Our Stories

Please Support EFS During Colorado Gives!

By EFS | November 2, 2019 | Comments Off on Please Support EFS During Colorado Gives!

Please support Education Foundation of the Summit with an online Colorado Gives donation. You can schedule in advance and your donation will process on Colorado Gives Day, December 10, and still count towards the $1 Million Incentive Fund where we’ll get a percentage based on total donations. Where Your Donation Goes Your choice! Your donation…

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School Finance and Why Your Vote Matters Nov 5

By EFS | October 25, 2019 | Comments Off on School Finance and Why Your Vote Matters Nov 5

Everyone knows that K12 public schools are always low on funds. A public school education isn’t free, as parents know because they still pay fees and help raise money through their PTA.  Teachers spend their own money for supplies, and both teachers and principals write grants for special projects or even in-classroom books. Why are…

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SSD Teachers Receive $60,000

By EFS | October 2, 2019 | Comments Off on SSD Teachers Receive $60,000

The Education Foundation of the Summit (EFS) and Summit School District (SSD) Parent-teacher Organizations are pleased to announce the 2019 Eileen Finkel Innovative Teaching Awards (“Eileen Finkels”). Over $60,000 is being awarded for creative teaching ideas that will be brought to life starting immediately. “I was very pleased to see so many innovative projects this…

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Doing What Engineers Do

By EFS | September 23, 2019 | Comments Off on Doing What Engineers Do

Trish Berry and Ryan Mihm teach the 6th grade, and in 2018 they were awarded an Eileen Finkel Innovative Teaching Grant “laying the foundation for all 6th grade students to participate in the Future City project” with makerspace tools. The project-based learning activity “gives students an opportunity to do the things that engineers do—identify problems;…

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VEX Robotics Reaches Summit

By EFS | September 9, 2019 | Comments Off on VEX Robotics Reaches Summit

Peder Hansen, Summit School District (SSD) STEM Coordinator, recently sat down with us to talk about his most recent initiative, VEX Robotics for grades 3-12. STEM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. VEX Robotics has taken hold in Colorado over the last year.  There are many great school district leaders throughout Colorado investing…

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Supporting Education is Just the Beginning for Paul Finkel

By EFS | August 29, 2019 | Comments Off on Supporting Education is Just the Beginning for Paul Finkel

Whether you know Paul or do not, if you live in Summit County, you’ve probably been affected by his generosity. Paul, an authentically kind and generous person, is a strong community advocate and big supporter of the arts and education. The Beginning of Innovative Teaching Grants Teachers in Summit School District have met him, or…

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Carla Cammarata Takes Different Paths

By EFS | August 20, 2019 | Comments Off on Carla Cammarata Takes Different Paths

The phone rang. It was the last of Carla’s friends backing out of the 6-month trip around the world. Carla had already arranged everything and was ready to go. She thought, well then, I guess I’ll just do this by myself. It wouldn’t be the last time that Carla Cammarata, Education Foundation of the Summit…

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Flor Cruz Speaks in Favor of Expanding Bachelor’s Degree Offerings

By Bonnie Ward | April 16, 2019 | Comments Off on Flor Cruz Speaks in Favor of Expanding Bachelor’s Degree Offerings

Congratulations to Flor, one of our newest EFS Board members, who spoke in favor of expanding BS degrees at CMC which just received state approval. Here’s an excerpt from the Summit Daily article:     Testifying in favor of the expanded bachelor program offerings last week were two Summit County locals, current CMC student Stephanie Beste and recent…

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Flor Cruz Joins Education Foundation of the Summit Board of Directors

By EFS | December 6, 2018 | Comments Off on Flor Cruz Joins Education Foundation of the Summit Board of Directors

Education Foundation of the Summit (EFS) is honored to welcome Flor Cruz to the board of directors. Flor’s background and dedication to education are big assets that bring a unique perspective to the foundation. Flor will be our first director to have attended schools in Summit School District since she was seven-years-old. At that time,…

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How Brad Piehl Supports Education in Summit County

By EFS | November 26, 2018 | Comments Off on How Brad Piehl Supports Education in Summit County

Brad Piehl and his wife, Jessica moved to Summit County from Boulder. They weren’t sure if they would stay. Brad didn’t know what was in store for him—none of us do—but when we look back we can see patterns and connections. Brad’s love for the outdoors probably led him to get a degree in forest…

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