“It’s the effort—it’s impressive the amount of things happening.”
That line from Tim, the Senior Director of Student Life and Engagement, capturing the whole vibe at Front Range Community College’s Larimer Campus this week. The school threw a laid-back, fun-filled celebration ahead of their annual Art Gallery. The sunny campus was buzzing.
The courtyard was filled with booths – handmade jewelry, quirky illustrations, screen-printed shirts, and vibrant prints drawn in passersby. Student artists brought their signature styles to life, chatting with attendees about their work and creative process. One student vendor even turned everyday candles into elaborate dessert-themed sculptures, drawing a crowd of curious customers.
Live music played throughout the afternoon, courtesy of a band assembled just for the event. Casey Hamey, one of the performers, played guitar and drums. “The atmosphere—it’s killer,” he said. “There’s so much talent here. I went to Aims Community College before this, and they didn’t have anything like this. Doc [an FRCC staff member] really pulled strings to help us play today. If we had to pick a name? We’d be ‘Front Range Strange.’”
Meanwhile, Marcus, the hot dog chef working the grill, stayed busy serving up delicious dogs “You can’t beat the vibe,” he said. “Everyone’s enjoying the sunshine, grabbing food, and just being part of something. This is the nicest community college campus I’ve seen.”
The event also included interactive fun, like students playing spikeball on the lawn and a live muralist painting a large-scale outdoor piece. Students ditched classes to cheer on soaking in the scene.
Tim said these kinds of events help build pride and connection. “Seeing students take the lead on this, create something meaningful, and bring others into it—that’s what FRCC is about,” he said. “Last year’s Art Gallery had a great turnout, and we’re hoping this celebration reminds people to come back and support it again.”
With a mix of art, music, and community, the pre-gallery celebration showed what’s possible when students are given a space to shine. As one student said while picking up a sticker from a local artist, “This feels like home.”
