Danielle Armstrong, a student at Trinidad State Junior College, represented Colorado community college students at the National Student Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C. The trip sparked an interest in politics for Armstrong. At the conference, students discussed important issues like financial aid forms and funding for education. Armstrong impressed others with her leadership and advocacy skills. She challenged views that didn't consider the realities of many community college students. The impactful trip reinforced Armstrong's commitment to her education and career goals.

1. Page 8 Valley Courier Saturday, April 11, 2015
Education
By MARGARET
SANDERSON
ALAMOSA — A Trinidad
State student recently went
to Washington to represent
ColoradoCommunityCollege
attendees and came away
with an interest in politics.
“It all began with one
small step,” said Danielle
Armstrong. “First, I became
senatoratlarge,thenthevice
president of marketing for
ourlocalstudentgovernment
andthenthestatelegislative
liaison for the State Student
Advisory Council (SSAC) for
Colorado Community Col-
leges. And now I will serve
on the National Leadership
Council although I don’t
know in which capacity yet.”
Armstrongstillplanstofin-
ishhercounselingdegree,but
nowshehasaddedaPolitical
Science degree as well. This
trip seems to have sparked
a fire for politics in her as
she quipped, “Maybe in 20
years you’ll see me running
for president!”
Teaming up with Arm-
strong were Ed Miller, a
student at Red Rocks Com-
munity College, and its Vice
PresidentofStudentSuccess
Lisa Fowler who also serves
as the advisor for SSAC.
The threesome traveled to
Washington D.C. on behalf
ofthe180,000ColoradoCom-
munity College students to
join the nearly 300 attend-
ing the National Student
Advocacy Conference from
March 14-17. Together they
represented the 12-million
community college students
nationwide who comprise
approximately 40 percent of
America’s college students.
The students chose three
major topics for discussion.
Deemed most important was
the FAFSA (Federal Appli-
cation for Federal Student
Aid) form which is required
when seeking any state or
federal aid whether it be
loans, grants, or work study.
In Scott Tipton’s office the
current FAFSA form was
taped page to page, floor
to ceiling. His aide showed
them an unofficial new post
card-sized FAFSA form and
told them, “This is what it’s
going to be.”
The other two topics were
authorization of payment of
student loans with pre-tax
dollars and reauthorization
of the Higher Education
Act which determines how
Congress allocates funding
for higher education. Con-
siderable discussion was
also devoted to the Dream
Act which would provide
a free education for immi-
grantsandAmerica’sCollege
Promise, based on a similar
programinTennessee,which
would provide a free educa-
tion for first time students
who are American citizens.
The question asked but not
answered was, ‘How would
either program be funded?’
Ralph Nader, nationally
known political activist,
spoke at the conference.
“Ralph Nader is not just
honest but brutally honest,”
said Armstrong. “If you suck
Trip to Washington D.C. is life-changing experience
at your job, he will tell you!”
Naderautographedhisbook,
“The Good Fight,” for Arm-
strong. In it he writes about
the “erosion of our civil liber-
ties” and the need to “join the
fight for improvement.” He
was encouraging students
to become politically active,
to stand up and make their
voices heard.
White House representa-
tives attending the confer-
ence included Mark Mitsui,
Deputy Undersecretary for
Community Colleges from
the U.S. Department of Edu-
cationandKyleLierman,As-
sociateDirectorfortheOffice
of Public Engagement.
“The most educational
part of the conference for me
was going to the Senate and
Representative buildings
and speaking with aids who
work with U.S. Representa-
tives Diana DeGette, Jerod
Polis, Ed Perlmutter and
Scott Tipton and Senators
Michael Bennett and Cory
Gardner,” said Armstrong.
“I’m a very outspoken
person,” she said. “Most
people responded well to
our concerns, but in Michael
Bennett’s office, I flat out
asked one reluctant person
‘Who paid for your school-
ing?’ He answered, ‘My mom
and dad did.’ ‘How lucky for
you!’ Armstrong fired back.
“The majority of commu-
nity college students rely on
those student loans. Their
parents aren’t able to pay
for their schooling. I could
see by the look on his face
that he must be thinking
‘Oh crap, I messed with the
wrong woman!’ But it was
whatheneededtohear,”said
Armstrong.
About Armstrong, Fowler
said, “I was impressed with
Danielle’s leadership skills.
She represented TSJC and
Coloradosowell.Shenotonly
impressedme,butimpressed
the heads of the American
Student Association of Com-
munityColleges.Theywould
love for Danielle to be in-
volved with the organization
onanationallevelrepresent-
ing TSJC and CCCS on the
Student Leadership Team.
I think this is an incredible
honor for your college and for
CCCS. Danielle is a true gem
and I am honored I had the
opportunity to get to know
her better. She loves TSJC.”
During their stay they
visited the Capitol, the
White House and the Lin-
coln, Martin Luther King,
Thomas Jefferson, Vietnam
and World War II memori-
als. They also toured the
National Archives Museum
where they saw the Bill of
Rights and the Constitu-
tion. “Beyond awesome” was
Armstrong’s reaction to the
changing of the guards at the
TomboftheUnknownSoldier
at Arlington Cemetery.
When they returned to
Colorado, she and Miller
worked into the early morn-
ing hours to outline their
strategy for speaking with
legislators later that day.
Armstrong talked about
herself, her sister, and her
sister-in-law,allofwhomare
currently enrolled at Trini-
dad State Junior College in
Alamosa and are dependent
on financial aid to see them
through. They also spoke
with Ed Vigil, House District
62, who represents southern
Colorado.
The next day Armstrong
went to the state capitol and
sat in on some senate and
house meetings. She was im-
pressed with Representative
LoisCourt,HouseDistrict62,
who is also a Red Rocks Com-
munity College instructor.
“She knew her stuff,” said
Armstrong. “It was comfort-
ingtoknowthatawomanlike
that, who actually works in
the system, is there defend-
ing us.”
“My head literally hurt by
the end of four days. There
was so much information I
justcouldn’ttakeitallin,but
attendingtheconferencewas
definitely worth every tired
stressful minute. I would do
it again in a heartbeat!” said
Armstrong.
“I’m a mom, my husband
is a farmer and truck driver
and I have to work and help
support the family while
I’m going to school. There’s
no way I could go to school
withoutthefinancialhelpI’m
getting. I couldn’t do it,” said
Armstrong who is excited
about the second major she
has added to her educational
goals. She said she appreci-
ates all who are helping her
along the way.
Armstrong proudly shows Ralph Nader’s book that he
autographed for her.
ArmstrongposesoutsideSenatorMichaelBennett’soffice.
Courtesy photos
4-11-15 Daily pgs 1-14-Pre-Print Buttons.indd 84-11-15 Daily pgs 1-14-Pre-Print Buttons.indd 8 4/10/15 8:26 PM4/10/15 8:26 PM