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FALL 2024

Alumni Match Opportunity for 2024: Double Your Impact with a $10,000 Alumni Match from the Adam R. Scripps Foundation!

The Adam R. Scripps Foundation recognizes The Colorado Springs School (CSS) as a vital asset to the Colorado Springs community and shares our vision of educational excellence, innovation, and community strength. In a generous show of support, they have offered a $10,000 matching challenge to the CSS alumni community—an incredible opportunity to enhance the CSS experience and secure our legacy as a beacon of excellence for years to come.


Join us in reaching this milestone by supporting these key pillars:


  • Educational Excellence: We are committed to maintaining and expanding our programs to challenge and inspire every student to reach their highest potential. Your contributions will allow us to invest in new educational tools, resources, and programs that keep CSS at the cutting edge of learning.
  • Innovation & A Future-Forward Mindset: Our world is rapidly changing, and we want our students to be prepared to lead. With your help, we will continue to integrate technology, foster creativity, and build new spaces that encourage future- forward-thinking and problem-solving.
  • Community Strength: CSS is not just a school—it is a vibrant community where every individual is valued and supported. Together, we will continue to create experiences that foster meaningful connections and build a welcoming, inclusive environment for all.


We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Adam R. Scripps Foundation for their generosity and belief in CSS’s mission. We invite our alumni to join us in meeting this match challenge and demonstrating our collective pride in the CSS community—ensuring that CSS remains a place where students thrive, innovation flourishes, and community bonds grow stronger.

Make a Gift by Dec. 31

2024 Alumni Weekend Draws Graduates from Across the Decades

Thank you to those who joined us for The Colorado Springs School's 2024 Alumni Reunion Weekend in September! From celebrating at the All-School Carnival to honoring our Founders' Day award recipient Dottie Lirette, it was wonderful to reconnect and celebrate together. Your presence made the weekend truly special.


As alumni, past faculty, and friends of CSS, you are a vital part of the CSS community and have helped shape the school into what it is today. We cherish the bond that connects us and hope you will continue to be part of the CSS story for years to come.


Remember, our doors are always open, and CSS will always be your home. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Aubryn Bednar at abednar@css.org or (719) 434-3501. Whether through volunteering, sharing your talents, or providing a gift, there are so many meaningful ways to stay involved, and we would love to hear from you.


As we reflect on the success of this event, we're reminded of the vital role our alumni play in shaping the future of our CSS. Your experiences and achievements continue to inspire our current students, and your support is crucial in maintaining the high standards of education that define our alma mater.

2024 Founders' Day Honors Former Faculty Member

Dottie Lirette was inducted into the Hall of Fame during the Founders' Day Celebration on September 30, 2024. Dottie was an art teacher, fondly known as the Queen of the Carriage House, from 1970-1992. "Being part of the CSS family for 22 years had a tremendous impact on my career and artistic life, and I’m certain I gained more from students than I gave," she said. Dottie reminisced with former students and current and past faculty and staff following the ceremony. Read More

CSS News

Announcing the Dr. Mike Edmonds Endowed Scholarship Fund

The Dr. Mike Edmonds Endowed Scholarship Fund will support deserving students, making a CSS education accessible to those who demonstrate both academic promise and commitment to our school’s mission. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Edmonds (pictured here), who served as our interim Head of School from 2023-2024 and is a former member of the CSS Board of Trustees. Join us in honoring his enduring legacy and his dedication to educational excellence, diversity, and opportunity by making a gift. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to CSS!

Upper School Production of Frankenstein Opens Tomorrow

You're invited to join us November 15-17, 2024, for the Upper School Production of Nick Dear's adaptation of Frankenstein, a compelling reimagining of Mary Shelley's timeless masterpiece, in the Louisa Performing Arts Center. Learn more

Parent Speaker Series: Join Virtually

Keynote speaker and award-winning reporter Jennifer Wallace pulls from her book "Never Enough: When Achievement Pressure Becomes Toxic-And What We Can Do About It" in which she investigates the deep roots of toxic achievement culture and finds out what we must do to fight back. Drawing on interviews with families, educators, and an original survey of over 6,000 parents, she exposes how the pressure to perform is not a matter of parental choice but baked into our larger society and spurred by increasing income inequality and dwindling opportunities.


This six-part webinar series is presented by Issacs in collaboration with ACIS, the Association of Colorado Independent Schools. All webinars will be recorded. Only one registration is needed for all events.

November 19, 2024

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. MST

Join via Zoom

Spotlights & Stories

CSS College Counselor Visits 100th College Campus

College & Career Counselor Erik Playe recently visited his 100th college campus since joining CSS in 2021! From coast to coast—and even Hawaii—he's explored universities to gain firsthand insight into the best-fit colleges for our Kodiaks. Along the way, he also meets with CSS alums at various colleges! Mr. Playe spends at least 50 hours with each Upper School student, preparing them for life beyond CSS. He also attends events such as theater productions and athletics to support and learn more about our Kodiaks. That’s dedication! Above Mr. Playe is with, from left to right, Haegan Malone '23, Audrey Barber '22, Isabelle Zamundu '24, Carissa Lay '23, and Graham Bain '22. Learn more

Blissful Burros Visit Campus

Alumnus Ethan Hedden '21 and his wife, Sydney, participated in X-SCREAM Day at CSS in October. Students learned about their burros, pig, and goats. They also brought burros decked out in Halloween costumes to Trunk-or-Treat. The burros are available for weddings, birthday parties, and other occasions. Learn more

Alum as CSS Resident Artist

Robert Lococo '08 was recently an artist-in-residence this fall with our Upper School students by teaching animal portraiture to the Water-based Painting class. He shared technique and inspiration from his avian art. Learn more

Kansas Bureau of Investigation Hires CSS Alum

CSS alumna Elizabeth Valentine Thomeczek '09 was welcomed as a special agent to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation by Director Tony Mattivi, a former federal prosecutor. During the September ceremony, Mr. Mattivi shared that he and Ms. Thomeczek have many commonalities, the most surprising being that they both hail from Colorado Springs and have a connection to The Colorado Springs School. He attended Fountain Valley School when it was an all-boys school and fondly remembers dances hosted at CSS when it was an all-girls school. Ms. Thomeczek, a licensed law enforcement officer, joined the KBI's Child Victims Unit in Western Kansas. Congratulations from the Kodiak Community on this achievement!

Alumni Gather in Idaho

Alumna Jen Fuller James ‘86 shared photos from a weekend CSS alumni gathering in Sun Valley, Idaho. They had a wonderful time reminiscing and hope to get together again next year, possibly in Colorado. From left to right, back row, are Lisa (Cohen) Escalante’85, Greg Burnside ‘86, Zack Griffin, ‘85, Jen Fuller James ‘86, Keith Abeles ‘85, CJ (Bucannon) Grace ‘86, Anthony Hazen ‘84, and front row are Chrissy (Nelson) Hoffman ‘87 and Kim Furlong ‘86.

Something to Share?


We'd love to hear from you! Send your information and photos highlighting alumni accomplishments, professional accolades, life celebrations, and community achievements.

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From the Advancement Office

Host Your Next Event at The Colorado Springs School

The Colorado Springs School offers campus facility rentals to alumni. The beautiful campus setting at the base of the Rocky Mountains offers a stunning backdrop for your next event. Our campus can be used in a variety of ways including weddings, performing arts, corporate events, meetings, and athletics.

Learn More
The Colorado Springs School
21 Broadmoor Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 475-9747 | www.css.org
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