Advisory Council Minutes Thursday, April 16, 2026

Others Present:  President Mike White, Shawn Rose, Alan Acevedo, Reina Roberts, Mattea Pelton, Brennen Welsh, Bailey McCraicken, Lane Stevens, Kayelani Kirschbaum, Jesse Quinlin, Amanda Ritter, Celeste Pelton, Chad Bormann, Cathy Fisher, Jamie Giacomini, Ashley Marostica, Mason Bornhoft, Cash Weber, Brock Miller, TJ Eurich, Eli Kalous, David Farrow, Henry Oh, Lisa LeFevre, Kim Delgado, Steve Smith and Callie Jones from the Sterling Journal Advocate. 

1. Call meeting to order
   1. Karla Rosas, called the meeting to order at 12:48 pm.
2. The group participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Motion to approve agenda of the April 16, 2026 Advisory Council Meeting
   1. Mike Brownell made the motion to approve the agenda for the April 16, 2026 meeting and Jayce Maker seconded the motion. The motion passed.
4. Motion to approve minutes of the February 19, 2026 Advisory Council Meeting
   1. Mike Brownell made the motion to approve the minutes from the February 19, 2026 meeting and Jeff Durbin seconded the motion. The motion passed.
5. CELEBRATING SUCCESS
   1. STUDENT SUCCESS
      1. CCCS Student Excellence Awards
         1. Rising Star Award Winners – Steve Smith
            1. Alan Acevado Dagda is a Business major from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, whose journey to college reflects both determination and ambition. Inspired by watching his guardian successfully run a business, Alan chose to pursue a degree in business with the goal of building a strong foundation for his future. After graduation, he hopes to combine his passion for leadership and athletics by becoming a head basketball coach at the collegiate level.
               At NJC, Alan values the supportive and welcoming environment within his program, where classmates and instructors are always willing to lend a hand. This sense of community has helped him thrive both academically and personally. Outside of the classroom, Alan enjoys staying active through basketball and hiking, as well as unwinding with video games.
               One of his proudest accomplishments is being a first-generation college student in the United States, a milestone that reflects his perseverance and commitment to creating new opportunities for himself and his family. Known for his competitive spirit on the court, Alan also surprises many with his love for country music.
               What Alan appreciates most about being a student at NJC is the opportunity to spend time with the people he cares about, building meaningful relationships both on and off the court while making the most of his college experience.
            2. Reina Roberts is from Fruita, Colorado, and is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Business, driven by her strong passion for the agriculture industry. While she is still exploring her specific career path, she is excited to build a future within the ag field.
               Reina appreciates the welcoming and supportive environment of the NJC Agriculture Department, where both instructors and students create a sense of community. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys playing softball and spending time with family and friends.
               She is actively involved on campus as a member of the softball team, Aggies Club, Farm Bureau, Ambassador program, and Associated Student Government (ASG). Reina shares that choosing Northeastern Junior College has been one of the best decisions she has made, as the campus feels like a second home thanks to its friendly atmosphere and supportive faculty and students.
         2. Rollie Heath Award Winner – Steve Smith
            1. Mattea Pelton is a science major at Northeastern Junior College from Sterling, Colorado. She plans to transfer to the University of Colorado Boulder to pursue a degree in Planetary and Physical Sciences, with the goal of becoming an astrophysicist and working for organizations such as NASA or Lockheed Martin. Passionate about math and space, Mattea thrives in challenging coursework, currently enjoying classes like Planetary Astronomy and Calculus II.
               Outside the classroom, Mattea is actively involved in 4-H and her local community. She is also an accomplished seamstress with over ten years of experience, having earned top-three finishes in State 4-H and the Colorado Make it with Wool Competition. In addition, she participates in both vocal and instrumental music and works part-time at Starbucks in Sterling.
               Mattea is also a dedicated advocate for student well-being. She successfully brought attention to gaps in behavioral health coverage for students in Northern Colorado, contributing to legislation that increased transparency among insurance providers—signed into law in March 2025. She credits Northeastern Junior College’s supportive, close-knit community for helping her grow personally and build lasting connections.
         3. PTK All-Colorado Scholars - Jeri Garrett
            1. Brennen Welsh, a Sterling, Colorado native, is majoring in Production and Precision Agriculture at Northeastern Junior College. Growing up around farming and agricultural equipment sparked his early interest in the industry, and during high school he became especially interested in how precision agriculture technology and data-driven management can improve operations. That passion led him to pursue a degree that allows him to contribute to the future of modern agriculture.
               At NJC, Brennen values the hands-on, practical focus of his program and the strong connections between coursework and real-world application. He appreciates the supportive, close-knit campus environment and the instructors who are invested in student success. Brennen has earned multiple semesters on the President’s List, received scholarships and work-study opportunities, and is actively involved in student organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa and Aggies.
               After graduation, Brennen plans to continue his internship with 21st Century Equipment as a Precision Ag Consultant while remaining open to additional opportunities within the industry. Outside of school, he enjoys working out, fishing, hunting, camping, snowboarding, playing sports, and spending time with friends and family. Driven by personal growth and goal-setting, Brennen is committed to continually improving both professionally and personally as he builds his career in agriculture.
            2. Grey Feicht is originally from Littleton, Colorado, and is pursuing a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Driven by a strong desire to serve others and make a meaningful difference, Grey chose this path with the goal of becoming a police officer and creating a positive impact within the community. After earning a bachelor’s degree, Grey plans to enter law enforcement and dedicate a career to public service.
               Throughout the program, Grey has especially appreciated the discussion-based approach in criminal justice and psychology courses. Engaging in conversations that incorporate diverse perspectives has enriched the learning experience and deepened understanding of complex topics. Grey values the opportunity to learn not only from instructors, but also from classmates who bring different viewpoints and experiences to the table.
               Outside of academics, Grey is actively involved in band and choir and recently began learning to play the drums on a new electronic drum set. A dedicated campus leader, Grey is most proud of stepping into a leadership role with PTK and helping organize the Operation Christmas Child box packing party. In addition, Grey volunteers with the Volunteers in Police Service program through the Denver Police Department. At NJC, Grey’s favorite part of the student experience has been the supportive community—especially the faculty and staff who genuinely care about student success and make the college a welcoming place to grow and learn.
            3. Bailey McCracken is from John Day, Oregon, and is majoring in Animal Science. Growing up on a cattle ranch inspired her to pursue a degree that would deepen her knowledge of the livestock industry and prepare her for a future in agriculture. After graduation, Bailey hopes to become a beef nutritionist, combining her hands-on experience with the agricultural education she is gaining in the classroom.
               At NJC, Bailey especially enjoys how much she continues to learn about agriculture through her courses. She values the depth of knowledge and real-world applications built into her program, which strengthen her understanding of the industry she has been part of since childhood. Her favorite part about being a student at Northeastern Junior College is the supportive and understanding staff, particularly when balancing academics with team commitments.
               Outside of school, Bailey is passionate about rodeo and is most proud of being a national rodeo competitor during high school. A fun fact about her is that when she was 10 years old, she traveled to Hawaii with her family and swam out to dolphins she spotted from the shore—capturing the unforgettable experience with an underwater camera.
         4. PTK 2026 New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar – Jeri Garrett
            1. Brennen Welsh – see above
      2. Thank You to ASG Team – President White
         1. 2025-2026 Officer Team
            1. President — Lane Stevens
            2. 1st Vice President — Mason Bornhoft
            3. 2nd Vice President — Cash Weber
         2. 2026-2027 New Officer Team
            1. President – Brock Miller
            2. 1st Vice President – TJ Eurich
            3. 2nd Vice President – Eli Kalous
   2. FACULTY/STAFF SUCCESS
      1. Classified Staff of the Year – Kayelani Kirschbaum – President White
         1. As an Administrative Assistant for the Student Success Office and Concurrent Enrollment Office at Northeastern Junior College, Kayelani is dedicated to helping students navigate their educational journeys with confidence and support. As a proud NJC alumna, she began her college career as a concurrent enrollment student and graduated with her associate’s degree while still in high school. Her firsthand experience as a student fuels her passion for creating welcoming, solution-oriented environments where every student feels empowered to succeed.
            Kayelani continued her education at Fort Hays State University, studying Organizational Leadership, Biology, and Chemistry, and has consistently been involved in student leadership initiatives. She brings creativity, initiative, and a deep commitment to service into her daily work, striving to develop innovative solutions and meaningful connections that enhance the student experience.
         2. Professional/Technical Employee of the Year – Jesse Quinlin – President White
            1. Jesse Quinlin is the Director of Marketing at Northeastern Junior College, a role she has held since January 2021. With a deep appreciation for creativity and communication, Jesse is passionate about sharing the stories of NJC students, faculty, and programs in ways that highlight the college’s impact on its community and beyond.
               Her path to marketing leadership has been shaped by a lifelong love of art and storytelling. Jesse studied Art, Graphic Design, and English at Western State Colorado University, where she developed the foundation for her creative and communication skills. She later earned her Certified Digital Marketing Professional certificate from the American Marketing Association in 2023, equipping her with the latest strategies and tools to effectively connect with audiences in a fast changing digital world.
               Before stepping into her current role, Jesse worked in multiple capacities at NJC, including as an adjunct professor, liberal arts administrative assistant, and foundation coordinator.
         3. Adjunct Instructor of the Year – Amanda Ritter – Celeste Pelton
            1. Mandy Ritter is a Sterling based artist, hobby farmer, and adjunct art instructor at Northeastern Junior College since 2022. She studied fine art with an emphasis in painting at The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design but started her art career as a concurrent student from Sterling High School.
               She loves teaching Drawing I and II, Painting I and II, Ancient Art History and Art Appreciation. She is inspired by her students daily. Mandy is passionate about her community and public art and culture. She served Ward 2 of Sterling Colorado from 2019-2023 as an elected city council member. Her term has ended but the public art she has worked on in partnership with (LOCAL) Logan County Arts League since 2015 and The City of Sterling will continue. A few projects she brought into fruition are the Sterling Mural on Chestnut Street 2023, the Art of BBQ Festival 2022-2024, Zombie Crawl 2019-2025, Tombstone Trail 2023-2025 and the Sculpture on Loan Program 2024-2026. She participates in regional art shows but mostly creates work just for the joy of making and as a creative outlet.
         4. Rising Star Performance of the Year – Chad Borgmann – Celeste Pelton
            1. Chad is finishing up his second year of instruction at NJC (he was a mid-year hire). Chad came into education from a full career in Policing, proceeded by service in the United States Marine Corp. While teaching was a brand-new field to him, you would never know it. Chad is a fun and engaging instructor who creates an exciting classroom environment. Students watch videos, evaluate current policing events, debate criminal justice topics, and learn how understanding the criminal justice system is relevant to their everyday lives. His lectures are exciting and interesting and rival some of the lectures given by our best veteran teachers. Chad arranges for multiple tours of the Department of Corrections each semester and brings in industry professionals as guest speakers for every CRJ field his students are interested in. He serves on the Safety and Security committee and represents NJC statewide in the Online Faculty and Instructor Advisory Committee (OFIAC). He attends student events on campus, building community with his students and brings never-ending joy and laughter to the Liberal Arts Department with his quick wit and dry humor. Chad was one of the first full-time instructors to really embrace online teaching and has taught numerous CRJ classes year-round that have boosted revenue for NJC. He is currently working on getting the CRJ club up and running again and is working on new ways to grow and expand the Criminal Justice program.
         5. Faculty of the Year – Jeri Garrett – President White
            1. Jeri Garrett has dedicated her career to education and student success in Colorado’s higher education system. She earned her Associate of Science degree from Northeastern Junior College (NJC), followed by a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University and a Master of Science from the University of Northern Colorado.
               Jeri began her professional career teaching grades 7–12 for five years before returning to her alma mater. She joined Northeastern Junior College in Spring 2011 as an adjunct instructor and soon transitioned to a full-time faculty role. Since then, she has played an integral part in both classroom instruction and institutional leadership.
               At NJC, Jeri serves as the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) advisor and directs the Honors Program, where she mentors high-achieving students and helps create meaningful academic opportunities. She has also been a long-standing member of the Assessment Leadership Team, contributing to the development and continuous improvement of the college’s assessment program since approximately Fall 2012.
         6. Crystal Apple Award Winner – Cathy Fisher – Jamie Giacomini
            1. Cathy embodies what it means to go above and beyond in service to students, colleagues, and the broader community. For more than 20 years as an Adult Education instructor at NJC, she has dedicated herself wholeheartedly to empowering learners and has supported well over a thousand students as they pursue English language acquisition, digital literacy, and GED completion.
               Cathy’s impact is measurable not only in numbers, but in truly life changing outcomes. Over the course of her tenure, she has guided hundreds of students toward meaningful success. Some ESL learners have progressed through the program to become qualified for part time paraprofessional positions within the local school district, then continued advancing their credentials by earning full teaching licensure and ultimately securing full time positions as licensed teachers in the same district. In another remarkable example, a GED student completed the program under Cathy’s guidance with honors level scores, went on to graduate from NJC with a degree in Welding, and later transferred to a university to pursue a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in manufacturing and welding. These achievements are powerful examples of what is possible when an educator fully believes in her students and consistently challenges them to believe in themselves.
               Cathy also exemplifies leadership and vision. She advocated for and spearheaded the integration of distance learning and digital literacy into the ACE program, a forward thinking initiative that expanded access and removed barriers for adult learners balancing work, family, and education. Because of her initiative and dedication, the program transitioned seamlessly to online learning in 2020. What could have been a disruption instead became an opportunity for growth. Today, distance learning continues to beautifully supplement traditional instruction and opens doors for students who might otherwise be unable to participate.
               Beyond her work with students, Cathy serves as the lead trainer for instructors and new employees on the ACE team. She mentors with generosity, models best practices in adult learning, and cultivates a culture of excellence and compassion. Colleagues look to her not only for her expertise, but for her steady encouragement and integrity.
6. PRESIDENT’S REPORT – President Mike White
   1. As President White has been having lunch with many students in the cafeteria this semester, there is one common theme – NJC feels like home to students.
   2. Our enrollment has been on an upward trend. We are experiencing more competition than ever from four-year universities.
   3. There have been many activities on campus including 900 students on campus for the FFA judging contests, Math & Science contests for middle school and high school students and various athletic camps.
   4. This summer will be busy with Boys State on May 30-June 6; Girls State on June 7-14; the Titan Diesel Camp & a Quantum Camp on June 24-26. These activities allow the cafeteria staff to keep working to bring revenue to the college.
   5. The State Budget is still being finalized for 2026-2027. The Joint Budget Committee (JBC) submitted the initial budget to the legislature but there are still weeks of review and reconciliation ahead. The proposed budget kept Higher Education flat (no cuts) which is more favorable than we expected. Specifically, for NJC, the proposed budget means we start the year in a small deficit. However, with revenue from CO Online, we should remain in a stable position. Please keep in mind that this is still a proposed budget that may change and may be adjusted throughout the year. 
7. REPORTS
   1. Associated Student Government (ASG) Report – Lane Stevens
      1. The school year is winding down.
      2. ASG Officers recently had lunches with the two candidates for the Vice President of Student Services.
         Planning for the ASG Leadership Banquet scheduled for April 29 at 6:00pm in the Ballroom.
      3. ASG is planning a dance after the Ag Banquet on April 28 at 9:00pm in the Ballroom.
      4. Students are preparing for finals and commencement.
   2. Faculty Senate Report – Ashley Marostica
      1. The Faculty Senate met twice each semester this school year. 
      2. The Faculty Senate recently met on April 1 and forwarded their concerns and questions to President Mike White and Vice President Henry Oh. Ashley noted that President White and Henry have been easy to collaborate with for solutions.
      3. The faculty will be having a social gathering off-site this Friday evening before attending the NJC Theater production.
      4. Faculty have been asked this year to attend both commencement ceremonies to be more visible to the public. Also, all faculty and staff names will be included in the Commencement Program this year. 
8. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
   1. Jesse Quinlin, Director of Marketing, reported the following end of school year events:
      1. April 16, 17, 18 – Theater Production Elephant's Graveyard – 7:00pm – ESF Theater
      2. April 16 – Math Science & Outdoor Club Star Party – Evening – North Sterling Reservoir
      3. April 20 – Northeastern’s Got Talent – 7:00pm – ESF Theater
      4. April 26 – Collegiate Farm Bureau Spring Smoke Show – 1:00pm-5:00pm – Fairgrounds 
      5. April 27 – Business Awards Night – 6:30pm – TAG 
      6. April 28 – Honors Program Presentation -- Media in America – 2:00pm – WY#124
      7. April 28 – Ag Banquet – 6:00pm – Mitchek Building at Fairgrounds
      8. April 29 – Crystal Apple Awards Banquet – 5:30pm – First Presbyterian Church
      9. April 29 – ASG Leadership Banquet – 6:00pm – Ballroom 
      10. May 1 – NJC Nursing Alumni Event – 9:00am-1:00pm – Banner Hospital
      11. May 1 – Retirement Reception – 3:30pm-5:30pm – ESF Atrium 
      12. May 2 – Baseball Pack the Park Event – 5:00pm 
      13. May 4 – Athletic Petey’s Awards – 6:00pm – Ballroom
      14. May 6 – Math & Science Awards – 5:30pm – ESF Atrium 
      15. May 7 – The Source All Campus Praise and Worship Service & Barbecue – 6:00pm – Blue Spruce Courtyard
      16. May 9 – Spring Ensemble Concert – 7:00pm – ESF Theater 
      17. May 11 – Last Class Day (Day Classes)
      18. May 12-15 – Final Exams Day Classes
      19. May 14 – Baccalaureate Ceremony – 4:30pm - Ballroom
      20. May 14 – Nursing Pinning Ceremony – 5:30pm – ES French
      21. May 14 – Honors Banquet – 6:00pm – The Hot Spot
      22. May 15 – Commencement Exercises – 10:00am & 2:00pm – Event Center (Receptions follow each ceremony in the cafeteria) 
9. Adjournment
   1. The meeting was adjourned at 1:28 pm.
10. TOUR OF THE WELCOME CENTER

Respectfully Submitted,

Shawn Rose

Recording Secretary