Inclusive Excellence Champion

Neera Sherpa

Sherpa Neera, CNCC

Neera was in university in Nepal for business prior to moving to Colorado. She said her and her husband picked Colorado, to continue to be close to mountains. Neera speaks 4 languages and is now learning medical terminology as a nursing student. She has worked as a CNA in a rehab setting and recently started working as a tech in the Peri-Op department at YVMC. Neera struggled at first with nursing school, but she accepted help from a campus tutor, and retaught herself how to study and gain knowledge. Neera is an amazing, hardworking student who goes above and beyond in everything asked of her. If she doesn’t understand, she studies and researches until she does. She always asks questions and is always learning. Neera will be an amazing nurse! Neera is always finding ways to make her classmates smile and her instructors laugh. Neera has an incredible personality. She is compassionate, humble, loyal and determined.

Rising Star Awards

Marissa Coney

Marissa Coney, CNCC

Marissa is a very motivated student and has certainly taken a leadership role at CNCC. She is a NIFA (National Intercollegiate Flying Association) team captain and was instrumental in getting the team prepared for regional competition this year. Marissa has maintained her motivation for flight this semester in the face of terrible weather and endless frustration with scheduled flight times being cancelled because of that. She helps coach the local high school volleyball team and is passionate about that.  

Jessie Ford

Jessie Ford, CNCC

Jessie is an International Student Athlete from Marlborough, England.  She is a second team all-conference women’s basketball player in the SWAC conference and a 4.0 student at CNCC. 

Phi Theta Kappa All-Colorado Academic Team

Academic Transfer Students

Sofia Bills

Colorado Northwestern Community College

Bio and Picture not available

Sadie Shake

Colorado Northwestern Community College

Bio and Picture not available

Workforce Pathway Students

Aliyah Macias

Aliyah Macias, LCC

Aliyah Macias was born in La Junta, Colorado in 2003, and raised in Lamar, Colorado by Ray and Patty Macias. Her first language was Spanish, like many who are raised in Lamar. Much of her family comes from Mexico, including all four of her grandparents. She attended Wiley High School until 10th grade where she played on the basketball team, and then Lamar High School where she graduated in 2022. She played outfield on the softball team at LHS. She has a black cat named Harlow. 

She enrolled at LCC because of its excellent nursing program. She would like to pursue pediatric nursing. Aliyah loves being able to help people, and she has always wanted to help small children express emotions they find difficult. She works at the LCC library while she completes her pre-nursing classes. Aliyah is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and has received the Presidential Scholarship. 

Macias enjoys being able to earn an education while still being around home and family. Her uncle owns the local t-shirt shop Printed Imagination, and her father serves the town as a law enforcement officer. She plans to practice nursing around Amarillo, Texas, once she graduates with her LPN. She has a lot of family in Dumas, Texas, near Amarillo; and envisions herself living in a large city. 

Aliyah Macias

Aliyah Macias, LCC

Aliyah Macias was born in La Junta, Colorado in 2003, and raised in Lamar, Colorado by Ray and Patty Macias. Her first language was Spanish, like many who are raised in Lamar. Much of her family comes from Mexico, including all four of her grandparents. She attended Wiley High School until 10th grade where she played on the basketball team, and then Lamar High School where she graduated in 2022. She played outfield on the softball team at LHS. She has a black cat named Harlow. 

She enrolled at LCC because of its excellent nursing program. She would like to pursue pediatric nursing. Aliyah loves being able to help people, and she has always wanted to help small children express emotions they find difficult. She works at the LCC library while she completes her pre-nursing classes. Aliyah is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and has received the Presidential Scholarship. 

Macias enjoys being able to earn an education while still being around home and family. Her uncle owns the local t-shirt shop Printed Imagination, and her father serves the town as a law enforcement officer. She plans to practice nursing around Amarillo, Texas, once she graduates with her LPN. She has a lot of family in Dumas, Texas, near Amarillo; and envisions herself living in a large city. 

State Student Advisory Council

Derek Nielsen, Representative

Colorado Northwestern Community College

Bio and Picture not available