Nicholas Sahwin

For a long time I was not entirely aware that there was a common thread linking my disparate work and volunteer experiences; however, in recent years I have begun to look back and realize that I have an indefatigable passion for public service, primarily in ways that allow me to act, in one way or another, as a steward of resources and as a public communicator. With the City of Fort Collins Parks Department, I had the opportunity to directly affect the cleanliness of our city's parks and streams, which in turn affected the cleanliness and livability of the city as a whole; I also led many volunteer groups during this time on trips to clean parks or Dixon Creek Reservoir. With Connexion, I have had the unique opportunity to champion high-speed fiber optic internet as a public utility, which provides both a better service and a lower carbon footprint than traditional copper. In my volunteer experiences, I have led multiple groups of Coloradans on Poudre River cleanups (in conjunction with Odell Brewing Co.), and I have also volunteered as a Volunteer Ranger Assistant with the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County. While these experiences may seem, at first glance, very disparate, the truth is that they have all allowed me the chance to beautify my city and county, to make it operate more efficiently, to reduce waste, and to educate and lead the public.