Hi! My name is Cecilia Huber,

...and I am incredibly honored to accept the distinction of being a VOC Grossman scholar and want to highlight its importance to the completion of my degree in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at Colorado State University.
In my life, I have been awarded the rare delight of knowing both my passion and purpose from an early age. I can recall ever since I was young my interest, and later investment, in the protection of wildlife. The earliest memory I have is when my mother took me to Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois, for an event called “owl prowl”. I was allowed to stay up way past my bedtime to walk through the dark canyons of the park, guided by an ornithologist who was calling owls with only his voice, illuminating their unique place in nature. Suffice to say, I was hooked, and growing up, I sought out any outdoors experience that might bring me closer to experiencing wildlife in their natural habitat. Watching this budding interest grow in me, my mother decided she would start a Girl Scout troop for my sister and me to have an outlet to express our interest in the outdoors. With our troop, I learned how to identify birdsong and animal tracks, cowboy camped for the first time, and made unforgettable memories around the campfire.

Later in life, I made the choice to study Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at Colorado State University specifically because of Warner College’s outstanding reputation and the state’s excellent access to recreational opportunities. I wanted to be surrounded by opportunities to hike, ski, and fish as much as I wanted to have abundant options for involvement in wildlife conservation. Early in my college career, I craved involvement with my field of study outside of coursework and volunteered at many conservation programs. I spent countless hours volunteering for the W.O.L.F. Sanctuary, Greenwood Wildlife and Rehabilitation, and the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, which all provided incredible opportunities for hands-on experience. What I value most about my time at those programs is the tangible positive impact I was able to make on the animals, and the perpetuity of conservation values within my community.

As I’ve continued through my degree, I have found a beautiful sense of fulfillment in my work. Last summer, I worked for the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, conducting owl surveys in the Front Range. Some nights, I couldn’t help but sit there in the dark, in the middle of nowhere, broadcasting my owl calls, thinking about my early experience with “owl prowl”. In those quiet moments, I fully appreciated the depths of my passion and how far it had brought me. In the span of a few odd years, Colorado has become my forever home, which is why I am so proud of my current position with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).

To me, my job with CPW feels like the ultimate achievement; it's the culmination of all my hard work in this field thus far. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to learn useful skills, including coding for natural resources and mapping in programs like Tableau and ArcGIS. This job has fit perfectly into the twilight years of my degree, where I’m actually able to apply what I’ve been learning in the classroom for years.

Speaking of applications for my coursework, the entire reason I applied for this scholarship was to cover the cost of my mandatory summer course at the CSU Mountain Campus. This class is the crowning jewel of Warner College and a highlight of many students' college experience. I was becoming nervous since my existing merit scholarship does not cover summer semesters, and I didn’t have the funds to cover this essential course out-of-pocket. Thanks to this unbelievably generous scholarship from the Grossmans, I’ll be able to focus on what really matters, nailing my field measurements course this summer!

In addition to the Grossmans, I’d like to thank my mom, my Girl Scout leader, for instilling in me a lifelong love for the outdoors. I’d also like to graciously thank Andrew Treble, my mentor at CPW, who provided my heartwarming reference for this scholarship.