Lakewood-based Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) has awarded approximately $850,000 in funding through its President’s Dream Grant initiative, selecting 14 projects aimed at transforming the college’s campus, programs and community impact. The one-time grants, ranging from $5,000 to $250,000, were open to faculty, staff and student leadership groups and are designed to support RRCC President Landon Pirius’s strategic priorities: advancing workforce innovation, increasing economic mobility, strengthening community partnerships, improving student success and achieving equitable outcomes for all learners.
“The people who teach, work and learn at Red Rocks Community College know best what we need to deliver on our promise to provide students with opportunities to grow, develop and achieve their career objectives,” Pirius said. “I introduced the President’s Dream Grant Fund at the beginning of this year, eager to see what ideas our community would have to move our college forward and make a positive, lasting impact. We received 37 proposals for a total of $2.2M and out of that tremendous pool, we selected 14 projects that span many areas of the college and will benefit a wide range of audiences and programs.”
The awarded projects cover a wide range of disciplines and goals, including expanding access to health care, revitalizing campus infrastructure, advancing sustainability and increasing support for adult and incarcerated learners.
Faculty-Led Projects:
Ceramics Studio Upgrade: A new soda kiln will be purchased for the ceramics program (Deborah Dell).
SCARS Theatrical Tour & Podcast: A student-created production and podcast will explore healing through theater (Kelly Eldredge).
Radio Telescope Renovation: Faculty from multiple disciplines will restore and modernize the college’s radio telescope (Lynette Hoerner, Carlos Medina-Hernandez, et al.).
Collaborative Classrooms: Five classrooms will be redesigned into active learning spaces (Jodi Holzman, Stephanie Schooley).
First-Year Student Modules: Self-paced, 24/7 learning modules will support new students in building foundational academic skills (Dana Kobold).
Campus Mural Project: Students will design and paint a large-scale courtyard mural (Katie Gabriel-Ramos).
Cultural Intelligence in Business: CQ (Cultural Intelligence) will be embedded in Business Foundations courses (Julio Suarez-Pesquera, Stephanie Schooley).
ABE for Incarcerated Learners: Basic education will be offered remotely to individuals in the Colorado Department of Corrections (Maryann Touitou).
Staff-Led Projects:
Healthcare Career Bridge Academy: A week-long program will expose first-generation high school students to healthcare fields (Kelly Lloyd).
STI Testing Equipment: The campus health center will acquire machines to improve access to sexual health screening (Ginger Stewart).
Marketing Equipment Upgrade: New printers and tools will boost the college’s in-house communication and outreach capabilities (Ben Vena).
Alumni Engagement Initiative: A multi-department team will build stronger alumni connections to support student career opportunities (Evan Kravitz, Summer Applegate, et al.).
Student-Led Projects:
Adult Student Mentoring & Welcome Event: A mentorship network and campus event will support adult learners (Ariana Lazo – ASAC).
Composting & Recycling Campaign: A sustainability-focused initiative will introduce composting and expand recycling education (Ariana Lazo – PTK).
Project planning will begin in summer 2025, with implementation expected throughout the upcoming academic year.