We welcome Candace Cyrus to the Bootstraps Board of Directors! Candace grew up in the Conifer area, graduated from Conifer High School in 2009, and received a Bootstraps scholarship. She attended the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs where she received a degree in communications, and then she later received a master’s degree in organizational leadership from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Candace was very active during her time at Conifer High School. She played volleyball, was on the yearbook staff, helped with the planning of the first Relay for Life fundraiser for cancer, was involved in student government her junior and senior years, and she was a member of Westernaires. Her desire to be involved continued into college where she participated in intramural sports. She also started volunteering with a young professional group that worked closely with the El Pomar Foundation. In addition to Candace’s on campus involvement, she worked in the service industry waiting tables and bartending.

Candace was very mindful of her transition into college. She was originally enrolled at Colorado State University, but she was worried that the size of the school would be too much, so that’s when she enrolled in University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). Even though she didn’t know anyone when she started at UCCS, she feels her transition went well and was smooth. The differences in high school class structure and college class structure were probably the biggest changes for Candace, but she learned a lot about herself through the process.

Candace lived in the dorms the first semester of her freshman year. She lived in a suite with three other roommates, but her bunkmate was a little difficult to manage, so Candace and another roommate moved out of the dorm. Candace moved into an apartment and later became roommates with someone from her academic program.
When Candace first started college, her career aspirations were to become a writer and write about things she was “super passionate about” like interior design. She dreamed of writing articles for an architectural or interior design magazine. When Candace finished college in 2013, with her communications degree in hand, she received an internship with a PR/marketing firm. The job became more event planning and set-up than writing, but it led her to a local community behavioral health organization and started her project management career.

Candace enjoying a day of skiing.

In 2018, Candace started a master’s program at the University of Colorado, Boulder, in organizational leadership. During her time in her master’s program and after, she spent a lot of time working in higher education. She worked as a Project Manager on research grants and worked for the President’s office at University of Colorado, Boulder, she worked in system administration at University of Colorado, Denver, and she worked in project management as part of a 4-month grant at Colorado School of Mines. Candace is currently working for the Space Division of Lockheed Martin in subcontract management.

Candace remembers using her Bootstraps scholarship for books and tuition. She was shocked at how expensive books were in college, so she did a little research and found a textbook rental program. She was able to rent her books and had money left over to use for her tuition. She said the scholarship she received was very helpful in relieving financial stress from her family and her.

Candace is very excited and honored to be a member of the Bootstraps Board of Directors. It’s important to her to give back in the same way someone gave to her, allowing her to give a similar opportunity to someone else. She hopes to be able to educate newer residents about our community – the strength of the community and the support we give to each other. Candace believes Bootstraps is an organization that shows that same strength and support to our local students and their families.
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Bootstraps is thrilled and grateful to have Candace return to the organization!