Lauren Chick has gone from receiving Bright Futures support to helping open doors for the next generation of students.
Chick works in human resources for Tolmar, Inc., a fully integrated pharmaceutical company in Windsor. She recently hosted Bright Futures students at her workplace, giving them the opportunity to explore internship and career paths and tour the company’s lab.
“It was so cool,” Chick said. “To be able to have that full circle moment and give back to Bright Futures and help those students get a foot in the door was just great to be able to do that.”
Bright Futures offers many resources beyond tuition assistance, including volunteer opportunities, internship listings, job site tours and networking events.
“It is an amazing resource,” Chick said of Bright Futures. “Not only does it relieve financial burden, but students can take advantage of all the opportunities the program offers and make those career connections early.”
A fourth-generation Roosevelt High School graduate from Johnstown, Chick always planned to apply for Bright Futures. She used her award to attend Grand Canyon University in Arizona. During her sophomore year the COVID-19 pandemic prompted her to move back home where she finished her degree in psychology at the University of Northern Colorado.
“I started in nursing, then I moved to a finance major and finally ended up with a degree in psychology,” Chick said. “I like to think I’m cross trained in different areas and that lines up perfectly for HR.”
Chick said Bright Futures played a meaningful role in her own journey, and she especially valued the volunteer opportunities that allowed her to give back to her community.