On Nov. 14, Chancellor Sobanet, Interim Dean Joe Wehrman, and Ben Kwitek, Director of Innovation and Inventor-in-Residence, welcomed over 200 members of the community to hear an update on UCCS.  

“Our guiding light continues to be the success of our students, ensuring that we continue programs and degrees that will offer value to our students,” said Sobanet. “We have a ten-year strategic plan that has been, and still is, the foundation of everything that we do. We are moving into agile, dynamic strategy focusing on specific priorities each year that will help us together build the UCCS of the future, grounded in the current and historical success of this fabulous university.”   

Colorado Springs business partners, community leaders, UCCS donors and elected officials attended the event. The address concluded with a reception where UCCS tables informed guests on specific areas around the campus. The tables included the HEROES Scholarship, Alumni and Friends Association, T. Rowe Price Career and Innovation Center, Cyber, Lyda Hill Institute and others. 

“UCCS has grown right along side of the Colorado Springs community. And we have been connected to community from the very start,” said Sobanet. 

Tailored to community partner interests, the information shared by the speakers was similar to the State of the Campus address held in September, including videos on research, the HEROS scholarship, student stories, and the Lyda Hill Institute of Human Resilience. 

Kwitek shared information on the newly formed C3 Innovation. As the three C’s stand for curiosity, creativity and community, community partners are a cornerstone of this initiative. “Without all of you, without the world, the ideas don’t matter as much. We need to transform those ideas into impact, which is what innovation is all about,” said Kwitek. “It’s magic when diverse people get together and look at problems from different perspectives and offer their solutions.”   

Awards were given to community partners who have shown exceptional support to UCCS students through scholarships, internships or support toward top campus initiatives. The one-of-a-kind physical awards were designed and created by UCCS students. 

Awardees included:  

• T. Rowe Price for the UCCS Community Partner Award for a Large Organization. The award was accepted by Susan Nakai, T. Rowe Price site director for Colorado Springs and UCCS alumna.   

• Rocky Mountain AFCEA for the UCCS Community Partner Award for a Medium or Small Organization. The award was accepted by Phil and Vanessa Johnson. Vanessa is the Vice President of Rocky Mountain AFCEA.  

• Cindy Aubrey for the UCCS Community Partner Award for an Individual. Cindy Aubrey retired from being the CEO and President of Pikes Peak United Way. 

“This campus really is unique,” said Sobanet. “And it is because of so many of you in this room who have engaged with this campus in so many ways that we continue to be creative and innovative in all that we do.”  

Watch the full session online.