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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A local developer will be recognized for his service to the university and the greater Colorado Springs community during the 41st University of Colorado Colorado Springs Commencement Ceremony May 15 at The Broadmoor World Arena.
Chris Jenkins, president, Nor’wood Development, will receive the Distinguished Service Award, an honor bestowed by the University of Colorado Board of Regents on individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement associated with the state or nation.
The ceremonies are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. for graduates of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 2:30 p.m. for graduates of the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of Business, School of Public Affairs. College of Education, and College of Engineering and Applied Science. The ceremony is split to accommodate the approximate 1,000 spring graduates who are expected to participate in the ceremony and their families.
“Chris Jenkins is a third-generation Coloradan who is community-connected and committed to the state’s future,” UCCS Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak said.
She was one of several people who nominated Jenkins for the award.
Nor’wood provided downtown real estate space for use by the UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art and led two substantial community development efforts, the Operation 6035 strategic planning effort and the City for Champions proposal which includes an innovative sports medicine facility at UCCS. He is also active in the UCCS Ambassabors, Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Development Corporation, the Downtown Development Authority, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and the Regional Business Alliance. The Nor’wood Foundation serves Christian initiatives with a focus on youth, elderly and regional arts and culture.
Recent previous recipients of the Distinguished Service Award include
- Tucker Hart Adams, an economist, 2013
- Tom Saponas, a computer industry executive, 2008
- David Palenchar, of El Pomar Foundation, 2007
- Joseph Woodford, a local business leader, 2004
A total of 1,322 students are scheduled to graduate from UCCS this spring, 360 will earn graduate degrees and 962 with undergraduate degrees. In December, 784 students graduated. The 2,106 degrees granted by UCCS in 2014-2015 is the largest in the university’s history.
The UCCS May Commencement Ceremonies will both be available on a live stream. To view the ceremonies online, visit http://www.uccs.edu/~commencement/
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in Colorado Springs, is one of the fastest growing universities in Colorado. The University offers 37 bachelor’s degrees, 20 master’s and five doctoral degrees. UCCS enrolls about 11,000 students on campus annually and another 2,000 in online programs. For more information, visit www.uccs.edu.