Giving Impact

A true outdoorswoman, it’s not surprising Hazel Lazar crushed it as a member of the mountain biking, climbing and ski teams and has become an accomplished backcountry skier during her time at CRMS. But she is also a hardworking, dedicated student who has thrived academically, and is a stunning example of the well-roundedness that exemplifies CRMS. “Hazel is a passionate biker, climber, skier, back country skier, and more,” says her advisor, Beth Krasemann. “She is also a kind member of our advisory who works really hard, both in and outside the classroom and always has her eye out for others. She is a rockstar citizen of CRMS.”

A day student from Carbondale, Hazel chose CRMS for its unique learning environment and small class sizes. “I have the opportunity to build strong connections with our teachers and peers, extending beyond the classroom through activities like trips and sports,” she says. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a community that is so supportive and connected.” 

Hazel loves being able to form meaningful connections with teachers, coaches and students across all grades “I’ve learned the value of strong, supportive relationships that have helped me grow both as a student and as an individual,” she says. “You’re not just a face in the crowd, but part of a close-knit community where relationships with peers and teachers extend beyond the classroom,” she says. “Whether it’s through school trips, sports, or other activities, it’s a place where you feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to grow, both academically and personally. CRMS is a place that fosters learning and growth both in the classroom and in the real world.”

Your support encourages students to reach new heights

Sasha could have taken his love of learning to any boarding school in the world. He chose Colorado Rocky Mountain School because its values align with his: love of learning, optimism, and being outdoors-focused. “CRMS offers a lot of amazing opportunities that other schools don’t have,” explains Sasha. “The small class sizes and close relationships with teachers also appealed to me.” 

At CRMS, faculty members Dan Pittz and Matt Bowers have motivated Sasha even more both in and out of the classroom. “Dan is super funny and really good at Spanish. He has inspired me to take my Spanish learning to the next level.” Sasha also cites Dan’s extensive travels throughout the Spanish-speaking world as bringing a richness to the classroom. 

Fully immersed in boarding student life, Sasha also connected with faculty member Matt Bowers. “Matt was my biology teacher, dorm parent, and mountain bike coach last year. He has inspired me in lots of ways that someone who was only my classroom teacher couldn’t.” 

Sasha has always been curious about the world and how it works. Since elementary school, he’s tried his hardest and challenged himself. This summer he read Annihilation in English, Harry Potter in French, and some of Mujer de Luz in Spanish. “I love learning and love telling people about my experiences and helping them through what I know.” His teachers agree, saying that Sasha is always “completely psyched” for whatever intellectual pursuit is in front of him. Dan Pittz even called Sasha “an academic beast.”

With your support, faculty have the tools they need to ignite students' passions - whether academic, artistic, athletic, or personal.

Your support gives students opportunities to try new things and discover their potential

Pippa Spaan ‘25 has come out of her shell at Colorado Rocky Mountain School. She admits she tends to be more reserved and not very outgoing. Like many new students, Pippa was “scared that I wouldn’t fit in.” 

Yet when Pippa entered CRMS she made a resolution to be more outgoing and try to get to know everyone. She was met by a community who wanted the same: dormmates invited her to their dorm rooms to hang out. Returning students took her into their groups. Caring dorm parents and faculty inspired her to get more organized and think more broadly about future possibilities. Pippa has grown a lot and caught the attention of friends and faculty. She won the sophomore Community Award in 2023. The faculty annually awards this recognition to four students who embody selflessness, respect, responsibility, and excellence within the CRMS community.

At the presentation of that award, her advisor Volker Krasemann noted, “Pippa has been the center of our advisee group starting with our first community dinner, when she tried to bring my five random advisees together, to get to know them, find common ground between them and make connections. This is what she does, and she always brings her best self to our meetings and dinners.” 

For 70 years, CRMS has helped students discover their passions and realize their potential. Small class sizes, caring faculty, challenging outdoor experiences, and rich artistic expression allow students like Pippa to experiment with new opportunities and push themselves into new territory. Even in her first year, Pippa tried new things. “I tried climbing for the first time and loved it. Ended up climbing the whole year! I also tried backpacking and was surprised to learn that I ended up loving that too.” Pippa adds that she will be a dorm head and give cross-country running a go in the fall.

“I want to keep going through life trying as many new things as I can. I feel like at CRMS that’s a very common theme. Everyone is trying new sports, trying new things in classes, going on different trips.”

This year Pippa is excited to meet new students and help them have a welcoming experience like she did. Through intentional community and caring faculty, CRMS creates opportunities for students like Pippa to thrive.

For Isaac Sterling, some of the most profound lessons he has learned at CRMS were miles from the classroom and in some of the most remote and wild places. “Some of my favorite trips are the ones that were the hardest,” he says. From walking countless miles in Dirty Devil Spring, Utah his senior year to leading the freshman Wilderness Assistant Volunteer as a Senior and waking up deep in the Elk Mountains to find his socks had frozen solid overnight. “I almost can’t speak to how much those outdoor trips change who you are or how much you learn,” says the 17-year-old senior from Denver, Colorado. “The bonds you form out there and the friendships I have made as a result are truly amazing.”

A dorm head and accomplished photographer who has also excelled academically, Isaac has become a vocal member of the community who is always looking for ways to acknowledge others and offer support. “Isaac is an amazing kid; he's always going above and beyond in every corner of the school,” says his advisor, Eliot Taft. “Isaac is three steps ahead in every regard, always thinking of his peers and wanting dorm life and community life, to go as smoothly as possible. We are so lucky to have him with us.”

Isaac says CRMS has provided him with opportunities he wouldn’t have had in a large city public school, especially when it comes to his passion for photography. “I have been given so many ways to grow and find my passion. I’ve learned so much about who I am socially and how I function academically, and how to live independently from my parents,” he says. “CRMS has exceeded my expectations.”

Supporting faculty professional development improves the student learning experience 

Lifelong enthusiasm for learning and intellectual growth are essential to the CRMS experience, for both students and teachers. Since 2019, Eliot has taught American Literature and AP English at CRMS, but over the summers he fans his love of literature into flame through a Master’s program at Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English. Donors to the Annual Fund help make Eliot’s experience and other professional development opportunities possible.

During a recent summer Eliot studied American naturalist, poet, and philosopher Henry David Thoreau. “My professor was the toughest yet,” he says, “but she gave me lots of positive feedback and was so kind in the process.” Eliot wants to carry that challenging kindness to his students. “I’ve been doing a lot of reading and writing and love being a student. I’ll use my experience as a student to enhance my teaching this year in some great ways.”

Eliot’s love of learning stems from his parents, both high school teachers, and his travels. He recently spent three weeks in Belize interacting with four distinct cultures. “Next summer I will take classes at Bread Loaf’s Monterrey, California campus. In my final year, I will finish at their Oxford campus. Thanks to CRMS donors, I can apply my experiences as a student to enhance students' learning at CRMS.”

Supporting scholarships & financial aid makes a CRMS education accessible to families in need

“Manny loved CRMS. CRMS changed his life. We are very thankful for the great faculty and staff for their serious hard work in educating our child and the level of education that he received. Manny has grown so much during his time at CRMS. He has become very mature and very independent. The CRMS experience helped him to have a very extended view of the world. 

We are very thankful for the financial scholarship program which made it possible for him to attend CRMS. Without it, we would not have been able to afford this experience for him.

Thank you CRMS!” - Francisco Ruiz, Manny’s father