Farrell McCook is the first person to graduate from Colorado Mountain College under a program that gives a tuition break to members of the Northern Ute Tribe of Utah.

The tribe was based in western Colorado before being forced out in the late 1800s. But the college now offers in-state tuition to tribal members so they can pursue associate degrees. McCook plans to take his knowledge to help the tribe expand its tourism enterprise.

The college reached out to the tribe in recent years after finding out that few local residents knew about the tribe or the history of the tribe's forced removal.

Get the Story:
College knowledge returns to native land (The Denver Post 6/29)

Relevant Links:
Colorado Mountain College - http://www.coloradomtn.edu