• Information Gathering: Techniques for gathering accurate and reliable information from diverse sources.
• Storytelling Modalities: How to tell and distribute compelling stories in written language, audio/voice, and video formats.
• Tools of the Trade: Equipment skills training for written language, audio/voice, and video formats.
• Assignments: Producing reports on the same news items in different formats to develop versatile reporting skills.

All of our students are provided with immediate placement in a real-world internship with The Peak News, with the opportunity to also intern at other local media outlets and production companies. Key aspects of our internship program include:

• Publishing Opportunities: Interns will publish news reports in various modalities (text, audio, video, and others) on The Peak News website.
• Broadcasting/Podcasting Opportunities: Exceptional work will be reported by the intern on our platform and in our programs.
• Employment Opportunities: Potential for part-time and “stringer” positions at The Peak News and on other projects as those opportunities become available.
• Cooperative Placements: Interns will be primarily placed at The Peak News to gain practical experience, as well as being placed in internships at broadcasters and production houses across our region.
• Concentration: The program requires that students learn and practice every aspect of the Media trade, but allows a level of concentration depending on student preference:
  • Journalism: Concentrated on news gathering and reporting.
  • Broadcasting/Tech: Concentrated on radio and audio/video podcast production.

John Graham is a father of five awesome adult children, a retired Marine Mustang, helicopter pilot, and combat veteran.  He has also served in various defense industry roles to include critical infrastructure protection supporting the National Guard Bureau and U.S. Northern Command, as well as Executive Officer and Chief of Staff of the Missile Defense Agency’s Space Systems.   John served as President of the D49 Board of Education, where he worked to prohibit Critical Race Theory (CRT), improve student achievement and success, increase parental access, encourage agency, and empower teachers to actually teach in the classroom. 

John’s has a twofold philosophy on public education:  The first is to meet each individual student where they are and raise them to where they need or want to be by providing teachers the tools and resources they need to do just that.  The second is to ensure that parents and guardians have the right and responsibility to direct the upbringing and education of their child(ren). 

John currently serves on the Education reEnvisioned Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES).  He is a subject matter expert on parental rights and choice as well as policy affecting our public education.  John currently serves as a Realtor with Keller Williams Real Estate, and is a Hero Homes Advantage Affiliate.  He is a Director of the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors.

Rick is a homeschooling father of six who spent 20 years as a teacher, private and public, high school and college level, prior to becoming a Financial Advisor.  Rick holds a BS in Business Education and Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and has developed curriculum for business, marketing, accounting, business law, entrepreneurship, economics, and finance.  His passion is for coaching clients in the stewardship of their resources.  Rick is also an experienced radio personality, hosting “Money Matters”, a weekly finance show from 2021 – 2024 on KRDO News Radio in Colorado Springs.

Tom Strand’s career spans more than 30 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force, where he served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps and retired as a Colonel.  His military service honed his skills in leadership, strategic planning, legal oversight, communications, education, and financial management.  Following his retirement, he continued his commitment to public service for over 20 years in local educational and political roles.  He currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Colorado International Language Academy, where he oversees a $6 million budget.

Strand has also served as a School Board Member and President of the Colorado Springs District 11 School Board, a Colorado Springs City Council Member and President where he spearheaded major initiatives, and Chairman of a Utilities Board of Directors, managing critical infrastructure projects to ensure efficient operations and sustainable growth.  As part of his vision for The Peak News Education Foundation, he aims to help transform it into not only a pillar of educational support, but a beacon of hope for the “soul of the city.”  His goals include strengthening fundraising and resource development, building strong government relationships at the local, state, and federal levels, and fostering deeper community educational engagement through collaboration with local organizations and stakeholders.  He believes his combined expertise in legal, military, educational, and financial leadership will help grow and develop The Peak News Educational Foundation.

Paula was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to parents who legally emigrated from Jamaica in the early 1950s. She has a strong commitment to advancing and preserving American values and is dedicated to community well-being through philanthropic efforts focused on tackling homelessness and supporting youth academic achievement. A product of New York City Public Schools, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Fordham University at Lincoln Center in 1986.

Paula began her career teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language in NYC public schools but soon discovered her passion for fundraising through volunteer service and charitable work.  Her career in institutional advancement spans more than 25 years, including roles as a donor relations specialist at New York Law School, frontline fundraising positions at Princeton University, and work with Princeton HealthCare System (now Penn Medicine Princeton Health), where she helped raise over $171 million during a capital campaign to build a new medical center in Plainsboro, New Jersey.

In 2016, Paula and her husband relocated to Colorado Springs.  She currently serves as a Constituent Services Specialist on the El Paso County Government Affairs Team, supporting the Board of County Commissioners. Previously, she worked as an Executive Administrative Specialist for El Paso County Public Health, providing critical support during the county’s COVID-19 response.  In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her husband, spending time with their dog Adenauer, and is a graduate of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Rookie Sportsman Program.

Larry Gifford has devoted his life to service, education, and community leadership, bringing a practical, people-centered perspective to his role with The Peak News Education Foundation. He spent 30 years as a teacher and coach, served three years as an athletic director, and drove a school bus for 15 years, giving him deep firsthand insight into the daily realities of students, families, and school systems. He also worked extensively as a sports official—15 years in football, 18 years in basketball, and 28 years in track and field—strengthening his skills in fairness, accountability, and sound judgment.

Gifford holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in education from Western State University. His civic leadership includes 11 years as a town board member, eight years on a school board, and two years as fire chief of a volunteer fire department, equipping him with experience in governance, budgeting, and crisis management. He also served three years as a church administrator and Pastor of Volunteers at Charis Christian Center, where he led teams and supported community outreach. Married to his wife Carla for 53 years, he is a proud father and grandfather. He brings to PNEF a lifetime of educational leadership, community trust, and servant-hearted management, strengthening the foundation’s mission to support students, educators, and families across the region.

Pastor Jeff Anderson is a Pikes Peak Region native and graduate of Rampart High School.  Jeff and Nancy served Grace Bible Church in Colorado Springs for nearly 25 years.  He is the founder and President of International Bible Conference, which has ministered to tens of thousands of indigenous pastors in Uganda, India, Nepal, Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Russia, Albania, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Liberia, Tanzania, Kenya, and Brazil.   From  2017 – 2024, Jeff has also served our region and nation as the Senior Advisor for Faith Community Outreach for Congressman Doug Lamborn of Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, and since 2025 has continued his same service with CD5 Congressman Jeff Crank.  Jeff is a regular speaker at youth camps, men’s retreats, and church conferences, as well as at business and political events.   He is also a show producer and on-air personality on Salem’s 100.7 The Word FM, hosting their live 1-hour “Crosswalk” program from 5 – 6pm during Monday, Thursday, and Friday drivetime.