Chris McGilvray, local teacher and business owner, is the recipient of the 2021 Longmont Jubilee “Making A Difference” award for his outstanding contributions to young students in the Longmont community.

In an interview with Kevin Ortiz, he explains that “Just personally, Chris has changed my life.” Ortiz is a member of the leadership team of the Chamber Student Network (CSN), a group created with the support of McGilvray to help foster student connection with the business community.

McGilvray has inspired and encouraged young leaders to get involved and gain a better understanding of the Longmont Community. Genevieve Clayton, CSN founder and entrepreneur, explains that “in working with Chris, I learned what a chamber of commerce is, the importance of such an organization, and how it serves a community”. McGilvray’s teachings inspire students to take a step into the community and contribute. “This is what ultimately led me to co-founding the Chamber Student Network, becoming a Chamber member, and now serving on the Longmont Chamber’s Nexus Young Professionals committee.”

McGilvray’s lessons expand beyond the classroom. “Watching him, I feel like I have learned more outside of the classroom than I had in the classroom. Seeing him be social at networking events, how he communicates with other people and how nice he is with other students has influenced my own abilities,” says Kevin Ortiz.

Connecting students within the community is not McGilvray’s only goal; he strives to ensure better lives and futures for his students. One former student, Ruby Black, claims that Chris McGilvray has helped her achieve, “three internships, two leadership positions, and an acceptance letter to the University of Northern Colorado… all thanks to his passion for helping his students succeed”. Chris provides students with the tools and learning environments for his students to discover and express themselves. He encourages his students to make an impact on the community.