Alta/1st Stop creates scholarship for business students Rapid growth and recognition of the importance of accurate accounting inspired Pester Marketing to establish a scholarship for Adams State College business majors. The Denver-based business purchased the San Luis Valley company, Alta Fuels, in 2008. Pester Marketing recently established the Alta/1st Stop Scholarship. The scholarship awards a total of $7,000 a year to three or more students. The scholarship is open to San Luis Valley high school graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who are ASC juniors or seniors majoring in business. One of the initial scholarship recipients, Kyli Kehler '12, who double majors in business and government, was overcome with emotion when she received the award letter. "I was honored to have the college select me." Kehler's grandmother, Sally Kehler, had recently passed away. "The news was something I needed right then. The first person I wanted to call was my grandmother. I know she is proud of me." Pester Marketing president Rich Spresser said the company has grown dramatically over the last few years, and their need for accountants has grown with it. Eleven Adams State alumni now work for Alta Fuels. "We have had really good luck hiring Adams State graduates. They work out well, which is why we created the scholarship specific to Adams State." Between Alta Fuels and the 1st Stop Convenience Stores, Spresser said Pester Marketing employs over 150 in the San Luis Valley. "The San Luis Valley is a good business environment,” he said. “The job market continues to become more highly competitive. Potential employees with an undergraduate degree are provided with more opportunities and possess a greater competitive edge."
1975 Cynthia Baer '75, '76 Geoffrey '73 & Deborah '75 Bokan Margaret L. Bolte '75 Kathleen M. Bowne '75 Neil Bruce Esq. '75 & Barbara '75 Bruce Gary Cleveland '75 Lana Coleman '75 Dave '74, '88 & Sharon '75 Furukawa Waldo '71, '74 & Peggy '75, '76 Herrera Barbara Johnston '75 Richard A. Kadinger '75 Sally A. Karg '75 David M. Lashway '75 Maureen P. Maksimoski '75 Connie M. Marvel '75 Craig '73, '76 & Margie '75, '00 Mortensen Norman '75, '77 & Greta Roberts Arnold '76 & Marguerite '75, '76 Salazar Rich '75 & Barbara Scanga Steven '75 & Lilliam '74 Schomaker Karen Sliwkowski '75, '89 Ila M. Starks '75 Janeal Thompson '75 John J. Valdez '75 Darrel '74 & Shirley '75 Van Iwarden Dr. Joe I. '53, '59 & Caroline '75, '76 Vigil Pablo C. Vigil '75, '91 Mark Weeks '75
1976 John '76 & Deborah '76 Abdulla Peggy D. Bland '76, '81 Jean M. Bretz '76
Kent Cooper '76 Theresa A. Cortese '76, '82 Benjamin '76 & Judy '81, '82 Duarte Patricia Ewert Flannagan '76 Richard J. Goggin '76 Cathie Graeser '76 Bob Grooms '76 Elizabeth J. Hammond '76, '80 Freddie Jaquez '76, '77 Daniel '76, '88 & Margaret '01 Korber John E. Levine '76 Beatrice Martinez '76 Juan O. Martinez '76, '81 Michael J. Mumper '76 and Melissa Freeman Michael A. Onofrey '76 Ernest A. Ornelas '76 Delmar L. Rouse '76 Arnold '76 & Marguerite '75, '76 Salazar Carl Savely '76 Neil J. Seneff '76, '89 Pamela Thompson '76, '81 Dan '76 & Cathy '03 Valentine John Van Tassel '76, '85 Robert Waltman '76
1977 Anita K. Allinger '77 Linda Armstead '77 Mike '77, '84 & Susan '88 Arnold Prudencio Cosyleon '77 Roger Dawson '77, '92 Charlotte Fellers '77 Pete '77 & Lillian '81, '02 Gomez Gene R. Gonzales '77 Christine Haslett '77, '94, '03
Donna Hayward '77 Barbara F. Keller '77 Ronald V. Lester '77 Kenneth '77 & Cecelia '78 Lingle Larry L. Mast '77 Sally Meek '77 Vaughn Nichols '77 Gerald M. Petersen '77 Thomas '77 & Shirley '77 Roman Daniel '77 Russell & Carol '87 McCartney-Russell Gregory Stimack '77 Rosalie J. Vigna '77 Kip Walker '77 Bill Wesley '77 & Rose Molina-Wesley '90
1978 Karen A. Bagwell '78 Wayne and Nancy ’78 Chasen Family Fund of the Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia Wayne Dolan '80 & Emerald Duran-Dolan '78, '79 Vicky Garber '78 Jacque Graham '78 Neva Gronert '78 Richard '78 & Sandra '78 Jackson George K. '78 & Judy '91 Kelloff Kenneth '77 & Cecelia '78 Lingle Marlyan Martinez '78 Patti A. Ortiz '78 Ronald Rickman '78 Randy Rusch '78 Quinton Turner '78 Michael Vigil '78
1979 Tadini Bacigalupi '79 Ronald '79 & Cynthia '97 Chapman Alvin R. Edlund Jr. '79 Rod Ermel '79 Robert R. Fink '79 Charlotte Anne Kaiser '79 Robert '79 & Cheryl '79 Ketchie John J. Kozlevchar '79 Charlotte Lehmann '79 Anthony R. Madrid '79, '87 Louis V. Martinez '79 Penny Petty '79 Gerald Rios '79 Jack '79, '84 & Theresa Rudder Vincent '79 & Donna Segura Steven Tran '79
1980 Duane '82 & Lorey '80 Bussey Wayne Dolan '80 & Emerald Duran-Dolan '78, '79 Frank '83 & Mary Jo '80 Elkins Thomas M. Finn '80 Kevin S. Greenlee '80 Ronald V. Johnston '80, '89, '01 Wade '76, '80 & Lindy '80 Mortensen Steven '73 & Mary '80 Russell Gail M. Rust '80 Elizabeth A. Smith '80 David '80 and Ann Stong
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