Commencement Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Commencement Ceremony at the Denver Coliseum
Congressman Joe Neguse
Congressman Joe Neguse represents Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected in 2018, he became the first Black Member of Congress in Colorado history. In 2022, he was elected Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, marking the first time in over 85 years that a Coloradan has served in a senior elected leadership role in the House. He currently serves on the Natural Resources, Judiciary, and Rules Committees, and is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Recognized nationally for his legislative effectiveness, Rep. Neguse introduced over 100 bills in the 117th Congress, with 22 becoming law. He has received several awards for his bipartisan work, including the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Legislative Action Award and recognition from the Center for Effective Lawmaking and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. His legislative priorities include public lands protection, lowering health care costs, and promoting government accountability.
Before Congress, Rep. Neguse served in the Colorado Governor’s Cabinet as Executive Director of the state’s consumer protection agency, where he led efforts to combat financial fraud and expand civil rights protections. He previously served on the University of Colorado Board of Regents and is a proud CU Boulder and CU Law alumnus. The son of Eritrean immigrants, he lives in Lafayette, Colorado, with his wife Andrea and their two young children, Natalie and Josh.
Commencement at Blue Arena
Chancellor Joe Garcia
Joe Garcia is the Chancellor of the Colorado Community College System. Prior to his role at CCCS, Garcia served as President of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Lt. Governor of Colorado and as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. During his time as Lt. Governor, Garcia focused on increasing equity in outcomes for all students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds and communities of color.
Garcia also served as President of Colorado State University-Pueblo from 2006 to 2010 and Pikes Peak State College from 2001 to 2006.
Commencement Student Speaker
Chelsea Carroll
Chelsea is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and has completed her Associate of Science degree at FRCC’s Westminster campus. She returned to college after years of being a hospice CNA and single mother, eventually founding a business so she could focus on being a full-time student.
Her desire to attain an education was formed over years of navigating hardships and caring for patients as they battled diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Parkinson’s. Upon learning of the correlations between repressed trauma and chronic illness, she decided to do more than treat the symptoms. This led to Chelsea pursuing her AS degree—and she now aims to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a PhD in behavioral neuroscience. She intends to research how our behaviors and perceptions contribute to the existence of neurodegenerative disease and mental illness.
While developing an understanding for the complexities of the human mind, she strives to encourage those around her to be limitless in their potential. As she moves forward in accomplishing her academic goals, Chelsea’s unwavering belief that we each hold the power to create change has instilled in her a passion for inspiring others to live with courage, empathy and purpose.
Commencement Singer
Celine Gutierrez
Celine Gutierrez is a passionate and dedicated musician whose love for music shines through in every note she sings. She is currently earning her Associate of Arts degree in music and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree to further refine her craft.
Originally from Austria, she moved to Colorado eight years ago and quickly immersed herself in the local music scene. Whether performing solo or singing in choirs, Celine brings heartfelt emotion and energy to each performance. She especially enjoys singing pop and jazz, showcasing her vocal versatility and expressive style. In addition to her vocal talents, Celine also plays piano and guitar, adding depth to her musical abilities.
Music has always been more than a hobby for Celine. It’s a lifelong passion and the driving force behind her ambitions. She hopes to inspire others through her music and share the joy it brings her with audiences around the world.