Senior Financial Award Winners 2025

March 7, 2025

Hello 5th Grader!

Congratulations! You are old enough to participate in Choice Pass! Choice Pass is a program run by the Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevent Project (GCSAPP) that encourages you to engage in healthy outlets with your friends and family, and resist using drugs and alcohol. The program also provides you and your parents the opportunity and platform to have healthy conversations about substances, and how to make choices that will affect you and your loved ones.

Choice Pass offers over sixty discounts to businesses throughout Gunnison, Crested Butte and Lake City. But perhaps the biggest benefit to the Choice Pass is a significantly discounted ski pass to Crested Butte. Choice Pass also provides opportunities to participate in organized backcountry ski days and access to avalanche safety courses. If that doesn’t quite convince you, there are also deals at local businesses like Secret Stash, Mochas, the Rec Center, the Majestic Movie Theater and so many more. Choice Pass also hosts several events throughout the school year. The Fred Field House often holds arcade nights, laser tag, or movie nights that are enjoyable for all ages. These events present perfect opportunities to get involved in the community, meet new people, or have a blast with your family and friends.

Now that you are entering sixth grade and are old enough to participate in the program, you should know what is required of you in order to take advantage of all of the things Choice Pass provides. Students are asked to commit to being substance-free, participate in parent education events along with a parent, and agree to random drug testing throughout the year.

As you get older, you might find yourself in situations where substances are involved. Choice Pass is a great excuse to avoid these situations or to not participate at all. I have found myself under the pressure to do substances. Thankfully, I was able to use Choice Pass as an excuse to get out of the situation. The program will help you keep yourself safe and clean, your family proud and help you grow into an amazing citizen in your community. The awesome discounts aren’t the only motivator for making healthy choices but they’ll encourage you to get more involved with your local businesses. And let's face it, no one wants to have a positive drug test and deal with the consequences. Trust me and my eighteen years of life as a kid, make a great choice and join Choice Pass!

Sincerely,

Madison Vollendorf

Your Choice Pass Senior

Dear Future Choice Pass Holder,

Fifth grade is a wonderful time of your life with your future unfolding ahead of you. With middle

school just around the corner, you are about to be surrounded by change. Additionally, you are at

the age in which some of the changes and choices you are soon to make will follow you into

your later years. It seems like just yesterday; I was in fifth grade and excited for middle school. A

new space, new classes, more freedom, and eligibility for the Choice Pass. I couldn’t wait to ski

with my friends, go to movie nights, and take advantage of all the perks. I didn’t know it at the

time, but Choice Pass has become one of the best commitments of my life.

First, ski passes are expensive and purchasing one for under $150 is a great deal! Some of my

fondest memories are from the slopes of Crested Butte because I made the commitment to be

drug and alcohol free and a part of the program. In addition to great memories, I have also built

my strongest friendship. My best friend took the Choice Pass Pledge with me, and our friendship

was born. We both love skiing, and the social activities Choice Pass provided. I have had a great

time at Choice Pass social events including movie nights and outdoor programs such as the

Wilderness First Aid class I took last fall. At your age new opportunities are being presented, and

you should embrace them. Sign up for Choice Pass and try skiing or snowboarding, attend movie

nights, sign up for one or more of the outdoor programs, and take that leap of faith. If you choose

to participate in the Choice Pass program, I guarantee you won’t look back and say, “darn, I wish

I wouldn’t have taken that leap of faith and made some of my best memories and choices.”

With any change, especially going into middle school, you will undoubtably face peer pressure,

adversity, social challenges and difficult situations. It can be extremely difficult to stand up to

peer pressure; however, Choice Pass is an honest way to stand up for yourself. The Choice Pass

program is great way to practice and build skills around confidence and good decision making.

Never once have I been questioned about a decision that was influenced by my commitment to

Choice Pass, and I believe you won’t be either. If anything, you will be proud that you have built

the discipline and skills to make good decisions especially when faced with peer pressure and

adversity.

I deeply encourage you to take the Choice Pass Pledge, as good choices will positively influence

your future. That pledge has influenced me to make positive decisions, build friendships, and

experience new opportunities; all of which have had a positive impact on my life. I believe it will

present those opportunities for you as well, so jump in and take the Choice Pass Pledge.

Sincerely,

Porter Houck