On May 1, the first-ever Colorado Mesa University (CMU) decision day event was held on the GJHS campus by the bus loops for this year’s graduating class who plan to attend CMU.

The turnout for the event was a big one. Whether it was a lot of students, teachers, administrators, and even politicians. It was a great turnout thanks to all of those who participated. CMU brought some of the CMU band members and an a capella group.

“I think it’s a great turnout. I think it’s great that students are here to celebrate one another,” Brendan Ryan, Assistant Director of Admissions at CMU, said.

Even GJ mayor Anna Stout came to the event and participated with the students. She is an alumni of both GJHS and CMU. She took  part in a presentation to School District 51 with a donation from the city, as part of $1.2 million total to help GJHS students attend college.

“I think it’s so exciting to see CMU coming out into our high school, and reminding students of this wonderful gem of a university we have in the middle of our town,” said Stout.

The whole point of this event was to celebrate graduating students who are going to CMU for National Decision Day. They will also be going around to the other schools in the Grand Valley. 

“The goal is to remind students that we have opportunities at CMU, at our local high school to attend CMU to have an affordable college experience and to get a quality education,” Stout said.

CMU and Stout are hoping by donating and giving out scholarships more graduates will be choosing their local college to help improve the community.

“I think it’s important to give recognition to those who achieved this accomplishment and finished high school,” Ryan said.

The city of Grand Junction was even generous enough to help out our local kids.

“The city of Grand Junction gives CMU 550,000 in scholarships to help keep local kids local,” Stout said.