The Morgan Community College (MCC) Foundation hosted its 27th annual Gala, “Pathways to Promise” on February 27, 2026. The Gala raised $196,000 through raffle ticket sales; sponsorships; silent, live, and paddle auctions; other Gala activities; and in-kind donations. The net proceeds, estimated at $132,500, will be used to support MCC students by funding scholarships, programs, and new and innovative technology. Through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), including the COSI Achieve program, the Foundation’s eligible dollars will be matched 1:1, potentially doubling available scholarship funding to $228,000.
“This year’s Gala was a tremendous success! We are very grateful for the support received from the community for the Gala and the turnout the night of the event,” stated MCC Executive Director of Development, MaKyle Mares. “We raised a substantial amount of funds in one evening for student scholarships; those dollars will create a great positive impact for our students.”
The Mark Arndt Event Center at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Brush hosted this year’s venue. The dinner, dessert, snacks, and beverage vendors included Piggin’ Out BBQ, Hootenannies – Sterling, Cover 4 Theatre, Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, Mosqueda Delicacies Ice Cream, Beet Box – Brush High School, Village Liquor Store, and Moonlight Cocktail Bar.
The MCC Foundation extends its appreciation to the following: Wayne Johnson and Lindsey Bruntz from Media Logic Radio, who served as emcees with help from Melissa Edson; Bryson Miller, auctioneer; Back Alley Duo, entertainment; Kinnon Entertainment, production; as well as many MCC employees and members of the MCC Maintenance & Operations, Custodial, and IT Departments.
Participants engaged in fun activities like the Live Auction, Silent Auction, Scholar Bingo, Balloon Pop, and Heads & Tails. Kim Maxwell won the Reverse Raffle’s $5,000 grand prize, sponsored by FMS Bank, and generously donated it back to the MCC Foundation.
The MCC Foundation thanks the numerous sponsors who made the Gala possible. The 2026 Premier Sponsors were FMS Bank, CommonSpirit St. Elizabeth Hospital, and Smirks. Platinum Sponsors included Bank of Colorado – Brush & Fort Morgan, Cargill, CHFA, Just Rustic, McDonald Toyota Fort Morgan, and Morgan County REA.
Gold Sponsors included Brush State Bank, Buildings By Design, Christensen Ranch, Colorado Cold Connect, Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, Edward Jones Investments – Timothy R. Guggenmos, H-2 Enterprises Powered by Huwa, Keith Bath Farms, Kinnon Entertainment/Anywhere Cam, Les Schwab Tire Center, Moonlight Cocktail Bar, Morgan County Commissioners, Piggin’Out BBQ/Hootenannies, Viaero Wireless, and Village Liquor Store.
The 2026 Silver Sponsors were Big Johnson Construction, Bob Staley’s Plumbing-Heating-Air, Body Firm Fitness Center, Brush Meat Processors, CannonDesign, Donny & Melissa Edson, East Morgan County Hospital/Banner Health, Farmers State Bank – Brush, Golden Belt Bank – Fort Morgan, Kim Maxwell, Mark Frasier, Media Logic Radio, Mosqueda Delicacies Ice Cream & More, Premier Farm Credit, Raymond M. Laws P.C., Taylor Insurance Agency, and The Better Sleep Store.
The 2026 Bronze Sponsors were 21st Century Equipment, Auctioneers Miller & Associates, Best Life Realty – Adriana Otero, Best Western Plus Overland Inn, Century 21 Cornerstone, Coates Realty Group, Dairy Farmers of America – Fort Morgan, Dr. Deborah and Douglas Coates, Edwards Right Price Market, Equitable Savings and Loan – Brush, Evans Early Childhood Center, Gene and Jody Kind, Gertge Technology, Glenn & Kim Crossley, HarmoniHealing Massage, Reiki & Yoga – Flagler, High Plains Cattle Supply, Hitchcock, Inc. – Burlington, Lebsock 7 Farms, LPL Financial – Marci Wickham, MaKyle & Cyd Mares, Malibu Jacks, Marc & Cindy Tormohlen, Northeast Colorado Broadcasting – KSIR-B106-KNAB, Rich and Susan Clough, Tempel Grain Elevators – Wiley, Urdiales Group – Brian Urdiales, Western Sugar Cooperative, Wickham Tractor Co.
The MCC Foundation Gala activities were made possible through donations from the following businesses and individuals: 21st Century Equipment, Ace Hardware, Anthony Smith – ScarletFire Photography, At Ease BBQ in Wray, B & L Liquor, Beet Street Coffee, Body Firm, Boondocks, Brush Emporium, the Brush Area Chamber of Commerce, Cables Pub & Grill, CACE – Suzanna Spears, Casa Patron, Chicken N Pickle, City Barber Shop and Color Parlor, Cog Railway at Pikes Peak, Colorado Lamb Processors, Country Roads Vines and Wines, Cover 4 Theatre, Deb Wacker, Denver Art Museum, Denver Museum, Denver Zoo, Drovers Culinary Café, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Train, East Platte Liquor, Edwards Market, El Jacal Mexican Grill, FlyteCo Tower, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Golden Belt Bank, Health Essentials, High Plains Cattle Supply, History Colorado, Home Plate Restaurant 1 & 2, Jay Stretcher, Korf Ford, Lava Island, Lebsock 7 Farms, Leprino Foods, Malibu Jacks, MCC Burlington Center, MCC Early Education Department, MCC Instruction Office, MCC Physical Therapist Assistant Program, MCC Wray Center, Meow Wolf, Molly Brown Museum, Mummy Hill Winery, Peppy’s Coffee, Richard and Susan Clough, Rock AG Bison of Wray, Royal Gorge Bridge, Scooters, Shaman Shoppe, Sue Hodgson, The Appearance Edge, The Club Tap, The Course at Pettey’s Park, The Dish Room, The Edge Zipline, The Flame, The Whiskey Shack in Wray, Viaero Wireless, Victor’s Sushi, Wade Schamberger – Sr Manager of Membership Sales and Services of the Denver Nuggets, and Ziggi’s.
This year’s Gala Committee members included MaKyle Mares, Susan Clough, Glenn Crossley, Carrie Mobley, Adrianna Nickell, Rosie Evans, Cameron Armagost, Donny Edson, Melanie Johnson, Ray Laws, Bob Sachs, Geoff Taylor, Marci Wickham, Alex Strauss, Jessica Edington, Ariella Gonzales-Vondy, Suzanna Spears, Kelly Rasmussen, Mary Zorn, Holly Haman-Marcum, Robbin Schincke, Mindy Centa, Michael Bidwell, Robert Ingersoll, Maria Cardenas, Marlene Funk, Chloe Hirschfeld, Cora Loera, Eloisa Bustos, Cheyenne Espinosa, Jess Rule, Brooke Hosier, and Isabel Lesama-Rodas.
The MCC Foundation extends a special thanks to Zach Anderson, MCC Media student who designed the Gala theme artwork and to all additional Gala volunteers, including Sally Shawcroft, Shelli Crandall, Sheila Roth, Amada Abbott, Peter Squires, Nancy Ruhl, Juan Ayala, Elise Gerken, Wendy Danielson, Patrick Heisler, Juan Murillo, Natalie Bjerk, Kassie Godo, Tim & Lorrie Malone, Denny & Sandy Engle, Kim Maxwell, Lynelle Phillips, Hayley Bell-Harris, Erik Romero, Bill & Hannah Miller, Patti Lewis, Pauline Reiber, Leticia Morales, Sue Boyett and MCC student groups: Student Government Association, PTK and Advisor Connie Mitchell, and HOSA and Advisor Kiley David.
For more information about giving to the Morgan Community College Foundation, contact the Executive Director of Development, MaKyle Mares, at (970) 542-3113 or [email protected], or visit the MCC Foundation website at www.morgancc.edu/giving.