Grand Junction, Colorado

Grand Junction is located 250 miles west of Denver, Colorado, and is a city of approximately 33,000 people. The name, Grand Junction, comes not only from the junction of two rivers (the Gunnison and Colorado rivers), but also because it is a junction of commerce, transportation, and recreation. Grand Junction is nestled in the beautiful Grand Valley, which lies on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains. At an elevation of 4,586 feet, the valley is surrounded by mountains that reach heights of between 9,000 to 10,500 feet. The world's largest dinosaur species roamed this area about 160 million years ago.

Grand Junction is a gateway to Colorado ski resorts, mountain climbing, hunting and river rafting. The Grand Valley is known for its abundance of pears, peaches, cherries and other orchard produce.

Mesa State College boasts a 42-acre main campus in the center of Grand Junction. Mesa State offers liberal arts and sciences, business, nursing, professional, and vocational/technical programs. Four miles southeast of the main campus are the college's 200-acre experimental farm and the Industrial Energy Training Center, which houses the welding, diesel mechanics, electric lineman and heavy equipment programs.