Annual Conference 

 

April 15 - 17, 2024
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel | Colorado Springs, CO

 

Thank you to our Gold Sponsor! 

Ignite the Flame with us at RMACAC Annual Conference 2024! We are hosting our annual conference in Colorado Springs, CO and invite all high school counselors, college admission professionals, independent education consultants, college and career counselors, and anyone who works with students going through the college search and admissions processes! 

 Quick Guide

 

Conference Registration

Registration for Annual Conference is now available! All registrants are required to agree to the RMACAC 2024 Annual Conference Terms and Conditions during registration.

Register Here

2024 Annual Conference Registration Costs

Registrant
Type		 Early Bird 
by March 1, 2024		 Regular
by March 21, 2024		 Late
by April 15, 2024
Member
Full Conference		 $250 $300 $350
Non-Member
Full Conference		 $300 $350 $400
Member
One Day Conference		 $175 $225 $250
Non-Member
One Day Conference		 $200 $225 $300


RMACAC W-9

 

Benefits of Attending
Advocate to Attend Letter (Word)
Advocate to Attend Letter (PDF)

 

 

Hotel Information

Annual Conference is located at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Colorado Springs.

Book Now!

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Colorado Springs
Group name: RMACAC Conference 2024
Group rate dates: April 13 - 17, 2023 
Rate: $149/night for 2 Queen Beds or King Bed room
Group rate expires March 21, 2024.

Note: the link automatically populates reservation dates to April 13-17. Be sure to edit to your actual travel dates. RMACAC is not responsible for incorrect reservations. 

We have also secured room blocks at adjacent hotels. 

Fairfield Inn & Suites South
Rate: $139/night for 2 Queen Beds or King Bed room
Rate available April 15-17
Complimentary deluxe continental breakfast included
Waived parking fee
Group rate expires Friday, March 29, 2024.

Book Now!

Residence Inn Colorado Springs South
Rate: $149/night for Studio King Suites
Rate available April 14-17
Complimentary hot breakfast buffet
Waived parking fee
Group rate expires Friday, March 29, 2024.

Book Now!

 

 

Conference Schedule

Conference Schedule

 Updated 1.24.24

Conference schedule features: 

 

 

Welcome Speaker


Dr. Wendy Birhanzel, Superintendent of Harrison School District 2

Dr. Wendy Birhanzel is honored to be Colorado's 2023 Superintendent of the Year and to serve as the Superintendent of Harrison School District 2 and a parent of a Sierra High School graduate. She has served more than 20 years in public education throughout California and Colorado. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership in Urban School Settings from the University of Southern California. Her passion is ensuring a high-quality education experience for every student and opening doors to opportunities and success. In her work, she advocates for necessary school funding and bringing a voice to students and staff.

As a Principal, Dr. Birhanzel led two schools to be honored with National Blue Ribbon Awards and named National Title I Distinguished Schools. Moving into her role as Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Officer, she helped create programming to allow all students to access a rigorous curriculum. Dr. Birhanzel was awarded the Mayor's Young Leader Award from the city and the Young Alumni Achievement Award from her college for her educational impact.

As Superintendent, Dr. Birhanzel works collaboratively with staff to offer students an excellent academic experience and opportunities such as free college, free technology, free athletics and activities, free before and after school care, complimentary breakfast and lunch, and free tutoring. Under her leadership, the district passed a $180 million bond to cover 20 building renovations and three new schools. She has also partnered with the community to ensure wrap-around supports such as mental health care, food security, and housing are provided for all families. Her passion is supporting the whole child and family in the community. The district was named the best educational workplace during her tenure and has had the highest staff retention rates in over 16 years. 

Dr. Birhanzel advocates for educational funding and opportunities for students. She serves on several local and national boards to provide a voice for educators, including but not limited to YMCA, RISE, Mayor's leadership, Junior Achievement, Joint Initiatives, and Youth Transformation. Recently, she has been named 1 of 22 to watch in '22 by the Southeast Express, a Woman Making a Difference by the League of Women's Voters, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Transformational Leader by Colorado Springs Business Journal, 2023 Colorado Springs Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts, and Solid Rock Community Development Corporation’s 2023 Southeast Colorado Springs Distinguished Service Award. Each day, she reflects on how decisions make better outcomes for students.

 

Keynote Speaker

Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling, Khan Lab School

Brennan Barnard, M.Ed is the Director of College Counseling and Outreach at Khan Lab School, CA and the Director of College Counseling for the College Guidance Network. He also serves as the College Admissions Program Advisor with the Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

A native of suburban Philadelphia and practicing Quaker, he is a graduate of Westtown Friends School.  Brennan earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish from Franklin & Marshall College and a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from The University of Vermont. This father of two lives in Hopkinton, New Hampshire where he is a volunteer firefighter.

 

Closing Speaker

 

Mark Hatch, Vice President for Enrollment, Colorado College

A native of Boston and Maine, Mark earned his Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bates College and a graduate degree in education from Harvard University.  A full-need financial aid recipient, his first job in admission was that of a student-worker more than 40 years ago where he spent 8 semesters handling every task imaginable – including licking and stamping envelopes by hand (and mouth). Upon his graduation from Bates College, he worked as an Assistant Dean of Admission at Bates and later in the undergraduate office at Harvard before moving west for his first high school teaching and counseling position.  Joining the newly merged Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles in 1991, he served as a college counselor, a history teacher, and a member of the Admission Committee.  He later worked as a teacher and the Director of College Counseling at Marlborough School for Girls in Los Angeles.

In 1997, after California past proposition 209 --the bill banning affirmative action for California colleges and universities, Mark realized he was more passionate about the issues of access on the college side of the desk and he became the Director of Admission at Occidental College. In 2001, he assumed his current position as Vice President for Enrollment at Colorado College.  During his more than two decades at CC, Pell grant recipients have increased by 40%, the percentage of BIPOC students has gone from 11% to 26%, and international student enrollment has tripled. In addition, under his leadership there has been a steadfast commitment to serving students from Colorado and surrounding states.  Colorado College became the first QuestBridge college partner in the region and, in 2019, Mark was the primary architect of the Colorado Pledge initiative, a bold affordability plan that has made Colorado College more affordable for hundreds of enrolling students.

Mark spent six years as a board member of the Common Application, including a stint as President of that organization.  He serves on the Advisory Board of the Mastery Transcript Consortium, as a Foundation Trustee for the Cloud Forest School in Monteverde Costa Rica, and is the Chair of the Finance Committee for the Board of the Island School in Eleuthera, Bahamas.  He is a past Board Member of the High Mountain Institute in Leadville, Colorado.

Mark will retire from Colorado College in July of 2024 and he reports that the biggest reward of more than four decades of work in this field has been the professional connections with staff from Colorado College, other colleges and universities, and with high school teachers and guidance counselors.

Mark is married and has two college-aged daughters. He plays recreational ice hockey, enjoys trail running, and has competed in several mountain races including the Pikes Peak Ascent and the Leadville Heavy Half Marathon.

Pre-Conference Sessions

Paving the Path: Achieving Equity, Inclusion, and Access in College Counseling for High School Students
Zulema Fragoso, Nogales High School and Frank Laro, University of Denver 
Audience: High School Counselors, College and Career Counselors, Post-Secondary Admissions Counselors, Independent College Counselors
This session aims to delve into the critical aspects of Diversity, Equity and Accessibility within the realm of college counseling for high school students. As educators and counselors, our responsibility is to ensure that every student, regardless of background, has equitable access to resources and guidance necessary for successful post-secondary transitions.

Ready to Rise: Professional Development Essentials for Future Admissions Leaders
Brittany Baker-Brousseau, University of Utah
Audience: Post-Secondary/College Admissions
There are many admissions counselors who are well-seasoned but not yet at the management level. They are talented, engaged, and dedicated to college admissions, and they are eager to put in the work to advance within their current office and/or the admissions field. This pre-conference is an interactive workshop meant for those who have a few years of experience under their belt but who do not yet supervise professional staff or make policy decisions. We will explore the skills and accomplishments hiring directors want to see, learn from a variety of professional journeys, and develop our knowledge of our own professional strengths and goals to support not only our own growth but the growth of our beloved field.

 

Campus Tours

RMACAC will be organizing campus tours prior to the conference. RMACAC will not be providing transportation to these tours. Please register for these tour opportunities when you register for conference. If you have already registered and would like to add a tour, please email Kylie Rigdon.


The United States Air Force Academy
Monday, April 15, 2024
8:00a-10:00a, Optional: 10a-12p Noon Meal Formation
Getting onto Base
More Information about the Tour

 


University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Monday April 15, 2024
9:00a Admissions Presentation, 9:30a-11:00a Campus Tour, 11:00a Optional Hyble/ENT Tour
Transportation will be provided from the DoubleTree Hotel to campus and back.  

 

Colorado College 
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
1:15p

 

 



Pikes Peak State College 
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
1:30p

 

 

 

Counselor/College Card Exchange

Sponsored by    

On Tuesday morning, university representatives and high school counselors and IECs will be able to network at our Card Exchange. High school counselors and IECs attending conference do not need to register in order to attend. College professionals will need to register for the card exchange when registering for the conference. Please do not bring swag to this event. All professionals in attendance should plan on swapping business cards only. Please bring a tablecloth to set on your table. We will also use StriveScan scanning technology so high school counselors and IECs will be able to be scanned. Post-secondary participants will receive instructions on how to scan prior to the event from StriveScan.

Universities and colleges wishing to participate will need to register. Each university will be allowed one table and up to two representatives for the counselor fair. Cost to register is $75 per table (2 reps max per table).

Participating universities and colleges will be announced periodically after registration opens.

Participating Institutions

 

Volunteer at Conference

Interested in helping RMACAC at Annual Conference?

Volunteer Sign Up Form 


Contact Mentorship and Volunteers Chair, Julie Fleming, or our Volunteer page for more information. 

 

Sponsors and Exhibitors

Information about sponsoring/exhibiting at 2024 Annual Conference can be found below.  

Sponsorship & Exhibiting Information
Sponsorship & Exhibiting Registration  

 

Current Sponsors and Exhibitors 

RMACAC Finance Policy states that refunds will not be available within 30 days of Annual Conference commencing.  

Sponsors will be updated on a regular basis. 

Contact RMACAC Advancement Chair, Abby Tudor, for more information.