School News: GOV. RITTER APPOINTS NEW MEMBER TO HIGHER-ED COMMISSION

Students at Landmark academy at reunion celebrate first annual latin culture week

Landmark Academy at Reunion , a tuition-free public charter school, recently hosted their First Annual Latin Culture Week, a week focused on educating students on the various aspects of Latin culture, from music and art to sports and celebrities, through unique activities. During the week-long celebration, students were able to step into the lives of the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans with Latin culture lessons through piñata making, cultural crafts, songs, traditional foods and more. Students made maracas and learned a traditional Mexican Hat Dance; created Aztec suns working with metal tooling; and studied different countries in Mexico , Central America and South America . Aztec dancers from the Colorado Folk Arts Council also visited with students and educated them on the spiritual and traditional aspects of Aztec culture through dance. “We reside in a community with strong Latin and Hispanic roots,” said Matt Carlton, principal of Landmark Academy at Reunion . “Our community culture is important to us at Landmark. By providing unique ways for our students to learn the various backgrounds of our diverse community they are able to understand and appreciate different cultures.” For more information about Landmark Academy at Reunion , please visit www.landmarkacademy.org.

August 27, 2010

GOV. RITTER APPOINTS NEW MEMBER TO HIGHER-ED COMMISSION

Gov. Bill Ritter announced today he has appointed Richard C. Kaufman of Centennial to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education for a term expiring July 12, 2012. Kaufman will fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of commission member Michael D. Plachy.

Kaufman is of counsel with the Denver law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge, specializing in environmental, business, securities, regulatory and employment cases. He previously served on the Board of Advisors for Emory University Law School, and he has worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney, deputy attorney general for Colorado and legislative assistant to then-U.S. Rep. Hank Brown.

Kaufman is an Air Force veteran and has been recognized as a “Colorado Super Lawyer” by Law and Politics. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University in 1972 and his law degree from Emory University in Atlanta in 1976.

The 11-member CCHE sets policies for all state-supported public institutions of higher education.

The appointment requires Senate confirmation.