Nationally renowned mural artist Ian Wilkinson ‘04 will create a permanent, visual legacy in Alamosa during August. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awarded a $10,000 matching grant to the San Luis Valley Museum for the creation of a Wilkinson mural on the building’s north wall. The $10,000 federal grant will be matched locally.
both in the insurance business. Dan has been in the industry since graduating in 1987. They write, “We’re having a good time!” Sandra Fitzgerald `89 (Alamosa, CO) is in private practice doing substance abuse and DUI Level I & II education and therapy.
◗1990s David Bervig `93 was named the Broncos High School Coach of the Week in October, 2012. He coaches the Classical Academy Titans. It is his first year heading TCA. He is a former employee of JC Penney, but is now vice-president of human resources at David C. Cook, which publishes Sunday school curriculum and Christian materials for church and home. Selina Landes `93 (Zephyrhills, FL) stopped by the Alumni Office this fall while she was visiting her grandson, Joshua Landes, Jr. She is a church accountant and FLA accountant. She taught at De Vry’s University. She and her husband, Duane, live in a snowbird town. Sarah Holmes Barba `97 (Thornton, CO) was recently promoted to visitor relations and program coordinator at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO. She has worked at the laboratory since 2000. Sarah lives with her husband, Jon `96, and their daughter, Morgan. Mike Schadwinkel `98, `99 (Grand Island, NE) is a physical education teacher and head wrestling coach at Grand Island Senior High School. He is married to Kelli, and they have three boys: Dylan, 16, Caden, 6, and Keyan, 4.
A Skype session will be arranged for Wilkinson to discuss ideas with interested community members. The museum mural concept arose last April, when Wilkinson presented an artist lecture and workshop on campus. Noticing the museum exterior, he said it would make a great mural surface. Wilkinson will have the assistance of Adams State art students. Wilkinson has painted more than 200 murals over 12 years in five states. He is a mural artist with TAPAS (Teaching Artist Presenting in Asheville Schools) in Asheville, North Carolina, and serves as program director of the Ashville Mural Project. Mary Hoffman, a museum board member and Executive Director of ASU Community Partnerships, wrote the grant and will oversee administration and evaluation of the NEA funding. She said, “Ian Wilkinson has been successful in obtaining community involvement on such projects, and the quality of his work is outstanding.” The NEA’s Challenge America Fast-Track grants are designed to expand arts engagement in underserved communities.
◗2000s Susannah Simmons `00 (Fort Morgan, CO), says that after almost accomplishing her girlhood dream of ascending all of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks while walking backwards (only 13 more to go), has moved on to her next goal: becoming one of the world’s foremost dragon tamers. She trains each weekend with an old Sufi master, Didi Muhammad Sa’id al-Jamal, and has set her sights on winning a US national dragon tamer title by 2020. On the side, Susannah is a corporate trainer for Viaero Wireless. Nate Carling `01 (Lehi, UT) was named the head coach at Mt. View High School in Orem, Utah. Greg Carling `01 (Provo, UT) received his doctorate from University of Utah and is now a professor of geology at Brigham Young University. Sam `01 & Crystal `02 Evig (Colorado Springs, CO) moved to Colorado Springs in 2012. Crystal is working for Colorado Springs
Health Partners as an ob/gyn, and Sam remains with the 1st judicial district as a deputy district attorney. They welcomed their son, Axton Willis Evig, in October, 2012. Mollie (Roberts) Benton `03 lives in Alamosa with her two children, Brock (7) and Maggie (3). This is Mollie's second year as the clinical coordinator in the Adams State University Department of Counselor Education. Heather Benavides `04 (Alamosa, CO) had been playing the piano for a church in Hooper from `03 to `11, but fractured her wrist in `11. She writes, “It’s healed now and I’m enjoying playing, composing, singing, writing songs, etc.” She walked in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and collected over $500 in fall of `12 in donations. She is a widow. She loves to go fishing in Road Canyon and recently went hunting with photographer Gilbert Ortega.
aStater alumnotes
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Kari Copley Mitchell `89 (Mesilla, NM) was appointed by New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez to the New Mexico State University Board of Regents. Kari is the CEO and owner of Las Cruces Machine, Mfg. & Engineering.
Community members can share their ideas for the project by completing a survey available online at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/WMWMGQB.
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