Carissa Blaine is a dedicated single mother who cares for her two daughters, Carter and Caiya, while successfully balancing the demands of a full course load at Colorado Mesa University. She earned her associate’s degree in liberal arts in California and is now continuing her education as a non-traditional, first-generation college student, working toward a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in forensic investigation. In addition to her studies, she works with children who struggle with behavioral challenges. Having struggled with a learning disability herself, she has come to appreciate both the challenges and the strengths it brings.
Justin Willis is one of two coordinators for the Black Student Alliance. He chose to join BSA to make a lasting impression on his peers at CMU. Being part of something bigger than himself has been a meaningful and rewarding experience, one he considers a true blessing and wouldn’t want to change. He is also a board member of CMU's Associated Student Government. Justin has a passion for photography and has already been very successful in sports photography, working for the Grand Junction Jackalopes baseball team and showcasing his artistic eye.
Born and raised in New Zealand on a rural property in Hunua, Auckland, life was very different for Ella Freemon. Now, as she prepares to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, she is also finishing her final season on the Colorado Mesa Women’s Lacrosse team—something her younger self could never have imagined. She feels incredibly grateful for the opportunity to pursue her dreams on the other side of the world and to build memories that will last a lifetime. Her time at this school has shaped her into the best version of herself, giving her the confidence to know she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. She knows this experience would not have been possible without the love and constant support of her family back home, as well as the new home she has built at CMU. She has never truly been alone along the way; her parents, family, boyfriend, teammates, and best friends have supported and guided her through it all. They are her reason and her motivation every day, and the people she strives to make proud through everything she has accomplished during her time in Colorado. She wouldn’t trade this experience for the world, and despite the challenges, being an international student and representing New Zealand has been one of the best decisions of her life.
