For Duncan Szeliga ’09, success has come from a combination of hard work, patience and a willingness to pursue his passions both on and off the job. Whether excelling on the basketball court, building a career at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard or crafting award-winning decoys, Szeliga has always embraced opportunities to grow and challenge himself. 

Today, Szeliga works as a nuclear rigger at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, a role that requires precision, technical expertise and a commitment to safety. While his career has taken him into a highly specialized field, many of the lessons he learned as a student-athlete at Colby-Sawyer continue to influence his approach to work and life. 

For Yener Bartolon ’25, soccer has been a constant throughout his life. From his early days playing competitively in Florida to guarding the net for the Chargers and now working behind the scenes at one of the world’s largest sporting events, the game has shaped both his personal and professional journey.

This summer, Bartolon joined the Fan Operations team for the FIFA Club World Cup in Miami, helping create memorable experiences for thousands of supporters from around the globe.

Students in ENV 334 – River Communities spent the spring semester in the classroom studying water use and management in the Colorado River System. Then they traveled west to see it for themselves.

When Amanda Ashe ’04 left a successful 15-year career in commercial banking to launch her own business, some people thought she was taking a huge risk. For Ashe, it was simply the next step in a journey that began years earlier at Colby-Sawyer College, where she first learned to trust herself, think strategically and embrace new opportunities. 

Today, Ashe is the chief executive officer of Salt Air Properties, a vacation rental management company she founded in 2022. The company manages a portfolio of 115 homes along the coast of Maine, all located within 45 minutes of Acadia National Park. 

Amanda Powell ’07 has built a career centered on helping others navigate difficult moments. What began as an interest in psychology and human behavior during her time at Colby-Sawyer College evolved into more than a decade of work supporting youth, families and communities across New England. 

Today, Powell serves as the training and conflict resolution lead at Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, where she develops trainings and helps communities better understand youth mental health, behavior management and conflict resolution. 

“If you have air in your lungs, there is hope you can make something beautiful of your life,” she said. “That doesn’t erase struggle or loss, but it allows room for meaning."