After settling back into familiar surroundings, Ortiz had to make some major life changes following a brief period of incarceration. Opportunities for individuals who have been incarcerated and have felony convictions on their records are few and far between. Having a college degree dramatically increases a person’s chance for success, so Ortiz began taking classes at Aims Community College. She earned an associate degree and then transferred to the University of Northern Colorado (Â鶹´«Ã½). Located in the center of town, Â鶹´«Ã½ was an obvious choice for Ortiz when it came to pursuing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.