Skip to Main Content
Western Colorado University Logo Western Colorado University Logo
Red background with Western seal

Western Newsroom

Latest University News

Siebrase Media Photo Credit Ben Siebrase
News

The Mari Sandoz legacy lives on: Nature Writing Student Jamie Siebrase awarded scholarship

Longtime Denver journalist, trained naturalist, and environmental writer Jamie Siebrase has been awarded the 2026–2027 Mari Sandoz Nature Writing Scholarship to attend Western Colorado University’s…
In a crowd of people, a graduate holds up a W with her hands.
General

Western Receives $1.25 million Grant from Reisher Scholars Program
Ma'alaea Lawrence and Conrad Kaul discuss the data.
News

Fast-moving wildfires leave forests less able to recover, Western study finds
A young athlete in a helmet and jersey raises a lacrosse stick high on an indoor track, with other players practicing nearby.
News

Western Welcomes Nearly 8,000 Visitors for Summer Camps and Conferences
MEM alum, Brenan Bloyd, leads a stream resoration workshop next to Tomichi Creek on the Coldharbour ranch for the Headwaters 2025 Conference.
News

Three Western Colorado University graduate students earn national River Studies and Leadership Certificate
Students pose with Dr. Suzanne Taylor at NASA.
News

Western Colorado University students join NASA-led exoplanet research during summer internship

Search the News Archive

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

Siebrase Media Photo Credit Ben Siebrase

The Mari Sandoz legacy lives on: Nature Writing Student Jamie Siebrase awarded scholarship

Longtime Denver journalist, trained naturalist, and environmental writer Jamie Siebrase has been awarded the 2026–2027 Mari Sandoz Nature Writing Scholarship to attend Western Colorado University’s…
Read Article
In a crowd of people, a graduate holds up a W with her hands.

Western Receives $1.25 million Grant from Reisher Scholars Program

With a $1.25 million grant from The Denver Foundation’s Reisher Scholars Program, Western Colorado University is giving more Colorado students the financial support they need…
Read Article
Ma'alaea Lawrence and Conrad Kaul discuss the data.

Fast-moving wildfires leave forests less able to recover, Western study finds

As a prolonged drought sets the stage for the record-setting wildfires that continue to race across forests in the American West and Canada, new research…
Read Article

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
Newspaper icon

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

August 23, 2026

Bigger, Hotter Fires Are Slowly Erasing America’s Great Forests

The New York Times

Towering woodlands in the West are being permanently replaced by tracts of spiky shrubs. Conditions “just aren’t normal anymore,” one researcher said.

 June 19, 2026

From regional recognition to statewide award

Gunnison Country Times

Western Colorado University faculty member wins the state’s highest honor for nurses. Dr. Mary Sawyer, the first faculty member hired by Western Colorado University’s new nursing program, has won the statewide Excellence in Nursing Award from the Colorado Nurses Foundation, which is Colorado’s highest honor in nursing.

 June 13, 2026

Colorado community rallies to save Victorian castle that helped shape the Gunnison Valley

CBS News

Community volunteers are leading efforts to preserve Hartman Castle, a historic landmark that offers a unique window into the Gunnison Valley’s past. The project highlights the importance of local stewardship, historic preservation, and community engagement in protecting the cultural heritage that helps define the region Western Colorado University calls home.
In the News