UCCS Alumni and Friends Association

05/21/2026

It's finally time to announce our winners from this giveaway! Keep an eye out on your DMs in case you're one of our lucky Mountain Lions! 👀👀

Hey Mountain Lions! Has your UCCS alumni t-shirt been wearing thin after all these years? You're in luck - we have some new alumni swag in the office (including a brand new t-shirt design!), so we're hosting a giveaway!

How would you show your UCCS Mountain Lion pride with your new swag if you won? Comment your answer below (plus your graduation year) for the chance to win some FREE goodies!

05/21/2026

For this alumnus, video games are far more than entertainment. They are a powerful, experiential art form capable of fostering empathy, connection, and understanding.

Meet Ben Ferrara '24, who, after graduating from UCCS with a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and a minor in Game Design and Development, has made waves in the independent game scene with a short, unconventional project that challenges long‑standing assumptions about who games are for, and who gets left out.

Learn more about his award-winning "unplayable" game, his experience with UCCS and the inspiring professors who put him on this path, and his advice for you all on the importance of accessibility right here: https://news.uccs.edu/2026/04/17/from-unplayable-to-unforgettable-a-uccs-alum-is-changing-how-we-think-about-accessibility-in-the-gaming-world/!

05/20/2026

Last Friday was one amazing Commencement ceremony! Over 1,300 degrees were conferred, wonderful speeches were given by student leaders, Chancellor Sobanet, CU President Saliman, and more, and 12 graduates from the Class of 1976 were recognized!

Visit https://news.uccs.edu/2026/05/15/uccs-celebrates-spring-class-of-2026/ to see more recaps from the ceremony. Congrats grads! 🎓💛🎉

05/19/2026

The Class of 2026 really showed up with their personalized mortarboards at Commencement last Friday! Check them out here: https://news.uccs.edu/2026/05/15/photo-feature-spring-2026-commencement-caps/

We'll be updating this UCCS News article with more fun pictures for the rest of the month, so if you or a grad you know decorated their cap, make sure to send pics to [email protected] for a chance to be featured there!

05/15/2026

Are you celebrating the Class of 2026 at Commencement tomorrow?! Here's a reminder of a fun opportunity to eat some good food that also pays it forward to future UCCS students...

We're partnering with Red Robin on Commencement Day, May 15th, to fundraise for UCCS's Alumni & Friends Scholarship! If you mention UCCS while visiting the Red Robin on Southgate Road that day, 20% of your purchase of food will go back to one of our favorite scholarship opportunities!

The UCCS Alumni & Friends Scholarship is aimed at students in need with family member/s who are UCCS alumni. We love supporting legacy connections to UCCS through this scholarship and the gold, silver, and black colored Legacy Cords that participating students get to wear at Commencement!

This is the perfect time to visit Red Robin for some breakfast or a late lunch before or after your loved one's Commencement ceremony! There are even instructions on the flyer for ordering online.

05/14/2026

Since 2012, UCCS has honored Golden Graduates – alumni who graduated 50 years ago – during Commencement ceremonies in the spring. This year, UCCS will recognize TWELVE Golden Graduates, each of whom graduated from UCCS in 1975!

Read stories from each of our amazing Golden Grads here: https://news.uccs.edu/2026/05/11/commencement-celebrates-twelve-golden-grads/! 💛✨🎓

05/13/2026

Expand your potential to lead in a dynamic public service role by attending the Mark McConkie Leadership Conference 2026: Advancing Public Service in an Age of Transformation next week!

This event will feature inspiring keynotes, transformative discussions (including a hands-on workshop!), dynamic networking opportunities, and more. Featured speakers include the CEO of Children's Hospital Colorado, a retired Lieutenant General, and the Colorado Springs Mayor, among many others!

This opportunity is perfect for public safety professionals, healthcare professionals, community leaders, nonprofit advocates, students, emerging professionals, and even those who are just interested in developing themselves professionally! If that sounds like you, visit https://web.cvent.com/event/36cb13dc-78a0-4d94-9920-3e709c48212d/summary to register!

05/13/2026

Were you a part of Students Today Alumni Tomorrow (STAT) club while you were at UCCS? We want to connect with you!

Fill out this quick form to share your contact details with us to participate in a future event with current STAT Club students: https://forms.office.com/r/L7rsBFaWSh.

Questions? Email the Alumni Office at [email protected]. Thank you!

05/12/2026

riverrun, the UCCS student Literary & Arts Journal, is publishing its 53rd edition this week, and you're invited to celebrate it! Join us on Wednesday, May 13th from 4:30 to 7:30 in Kettle Creek (inside the Roaring Fork building on campus!) - there will be free food, drinks, activities, and, most importantly, free copies of a physical volume of UCCS student & alumni work!

Visit https://mlc.uccs.edu/event/12344378 to learn more about the event, and we hope to see you there!

The riverrun Literary & Arts Journal was started in 1971 by a UCCS professor and a group of his students. Now, students gather together in an English course every Spring semester and design the physical journal, select and edit the work submitted to the journal, and plan events to get the word out there! Works of poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art from UCCS students and graduated alumni are all accepted for submission to the journal. If you're interested in learning more about this really cool organization (or submitting your own work!), visit their website at riverrunjournal.com!