UVC began a scholarship program for UCCS sculpture students in 2011.  A UCCS sculpture student per academic year is selected and awarded the scholarship to include having their work designed, built and installed and displayed within the shopping center.  Below you will see photos of the sculptures to include the artist's description and inspiration for their works.

​"Beecoming" by Claire Kallio (October 2025)
(Located on the fractal metal on the stage at the back of the amphitheater)
​"I see this sculpture as representing how individuals in a community - whether in education, public service, or daily life - contribute to something larger than themselves.  I want the audience to experience the beauty and intelligence of these natural forms while also reflecting on the interconnectedness that enables a community, like bees in a hive, to thrive.  I hope this piece will serve as a reminder of the resilience that often goes unseen but is always present.  Much like a beehive quietly humming with life, individuals within this community work diligently toward their goals."
"Iggy Hop" by Michelle McDonough (August 2024)
(located in the North Plaza near the water feature)
"I approach each day with my eyes wide open to the complexities and uncertainties within nature. I derive my art from observation of the world around me, especially from my own backyard.
During the summer, the oppressive heat causes the lowly Colorado Two-Stripe Grasshopper population to explode, decimating crops and flower gardens standing in their way to a better meal. This behavior reinforces the grasshopper’s “hooliganism” reputation.
I believe grasshoppers can be beneficial to the environment, absurdly silly looking and beautiful. Grasshoppers play a role in the environment by being a vital source of food for birds, lizards, spiders and foxes. Throughout the world, grasshoppers are also a good source of food for humans.  Some cultures believe grasshoppers bring good fortune, happiness and luck into their home so they keep them as pets!
Their large legs, head, and face are somewhat comical.  By enlarging the scale of all these attributes, Iggy Hop is created to make the viewer smile.
Grasshoppers are neither villains nor cartoon characters. They are just simply part of our landscape. I hope the viewer can look beyond grasshoppers “unruly mob” behavior to see the beauty and whimsy in these tiny creatures."


​"Synchronous" by Rachel Johnson (July 2023)
(located along main drive lane by Veda Salon)

“Synchronous” is a representation of sacred spaces and connection. The two oak leaves work as a pair, emphasizing the relationship of balance with each other. Their tilting position implies a gentle movement, the falling of autumn leaves, demonstrating the transition of time. This piece is as much about the capacity that it takes up as it is about the emptiness it encircles. In between the leaves is a negative space that works to make “Synchronous” both a frame and a whole. It is a working relationship between the leaves, to work and flow with one another, and to interact with the sacred space that they create together.



​"Exploration Bear" by Terese Benson
​(October 2021)
(located by patio of Panera Bread)
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​"To all the love that made me brave" ​



​"Spire" by Hannah Cromwell (October 2021)
(located at the main entrance intersection)

​"It's about adulthood; the formidability of it, the power of it. It's about the transitioning of childhood into a firm but distant monument in your mind, as you go forward and away with confident steps."




​"Seasons Change, We Grow Together"
​by Niki Puigdevall (June 2020)
(located in the south plaza by BJ's Restaurant)

"My art is representational and surreal, as I combine recognizable forms with dream-like juxtapositions.  My themes deal with the human condition, universal emotions, social injustice and romanticism with a spiritual or religious undertone.  The concept for "Seasons Change, We Grow Together" is related to these concepts, because it is about human connections and the idea of one-ness amongst humanity. According to nationalforests.org, "A group of several Aspen trees is considered a singular organism with the main life force underground in the extensive root system."  I believe the nature of an aspen tree serves as a thought-provoking metaphor for the role each individual plays within the shaping of a greater society."

​"Lift Off" by Deborah Schoen (April 2019)
(located along the main drive lane near Nothing Bundt Cakes)
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""Lift Off" is a metaphor for the opening of one's eyes and to see the world in a positive and uplifting way.  "Lift Off" signifies the adventure of meeting new people and the opportunity to experience far away places.  It is a reference to the hot air balloon landscape that welcomed me to Colorado and is a familiar scene that has captivated and joined the hearts of people around the world."


​"Thrive" by Jennifer Chavez Marquez (April 2019)
(located along Nevada Avenue)

""Thrive" is a piece meant to evoke hope and represent growth. Many times we tend to work around our obstacles seeing them as a nuisance, however this piece shows that it is just as beautiful to work with our obstacles to get to where we want to be. The ultimate goal would be to not only survive but to also thrive in the process."


"Evolving Identity" by Brooke Koster (March 2018)
(located along Nevada Avenue)
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"This piece contains several elements that make a person who they are.  The internal structure represents an individual's experiences, making them unique as a person. The external swirls signify the forces that are out of our control, altering our path, and guiding us towards our inevitable future."


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​"Stability" by Rachel Marolf (March 2018)
(located along Nevada Avenue)

"My work focuses to unite individuals and act as a reminder that although we may face different battles, we are all working towards a common goal.  "Stability" implies that although we are imperfect beings, we strive to find balance in the ever-changing world we call home."


​"Synchronicity" by Jansen Howard (May 2017)
​(located along Nevada Avenue)
"I have always found a great deal of peace in learning about the intrinsic synchronicities that exist all around us.  It has consistently intrigued me to know how every aspect of the universe fits together so perfectly; I am humbled to be so small.  Although we, as a species, yearn to be in control of every aspect of our existence, in this world of fast moving chaos, it is essential to take a step back and appreciate the things that are larger and greater, that which is outside of our realm of control.
​"Synchronicity" is a geometric form with a very interesting meaning behind it.  It is the visual depiction of how the moon and the earth relate mathematically; the moon circling the square.  If the moon were to be brought down to the earth, a circle through the moon would be equal in circumference to the perimeter of a square placed around the earth."

"Between the Stars" by EB Jauer (May 2017)
(located along Nevada Avenue)
"The concept for "Between the Stars" was born from a love of Colorado Springs renowned kinetic artist Starr Kempf.  It is my hope that this is a fitting tribute to the skill and beauty he contributed to our city.
​I see this work as not only a memorial to my loved ones but hopefully as a source of inspiration and beauty for the whole community.  I feel that there are a variety of ways that people could interpret this design.  It could speak to mankind's aspirations to explore the stars or enhance the sense of patriotism in a town with a strong military presence, or it might remind someone of the amazing meteor showers we get to witness every year at our high elevation."

​"Towards a Blended Consciousness" by Tamara Mauldin (June 2016)
(located along Nevada Avenue)

""Towards a Blended Consciousness" sprang from my exploration of the masculine and feminine parts of my psyche; I chose fish to explore the psychological horizon where the lines between the two gendered archetypes blur because I find fish to be evocative of both feminine creativity and masculine strength.  The forms blur, twist and bend around one another to reach for a shining orb in the same way I sensed them merge in in my own subconscious, resulting in a more stable, unified whole."


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​"Sprocket Power" by Ian Alexandrozicz (June 2016)
(located along Nevada Avenue)

"The inspiration for this sculpture came from riding my mountain bike around Colorado Springs.  Sprocket Power is a component of the bicycle culture that represents the transfer of human energy to mechanical propulsion."


​"Colorado Beauty" by Margie Romero Rick (June 2015)
(located along Nevada Avenue)
​"I feel that the Columbine represents the State of Colorado as well as the Pike's Peak region.  The sculpture will attract people to the area as it would be a one of a kind and unique representation of Pike's Peak and Colorado Springs' importance to the State of Colorado history.  Native to Colorado, the Rocky Mountain Columbine had blue-violet petals and spurs, a white cup and a yellow center.  Blue is a symbol of the sky, white represents snow, and yellow symbolizes Colorado's gold mining history.  Discovered in 1820 on Pike's Peak by mountain climber Edwin James, the Rocky Mountain Columbine was designated the official state flower in 1899."




​"Always Their Son" by Sara Grace Cofield (June 2015)
(located along Nevada Avenue)
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"Time is multifaceted, it is fleeting and abundant simultaneously.  Shadows and time are inevitably mingled, they move with each other.  The piece itself showcases this interaction of the passage of time and its accompanied shadows.  As the time of day changes so does the interaction of shadows.  UVC is the perfect location for the work, which contains the Colorado flag to symbolize the strength of community and love for the state as well as the silhouetted image of a young child.  I believe communities must help raise children together, for they become our future.  The image of the child holds personal meaning for me.  It is the silhouette of my brother who died in Iraq in 2011 serving in the United States Army.  Strong community ties allowed for my family to grieve but to also celebrate his life and the lives of those who gave their all to protect our home and freedom of speech.  The piece is sectioned together, symbolizing the strength community gives to an individual to stand tall.  The work is a message to show pride for our home, for our community and for our future."




​"Man Apart" by Benjamin Smith (July 2014)
(located along Nevada Avenue)
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"As humanity races through life, we lose a part of ourselves."

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“Take Flight” by Stacy Sprewer (2014)
(located along Nevada Avenue)
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""Take Flight" embodies the UCCS slogan “Reaching Higher” by capturing the beautiful motion of a flock of birds ascending."


​“Wonder Lust” by Elizabeth Raitz (2013)
(located along Nevada Avenue)

"This piece is inspired by the energy and livelihood of University Village.  Thus, I have created a sculpture that bursts with joy.  People of all walks of life have a space to come together, find nourishment, companionship, entertainment, and view amazing art.  Airy and loud, this piece is simply an expression of delight and happiness."


“Parabolic Abstractions” by Patrick Bohnen (2013)
(located along Nevada Avenue)
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"This type of form has been a constant interest of mine.  I am very interested in how the intersecting lines create an implied plane despite being two-dimensional.  I feel, as well, like it is a very dynamic form that is filled with energy and movement."
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​“Seeing Secondaries” by Taylor Stamp (2012)
(located along Nevada Avenue)

​"I’m fascinated with nature and all the beauty it holds; from its vast landscapes to the colors and light that are seen every day.  Yet I am deeply interested in technology and how it is rapidly progressing and advancing.  I am always in conflict with myself about these two concepts; how they are so opposite, how I struggle to find a balance between the two, and how they can’t exist without greatly affecting each other.  I use technology to explore the beauty in nature and phenomena, such as light and color in a minimal way, evoking the beauty in both creating an experience of technology and nature in harmony."

​"Treehouse" by Brett Wilson (2012)
(located along Nevada Avenue)

"Having attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs for the last three years, I have witnessed the construction of University Village Colorado Shopping Center and anticipated the new restaurants and stores.  Because of its name, its location adjacent to UCCS, and because of the services utilized by UCCS students, I would like to create a sculpture that asserts this relationship between UVC with UCCS.  A sculpture that evokes a connection to UCCS as well as a sense of community that UVC provides through its services, picnic areas, and organization of events like the Farmer’s Market."
"Evolution" by Debra Zelenak (2011)
(located along Nevada Avenue)

"Whether one believes in the theory of evolution or that we are all descendants of Adam and Eve, one cannot argue that man has had an effect on the natural world and has learned to adapt its many resources for out many needs.
When I created this sculpture, I could see the mountains in the background through the steel frames.  In a sense, I see it as a "DNA" strand of the mountain range.  The granite in the rocks coming from the mountains combined with the steel represents the industrialization that has occurred.  The cable that holds the rocks in place also represents how man has tamed the natural environment for our own uses.
​Look through the frames, how do you see the natural world around you?"


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"Molded Earth" by Lisa Cross (2011)
(located along Nevada Avenue)

"The significance of this sculpture is the fact that this piece was created entirely on site at UVC at the location that is now Hacienda Colorado.  It was truly molded from the earth as the title implies."