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Latest University News

Rob Wright present BoxBlayde on Shark Tank.
Press Release

Western Alum Rob Wright Pitches BoxBlayde on Shark Tank

For an entrepreneur like Rob Wright (’00), inspiration for the next big idea can come from anywhere, even from a pile of cardboard boxes. And…
The interior of the Mountaineer Marketplace with a fridge, cabinets, and shelves full of food.
Press Release

Fight Hunger Bags at City Market to Support Western’s Mountaineer Marketplace
Group photo of students from various cohorts, faculty, and support staff of the NSF EMPLOYS program outside near the north patio of the Clark Family School of Environment & Sustainability.
News

EMPLOYS: A Bridge Between Science and Management
A student is seated at an imac and works on his project in typography class
Press Release

Meeting the AI Moment: How Western Is Preparing Students for What Comes Next
The red seats in the Mountaineer Bowl grandstands.
Press Release

Western Colorado University to Launch National Search for Next Athletic Director
Director of Athletics, Miles Van Hee gives an opening speech at the groundbreaking cremony for the Mountaineer Bowl Event Complex.
News

Miles Van Hee, a Mountaineer for Life

Search the News Archive

Explore past stories that highlight Western's milestones, achievements, and moments that shaped our community.

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The Library and Taylor Lawn covered in snow after the first storm of the season.

Western receives $2 Million Gift to Support Creation of Student Success Center

Western wasn’t on Ty Petway’s radar when he found a tri-fold pamphlet advertising what was then Western State College in his friend’s Clemson University dorm…
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Taylor Hubbard shakes hands with President Brand Baca on the stage at commencement.

Off-Grid and Online: Taylor Hubbard’s Alternate Path to Teaching

When art teacher Taylor Hubbard (’24) walks into her classroom at Centennial School in San Luis, Colorado, she’s exactly where she wants to be. But…
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Ross McGee poses with a coworker and a local rancher.

Western Alum Ross McGee Named Colorado’s Top Game Warden for 2025

Long before Ross McGee (’13) won the most prestigious honor in Colorado wildlife management, he was a kid who knew just what he wanted. For…
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Highlights from The Westerner Alumni Magazine

Taking Flight
A student operating a drone control.

Taking Flight

Students and faculty are using drone technology to conduct environmental research, map terrain, and capture aerial data, opening new opportunities in fields like environmental science, geology, and media production.

Taking Flight
Panels of Possibility
Students carry a solar panel.

Panels of Possibility

Students partnered with Gunnison County Electric Association and Powerfield Energy to build a nearly 1 MW solar array, gaining hands-on construction, installation, and industry experience while helping advance clean energy in the Gunnison Valley.

Panels of Possibility
CHESS Match
A student operates a control in the field.

CHESS Match

Students teamed up with scientists to support the Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS) by collecting leaf, drone, and airplane-based sensor data that will help track water, soil, and vegetation changes across the West.

CHESS Match
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The Press Room

Your source for official news and media resources from Western Colorado University. Find recent press releases, access our media kit, view official statements, connect with experts and our communications team for interviews and inquiries.

Press Room

Mountaineer Minute

Student news, all in one place.

From athletic wins to research projects, the Mountaineer Minute brings students the latest stories that matter. We’ve pulled together news from across campus, including student media, official university announcements, and video highlights, so you don’t have to hunt for what’s happening. It’s student-centered, easy to navigate, and updated regularly.

 

Get the Scoop
MSE student Phoebe Roberts holds up the soil core sample retrieved at a site for her graduate project.

Western In the News

February 6, 2026

Meet Team USA’s First-Ever Ski Mountaineering Athletes at Milan-Cortina 2026

Powder Magazine

Team USA’s ski mountaineering team for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics includes Cameron Smith, a Western Colorado University alumnus who helped secure the United States’ first Olympic spot in the sport by winning the mixed relay at a World Cup qualifier. The article highlights Smith and teammate Anna Gibson as the pioneering American athletes representing the U.S. in ski mountaineering’s Olympic debut.

 February 5, 2026

Here are the Colorado athletes competing in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

9 News

Colorado athletes headed to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics include Crested Butte native Cam Smith, who will represent Team USA in ski mountaineering’s Olympic debut. A Western Colorado University alumnus, Smith reflects how the Gunnison Valley’s mountain culture and Western’s hands-on, outdoor-focused environment help athletes reach the highest levels of international competition.

 February 5, 2026

Meet the Coloradans headed to the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

The Denver Post

Colorado’s contingent at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics includes more athletes than any other state, with competitors across skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, bobsled, and other winter sports. Among them is Cam Smith, a Western Colorado University alumnus from Crested Butte who will compete in ski mountaineering’s Olympic debut—a testament to how Western’s mountain environment and opportunities help athletes reach elite international competition.
In the News