Aspen High School Post Secondary Counseling Office values the uniqueness of all students and collaborates with them to create an individualized plan for life after high school.  We encourage students to be open-minded, reflective inquirers and risk-takers as we guide them to find purpose, flourish in life and contribute to society.

A student and parent post-secondary planning curriculum is offered for each grade level, including:

• Evening Parent and Student Presentations for all grade levels
• Individual Student/Parent Meetings with a Post-Secondary Counselor
• College Application Case Study Program (April)
• Live virtual and in-person college visits specifically for Aspen High School students
• Junior Check-In (April and May) and Senior Bootcamp (August)
• Essay Writing Workshops for Juniors/rising Seniors (May, June)
• “Application Workshops” for Seniors (Sept-November)
• Group check-ins with Freshmen and Sophomores

Two Post-Secondary Counselors split the caseload with Karen Hawkes working with students with last names beginning A-K, Mateo Leaño L-Z. Sarah Sachs is our Post Secondary Administrative Assistant.

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Karen Hawkes

970-300-2328 | khawkes@aspenk12.net​

​Book an appointment with Karen​

Karen is originally from Massachusetts. She graduated from Milton Academy and received a BA in International Affairs and Russian from Colgate University; a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University; and an MBA from NYU Leonard Stern School of Business. Karen worked in corporate communications in New York City and lived in Aspen in 1993-1994, working in film production at American Adventure Productions. For the last 20 years, Karen has been living in the San Francisco Bay area where she co-founded 3 tech companies which innovated underwater vehicles for exploration and adventure. Karen received her Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA and in 2015, she founded College Concierge Pro, where she worked as an Independent Education Consultant to reduce stress related to the college process and find the best fit colleges for students. When Karen isn’t working, she’s traveling, visiting her own adult children, or outdoors hiking, biking, skiing or paddleboarding.

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Mateo Leaño

970-300-1900 | mleano@aspenk12.net​

​Book an appointment with Mateo​

Mateo is originally from San Jose, California. He earned his BS in Biological Sciences from Chapman University and began his career in education as a high school math and science teacher at Fusion Academy in Mission Viejo, where he discovered his passion for working with students. He later returned to his alma mater, Chapman University, as an Admission Counselor. There, he played a key role in scholarship decisions, guided families through financial aid, and led initiatives to improve college access and expand the University’s Spanish-language recruitment materials. While pursuing his MA in Global Higher Education at the University of Alcalá in Madrid, Spain, Mateo also worked with Madden Educational Consulting, an experience that reinforced his passion for one-on-one advising and personalized education. Outside of his professional work in education, Mateo is also a DJ and music producer. He enjoys traveling, surfing, snowboarding, and finding new creative outlets wherever he goes.