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Jesse Penton graduated from Arapahoe Community College (91����) in May 2024 with a Comprehensive Higher Education Certificate (focus on photography) through the Elevate at 91���� program. For Jesse, who began the Elevate program during the COVID era, his participation in 91����’s commencement ceremony last spring signified not only the pinnacle of his own higher education journey, but also a full-circle culmination of three generations of his family Moving Mountains at 91����.

Jesse, now 30, who graduated from Columbine in 2012, was out of high school for nearly a decade before his arrival at 91����. He lettered in basketball for the Rebels and has since competed in Special Olympics golf. Jesse worked several jobs during his 20s, including Jumpstreet, Spirit Halloween, and Blue Star Recyclers. He also spent time working at the Denver Federal Center in a program designed to assist individuals with special needs transition into career fields.

Jesse’s mother, Myca, currently works as an administrative assistant for 91���� Human Resources. A graduate of Kennedy High School, she originally attended 91���� in the 1980s and earned an associate degree in Art History. Jesse’s father, Lincoln, graduated from Arapahoe High School and met Myca while taking classes at 91����. Tyler, Jesse’s older brother, graduated from Columbine in 2010 and attended 91���� prior to transferring to CU Boulder.

Myca’s mother, Karen, attended 91���� in the 1970s. Myca's father, Roger Sailor, retooled his career by earning a certificate in appliance repair at 91���� after his employer, Gates Rubber Company, was bought out in the 1990s. Lincoln’s parents, Vern and Jeanne Penton, both attended high school locally. In fact, Vern recalls the groundbreaking festivities when 91���� was founded as Arapahoe Junior College in 1965 through a grassroots effort by Littleton residents.

In 2018, Myca began coursework in 91����’s Paralegal program to pursue a career that had piqued her interest for many years. She also took a work study position with 91���� Human Resources. That's when she found out about Elevate.

“We were initially waitlisted for Elevate,” Myca stated. “Once we got in, Jen Woegens (Director of Elevate) and Charity Aymami (former Elevate Academic Support Professional) were amazing. They were there for Jesse every step of the way with academics and social involvement.”

Elevate at 91���� is an inclusive higher education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Elevate students collaborate with program coordinators to draft and implement an individualized plan of study. Specific courses are determined based on skills and competencies necessary for students to achieve identified academic and employment goals.

Elevate at 91���� courses build on common themes of self-advocacy, college and workplace readiness and community engagement to develop student's personal and professional skills. Employment services are integrated into the Elevate at 91���� curriculum and individualized internships are offered. Through and , inclusive higher education became an option for students with IDD to attend college eight years ago.

Jesse’s interest and talent in photography led Myca to begin exploring opportunities to develop this as a specialization within the Elevate program.

“Photography is one of Jesse’s passions,” Myca explained. “A collaborative effort with Elevate, Brad Bartholomew (former 91���� Commercial Photography faculty) and Tim Meyer (former 91���� Photography & Videography Coordinator) paved the way for Jesse to receive guidance and on-the-job experience. Jen even helped to secure some grant funding from the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to fund an hourly position under Tim’s supervision in the 91���� Marketing department.”

During his time as an 91���� student, Jesse was involved with the Gaming Club and, through mentorship from Josephine Thibodeau in the Dean of Students office, was a member of 91����’s Sigma Phi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He also held work study positions at the Fitness Center and in the Student Life office.

Jesse continues to assist the 91���� Marketing department with photography while exploring career possibilities in commercial photography.

“We have always strived for Jesse to have a better future than the special needs students who preceded him,” said Myca, who completed her Paralegal certificate in 2021 and worked in that field until accepting her current role with 91���� Human Resources two years ago. “The Elevate program has changed so many lives, and we are forever grateful for how it has benefitted Jesse.”

Throughout the years, 91���� has been a perfect fit for three generations of the Penton and Sailor families. For Jesse, however, it has been a picture-perfect fit.

“91���� has always been a place where our family has turned in times of need,” Myca expressed. “The College is so inclusive and accepting, and it’s really been a second home for our family. We’ve always relied on 91���� to provide our family with opportunities to Move Mountains.”