Barnes Scholars
Otis A. and Margaret T. Barnes established two trusts that provide full tuition scholarships to Colorado College. The first is to be used for awards in Chemistry and Biochemistry, and the second for awards in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology (including Neuroscience). The scholarships are renewable for four years as long as the recipient is making satisfactory progress toward a degree as defined by the award-granting department.
Colorado College has consistently been ranked in the top 30 liberal arts colleges nationally, and we continue to send our graduates to some of the premiere graduate and medical school programs in the country. A coeducational college founded in 1874, it enrolls about 2,000 students and is known for its innovative Block Plan academic calendar (students enroll in a single course for three and one half weeks). Colorado College lies at the foot of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, a growing metropolitan city of 450,000 people.
The science departments at Colorado College offer strong academic programs widely recognized for their innovative teaching and for their modern facilities and instrumentation. More than 50 faculty are active in the various science departments, providing close attention to undergraduates and a breadth of experience. Graduates excel in a variety of fields, including medicine, forensics, and top graduate programs in various disciplines.
Barnes Scholars' Testimonials
To what extent did receiving the Barnes Scholarship influence your decision to attend Colorado College?
I had already decided on CC at the time that I found out that I received the Barnes scholarship, but the news was certainly icing on the cake and reinforced my excitement to attend CC. The scholarship also validated CC’s dedication to strong training in the natural sciences within their excellent liberal arts curriculum, which aligned perfectly with my goals at the time.
In what ways did receiving the Barnes Scholarship impact your experience as a student at Colorado College?
I think that the major way that the Barnes scholarship impacted my experience at CC was through funding my first summer research experience on campus. The scholarship gave me more confidence in approaching professors about potential research positions, and gave me the experience I needed to be competitive for a second research fellowship at the University of Colorado medical center the next year. Other than supporting me financially and giving me a home in the chemistry/biochemistry department, the Barnes scholarship did not strongly impact my daily life at CC. Something I would have liked to see was more opportunities to interact with other Barnes scholars from the past and present. I think this was a missed opportunity for networking that would have been really beneficial, particularly for choosing a career path.
How has receiving the scholarship shaped your academic and/or professional trajectories after leaving Colorado College?
The research opportunity afforded to me by the Barnes scholarship was instrumental in building my confidence and desire to pursue a career in science. I would say the the Barnes scholarship had an overall positive effect on my career trajectory, however, in the future I would love to see the program do more to create an educational/professional network to help guide students to cultivate their passions for chemistry/biochemistry.
Dr. Petra Jans Pederson ('15) Earns PhD from University of Texas
To what extent did receiving the Barnes Scholarship influence your decision to attend Colorado College?
Without the Barnes scholarship, I would have attended K-State instead of CC. While CC's financial aid package was good before the Barnes, it wasn't enough for a first generation student as myself. It made all the difference, both financially and psychologically.
In what ways did receiving the Barnes Scholarship impact your experience as a student at Colorado College?
As a student, being a Barnes recipient gave me confidence. It allowed me to do research which spurred me on to graduate studies. I value my relationships with faculty at CC, though I don't think that was specific to my status as a Barnes recipient.
How has receiving the scholarship shaped your academic and/or professional trajectories after leaving Colorado College?
Since I wouldn't have attended CC without the Barnes scholarship, all of the things I learned at CC which have impacted my career can also be credited to the scholarship. CC prepared me for success in graduate school - the first in my class of 52 at UW-Madison to earn my PhD. It created a commitment to liberal arts education at small institutions - I am now working for my third such place (Wisconsin Lutheran College, Western Colorado University, and now Marymount University.) I studied in Luneburg, Germany and the foreign experience certainly impacted my life. The liberal arts education I received allowed me to have a successful year-long American Chemical Society/AAAS Congressional fellowship. I worked in Senator Rockefeller's (West Virginia) office on education and science funding issues. While I was funded by the American Chemical Society, my success depended far more on the communication and critical thinking skills I developed at CC than on any chemical knowledge.
In short, I've gone from being a first generation college student from Kansas to now a position as Associate Dean of Sciences, Mathematics, and Education at Marymount University. I credit CC (and the Barnes scholarship that made it possible) for much of my success.
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