Culture
December 3, 2012
Page 5
UCCS remembers graduate student Michael Thigpen Cynthia Jeub
cjeub@uccs.edu Those who knew him have fond memories of a happy, driven and caring man. Michael Thigpen, who passed away Nov. 12, graduated from UCCS with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry in Spring 2011. His memorial page on Facebook, referenced with permission from his family, states, “Michael lived a full life: as much as most people would do in 80 years he did in 23. He loved being outdoors, he was an incredibly talented musician, and loved meeting new people and making new friends.” His record confirmed this. In addition to a difficult school workload, Thigpen taught biology to high school students and participated in several groups on campus. He helped found the First Aid and Safety Training club, FAST, at UCCS. To help the group get off
the ground, he trained other students in survival techniques and CPR. After graduating, Thigpen began a graduate program at the University of Notre Dame. Off campus, he traveled to prevent malaria and provide clean water and volunteered for the TriLakes Fire Department as a dispatcher and EMT. He was also a medical assistant but made time for hiking and climbing to bond with friends. Thigpen’s mother, Carmen Thigpen, and fiancée, Connie Clark, were willing to share information with The Scribe in tribute to Thigpen’s legacy. “We got engaged in August, and were waiting to announce it,” Clark said. A native of Monument, Colo., Thigpen was a biology teacher for the High Country Home Educators. He also volunteered to sing songs for Wings Like Eagles, a local camp that helps children gain confidence by learning vaults
on horses. “He did a lot of volunteer work outside of UCCS,” Thigpen’s mother said. “He sang for Wings Like Eagles, but he also traveled for missions trips.” She listed his trips to Peru and Costa Rica as opportunities he took to train medical students. “I really wanted to marry this guy,” Clark added as she helped recount her fiancé’s accomplishments. Thigpen had a passion for music and played in a band, Doubtful Sound. He played six instruments and recorded LPs with friends. He performed locally with friends before graduation and then toured around the United Kingdom. For his U.K. tour, he simplified his performance to just his mandolin, packing coffee shops to hear him sing. Many who knew Thigpen describe him as a friend to the friendless. “He wrote a song lyric,” Clark said, “that reflected his philosophy: ‘If you never talk to strangers,
Photo courtesy of Michael Thigpen’s family Michael Thigpen passed away Nov. 12. you will never make any friends at all.’” “We know he’s with the Lord,” Thigpen’s mother said. In accordance with his
charitable spirit, the Thigpen family has asked that instead of buying flowers, all funds be donated to the Afaayo Foundation, which prevents and treats malaria
in Africa. To donate, make checks payable to Christian Development Fund and send to P.O. Box 1383, Monument, CO 80132. S
Lile, accountant and cochair of the Holiday Service Project. “I’ve just always believed in paying it forward – this is my way of paying it forward, being able to reach out and help others in need,” she said. The annual Holiday Service Project started in 1989 after staff members decided they wanted to do more than office parties and chose to reach out to students in need. They decided to create something that involved the whole campus. “Reaching out would create goodwill amongst students,” explained Lile. She added that when there was an emotional hardship that needed support, the program stepped in to help. Several departments, clubs and individuals have chosen to adopt families. Last year, 26 families were provided with gifts
and food. Families can fill out requests for adoption as long as they keep the requests within the immediate family and request only two gifts per person. They can also notate any culture or religion that they feel should be taken into consideration by adopters at the bottom of their request template. On Dec. 7, the families are invited to come to campus to pick up their gifts. Although the program keeps the families’ identities anonymous, adopters can learn their ages, genders and the number of people in the family to help them know the appropriate items to purchase. The project has several aspects. One is the Giving Tree, decorated in handcrafted ornaments created by children of the Family Development Center. Each ornament is attached with a tag, indicating a gift
that may be purchased. Remove the tag, purchase and wrap the gift written on the tag, attach the tag to the outside of the wrapped gift and return it to one of the Holidrop Boxes. The Holidrop Boxes are used to collect food, clothing, toys and other items. Donations of dry food or canned food can help provide the ingredients needed for the family’s Christmas meal. The Kraemer Family Library also has the Food for Fines program, which allows students to bring in non-perishable, unexpired food and have a $1 credit for each item they bring in. Additionally, cash donations will be used to purchase a grocery store gift card for each family, with checks payable to UCCS Holiday Service Project. “Whatever anybody wants to give,” said Lile. S
Campus holiday project helps bring Christmas to families April Wefler
awefler@uccs.edu Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday kick off the holiday shopping season the day after Thanksgiving. Not everyone can
afford to have Christmas, though. Through the Holiday Service Project, which runs until Dec. 5, families that might not otherwise have gifts for Christmas are given food and presents for the holiday.
“Several years ago when I had nothing, a church reached out to me and gave me a monetary gift, and I was able to go out and purchase something for each one of my children so they could have a Christmas,” said Mary
Collection Areas
Several Giving Trees are located around campus.
Photo by Joshua Camacho
Holidrop Boxes
Giving Tree
Cash/Checks
Main Hall, University Hall, Science and Engineering Building, Dwire Hall, Columbine Hall, Centennial Hall, Engineering Building, Family Development Center, University Center, Cragmoor Hall, Public Safety, the bookstore and the library
University Center, Bookstore, Main Hall, Dwire Hall, Columbine Hall, University Hall
LAS Dean’s office in Columbine Hall, University Hall, the bookstore, University Center Information Desk, Dwire coffee counter, ENT, Clyde’s, Public Safety, Jazzman’s, the Bursar’s Office and the library