it progressing in innovative ways. At the same time, we set our sights on what comes next: a stronger, more connected CC prepared to carry the values of a liberal arts education into a changing world.
Serving as interim president during this transitional year—amid broader challenges facing higher education—was an extraordinary privilege. Across campus and beyond, our students, faculty, staff, and alumni demonstrated the power of learning that is immersive, applied, and deeply human. Now, as your permanent president, I am inspired by the momentum we’ve built and the shared purpose that fuels it.
Our collective efforts reaffirm this truth: that Colorado College will claim our space in higher education by shaping citizens who think deeply, act boldly, and build a more compassionate tomorrow, proving that an immersive liberal arts education creates the leaders our world demands.
This new publication celebrates the many ways that impact takes shape. I hope as you read, you will see yourself reflected in these stories and feel proud of the people and ideas moving CC forward. Together, we’re shaping a future worthy of our 150-year legacy.
With appreciation,
Manya Whitaker, President
Highlights from a Year of
PROGRESS AND PURPOSE
Research Colleges and Universities Designation
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education® (new!)
- 1 of 36 national liberal arts colleges, 3 Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and 10 liberal arts colleges in the Midwest
- Applies to primarily undergraduate institutions that spend an annual average of $2.5M or more on research
Top Fulbright Producing Institution
U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- Recognized for the 3rd consecutive year, and 4th time in the past 5 years
- Only college in Colorado to make the list at the undergraduate level
Top Producer of Peace Corps Volunteers Among Small Colleges
- 13 alums serving in 9 countries
- 375 alums have served abroad through the program to date
Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award
Insight Into Academia magazine
- 3rd consecutive year (formerly Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award)
- 1 of 3 schools in Colorado recognized for outstanding commitment to academic excellence and belonging
Career Connected Campus
Colorado Department of Education
- 3-year designation
- 1 of 7 colleges and universities recognized for integrating academic curriculum with work-based learning experiences
Excellence in
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
During the 2024–25 Academic Year:
FUNDING
$3.4 M
22 faculty and staff managed 29 different research awards, totaling $3.4 million in funding
APPLICATIONS
+21%
Faculty and staff submitted 25 new applications for external research funding, despite a changing landscape—a 21% increase in submissions over our 10-year average
RESEARCH AWARDS
6
Faculty received 6 new research awards from the National Science Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, and the Council for Innovation Promotion
STUDENT RESEARCH
111
111 students conducted research alongside faculty through the Student Collaborative Research (SCoRe) program
STATE OF THE ROCKIES
8
23 student researchers and 7 creative team members helped bring the Conservation in the West Poll to life—informing citizens, policymakers, journalists, and conservation leaders across 8 Western states
Organismal Biology and Ecology Students Spend Summer Researching in the Arctic
By Julia Fennell ’21
A summer on Alaska’s North Slope immersed students in the rapidly changing Arctic, where shifting temperatures are reshaping interactions between plants and their pollinators.
Jevon Lipsey '26 Uses Personal Experiences to Connect to Research on Midwest Hip Hop
By Julia Fennell ’21
A student-faculty research duo explored the sounds and social forces of Midwest hip-hop, uncovering the stories behind a region often left out of the narrative.
Learning Without
BOUNDARIES
599
students studied abroad in 55 countries and 6 U.S. states—the second-highest participation in CC history
33
CC faculty-led courses spanned 19 countries, from Greece to Panama to Azerbaijan
24
academic departments offered 298 field experiences in 9 U.S. states—Organismal Biology & Ecology, Geology, and Environmental Studies & Science were the top departments
$150K
Nearly $150,000 in Keller Family Venture Grants distributed to 95 students to pursue independent projects in 29 countries and 14 U.S. states and territories
CC Celebrates Two Watson Fellows in One Year
A rare achievement:
Dan Schmidt ‘25 and Andrew Han ‘25 received the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to pursue their passions on a global scale—the first time since 2015 that CC has had multiple Watsons in a single year.
Around the World in 365 Days
CC-Led Programs
- Azerbaijan
- Brazil
- Cabo Verde
- China
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Mexico
- Panama
- Spain
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- USA (Multiple sites)
PARTNER-LED Semester Abroad
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bhutan
- Chile
- China
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Cuba
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Fiji
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Guatemala
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Panama
- Peru
- Portugal
- Senegal
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Turks & Caicos
- United Kingdom
Exploring Martyrs & Saints in Italy
By Julia Fennell '21
In this immersive course, students explored history firsthand—studying within ancient churches and basilicas, admiring mosaics in Rome, and witnessing the Feast of Saint Agatha in Sicily.
Experiencing the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan
By Julia Fennell '21
Eight student delegates traveled to the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia to gain firsthand insight into global climate negotiations, returning inspired to take action in their own communities.
Preparing Tigers for
LIVES OF IMPACT
Community Partnerships Year Over Year*
During the 2024-25 academic year, CC partnered with more than 210 community organizations.
*2020-2021 and 2021-22 academic years not tracked due to COVID-related disruptions.
60%
of students participated in community-based work
5,205
hours of local community service contributed by Bonner Fellows, Community Engaged Scholars, and BreakOut trip participants, resulting in a combined $77,086 economic impact
70
employees participated in CC Week of Action, supporting 8 local nonprofits
From Culture Shock to Community Change: EmRhys Jenkins Co-Founds Allies of Unhoused Youth
By Katie Branham
What began as a simple food drive has grown into a thriving club connecting CC students with community organizations to aid youth experiencing homelessness.
CC also deepened local partnerships, celebrated long-standing collaborations, and increased its visibility on a national stage through a series of high-impact, external events.
Oct. 18–24, 2024
Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
Feb. 12–15, 2025
Centennial State Debate Tournament
March 8, 2025
African American Youth Leadership Conference
April 26, 2025
Colorado Springs Undergraduate Research Forum
May 20–29, 2025
10 local high school graduation ceremonies
June 7–27, 2025
Colorado College Summer Music Festival
June 21–29, 2025
USA Weightlifting Championships
Life Beyond
THE CLASSROOM
The CC Fashion Show: Sustaining Traditions And Dreaming of Futures
By Katie Branham
Eighteen student designers are using fashion to imagine radical futures, showcasing sustainable work that exemplifies the freedom and creativity of the liberal arts.
1,000+
students involved in 100+ registered student organizations
71% of students attended at least one signature student event:
- Llamapalooza: 1,800+ students, approx. 150 guests
- Dance Workshop: approx. 3,000 attendees, 400+ dancers
- Senior Prom: 425+ attendees
- Fashion Show: 375+ attendees, 100+ participants
- Battle of the Bands: 400+ attendees
2 new student traditions piloted:
- Campus Sleep-Out
- Tiger Lookalike Contest
Students found fitness, fun, and adventure through campus recreation:
- 507 club sport participants
- 1,587 intramural participants
- 108,092 unique visits to Adam F. Press Fitness Center
- 8,502 equipment rentals from the Ahlberg Gear House
Creativity took shape through art workshops and showcases:
- 475 participants in 100 Arts & Crafts workshops
- 84 independent student projects
- 10 in-house visiting artists
- 40 student artists and 48 community artists exhibited at the CC Arts & Crafts Fair with student earnings exceeding $15,000
- 4 “Arts in the Outdoors” classes, including “Experimenting with Clay and Deep Listening at the Paint Mines” and “Explorations with Water: Papermaking, Marbling, and Eleven Mile Reservoir
Tiger Pride:
CHAMPIONS IN SPORT AND SCHOLARSHIP
91%
of varsity student-athletes named conference All-Academic
4
NCAA team appearances: women’s cross country, men’s soccer, women’s basketball, women’s lacrosse
6
conference championships
22
individual conference champions
4
conference Coaches of the Year
2nd-best
Director’s Cup showing in CC history (fall and winter)
7
All-Americans
10
conference Players of the Year
Connecting Campus and Community
AT THE FAC
57,393
visits through more than 1,350 programs, including hands-on art making, captivating theatre performances, thought-provoking exhibitions, and dynamic special events
7,105
visits from the CC community in FY25
38%
academic student visits
Convergence Class at the FAC Enhances First-Year Power, Culture, and Resistance Cluster
A CC100 course turned the Fine Arts Center into their classroom, exploring Muslim futurism as an introduction to the focused, collaborative inquiry that defines a CC education.
FAC Military Artistic Healing Classes Help Servicemembers and Families
By Julia Fennell '21
For many in Colorado Springs' military community, the Fine Arts Center's free art classes provide what traditional therapy cannot—a creative outlet where veterans and service members heal through self-expression.
Bridging Campus
TO CAREER
144
Tigers and alumni connected at the Career Center’s Business and Government Career Nights, building networks and exchanging insights across business and public service
110
students received summer internship funding to pursue opportunities in 22 states and 13 countries
100+
students and alumni matched and participated in career conversations through the CC Mentoring Program
93%
of students utilized at least one Career Center support or resource
From CC to Graduate School
Did you know?
62%
of CC graduates at 15 years out (Class of 2010) are pursuing or have completed postgraduate education. Of those, 41% are in the fields of health and medicine or natural sciences.
GRAD SPOTLIGHTS
Honoring Our Legacy,
SHAPING OUR FUTURE
In the spring of 2025, the MacLean family, whose CC legacy dates back to 1925, furthered this impact with a $2.5 million gift to endow the Career Catalyst program. This innovative program immerses students in faculty-led blocks with real-world organizations, helping them gain experience, develop transferable skills, and launch successful careers.
Every gift—large or small—helps ensure access and enables innovation and transformative experiences across campus. CC is one of only 84 U.S. colleges and universities that meet the full demonstrated financial need of every admitted student. And we couldn't do it without you.
CC's Endowment Performance
Explore this year’s digital Endowment Annual Report for a detailed look at comparative investment returns, asset allocation, payout and spending details, and an overview of how the college manages the endowment to support long-term institutional strength.
2024–25 Fiscal Year
$21.4 M
Total dollars donated
8,419
Total unique donors
$100
Most common gift amount
$5.6 M
Amount raised toward scholarships
$4.6 M
Approximate total of estate gifts from Barnes Legacy Society members
“Colorado College will claim our space in higher education by shaping citizens who think deeply, act boldly, and build a more compassionate tomorrow, proving that immersive liberal arts education creates the leaders our world demands.”
— Dr. Manya Whitaker, President
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