By Kristin Carlson and featured in The Post Independent and Summit Daily

When Norma Sundin died suddenly in 2010, her father, Hal, wanted to do something to commemorate her life and benefit the community she had called home for more than 20 years. The result is the Norma Sundin Endowed Scholarship for CMC in Summit County.

Norma Sundin, who served as administrative assistant of the Copper Mountain Metropolitan District for 14 years, was an avid hiker, accomplished skier and dedicated outdoor enthusiast.

Hal and daughter, Norma, at the summit of a Colorado 14'er

By her early 40s, she had climbed all 54 Colorado fourteeners with her father. "Norma loved the grandiose views," Hal Sundin said, "and the feeling of achievement at the summit."

A 1973 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, Norma Sundin was also a natural-born philanthropist. "She had empathy for people who weren't born with a silver spoon," her father said.

Father beneficiary of post World War II GI programs

Hal Sundin credits his own life's path to a series of happy accidents. "I was in the right place at the right time to benefit from the postwar government programs," he said. "I never paid a dime for my education."

After high school Sundin was accepted into the V12 Program with the U.S. Navy, where the competition and the pace were intense. By the age of 22 he had earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Dartmouth College, a master's in civil engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master's in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois, where he met his wife, Mary.

After Norma was born and Hal had earned his Ph.D., the family moved to Crystal Lake, Ill., where a son, Eric, was born and where Hal became chief design engineer at Baxter & Woodman civil and

 environmental engineers. In 1975 he was promoted to president of the company, a position he held for 12 years.

It was Norma who brought the Sundins to Colorado. She attended college in Greeley and loved the area so much she stayed. In 1989 her parents followed her west and bought a home in Glenwood Springs, where Hal has been an active member of the 100 Club and a consistent supporter of Colorado Mountain College.

When a stroke took Sundin's daughter and long-time hiking partner, he chose to honor her life with a gift that will help students in Summit County reach higher educational ground.

"The price of an education today is prohibitive," said Sundin. "If we don't educate all people to their fullest potential, we end up with a split society - those who can afford college and those who can't."

A fitting tribute to its namesake, the Norma Sundin Endowed Scholarship will help financially disadvantaged students in Summit County climb toward their goals without the burden of college debt.

"Hal's relationship with CMC began over the past few years through his support of the arts at our campus in Spring Valley, near Glenwood Springs," said Jamie Raynor, director of development at Colorado Mountain College. "However, it was his love of learning and support of higher education that led to his generous gift, which will remember his daughter and support students in Summit County forever."

The largest scholarship donation to date at Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge and Dillon, the $120,000 endowment will fund one scholarship per year into perpetuity. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled or enrolling as full-time students in an associate or bachelor's degree program and must be classified as in-district residents. Preference will be given to eligible students carrying a 3.0 GPA from high school or college.

Scholarship applications will be available Jan. 2, and can be picked up at any campus or at the college's Central Services offices in downtown Glenwood Springs. The deadline for applications is March 15. For more information about the Norma Sundin Endowed Scholarship, contact Carol Efting at cefting@coloradomtn.edu or 970-947-8355.

By Phyllis Martinez, CMC Regional Development Officer

Paul and Eileen Finkel (3rd and 4th from right). Photo provided by the Summit Daily

The recent contributions Eileen and Paul have made to the Summit Campus of Colorado Mountain College have been transformational. Two years ago, they purchased a magnificent Bosendorfer concert piano for the new building in Breckenridge that is now used and enjoyed by musicians and music lovers throughout the year. Several months following their initial gift of the piano, Eileen and Paul made an even greater cash commitment to CMC's capital campaign - a major donation that became the largest gift ever made to the CMC Summit Campus and ensured the successful completion of the new auditorium. To recognize their above-and-beyond generosity, in March of 2011, CMC dedicated the Breckenridge auditorium in honor of Eileen and Paul Finkel. The Finkel name at the entry to CMC's auditorium announces their leadership gift and serves as a permanent, prominent example to anyone visiting CMC of the impact of philanthropy in our community.

Since they settled in Summit County 15 years ago, Eileen and Paul have generously given of their wealth, wisdom, time, and talents to many local agencies and non-profits. Their many gifts have made our children healthier and smarter; enriched our educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities; and built a strong, vibrant community. They serve as role models for all of us - going about their philanthropy with exuberance, passion, a sense of adventure, and a true zest for life. CMC is fortunate to have the Finkels a part of the college community - and we all celebrate their much-deserved award and recognition!