2025

Celebrating the heroes behind Fossil Ridge High School’s success

Giana Loewenkamp and Bailey McBride • February 10, 2025

There are many roles and systems that keep Fossil running smoothly. From tech support that keeps our devices running, to bus drivers that ensure students arrive safely, meet the people that keep our school on the right track.

Mike Nichols works the front desk at the Fossil Media Center (Bailey McBride)

Technology Support

Students and teachers rely on technology to educate and to learn, but when something goes wrong, the Tech Support in the Media Center is here to save the day.

Mike Nichols has been the Technology Support Manager in the Media Center for four years but has been in Tech Support for eight.

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“Being in the media center, helping with technology and media questions and with textbook questions, hopefully when people walk away, they have the solution to the problem, or they get the book they’re looking for,” Nichols said.

Nichols helps students with tech-related issues and general problems. He plays a crucial role in keeping our school connected and helping classroom efficiency.

Counselor Carolyn Fries meets with a student during registration week (Bailey McBride)

Counselors

From registration to a safe place to talk, the counselors at Fossil do it all.

Carolyn Fries is one of Fossil’s eight counselors. Fries has been with Fossil for 16 years and in the Poudre School District for 18.

Fries explains the counselor’s three main roles: emotional support, academic help, and post-secondary planning.

“I like getting to know students and being able to stay for four years with them. It’s really fun, especially as students get into the college they’ve been wanting to go to, or those big milestones that we get to celebrate with students,” Fries said.

Vocational para Farah Freeman assists a student while taking an order in the Fossil Ridge commons. (Bailey McBride)

Vocational paras

Cup of Joe fuels Fossil with the simple act of fun drinks and connections with strangers.

Cup of Joe is part of the World of Work class and is a student-run business inside of Alternative Cooperative Education (ACE).

Vocational para Farah Freeman assists with the ACE class. She helps students and teaches them job, life, customer service, and money-handling skills. Freeman has been working with the ACE class for a year and a half.

“Students can come by and grab something to drink and take it to class with them. Or if they’re on their off period, they can come grab something…It helps the staff too, they can order all day long. So if they’re feeling a little tired, they can order and we deliver to them so that’s another aspect that the students learn as well,” Freeman said.

Bus driver Mari Duran waits to take Fossil students home after school (Bailey McBride)

Bus drivers

Bus drivers are a trusted figure in the lives of many. They take students to and from school, ensure a safe environment, and work towards building connections with students.

Mari Duran is one of the many bus drivers who pick up and drop off students. Duran has been with PSD Transportation for six years and takes pride in knowing that students make it to their destination safely.

Duran’s route consists of elementary, middle, and high school students.

“I like seeing the kids in the morning, and like being the first one that they see and able to say good morning to them and get smiles,” said Duran.

Together, these individuals create an environment where students can thrive, feel supported, and feel ready for the challenges ahead. Fossil is a community where people work hand-in-hand to help students succeed in both their academic and personal growth.

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About the Contributors

Giana Loewenkamp, Staff writer

Giana Loewenkamp, sophomore at Fossil Ridge High School, is entering her first year as a staff writer on Etched in Stone. Loewenkamp is excited about the freedom journalism offers and looks forward to publishing her work. She is also eager to make new friends in the newsroom.

Important values for Loewenkamp include honesty and being a good person. She credits her mom as a significant role model in her life. Loewenkamp has two older sisters who both live at home. She also has two dogs, a fish, and a cat.

Some of Loewenkamp’s personal interests include CrossFit and R&B music. She enjoys “The Middle” and “Modern Family”, two 2009 sitcoms. While Loewenkamp has no specific plans for after high school, Loewenkamp is considering applying for jobs that utilize her journalism skills.

Bailey McBride, Staff Writer

Bailey McBride is a sophomore taking Journalism 2 for the first time. McBride took journalism and decided to continue it because she found it more interesting and fun to explore than a regular English class.

McBride was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, for most of her life except for one year when she lived in Florida when she was younger. She finds herself to be a Spring person because she enjoys the weather and blooming of nature. McBride is a homebody who loves a night out as much as she loves a night in. She finds comfort in routine and reading books that help her learn to be successful. One goal this year she has is to go to Coachella for her 16th birthday. McBride also hopes to be more focused in school, journal, and read. She loves reading self improvement books.

For movie genres, she enjoys sci-fi, murder documentaries, Christmas movies, and rom-coms. She also has interest in listening to podcasts like Anything Goes by Emma Chamberlain and Morning Rae by Allana Blumberg. Every year McBride and her family vote on a trip they take. She has a love for Boston when she first went there on a school trip and then with her family. McBrides expresses her excitement for the city and says she would love to attend college there.