During the 2022-23 academic year, we are highlighting one Colorado State University student or alum from each of Colorado’s 64 counties. The Centennial State’s land grant university has a connection to the diverse lands and people from the counties of Moffat to Baca, Montezuma to Sedgwick and everywhere in between.

Vanessa Grant

Major: Human Development and Family Studies (2023 graduate)

Why I chose CSU: I love CSU and the community it offers. I remember my first time visiting CSU, I just felt at home. I loved how green and beautiful the campus was as well as how nice everyone was.

My favorite thing about CSU: Community and support.

Clubs/organizations in college: Fostering Success Program, Advanced Academic Center, Community 4 Excellence

Scholarships/awards in college: John Mall Scholarship, Candy Coco Scholarship, Cuchara Scholarship, Health and Human Sciences First Generation Scholarship, Carol A. Sarchet Scholarship, Partnership Award, Women Give Scholarship, 4th Stone Scholarship

Favorite achievement in high school or college: Being able to Study abroad in Africa.

Career goals: To own an early childhood center.

Favorite instructor(s): Maurice Irvin was great for Composition, Aimee Walker was amazing for my Human Development and Family Studies class, and Allison Goar I took for Ethnic Studies and she was amazing in teaching me and preparing me for harder conversations around race, gender and other identities.

Favorite NOCO food and hangouts: Almansitas, Dutch Bros.

What’s your favorite CSU tradition: C.A.N.S Around The Oval

What do you tell people from your Huerfano County about CSU: CSU is amazing. As someone from a small town, I love how the campus is big but can also feel so small. This was super intimidating as I was choosing a college. My high school graduating class was 32 students so coming to a school as big as CSU was scary. I’m so glad I did and I love that even though I’ve been in big lecture halls, it’s never felt like I was out of place.

Something people should know about Huerfano County: Huerfano County is absolutely beautiful, the twin peaks are amazing and would at least recommend driving by.

Biggest adversity you’ve overcome at CSU: Being a first-generation student who also is an independent student is hard. In times that are hard whether it be not doing as well in a class as I wanted to or COVID, it was hard to work full time and still be a great student as well as not have a family to turn to, which is why CSU has been amazing for me. I may not have the most traditional family but I do have friends and a community that I can turn to.