Adams State University AStater Fall 2015

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Stater

Richardson Hall remodel caps campus renewal

90 Years New

fall 2015 the magazine of adams state university

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Stater

VOL. 55, NO. 3 • FALL 2015

Published by Adams State University Foundation adams state university • alamosa, co 81101 719-587-7011 • 800-824-6494 www.adams.edu • e-mail: alumni@adams.edu online edition: www.adams.edu/alumni/astater/ EDITOR & DESIGNER Julie Waechter

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gaylene Horning ’94 • Linda Relyea ’96, ’10

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Mike Henderson ’07 • Kellicia Morse ’14 • Daniel Parsons ’19 Maya Ramirez ’16 • Mike Skinner • Dr. Benjamin Waddell

PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY Dr. Beverlee J. McClure

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY Arnold Salazar ’76 Chair Kathleen Rogers Vice Chair Paul Farley • Mary Griffin • LeRoy Salazar Cleave Simpson • John Singletary • Val Vigil ’71 • Randy Wright ’84 Dr. Rob Benson Faculty Trustee Azarel Madrigal ‘16 Student Trustee

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD Lori Lee Laske ’91, ’01 Executive Director of Alumni & Donor Relations Kasey Russell ’03 President Liz Tabeling-Garcia ’96, ’06 Vice President Holly Felmlee ’76, ’92 Secretary Toney Cantu ’70 • D. Mike Garcia ’73, ’77 • Phil Lopez ’04 Lynn Michalke ’77 • Karen Rubidoux Miller ’94 Robert Oringdulph ’71 • Sandy Ortega ’74 Chris Page ’02, ’03 • Brian Rossbert ’02 • Rich Scanga ’75 Jeremy Wilder ’96 • Delzia Worley ’97

ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION BOARD Duane Bussey ’82 President Dr. John McDaniel Vice President Jeni Jack-Goodwin ’85 Secretary Ron Howard ’98 Treasurer Russell Achatz ’85 • Tim Bachicha ’92 • Greg Bervig ’81 Keith Cerny • Genevieve Cooper • Bill Fassett • Valerie Finnegan Dale Hettinger ’64 • Charles “Chuck” Houser ’62 • Randy Jackson ’98 Philip Lopez ’04 • Dorothy Lucero ’61 • Cathy Mullens ’82 Chuck Owsley ’68 • Michelle Roepke Rich Scanga ’75 • Helen Sigmond • Donn Vigil

FOUNDATION HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS Stephen Bokat ’68 • Marguerite Salazar ’75, ’76 • Michael Ware ’69

FOUNDATION EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS Sharon Carter • Harold Kelloff • John Marvel Jr. Izora Southway ’66 • J. Byron Uhrich • R. Paul Wagner

FOUNDATION EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Dr. Beverlee J. McClure ASU President Tammy Lopez ’91, ’00 Executive Director of the Foundation Kathleen Rogers Trustee Liaison

GRIZZLY CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ron DeSautell ’76 President • Ted Morrison ’69 Vice President Keith Cerny • Jeni Jack-Goodwin ’85 • Ericha Loosbrock Joe Martinez ’99 • Dennis Ortiz ’79 • Jeff Owsley ’86 Steve Valdez ’87 • Jeff Vinyard • Tim Walters ‘73

ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT

president’s letter: asu innovates to support students I hope, as you read this edition of the AStater, you are proud of all that the University continues to accomplish. It was so inspiring to meet so many of you during the alumni tour and to learn more about your success and how Adams State changed your life. Your stories, Dr. Beverlee J. McClure combined with your loyalty to this University, are fuel for the heart and soul of what we do here in the San Luis Valley.

Every day, the faculty and staff of ASU strive to fulfill our core purpose: “to educate, serve, and inspire our diverse populations in the pursuit of their lifelong dreams and ambitions.” This core purpose is in line with the state of Colorado’s goal to close the attainment gap between our Latino and Anglo students. The Lumina Foundation reports that out of 100 Latino high school freshmen in Colorado, fewer than 10 will graduate with a bachelor’s degree at the same time as their cohort. It is our goal to change that statistic at Adams State by helping more students achieve a quality education.

We are pleased to receive nearly $6 million from three new Title V grants. (See story page 7.) These grants will not only help us ensure that more Latino students graduate; the funding will also help all students enrolled at ASU. We are excited that these grants will help us strengthen our relationship with the public school districts in the Valley. This partnership is key to helping prepare high school graduates to be college ready. In addition, we are one year into our Title V grant to develop and implement the infrastructure for graduate level academic support services.

Additionally, our Board of Trustees unanimously approved a Tuition Guarantee Initiative that will lock in the same tuition rate for four years. (See story page 6.) This will make a college degree at Adams State University more affordable and will help families better plan to meet the financial challenge of a college education. Our tuition window policy does not charge a student for any credit hours over 12 and less than 21. We believe this guarantee, combined with our tuition window, will incentivize students to complete in four years. Please remember that, as an alumnus, you can refer a student to apply at Adams State University, and we will waive any application fee.

Looking to the New Year, we are excited for the first ever Adams State University Day at the Capitol. Mark your calendars for 5:30 p.m., February 18, for a legislative reception at the Warwick Denver Hotel, and 7:30-11:30 a.m., February 19, when we are at the Capitol to meet with legislators. We hope you will all get involved and help us take ASU to Denver so that we can better inform legislators about our mission and the positive impact the University has on the Valley and the state. It will be a good time to network with fellow alumni and with your elected officials.

I look forward to seeing you soon. Thank you again for such a wonderful welcome during my first 100 days.

ASU’s mission is to educate, serve, and inspire our diverse populations in the pursuit of their lifelong dreams and ambitions.

VISION STATEMENT 2020

To become the university community of choice for diverse, historically underserved groups, and all who value quality education and inclusivity.

Dr. Beverlee J. McClure President

contents

alumni events february

cover story Richardson Hall readied for next 90 years

22

The original blueprint of Richardson Hall’s central wing is the backdrop for views of the building’s new sign and front entrance.

Greet the new Grizzlies 4 What’s been happening 5 ASU announces Guaranteed Tuition 6 USDA & Xcel Energy Foundation support ASU Community Partnerships 6 ASU awarded $5.7 million in grants for Hispanic Serving Institutions 7 Student Support Services grant renewed 8 Grad students break record 8 Best practice lauded 8 ASU tops in cyber security 8 Academic Pursuits 8, 9 Political Science senior places 3rd in Hispanic College Quiz 2015 9

great stories 10 12 18 20 22

giving Loyal Grizzly Club sponsors feted Willis Fassett Jr. Award honors El Pomar Foundation New scholarships and gifts

24 25 26

alumnews Homecoming 2015 embodies spirit of community

alumnotes alumni scrapbook sports scene Athletic Hall of Fame honors ASU’s best Women’s Cross Country takes Nat’l Championship Fall season wrap-up Athletics makes Grizzly-sized economic impact on region RMAC Hall of Fame inducts Kim Bosen ‘02, 8 women’s X-C teams

Stay up to date on events, sports, and news from Adams State University:

www.adams.edu/news

SLV Mardi Gras Party ASU Day at the Capitol Orange County San Diego

march TBD TBD TBD

update

Trustee leaders plan for ASU’s continued success Scholarship that reaches around the globe Discovering daily life at Ft. Massachusetts Standing Strong: the ASU Equality Project Richardson Hall readied for another 90 years

9 18-19 21 22

30 34 39 44 46 46 47 47

Los Alamos Albuquerque Phoenix/Tucson

april 6 9 11

Retirement Dinner Avalanche Game Washington, D.C.

may 5

SLV Cinco de Mayo Party

Watch your mail for details. www.facebook.com/ adamsalumni • adams.edu/alumni 800-824-6494, ext. 8

Head Coach/Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Damon Martin ‘87 rallies alumni with a high five at the teams’ recent reunion. See page 42.

Greet the new Grizzlies new student orientation helped the class of 2019 bond with each other and adams state. the students were divided into sleuths – the term for a group of bears – denoted by different colored t-shirts.

During the annual Convocation, the students were motivated by comments from AS&F President Patrick Cleary,

“

President Beverlee J. McClure, and guest speaker Dr. Benjamin Waddell, associate professor of sociology. The group also sang the Alma Mater for the first time, recited affirmations of Adams State values, and donned their new Grizzly pins.

The freshmen class boasts the highest average admissions index in the last decade, and 39 percent identify as Hispanic.

One-third hail from the San Luis Valley, and more than 10 percent from New Mexico, an enrollment increase from both regions.

a diploma won’t just be

handed to you, but it can’t be taken from you.”

- AS&F President Patrick Cleary

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what’s been happening 3

2 4 5

1

1. One of several events marking Hispanic Heritage Week was a living history portrayal of Kit Carson’s wife, Maria Josefa Jaramillo Carson, by Dr. Evangeline Roybal Sena ‘57, ‘61.

2. Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia attended an ASU trustee meeting and talked about the importance of rural universities.

3. The School of Business held its first BFF - Business First-year Focus - where students met faculty, enjoyed pizza and prizes, and were motivated toward success.

4. Model U.N. members Sean Erice (left) and Stevon Cornish debate the causes and solutions to economic inequality as part of this year’s Common Reading Experience, which deals with Robert Reich’s book, Aftershock: the Next Economy and America’s Future.

5. A bilingual Mass on the Grass was sponsored by Campus Ministry as part of Hispanic Heritage Week.

6. 2015 Boettcher Teacher Residency Program residents.

aStater update

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only guarantee for on-campus undergrads in colorado

ASU announces Guaranteed Tuition Adams State University announces a new Guaranteed Tuition program for undergraduate students enrolled in oncampus classes, according to President Beverlee J. McClure.

The Board of Trustees for Adams State unanimously approved the program at a special meeting, Nov. 20.

“

this shows we are committed to

making education affordable and assuring students graduate with less debt.”

- Arnold Salazar “This is a historic moment for Adams State University and sets an example for other institutions to follow,” said Arnold Salazar, chair of the Adams State Trustees. “This shows we are committed to making education affordable and assuring students graduate with less debt.”

Beginning with the fall 2016 semester, undergraduate students enrolled in on-campus classes will be guaranteed no tu-

ition increases through their fourth consecutive academic year of enrollment. Adams State is the first and only institution in Colorado to offer guaranteed tuition to on-campus undergraduate students.

“Our goals for this program are, first, to make college more affordable and allow students and their families to better plan for expenses,” McClure explained. “Also, by guaranteeing tuition, this encourages students to stay enrolled full-time and to complete their degrees within four years.”

Adams State Student Trustee and Vice President for External Affairs with AS&F [student government], Azarel Madrigal, said “This is great news. Students have expressed exactly this concern about cost at AS&F meetings.”

Adams State’s full-time tuition window, which charges a flat rate for 12 to 20 credits a semester, also gives incentive to complete at least 15 credits a semester, which is necessary to graduate within four years.

Guaranteed Tuition is available to all undergraduate students enrolled on-campus, both in-state and out-of-state, including full and part-time, new and transfer students. Details are available at adams.edu/guaranteedtuition or through the One Stop Student Services Center, 719-587-7306.

usda & xcel energy foundation support community partnerships Adams State University Community Partnerships is helping disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through generous grants from the USDA and the Xcel Energy Foundation.

The latest USDA (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) grant, of $127,000, will support outreach and advocacy over the next year, according to Mary Hoffman, executive director of Community Partnerships.

“The USDA recognizes the value of Community Partnerships’ connections with the community and university in supporting its goals,” Hoffman explained. “The mission of both Adams State and Community Partnerships is to ultimately raise the standard of living in the San Luis Valley, a goal the USDA shares.”

Community Partnerships also received $75,000 from the USDA StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity program and $37,000 for Focused Business Support.

The Xcel Energy Foundation recently granted $15,000 to Community Partnerships for a program that will 6

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help San Luis Valley businesses, farmers, and ranchers reduce costs through energy conservation and renewable energy application.

ASU President Beverlee J. McClure said, “Xcel Energy’s contribution is an excellent example of a public/private partnership to leverage limited resources.”

connecting with resources “Our new Outreach & Advocacy grant will help us reach disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, including military veterans, and connect them with local and statewide resources that can assist them,” Hoffman added. Community Partnerships will form an advisory group, help with USDA loan and grant applications related to farm ownership and improvements, establish a mentoring program to build relationships with USDA, and conduct workshops on innovative, agricultural-related conservation practices.

targeting rural poverty USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack noted the StrikeForce grants demonstrate the

“USDA is focused not just on places where there has been prosperity recently in rural areas, but also on trying to address the challenge of persistent rural poverty.”

“Our objective is to identify potential projects, inform more people about USDA grant opportunities, and educate more grant writers regarding how to develop USDA proposals," Hoffman said.

Proposals may be submitted to such USDA grant programs as REAP (Rural Energy for America Program, which pays 25 percent of a renewable energy project, such as solar, biomass, geothermal), the Value Added Grant, and the Rural Business Opportunity Grant, in which the Alamosa Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) is also a partner.

Through the Focused Business Support grant, Community Partnerships is working with two high-risk local businesses. Community Partnerships provides cash flow analyses, marketing support, connections with resources, and recommendations to help them become more stable.

ASU awarded $5.7 million in grants for Hispanic Serving Institutions adams state university was recently awarded more than $5.7 million through two federal title v grants for hispanic serving institutions (hsiS). these awards will bring the total title v funding adams state has received since 2000 to more than $23.4 million.

more access in the upper rio grande region The Caminos project will expand and refine use of distance education technology to increase enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates of Hispanic and other high-need students in the Upper Rio Grande Region. The grant aims to double the number of distance degrees awarded through both Adams State and UNM-Taos and to increase student transfer from associate’s to bachelor’s degree programs.

“Distance education is an effective path to bridging geographical and other barriers that prevent many residents from attaining a degree,” said Lillian Gomez ‘81, ‘02, Caminos Project Director.

“Both institutions have demonstrated success in serving diverse students. This cooperative grant allows us to take a bold step forward through distance technology innovations.”

The project will expand online program offerings, support faculty training in online/hybrid instructional techniques, and expand digital infrastructure to provide better access to remote, rural communities. A key component to improving student success will be development of online academic support services tailored to online student needs.

making connections for degree completion The Conexiones project aims to increase students’ success at Adams State by streamlining their progress through math remediation and providing more high-impact learning experiences that deepen their collegiate experience and better prepare them for careers.

Conexiones Project Director Andrea BentonMaestas ‘12 explained, “Our goal is to reduce remediation and improve the graduation rates of Hispanic and high-need students. The project has three strategic components that will create new connections for students academically, personally, and professionally.”

Those components include improving student success in developmental and gateway math courses, revamping campus advising processes, and expanding faculty and staff development programs that support inclusion and equity, learning, and faculty innovations.

These grants were obtained through the work of Adams State’s core Title V grant-writing team: Grants Specialist Tawney Becker, Dr. Melissa Freeman, Lillian Gomez 81, ‘02, and Dr. Michael Mumper ‘76. Becker noted, “Many others from numerous campus departments contributed ideas and information to help us develop the grants.

These grants wee inspired by the care, insights, and inspiration many individuals invested in this process, with students at the forefront.”

“

we are very

proud to receive these grants that recognize and further our work to educate and serve rural, minority, and low income students.”

- President Beverlee J. McClure

By Julie Waechter

aStater update

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“We are very proud to receive these grants that recognize and further our work to educate and serve rural, minority, and low income students,” said Adams State President Beverlee J. McClure.

“Expanding educational access and improving student success will enhance the sustainability of our communities.”

Adams State is the lead partner in the Title V cooperative grant, Caminos: Increasing Access to Education and Opportunity in the Upper Rio Grande Region. The award will total $3,178,389 over the next five years, with $649,359 awarded the first year. Adams State’s partner on the project is University of New Mexico-Taos, a two-year HSI. The institutional grant, Conexiones, will receive a total of $2,584,038 over five years, with a first-year allocation of $518,304.

This semester, 35 percent of Adams State’s undergraduate student body identifies as Hispanic.

Federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution requires a minimum of 25 percent Hispanic enrollment.

7

academic pursuits karen adamson, asst. professor of nursing, and dr. shawn elliott, asst. professor and director of nursing, did a poster presentation at the Nuts & Bolts for Nurse Educators: Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning Conference at the beginning of August. Their poster was titled "Benefits of Peer Mentoring in the Simulation Lab." elliott was recently elected Region II Director on the Colorado Nurses Association.

dr. leslie alvarez, assoc. professor of psychology, was accepted to the 8th cohort of the American Psychological Association's Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology. It is a year-long program that includes two workshops in Washington, DC. mark vander ley and rebecca caple, students in the Ph.D. program in Counselor Education and Supervision, presented a poster at the Illinois Counseling Associations Conference, Nov. 14. Their presentation was titled “The Supervision Journey Toward Cultural and Developmental Competence: Narratives of the Supervisory experience across the Career Span.” Several other doctoral students attended and presented at the October ACES Conference (Association of Counselor Education and Supervision). dr. rick baker, professor of English, delivered a paper last spring titled “The Beatles: What Do Those Song Lyrics Mean” at the Page 23 Litcom conference in Denver, which is a spinoff of the Comic.com conference.

His paper explains the Beatles’ hit love songs from the years 1962-1970 through a structuralist perspective. gregg elliott, director of the Counseling Center, conducted a training on campus on Assessing & Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR), Sept. 25, that provided clinicians with skills for assessing suicide risk and for working with a suicidal client in practice. Elliott is one of only two AMSR trainers in the state of Colorado.

pete gomez ‘67, ‘71, director of ASU CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program), was elected to the National HEP/CAMP Association Board of Directors as the Western Stream Representative.

liz thomas hensley ‘05, director of the MBA program and asst. professor of marketing, completed her Ph.D. in Organization and Management with a specialization in Management Education from Capella University. Her dissertation is titled “Adjunct Online Faculty Job Satisfaction: A Phenomenological Study.”

jenna neilsen, asst. professor of theatre, spent a week this summer studying at Second City in Chicago.

She took courses in both advanced improvisation (Improvisation Level III) and beginning sketch writing. She directs ASU’s comedy improv troupe, The Lost & Found.

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student support services grant renewed Adams State University’s proposal for continued funding of its Student Support Services (SSS) program received a perfect score from the U.S. Department of Education, resulting in the award of $247,583 each year over the next five years.

The Adams State SSS Office serves 175 eligible students. Services are broadly focused on supporting participants' academic success, building noncognitive skills, and offsetting financial needs. These goals are achieved through a combination of course offerings, tutoring, workshops, employment op-

portunities, scholarships, and social and cultural programming.

According to Angelica Valdez '98, '08, Director of Upward Bound, Adams State has had at least one TRIO Program, Upward Bound, and others such as Talent Search and Student Support Service, for 43 years. Eligible students receive support in filling out financial aid forms and are provided mentoring, tutoring, and workshops pertaining to adjusting to college life, financial literacy, leadership, and career and graduate school preparation.

ASU and SSS partner on the Summer Scholars program, which helps incoming freshman transition from high school and gain preparation in English and math.

grad students break record For the fifth consecutive year, ASU set a new record for graduate student enrollment, which surpassed the 1,000 mark for the first time in history. As of census date, September 9, 1050 master’s and doctoral students were enrolled, an 8 percent increase over last fall.

Expansion of the Boettcher Teacher Residency (BTR) program fueled a 61.5 percent increase in the master’s of arts in teacher education program, which now boasts 307 students. (See photo page 5.)

best practice lauded Adams State University’s efforts to speed students’ time toward degree completion are lauded as a best practice

by Complete College America on its website (www.completecollege.org).

Adams State’s average student credit load increased 11 percent over the last two years and continues to grow. Because the university’s full-time tuition

rate applies to enrollment in 12 to 20 credits a semester, students are encouraged to take advantage of those “free” credits. Adams State also awards $500 scholarships to students who complete 30 credits per year, serving as both reward and motivation.

asu tops in cyber security Adams State University had the third highest cyber security posture among 485 colleges and universities reviewed in the 2015 Higher Education Security Report, conducted by SecurityScorecard.

"I'm very proud of all of our technical staff who work hard behind the scenes to keep ASU's technical systems safe and secure for our students, faculty and staff," said Kevin Daniel ‘04, ‘11, chief information officer, Computing Services. "It is necessary to keep cybersecurity on the forefront of our efforts in order to stay on top of the everchanging threat landscape of Internet technology.”

political science senior places 3rd in hispanic college quiz raising awareness of hispanic history and culture, asu student trustee azarel madrigal ‘16 placed third in the hispanic college quiz 2015, conducted in chicago in july.

The latest edition of the quiz show was aired throughout the nation from September through October 21, coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month.

This year’s college and university participants included Adams State, Broward College, Lynn University, Victoria College, Sul Ross State University, University of Houston Downtown, Co-

dr. kristy duran, assoc. professor of biology, and dr. benita brink, professor and chair of the Biology/Earth Sciences Dept., participated in the National Academies Summer Institute on Undergraduate Education in Biology, a one-week institute held in Boulder, Colo. At the conclusion of the institute, the two were named "National Academies Education Fellows in the Life Sciences." duran also attended the 100th annual Ecological Society of America meeting.

duran and dr. adam kleinschmit, asst. professor of biology, participated in the 2015 Genomics Consortium for Active Teaching NextGen Sequencing (GCAT-SEEK) Workshop, held at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., in June. One of the main goals of the GCAT-SEEK is to bring functional genomic methods into the undergraduate curriculum, primarily through independent and classroom-based student research using centralized cores to make next generation sequence data accessible to undergraduates. Their attendance at the workshop was supported by the GCAT-SEEK grant, with financial support from the national Science Foundation (NSF) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). phil ray jack, instructor of English, released his second book, Soar High, about the birth of the “Voice of Can’t.”

lumbia Basin College, Los Angeles Harbor College, and Columbia College.

Saenz said he was impressed by the production team at Central City Productions, which presented the coaches and contestants with a clear sense of what to expect.

Madrigal is the student trustee on the Adams State Board of Trustees and the Vice President of External Affairs for the Associated Students and Faculty (student government). She received a Best Delegate Award at the Model United Nations competition in France last spring. Madrigal founded the Spirit Police and helped coordinate the Second Annual International Women’s Week Celebration last spring.

Madrigal plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy with a special interest in immigration and education policy at the University of Colorado, Denver.

by Maya Ramirez ‘16

o. gustavo plascencia, asst. professor of art, was part of the group exhibition “Bordering,” shown recently at Ironton Gallery in Denver. The exhibition featured multiple studio practices that explore the sometimes arbitrary nature of domestic and public space, cultural and geographic region, virtual and real experience, as well as biological and constructed identity. matthew steffenson, asst. professor of biology, spent a week doing research at the Southwestern Research Station in Portal, AZ. His project explored wolf spider anti-predator behavior, specifically water submersion. He is overseeing work by biology students john whitinger and alex mullins on digital microscopy of the preserved specimens.

dr. benjamin waddell, asst. professor of sociology, will have his article, “Remittance-led Development: An Untapped Resource for International Development?” published in Sociology of Development. He recently presented in Minnesota concerning the relationship between emigration and violence in modern Mexico. He and a group of sociology students produced a short video, Voices of the Valley, which won the "Colorado Award" at the Southern Colorado Film Festival.

aStater update

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The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and Central City Productions partnered on this project, which featured nine Hispanic college students answering a series of multiple-choice questions on Latino history. Adams State is a member of HACU and a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution.

Dr. Nick Saenz, Adams State assistant professor of history, mentored Madrigal and accompanied her to Chicago. "Azarel has been a part of the HAPPSS (History, Anthropology, Philosophy, Political Science, Spanish) department for several years as a student in the political science program. Given her experiences as a cheerleader, Model UN team member, and student leader, I knew that she would make an exemplary representative of Adams State University and the Grizzly community."

“I received a gigantic study guide, the Latino Studies Encyclopedia,” Madrigal said. She studied for hours on end, which was not easy, working two summer jobs. Saenz quizzed her the “entire way to the competition.”

"I tremendously enjoyed the opportunity to coach Azarel,” Saenz said.

“She did a terrific job representing Adams State University. The entire Grizzly community should be extremely proud of her success."

Madrigal made it to the championship round and received a scholarship for her third place finish. “I met tons of awesome students from other colleges around the country. I would encourage Adams State students to participate if presented with this opportunity.”

academic pursuits

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Trustee leaders plan for ASU’s continued success what, exactly, is a trustee? the term refers to people, usually volunteers, responsible for ensuring the wellbeing of an organization. the root of the word, “trust,” is something the board of trustees for adams state university takes to heart.

Heart, as well as professional expertise, is exactly what Trustees Arnold Salazar ’76 and Kathleen Rogers invest in the university. They were unanimously elected chair and vice chair of the board, respectively, August 27.

“Adams State is important to the valley and my family,” said Salazar, a native of San Luis, Colo. He estimated at least 75 of his 190 relatives who attended a recent family reunion are also Adams State alumni. “My commitment to the university goes back to Adams State’s role as an economic driver.

Keeping Adams State thriving and successful is one of the most important things we can do for economic vitality and life in valley. It is almost a natural, a no brainer, that I would spend my time supporting that.”

This is Salazar’s second stint as board chair. He and Rogers will serve two-year terms as officers; they were appointed to four-year terms on the board, December 31, 2013. Having Salazar based in Denver and Rogers in Alamosa gives the board leadership in both locales.

With extensive experience in the field of community mental health in Colorado, Salazar has served the last decade as executive director of Colorado Health Partnerships, L.L.C. Rogers will begin a new position as Director of Development with Rio Grande Savings & Loan in January. She spent over 13 years as Director of Development and Public Relations at San Luis Valley Health. She is also a former mayor and city councilor for the City of Alamosa. “Much like Arnold, I am strongly committed to this community as a whole, the entire San Luis Valley,” Rogers said. “I am from Monte Vista, and there is no more important organization or place in the valley than ASU. I am honored to be part of that.”

managing change Salazar explained the board is focused on its governance role, oversight of the budget, legislative strategy, community outreach, and university priorities. A top board priority for this past year was selecting a new president.

“Leadership transitions can be one of the biggest challenges for any organization, universities in particular. That’s especially true at Adams State, where presidents stay a very long time,” Salazar said. “I think the primary goal of the board was a transition that was smooth. We wanted to make sure we followed up with a lot of earlier goals, yet developed a plan for future.”

Trustee leaders Arnold Salazar ‘76, chair, and Kathleen Rogers, vice chair

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Salazar noted the crucial goal for ASU’s previous president was to build the campus infrastructure, which was in crisis, due to lack of state funding.

“Now, we are using that foundation as a jumping off point. That’s the role of the board – to bring in leadership to make those leaps. We’re positioned at this point to take that leap. President McClure is the right leader for this time.”

When the presidential search began, Salazar said the board ideally sought a person who not only had an academic background, but who also understood politics, economics, and the business side of operating an institution.

“That’s what was so amazing about finding Beverlee. We didn’t think we’d find all three in one candidate, but we did,” Salazar added. “One thing we arrived at very quickly with Dr. McClure was the need for a shared vision. She has a very good mind for a vision, and we are making incredible progress. We’re a year ahead of where I thought we’d be at this point.”

“

once you get one generation

educated and out of the struggles of poverty, it makes

most make it impossible to get He also praised McClure’s the general funding we need political savvy. “The board has changes for generations to for higher education. a lot of connections in Dencome. that’s the economic driver “We’re not assuming it will ver, and we give her the beneget fixed over the long run. fit of all those contacts. Our and argument we make for the We can’t bet on that,” he job is not to be the face of added. “We still need to be ASU – that’s her job. Our job type of institution we are.” prepared to continue to figure is getting her in the right place out funding if these restricwith the right people. Beverlee - Arnold Salazar ‘76 tions remain.” has extensive experience in Bolstering enrollment and that arena.”

Chair, ASU Board of Trustees improving student retention He and Rogers described are also key to sustaining Adams State’s financial base. The the fine line trustees must walk between governance and adtwo are linked, Salazar said. One strength in these realms, ministration. “The board has a role in overseeing operations, Rogers noted, is that students really value personal relationmaking connections, contacting political resources, etc. But ships with their professors. “I think that makes us unique. execution of the plans – that’s the president’s job,” Salazar Our smaller classes, focus on undergraduate teaching, and said. our faculty and staff really do make it personal. I heard this “Arnold and I have both worked for boards, so we understand that fine line,” Rogers said. “The board is one of Adams over and over from students during the presidential search.”

Adams State’s status as a federally designated Hispanic State’s strengths. Those from the Front Range are as commitServing Institution (HSI) provides additional advantages toted as those of us who’ve been here all our lives. We are not ward increasing enrollment. Over the last 15 years, Adams afraid to challenge each other, but when we leave the board State has been awarded more than $23.4 million in Title V room, we’re one voice – that’s important.” grants for HSIs. (See story page 7.) finding financial sustainability “Federal funding because of our HSI designation really sets “Our top challenge is long-term funding for the institua foundation for economically disadvantaged students, of tion, which has been diminishing from the state,” Salazar whatever ethnicity: Native American, non-Hispanic, African said. “Such support is critical to institutions like ours. We American. They are all part of the same economic demoneed to think our graphic,” Salazar said. “Everyone recognizes the importance way through this, of serving underserved students. Once you get one generation what to do when educated and out of the struggles of poverty, it makes changes state support for generations to come. That’s really the economic driver shrinks.” and argument we make for the type of institution we are.”

McClure is acASU students have an average family income of $24,000 for a tive with Building family of four, significantly below poverty level. a Better Colorado, “These same economic challenges can make it hard finana nonpartisan cially for students to graduate in four years,” Rogers added. coalition that “That’s the next challenge we need to address. HSI designaseeks solutions to tion helps everybody on campus.” issues such as a “Nobody’s figured out how to take on that demographic state constitution and make it part of who we are: students who may have atcluttered with tended high schools that are not well funded, who may not rules that are diffihave yet developed college level skills,” Salazar continued. cult to amend and “We are working to figure out how to take those kids and an unsustainable make them successful. If we can figure that out at Adams fiscal policy.

State, we’ve done a great service toward integrating underSalazar explained served kids into the university environment. HSI funding reTABOR (Tax Payally helps us provide a range of support, such as STEM, ers Bill of Rights) remediation, and support services. We can do that with 2,000 and many somestudents. I would argue that can’t be done with a campus of times conflicting 15,000 students. We serve a niche I think can’t be served by constitutional anyone else.” amendments “alBy Julie Waechter

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scholarship that reaches across the

globe intelligent robots. perception & prejudice. che guevera. what could these random concepts possibly have in common? each one is engaging students and faculty in collaborative, global scholarship.

Students will have a unique opportunity to develop artificial intelligence and social-emotional programming for robots through a three-year grant of more than a half-million dollars from the Department of Defense Army Research Office (ARO). Their work will tie together with similar projects underway across the world, through scholarly collaborations developed by Dr. Matthew Ikle, professor of mathematics.

By Julie Waechter

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Late this summer, six psychology students and three of their professors were among 270 coauthors on an article published in the journal Science regarding the Reproducibility Project: Psychology. The four-year-long study has produced the most comprehensive investigation ever done about the rate and predictors of reproducibility in a field of science. The study’s conclusions have ramifications that could impact scholarly research beyond the social sciences.

With Cuba now open to tourism, Dr. Benjamin Waddell accompanied a group of students to the island nation this summer to personally experience issues that face people in poverty every day.

“I wanted them to see how the other three-quarters of the world lives,” said the associate professor of sociology. On the group’s second of four days helping locals to clear fields, students’ morale was low. “They were looking for shade. They felt exploited. That was certainly a teaching moment,” Waddell recalled.

cuba provided a living laboratory this summer for students and faculty concerned with sustainable development. “more people need to understand the actual problems of second and third world nations in order to think of innovative solutions to poverty,” explained dr. benjamin waddell. side and the coastal area. They learned about Cuban society by working in the fields and visiting schools and hospitals.

Afternoon discussions introduced Cuban history, the Agricultural Revolution, and land reform movements.

Isabella Whitten ’15, now enrolled in ASU’s Boettcher Teacher Residency program, gained a new perspective on her career field, as shown in her following journal entry: "Day 11: Visiting the elementary school made my life! I love being around kids! It’s amazing to me how much language really doesn’t matter when it comes to having fun. I loved playing with the students, and the

structure of the school amazed me!

Learning seems so hands-on and interactive, and students seemed so happy.”

For Marissa Morgan, a junior majoring in Human Performance & Physical Education, the experience was life changing. “I am definitely thinking now more about volunteering in the Peace Corps and looking for different outlets for more travel, particularly in Latin America. This experience really changed my interests.”

Morgan made her first journey outside the U.S. during the Alternative Spring Break trip to Mexicali, sponContinued on page 14.

Helping local farmers in their fields was one way students experienced life in Cuba.

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The associate professor of sociology noted Cuba has a fairly high standard of living, compared to the poor of other developing countries, and life expectancy there continues to increase.

“Although salaries are low – doctors make abut $65 a month – every Cuban has the right to basic needs, including housing, education, health care, and a monthly ration of food,” Waddell added, noting the country’s biggest export is doctors. “The Cuban economy is quickly morphing into a touristfocused economy. In consequence, more young men and women are studying tourism and languages, with fewer opting into traditional careers like medicine and teaching.”

He and five Adams State students experienced the formerly off-limits nation of Cuba, along with twelve University of New Mexico students and their professor, Dr. Matias Fontenla, a colleague of Waddell’s. ASU students earned credit in “Topics in Latin American Development” and/or “Seminar on Latin American Culture” as part of the 19day trip, coordinated through UNM’s Latin America & Iberian Institute.

A variety of disciplines can be brought to bear on the study of sustainable development: history, economics, education, sociology, medicine, Waddell said. “Our purpose was to think about development in practice: how do people obtain more meaningful and sustainable lives, with better access to health care, education, and income? And how can we do that in a way that is sustainable over time, for generations?”

The group spent time in La Havana, Cuba’s capitol, as well as the country-

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sored by Campus Ministry last March. “That made me want to learn more about Latin America, how the locals are treated, what service we could do, and learn about the culture,” she said. “To see another country that doesn’t have that much opened my eyes and changed my perspective. We want things to go fast; we want results; we feel entitled. But in Cuba, it’s a slower pace; there’s no such thing as fast food or other things we’re used to.”

She was struck by living conditions in the Cuban countryside, where they met a man who lived in a one room house with a dirt floor that nevertheless sported a flat-screen TV. “I compared it to the Navajo Reservation, where I’m from. Back home, some people still live in hogans with dirt floors and no running water, but they still have TVs.”

“

i am definitely thinking now more

about volunteering in the peace corps and looking for different outlets for more travel, particularly in latin america. this experience really changed my interests.”

- Marissa Morgan ‘17

Marissa Morgan learned there is much more to Cuba than vintage U.S. automobiles. She hopes to return someday to see how the nation changes.

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the popular – and academic – press frequently carry stories of new research findings from a range of disciplines. what may not be reported are less-than-stellar results, or negations of hypotheses. further, “results only have validity if they can be replicated. that’s what we tell students, but we don’t walk the talk,” according to dr. kim kelso, professor and chair of the psychology department.

Reproducibility means the results recur when the same data are analyzed again, or when new data are collected using the same methods. However, neither researchers nor academic journals are eager to do replications. “The pressure is to discover the next bigger, better thing,” said Dr. Leslie Alvarez, professor of psychology.

With the goal of bringing more transparency to research methods and the publication process, Open Science Framework launched The Reproducibility Project: Psychology. Researchers conducted replications of 100 published findings of three prominent psychology journals. The study found that regardless of the analytic method or criteria used, fewer than half of the replications produced the same findings as the original study.

When Alvarez learned of the Reproducibility Project, she “realized what an amazing opportunity it was for us at a small school. Our students and faculty have been able to contribute to a historical effort in psychology. We are part of an international group of psychologists, and we did something under the leadership of the Open Science framework that has never been done before.”

The inability to replicate original findings doesn’t mean they are invalid or were falsified, however. “Just because results can’t be replicated doesn’t mean they are negated,” noted Dr. R. Nate Pipitone, assistant professor of psychology. Kelso added that a replication might find similar, but less robust trends. “There is a trend now in the social sciences of not publishing results that are not statistically significant, even though they may be meaningful,” she said. Unknown variables or different physical characteristics of the studies may also vary and influence results. “From a teaching and learning perspective, one outcome of the project may be to encourage

“

0ur students and faculty have been able

State’s Student better methods to contribute to a historical effort in psyScholar Days and descriptions to the Rocky Mounallow more accuchology. we are part of an international tain Psychological rate replication.” group of psychologists, and we did someAssociation The three ASU (RMPA). faculty invited thing that has never been done before.”

Spencer, who’s students to underinterested in betake replication of - Dr. Leslie Alvarez havioral and evotwo studies for the lutionary project. Pipitone psychology, as well and Alvarez as school psychology, said participating in the project gave worked on “Detecting the Snake in the Grass: Attention to him valuable career preparation. “It was exhilarating and eduFear-Relevant Stimuli by Adults and Young Children,” with cational to be able to apply theories in a practical application.

Tylar Martinez ‘15, Nicholas Spencer ‘16, Megan Tapia ‘15, Replicating these studies put you in the shoes of people and Kellylynn Zuni ‘15. greater than yourself.” He discussed the project with the origThe study’s premise was that both adults and children inal “Space Between Us” researchers at the Pennsylvania State should be able to detect evolutionarily relevant fear stimuli University, Stanford University, and University of British Comore readily than non-fear stimuli. To test that, the ASU lumbia. team worked with parents and children at two local day care centers. Each person was shown two images with nine phoContinued on page 16. tos. One image included 8 snakes and one caterpillar, the other, the reverse. Researchers measured the time it took subjects to notice the single snake or caterpillar. Pipitone said their group found similar patterns as the original study, in that the snakes were identified sooner than caterpillars, but the results were not statistically significant.

“The Space Between Us: Stereotype Threat and Distance in Interracial Contexts” was the study reviewed by Kelso with Spencer, Ashlee (Bogle-DeHerrera) Welsh ‘15, and Emily Wright ‘15. They studied ASU students, 101 male subjects with an African-American male “confederate,” who understood the experiment’s intent. Told they would be having a conversation either about racial profiling or love and relationships, the subjects entered a room where the confederate was already seated. The study looked at how far the subject placed his chair from the confederate’s, depending on which conversation they were expecting. The original study, which used all white male subjects, found more distance in conjunction with the conversation about race. Although ASU's work did not replicate those results, exploratory analyses on the three largest ethnic groups (White, Hispanic/Latino, and Black/African American) revealed participants sat further away when the topic was racial profiling.

The project also cultivated inter-disciplinary collaboration.

George Sellman, asst. professor of mathematics/computer science, and student Lauren Karlskin created a web-based proWhich of these things does not belong? “Detecting Snakes in the Grass” looked at how quickly subjects spotted the snake amongst caterpillars, gram for data collection in the “Snake in the Grass” study. and vice versa.

The psychology students presented on this project at Adams

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“Now that I am in graduate school, I realize the impact replication has on my practice and profession as a school psychologist. In order to better serve kids, it is important to have research that is replicable across a variety of settings,” said Tapia."I think being able to collaborate as a team, along with faculty, in the community was one of the most rewarding experiences about this project.

Without them, this project would not have been possible. " The Adams State group participated with researchers from across the U.S. and several other nations, including such institutions as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Oxford, Harvard Medical School Department of Neurology, the Stockholm School of Economics, and many more.

Editor’s Note: Emily Wright is now a caseworker for the Alamosa County Department of Human Services Child Welfare office; Ashlee Welsh is Enrichment Supervisor for Center Consolidated School District; Kellylynn Zuni is a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University; Megan Tapia is a graduate student in school psychology at University of Northern Colorado.

Tylar Martinez ‘15 works with a pre-schooler to study fear stimuli.

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today’s robots are light years ahead of the jetsons’ “rosie” and star wars’ “c3po.” adams state students will be involved in advanced programming to take such devices to an even higher level, thanks to a $501,159 grant awarded by the department of defense (dod).

The 24” NAO model looks like Rock’em, Sock’em robots, an overgrown kid’s toy. With a few taps on her laptop, Dr. Comfort Cover activates the NAO, which blinks its eyes and performs a precise tai chi form. It can obey pre-programmed commands, recognize objects and faces, and track objects.

Buttons on the Robokind’s chest prompt different facial and body expressions – happy, sad, surprised, angry.

Its “face” is made of “frubber,” which mimics the malleability of the human face. Because robots like this are programmed to speak and focus on human faces, they are useful in therapy with autistic persons.

international collaboration For three years beginning in 2016, students in the Summer Research Internship Program in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Social and Emotional Robotics will interact with research groups around the world, according to Dr. Matt Ikle, professor of mathematics. Interns will engage in hands-on, directed research opportunities to encompass numerous Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and their integration with robotics.

Ikle has been involved in robotics research for the last 20 years, collaborating with Embry-Riddle Aeronautics University and colleagues in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as in the U.S., Bulgaria, France, Germany, and other nations.

During his sabbatical last spring, he spent four months in the computer laboratory at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Working with Dr. Gino Yu and Dr. Benjamin Goertzel, Ikle continued his research and development work on the open-source artificial intelligence platform, OpenCog. ASU interns will assist Ikle and his partners in developing programming to integrate robot vision, object classification, social and emotional robotics, reasoning under uncertainty, and attention and resource allocation. The ultimate goal is to develop robots that can interact with humans, Ikle said.

stimulating innovation Funded through the DOD’s Army Research Office (ARO) grant for Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI), the project is directed by Ikle in collaboration with Cover, asst. professor of management information systems, and George Sellman, asst. professor of mathematics/computer science. Ikle said the project will build on previous research and leverage recent infrastructure improvements in ASU’s undergraduate robotics lab that were funded by the DOD, US Army, and other external sources.

“The DOD can only make grants to U.S. citizens. They want to encourage young people with ideas to get into research,” noted

summer the group will attend the Artificial General Intelligence Conference in New York City, an organization Ikle has belonged to since its inception.

Selection for the internships will be competitive, Ikle said.

“Our goal is to motivate students, to cut through the attitude of ‘why ABOVE: Faculty members (from left) George Sellman, Dr. Comfort Cover, and math?’ We put a Dr. Matt Ikle demonstrate their robots’ capabilities and describe goals for the Summer Research Internship Program in Artificial Intelligence and Social lot of thought into making this super and Emotional Robotics. attractive to retain LEFT: The Robokind is capable of responding to and emulating human facial students through expressions. the summer and into fall, to keep them connected and build if you are an undergraduate at a large university, excitement around the program.” The program’s ultiyou wouldn’t get to touch equipment like this. . . but mate goal is to increase bachelor’s degree completion at adams state, you can be part of a small group of in engineering, computer scistudents working side by side with faculty who are ence, and mathematics.

He added this grant is the collaborating with others around the world on first of its type to fund more than infrastructure needs. “It cutting edge research.” will pay professors to involve - George Sellman students in ongoing research, not simply coursework. It’s Sellman. “If you are an undergraduate with others around the world on cutmodeled on the National Science Founat a large university, you wouldn’t get to ting edge research.” dation’s (NSF) Research Experience for touch equipment like this; maybe a litEach summer, four interns will earn Undergraduates, a similar, nationwide tle, in your junior or senior year . . . But $15 an hour, 40 hours a week, for eight program.” at Adams State, you can be part of a weeks, in addition to a 12-credit tuition For more information about the small group of students working side by waiver for STEM courses and a twointernship program, please email: side with faculty who are collaborating month, $1000 housing allowance. In arohumanrobots@adams.edu. addition, the grant will fund student travel to professional conferences. Next

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Discovering daily life at Ft. Massachusetts archaeology field school compiles fifth season of data “there’s a lot we don’t know about u.s. military history in the mid-19th century, but the evidence is in the ground at ft. massachusetts,” said dr. richard goddard, professor of history and archaeology.

This summer, Goddard’s annual Field School concluded its fifth year of work at Ft. Massachusetts, in the eastern San Luis Valley. The fort was established in 1853 to protect the San Luis Valley, part of the territory that had recently been ceded to the U.S. by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo following the U.S.-Mexico War. Although the valley was relatively unsettled, it nevertheless saw much conflict between Hispanic settlers from Mexico, Native Americans, and American settlers and miners from the East.

“Ft. Massachusetts is a very historically significant site,” Goddard noted. “We now know much more than we did before. We’ve been able to identify and define the fort’s location. Now, we are getting a look at life at the fort, through artifacts and structures we’re uncovering.”

The Field School has uncovered the foundations of the outer walls and the foundations of the barracks, officers’ apartments, blockhouse, laundress quarters, sutler’s store, blacksmith’s shop, and the corrals. Among the many artifacts unearthed are ammunition, military buttons, dishes, tin cans, bottles, pipes, and other remnants of daily life on the frontier. Goddard believes at least five more field seasons are needed to fully understand the site.

ABOVE: Dr. Richard Goddard (center) oversees an excavation unit at Ft. Massachusetts, where Chelsea Fachner (left) and Zöe Rierson take an elevation measurement. Both women began Adam State’s M.A. in Humanities with an emphasis in cultural resource management this fall.

LEFT: Post surgeon Dr. DeWitt Peters illustrated the site in 1853. His drawing became key to identifying the precise location of Ft. Massachusetts, because the geography remains unchanged.

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Although they lived in rustic conditions, the archaeologists He explained Ft. Massachusetts represents a very imporgathered and recorded data using cutting edge technology, tant time in U.S. history, between the War with Mexico and such as iPads and GPS/GIS (Global Positioning System/ the Civil War. “During this period, the Army was making Global Information System.) Data from the dig will be made changes to fort design, uniforms, weapons, and the kinds of available to all scholars, said Goddard, who added that several military units deployed,” he said. Although historical records are spotty, he said the archaeological record reveals a lot of de- good professional papers have already stemmed from the Field School work. tail about what it was like to be in a military outpost on the “This is a vast improvement from the traditional paper frontier.

Ft. Massachusetts was home to about 150 officers, soldiers, records and forms used by archaeologists,” Goddard said. and civilian employees, including men, women, and children.

By Julie Waechter It housed one company of infantry and one company of dragoons (horse-mounted soldiers). Goddard said Ft. Massachusetts differed from other frontier forts in Artifacts unearthed at Ft. Massachusetts include a rusted key, nails, bone fragments, and a corrugated pot sherd. The artifacts overlay a detailed diagram of the fort comthat it was surrounded by a wall of pine logs. (Ft. missioned by Inspector General Joseph Mansfield in 1853.

Garland, which replaced Ft. Massachusetts in 1858, is not walled.) Goddard suspects the fort commander, Maj. Blake, hailed from the eastern U.S., where forts were typically enclosed by walls of wooden pickets. Ft. Massachusetts’ structures were built of pine with flat sod roofs. Most also featured adobe fireplaces, which Goddard said reflects the garrison’s experience in New Mexico.

experience aids interpretation The 2015 Field School included six staff members and ten student participants from Adams State and other colleges who earned credit for the experience. This was the second season on the site for Zöe Rierson, who chose a career in archaeology after a high school visit to Goddard’s dig at Ft. Garland. She earned a degree in archaeology from University of St. Andrews in Scotland last year and recently began Adams State’s Master of Arts program in Humanities with an emphasis in cultural resource management (CRM). “I like history and love science, so this is perfect,” she said.

Each day at the Field School began just as it did in the 1850s, with the raising of the flag and firing of the cannon. “Students begin to appreciate what it was like to live here, which helps to interpret our findings more accurately,” Goddard said. “We’re seeing exactly the same environment the soldiers did – it has not changed.” Like the fort’s original occupants, the Field School participants also chanced encounters with bears and mountain lions.

Participants camped near the site during the sixweek Field School, working ten-day stretches with four days off. Demonstrations by historic reenactor groups also helped students understand fort life.

“For example, all the students learn to fire authentic, 19th century weapons,” Goddard said.

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standing strong:

The ASU Equality Project

theatre professor john taylor loves to do projects, augmenting a play with events that create synergy and raise awareness. standing on ceremony: the gay marriage plays was the centerpiece of this fall’s “standing strong: the asu equality project.” a partnership between asu theatre and the lgbtq faculty and staff coalition, it joined such memorable projects as dead man walking and fahrenheit 451.

The ensemble of nine short plays emphasized the universal aspects of relationships and marriage to which all who have been and are in love can relate. The production opened with a slide show featuring happy couples from all lifestyles. As the curtain rose, couples danced to the acoustic guitar of music major Skyler Choice ’16. The series of one-acts, mostly comedies with a few dramas, gave glimpses into the joys, challenges, and sorrows experienced by same-sex couples.

Adam State was invited to present the play Strange Fruit at the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival (KC/ACTF) regional festival in Denver this February.

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Opening night of the production concluded with the onstage wedding of Stephanie Cramblet and Dr. Beez Schell.

The theatre then opened up to a lively reception with dancing, food, and heart-felt discussions that lasted into the early morning hours.

The Equality Project included a comedy improv performance, post-performance “talk back” sessions, an open-mic night, Safe Zone Training, a lecture on theatre’s potential for social change, and a public forum on The Impact of Religious Exemption Laws, presented by One Colorado, Colorado’s leading LGBTQ advocacy organization. About 70 campus members demonstrated solidarity by donning the colors of

“

i know how it feels. if i can create a

better situation for others and make a difference in the world, that’s what theatre

the rainbow to march in the Homecoming parade. The departments of Music, Human Performance and Physical Education, Counselor Education, and Student Life also sponsored events.

"When I chose to do this play, the Supreme Court was several months away from its ruling on marriage equality. Whatever the justices ruled, I knew it would make for a timely and relevant work of theatre. With the Court's historic decision, our production is clearly a celebration of love, laughter, and equality," Taylor said.

- Nicholas Harlan

A large audience of campus and community members attended Taylor’s Faculty Lecture, “The Art of Making a Difference: Theatre and Social Change.”

“Art matters,” he said. “When an audience member steps into the theatre, a real moment for opportunity and change can occur. If art can transform on the personal level, it can transform society.”

He sees theatre as a venue for expressing the need for social justice and activism. “I encourage my students to expand their view on what theatre does.

If you are not trying to change the status quo, you are supporting the status quo.”

opposite page: During the Equality Project’s ice cream social, faculty, staff, and students don the colors of the rainbow to symbolize a commitment to equality. clockwise from bottom right: • In the one-act Strange Fruit, Nicholas Harlan (left) and John-Christian Maheu portray a couple whose happiness was destroyed by violent prejudice.

• Jordan Hannebaum gives an extended monologue in the one-act The Gay Agenda.

• Dr. John Taylor, professor of theatre, welcomes the audience to a forum addressing The Impact of Religious Exemption Laws, with special guests from One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Coloradans and their families.

• Opening night of the Gay Marriage Plays concluded with the wedding on stage of Dr. Beez Schell (left), chair of the Human Performance & Physical Education Department, and Stephanie Cramblet, Manager of Enterprise Applications Systems in ASU Computing Services. Several other couples also renewed their vows on stage.

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is about.”

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completes $104 million in campus improvements

Richardson Hall readied for another 90 years More than 200 campus and community members gathered September 8 to celebrate completion of the $16.9 million renovation of Adams State’s first and oldest building.

“Richardson Hall is once again a showpiece of the campus,” said Adam State President Beverlee J. McClure, who presided over the ribbon cutting. “We’re confident this 90-year-old structure will continue to serve the university and the community for at least another century.”

"Richardson Hall was described multiple times as the heart and soul of this campus, and we worked to be sure the building reflected that," said Tyler Read, project manager for GH Phipps Construction Companies. He said his company stressed the importance of hiring as many local subcontractors as possible. "There was a great desire to make sure this project benefited the entire community.”

On October 21, Alamosa City Council unanimously voted to add Richardson Hall to the City of Alamosa Registry of Historic Places. pillars (above), by Professor of Art Dana Provence, was commissioned upon Adams State’s designation as a university. It now graces Richardson Hall’s front walk.

Consisting of three forms made of hexagonal basalt, bronze, and stainless steel, it represents Adams State’s stages as a normal school, college, and university. preparing to cut the ribbon (right) on the updated Richardson Hall are (from left) Gaylene Horning, Alumni Relations; Tyler Read, GH Phipps Construction Companies; Alamosa Mayor Josef Lucero; Colorado State Senator Larry Crowder; Colorado State Representative Ed Vigil; President Beverlee McClure; ASU Board of Trustees Chair Arnold Salazar; Emeritus President David Svaldi, and James Trujillo, executive assistant to the president.

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clockwise from above: • Music faculty and students opened the event by performing Ascendance, composed to commemorate Adams State’s move to university status by Dr. Matthew Schildt, professor of music.

• Wind and Rain greets visitors to Richardson Hall’s south entrance. Artist William Moyers ‘39 and his wife, Neva ‘38, donated the lifesize bronze to Adams State in 1992.

• Richardson Hall boasts a new Admissions Welcome Center in the main lobby, which was restored to its original size.

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Loyal Grizzly Club sponsors feted the valley courier • corporate sponsor of the year bea ‘76 & faustin martinez • individual sponsors of the year children and the enormous economic impact it has on the San Luis Valley.”

Now in its eleventh consecutive year A thorough economic impact study as a sponsor, The Valley Courier was in August showed the ASU Athletic Denamed the 2015-16 Grizzly Club Corpartment created an impact of over $13 porate Sponsor of the Year. The Valley million dollars to the San Luis Valley Courier has served as the San Luis Valduring the 2013-14 academic year. (See ley’s (SLV) prime source for news since story page 47.) beginning publication in 1926.

Despite the newspaper industry experiencing constant change in the past decade, The Valley Courier has evolved to meet the needs of its readers, according to Cerny.

“As the overall economy has waned in the past ten years, so has our industry, as advertisers have come and gone. It has also created a need to be more Adams State President Beverlee J. McClure (center) with Grizzly Club available online award recipients Debra and Keith Cerny (left) who accepted the Grizzly and on social Club Corporate Partner of the Year on behalf of the Valley Courier; and Bea media. Our online and Faustin Martinez, the Grizzly Club Individual Partners of the Year. readership continues to grow; our website, “The most special ASU games for us alamosanews.com, has nearly 50,000 are those that we sponsor as a corporate, unique visitors every month,” Cerny whether it’s a wrestling match or basket- added. ball game,” said publisher Keith Cerny, The Cerny family has a strong conwho began his post with the company nection with Adams State: all six of in 1992.

Keith’s children have either graduated Not only does The Valley Courier or attended ASU. Keith’s wife, Debbie, play a vital role in informing the San also has a daughter who graduated from Luis Valley of news items, it also ASU. strongly promotes all things to do with Currently, The Valley Courier is one ASU athletics. of only three corporate sponsors dis“We support the Grizzly Club beplayed on the new football video board. cause it supports ASU with athletic bea ‘76 & faustin martinez scholarships and, therefore, has helped Bea ’76 and Faustin Martinez — the overall enrollment grow over the who have been associated with the Grizpast seven years,” Cerny stated. “We zly Club for as long as they remember also support ASU as a whole because of — were named the 2015-16 Grizzly what the university has done for our

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Club Individual Sponsors of the Year.

The have several fond memories of ASU athletics over the years.

“How about this year’s football victory?!” said Bea. “Adams State with a double overtime win against Western State, 52-51. The game was so intense, exciting, and fun! Talk about adversity and pressure and never giving up. It was great to hear the players sing the fight song after the game.” The 36-point comeback win set an NCAA football record across all divisions. (See page 46.)

Other fond moments include current Athletic Director Larry Mortensen’s final season as the men’s basketball head coach, which Bea said was a year of adversity, turnaround, and triumph. That season (2006-07), the Grizzlies defeated UCCS to advance into the RMAC Shootout Semifinal against No. 23 University of Nebraska-Kearney. The 97-90 overtime win marked the program’s first-ever victory against UNK. Bea and Faustin also fondly remember wrestling matches in a packed Plachy Hall Gym, national championships won by cross country and track & field, and all of the student-athletes’ academic awards.

The Martinezes consider the biggest athletic moment to have been in 1988, when the football team played for the NAIA National Championship in Tennessee.

Faustin, a rancher and retired teacher, earned a BA degree from Colorado State University in 1982. Bea, a 1976 Adams State graduate, is the Director of Student Business Services for Adams State, where she has worked for 39 years.

The couple has two sons, Matthew ‘08 and Ryan, a sophomore and a member of the ASU track and field team.

By Michael Skinner

Willis Fassett Jr. Award honors El Pomar Foundation the national shortage of nurses is especially acute in rural communities like the san luis valley. to help fill that need, el pomar foundation established an adams state university nursing scholarship for both undergraduate nursing students and graduate level health professionals.

el pomar slv regional council • William J. Hybl, chairman and chief executive officer • Andrea Aragon, regional trustee • Melanie Bravo, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo County • Keith Cerny, publisher, Valley Courier • Kathy Rogers, director of Communications and Marketing at SLV Health • Karla Shriver, Rio Grande County Commissioner • The Honorable Edward Vigil, Colorado State Representative • Former Adams State presidents, Dr. Tom Gilmore ‘67 and Dr. David Svaldi

Junior College Valley Campus, have a young daughter. He graduated from Antonito High School, in one of the poorest counties in Colorado. “I am one of five students from my class fortunate enough to attend college.” He is a Certified Nursing Assistant at the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center.

dedicated to colorado Spencer Penrose and his wife, Julie, created El Pomar Foundation in 1937 to serve nonprofits throughout Colorado. In order to expand the foundation’s impact beyond the Front Range and support rural regions, El Pomar Foundation established its Regional Partnerships program in 2004, according to Robbins. El Pomar dedicates $200,000 a year to the Regional Councils, which are composed of community leaders who identify needs unique to their region. The San Luis Valley was the second regional council to be established. “From the beginning, it was obvious the San Luis Valley is a special place with both many assets and opportunities to fund,” Robbins added.

aiding the san luis valley The SLV Regional Council proposed a scholarship to support nursing, because the field pays well and is underserved. “We chose to focus on supporting nursing education as one way to stabilize and maintain a supply of nurses and to encourage the development of nurse practitioners (NP), who in many ways can serve a role in primary care,” Regional Council member David Svaldi said.

Regional Council member Tom Gilmore ‘67 agreed: “We thought increasing nurses and NPs that stay in the Valley would increase access to quality health care throughout the region.” Regional Council member Kathy Rogers

From left: El Pomar’s Mari Tanabe, Senior VP Cathy Robbins, and Hannah Staller stand before the sculpture of Spencer Penrose, who, with his wife, Julie, established El Pomar Foundation.

said the scholarship is providing more access to primary care.

El Pomar program associate Mari Tanabe, who assists the SLV Regional Council, noted several past scholarship recipients now work in leadership roles in the SLV, including the Regional Health Epidemiologist for all six counties.

Melissa Milner, associate professor of nursing and faculty director for simulation, credits the El Pomar Nursing Scholarship with allowing her to continue her education; next December she will complete a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Regis University, with an emphasis in rural and community health.

“It can be challenging to work in a rural community with limited resources, but I believe, through furthering my education, I will learn new, innovative ways to help the community and enhance the learning experience and success of our nursing students,” Milner said.

By Linda Relyea ‘96, ‘10

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The scholarship provides $111,000 a year for students who intend to practice long-term in the San Luis Valley. It was initiated in 2012-13 and will extend through 2016-17. To date, 39 BSN students and 15 advanced degree seekers have received the award.

In recognition of this scholarship and previous support, El Pomar Foundation received the ASU Foundation’s 2015 Willis Fassett Jr. Award, which honors strong university supporters. El Pomar’s Chief Financial Officer and Life Trustee Rob Hilbert and Senior Vice President Cathy Robbins accepted the award at the Adams State Donor & Student Recognition Dinner, Nov. 4.

The award is named for the late Willis Fassett Jr., a long-time president of the Foundation Board of Directors, and includes the Buffalo Chant bronze, created specifically for the Foundation by the late William Moyers ’39, a famous Cowboy Artist.

Senior nursing student Bryan Garcia said the El Pomar Nursing Scholarship “takes a load off my shoulders.” He and his wife, Akacia, who recently started the nursing program at Trinidad State

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sandra '81 & o. john kuenhold nursing scholarship Sandra '81 & O. John Kuenhold created a scholarship for full-time students majoring in nursing who are San Luis Valley residents and the first in their families to attend college.

Sandra (Ozawa) said she originally pursued a degree in nursing when she started at the University of Colorado.

“There weren’t any opportunities in the valley for nursing students. You had to leave if you wanted to study nursing.”

minded. Dr. Crowther’s philosophy courses were outstanding.

Of course, the science department was awesome. I had a great experience.”

She also remembers emeritus president Dr. David Svaldi as a very kind professor of speech, a “really nice person.” As a transfer student, Sandra appreciated Svaldi’s assistance and guidance. “Adams State allows people to get a great education and to stay and provide a good life.”

Sandra is a San Luis Valley native, but her husband, John, had never visited. He nevertheless “fell in love” with the community, established a law practice and eventually became Chief Judge of the Colorado Twelfth Judicial District. He said Adams State provides opportunities for first generation, second generation, third generation students, and beyond.

“Adams State brings people from all over the country to attend an institution at an affordable price. Often, they fall in love with the valley and stay.” He also believes Adams State is an economic driver for the community and graduates skilled employees. “Adams State also improves the quality of life with art shows, athletic events, theatre productions, concerts, and other events open to the community.”

The Kuenholds want to “pay it forward” in establishing the scholarship. “Adams State and the valley have been wonderful to us. We love the valley and Adams State and are happy to be able to help.”

scholarships: The Hon. O. John and Sandra ‘81 Kuenhold endowed a nursing scholarship to improve health care and employment opportunities.

She was excited to see that need met when Adams State began the RN-BSN completion degree program in collaboration with the SLV Nurses' Forum, Trinidad State Junior College, and local health care agencies. “It is a great profession and will benefit many people, both within the medical profession and those who will be served by keeping our students in the community.”

She and John moved back to the valley after their marriage; he worked for Colorado Rural Legal Services, and Sandra completed her degree in biology in 1981.

“Adams State provided me with the opportunity to grow and develop skills.” She said the university allows students the chance to attend college who might not otherwise, because of economic reasons or the insecurity of leaving home.

“I had many great mentors, including science professors Dr. Veryl Keene, Dr. Hobey Dixon, Dr. Jack Cooper, Dr. Richard Burroughs and Ed Clemmer in the Art Department and Dr. Dwight Crowther, who was my philosophy professor,” Sandra recalled. “I took art classes to become more open

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the gift that keeps on giving It’s surprisingly easy to create an endowed scholarship, and Adams State alumni do so for a variety of reasons.

Some wish to honor the memory of a loved one; others choose to support students in a particular academic or athletic program. Some simply seek to share the good fortune of an Adams State education. Alumni can also add to existing scholarships created by others, such as those described here.

To learn more about this and other ways to support Adams State, please contact: Tammy Lopez ’91, ’00, Executive Director ASU Foundation 719-587-7122 email: tllopez@adams.edu

the elwyn and virginia wehe unrestricted endowment Elwyn ’73 and Virginia Wehe donated their Alamosa home to the Adams State Foundation. Proceeds from sale of the house were dedicated to an unrestricted endowment that supports needs of the university.

Virginia said their connection with Adams State goes back several generations; her uncle was an early graduate, in 1934.

Since then, many in her family have received a degree from Adams State, including her husband, their children, and their spouses.

“I attended Adams State and lived in Casa Bonita during the war,” Virgina said.

She believes Adams State is a great addition to the community. “I have great friends who have worked at the institution. Our heart is there.”

Their home, which they purchased in 1971 from contractor Bud Keichel, was a

great place to entertain, with an enclosed patio in the back.

“We knew the house was well-built. It is a great house. We enjoyed hosting bridge and dinner parties.”

Virginia believes students don’t need to go to a large university to succeed. “So many graduates have done well.”

Al and Virginia now live in California and have four children: Alan ‘88 (Sandra ‘83), David (Donna ‘12), Helen (Jim) Johnson, and Anne Branson, and several grandchildren.

“Adams State is very important,” Virginia added. “It is where our future lies; where young people learn to communicate with each other. I believe education is the road to peace and selfsatisfaction.”

dr. john f. & anita a. hertner biology scholarship The Hertners were students during the early years of their marriage. “While at Adams, we participated in Rodeo Club and packed into the mountains on horseback.” Together on horseback, they explored the San Luis Valley from the Sand Dunes to Wagon Wheel Gap. “Those activities contributed to the success of our marriage, which in 2016 will have endured for fifty years.”

John holds a PhD. from the University of Northern Colorado in biology with an emphasis in anatomy and physiology. Anita did graduate work at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where John was an associate professor and retired as an emeritus professor of biology and emeritus department chairman. During his tenure at UNK, he served as an official at track meets, when both UNK and Adams State belonged to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Association. “It was my pleasure to welcome Adams athletes to our campus.

Their presence reminded me of just how enthusiastic the Adams athletes

were and how well they represented their school.”

Their son, George L. Hertner, M.D., is an emergency room physician in Colorado Springs.

Alumni John and Anita Hertner committed to helping non-Colorado residents majoring in biology.

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John ’66, ’70 and Anita ’67 Hertner established a scholarship for nonColorado residents who are at least a junior majoring in biology, with a GPA of 3.0 or better. John earned a degree in biology and Anita, in physical education/ recreation.

“Anita and I are most fortunate to have the resources that enable us to endow this scholarship. The ‘Adams Experience’ happened for us at just the right time in our lives,” John said. They prospered in the supportive environment of Adams State. “At the time of our initial collegiate experience, we were both non-resident students, and it is our intention to make it a bit easier for non-resident students to share in that supportive environment.”

The couple appreciated the approachability of Adams State faculty.

“From them we learned far beyond the usual expectations of the classroom or laboratory. Elements of their commitment to the profession and academic integrity were all part of our experiences.”

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sue "soupe" patterson art memorial scholarship Full-time art students are eligible for a new scholarship established in memory of Sue Patterson ’83, ’86 by her husband, Bill Mansheim, former Adams State Vice president for

Finance and Governmental Relations. To date, more than 20 people have donated to the scholarship. Patterson inspired many young artists as an elementary teacher in Alamosa and mentored a total of 12 student teachers throughout her career. She retired in 2011 after 25 years of teaching and continued to create art until her death last spring.

A dedicated teacher and artist, Patterson took welding classes at Trinidad State Junior College Valley Campus to begin making playful and imaginative sculptures out of found metal. She credited several of her own teachers with encouraging her love of art and strengthening her skills: Gerry Thiel ‘81, her Fort Morgan High School art instructor; Steve Quiller, former Adams State art professor; Cloyde Snook, Adams State emeritus professor of art; and Sister Mary Lavey ’77, former Adams State professor of art.

Patterson’s dedication to her students earned her the Colorado Elementary Art Teacher of the Year Award in 2009. She also served as a council member for Colorado Creative Industries (formerly Colorado Council on the Arts).

SLV artist Charlie Ewing works on a portrait of the late Sue Patterson at her memorial reception.

teri mccartney faculty award in the creative arts Dr. Teresa McCartney ’87, ’92, emeritus professor of counselor education, recently created an endowment that will provide funds to support the creative endeavors of Adams State faculty in the creative arts: music, theatre, art, and language arts.

A friend of McCartney’s, an anonymous donor, suggested the endowment.

Award criteria were developed through discussions with Dr. Carol Guerrero-

Murphy, emeritus professor of English and Liason for Diversity and Inclusion.

“Both of us are writers, and we thought about how nice it would be to have the money to just go away and write for a week. Or to buy artistic supplies or go to a workshop or whatever gets the creative juices flowing,” McCartney said.

She believes the arts are critically important in education. “It makes us more complete as human beings.” She said it can be hard for educators to focus on their art, when courses take up their time and energy. “I would hope the little stipend is used to inspire faculty to do their The estate of Douglas B. Thomas '55 established a scholown artistic, creative work.” arship endowment for San Luis Valley high school graduates McCartney earned her who have a minimum GPA of 2.75 GPA and are majoring B.A. in English with a minor in science, engineering, mathematics, or computer science. in journalism and her masThomas worked as a physicist at the National Institute of ter's in Guidance and CounStandards and Technology for 34 years and wrote or co-auseling. Two years later she thored 16 research papers. After retiring in 1990, he began became head of Adams a book publishing business and published three books on State's Counseling Center. history and photography. A serious photographer, as well, She completed her Ph.D. in he also established a photography art gallery. counseling from the Univer-

douglas b. thomas endowment

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sity of New Mexico in 1999. After six years as a faculty member in counselor education, McCartney was named Adams State's Associate Provost for Graduate Studies in 2005, but returned to the faculty three years later. She retired from Adams State in 2014.

james p. & kate a. hatfield art education scholarship teachers. While he was chair, the first Art Building was estabArt education majors in their junior or senior years with a lished in what had been the original Student Union Buildminimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible for the James P. & Kate A. ing.

Hatfield Art Education Scholarship, established through the An accomplished artist/painter, Hatfield came to Adams Kathryn A. Hatfield Estate.

State in the late ‘30s and accepted the Art Department Chair Claire Van position as chair in 1942. He painted in der Plas said the department is very excited about this new scholarship which many styles and in many different forencourages young art educators and mats, including murals, portraits and supports their academic goals. “I believe landscapes. After retiring in 1977, he in the importance of art programs in funded remodeling of the Art Building the public school system. Art helps delobby (now Community Partnerships). velop creative thinking and problem The remodeled space became a gallery solving in young students, and these named for Hatfield. The name was retained in the Hatfield Gallery of the skills have been widely recognized as new Art Department (former science important in every aspect of profesbuilding). sional careers.”

After retirement, Jim and his wife, James Hatfield taught at Adams State Kate, eventually moved to Mesa, Arifor several years, serving as chair of the James Hatfield in his early days as a prozona. Jim has three daughters, Nancy Art Department for 15 years. He loved fessor of art. and Julia, both deceased, and Susan. to teach students who wanted to be art

advocating, celebrating, want to save on educating scholarship taxes this year? are you planning for your future?

we can help.

A number of charitable plans can help you save on taxes and secure your financial future.

• Gift of low performing CDs, stocks, bonds, cash • Donation of real estate or business interest To learn more about the benefits of making a planned gift to the ASU Foundation, please contact: Tammy Lopez ’91, ’00, Executive Director ASU Foundation 719-587-7122 email: tllopez@adams.edu

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The idea for the ACE Scholarship arose a year ago when the Student Support Subcommittee of the LGBTQ Faculty and Staff Coalition considered fundraising for a new scholarship for students who demonstrate an active participation in social justice and inclusiveness at Adams State.

Fundraising began in earnest throughout the run of The Gay Marriage Plays, an Adams State Theatre production directed by Dr. John Taylor. (See story page 20.) Along with the run of the one-act plays, Taylor organized many other events to raise awareness for social justice. He approached faculty, staff and community members with the idea of hosting a marriage ceremony between a same-sex couple during opening night. Dr. Beez Schell, chair of Human Performance and Physical Education, and Stephanie Cramblet, Computing Services manager of enterprise applications systems, enthusiastically agreed. The two married immediately following the opening night production. They requested friends and family donate to the scholarship, in lieu of wedding gifts. During their reception, bartenders also collected tips that were donated to the scholarship.

The LGBTQ Faculty and Staff Coalition will continue to raise money for the scholarship, with the goal to obtain a $10,000 endowment within five years. The committee’s goal is to raise $2,000/year for the endowment. Any amount raised above the yearly goal will be used for a one-time award towards books or tuition for a qualifying student.

To donate to the scholarship, please contact the Adams State Foundation Office, 719-587-7122.

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homecoming 2015

embodies spirit of community

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President Beverlee J. McClure welcomed Alumni Banquet attendees by noting, “This is an astounding place. The ASU campus impacts the entire San Luis Valley, and I’m so impressed by how much the valley embraces the university. As we work toward achieving the goals of our 2020 Strategic Plan, it will take an alliance of ASU and the community.”

All three alumni award winners deferred credit for their accomplishments to the community. Billy Adams Award recipient Steve Valdez ’87, formerly chair of the ASU of Trustees, said, “This isn’t about what I’ve done or not done. Becoming a

university, the campus renovations – all those were advances we did as a community together.”

Emeritus President David Svaldi said, “I am thrilled to present the Billy Adams Award to Steve in recognition of his commitment to Adams State as a student, alumnus, booster, and trustee, and as chair of the trustees. He has consistently supported ASU faculty and staff.”

Exceptional New Alumna Kristina Daniel ’06, ’11, said, “I am so honored to be part of this great community of leaders and learners.” She was described by presenter Kari Harp, a former colleague, as “an incredibly intelligent woman who combines many seeming opposites: she is logical and empathetic; prepared, but spontaneous; tough as nails, yet vulnerable.”

At least 70 Sacred Heart parishioners attended the banquet to honor their priest, Fr. Michael Chrisman ‘04, who was named the 2015 Outstanding Alumnus. “To be part of the great stories that have come through the very fabric of this institution is very humbling,” Chrisman said.

He was introduced by Fr. Derrick Scott, who said, “Fr. Michael has an outstanding ability to say ‘yes’ and step into a position. I noticed he was very humble and very strong in his faith. He is a wonderful example to me as a colleague I look up to.”

homecoming happiness (clockwise from opposite left) • Alumni reunited with each other and ASU supporters at the annual Alumni Banquet.

• President Beverlee McClure presents Fr. Michael Chrisman ‘04 with the 2015 Outstanding Alumnus Award.

• Emeritus President Svaldi presents Billy Adams Award winner, Steve Valdez ‘87, with the William Moyers ‘39 print The Critics.

• President McClure immerses herself in the community by taking “selfies” all along the Homecoming Parade route.

• Exceptional New Alumna Kristina Daniel ‘06, ‘11 and her husband, Kevin ‘04, ‘11, enjoy the parade festivities.

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if there was a theme for homecoming 2015 – other than the caribbean, which inspired the parade floats – it was community.

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Don Stegman `61, `64 (left) with Cherith `81 & Babes `80 Marchase

Jerry `70 & Tina Hughes visit with Bruce `65 & Heather Dunn Toney Cantu `70, Fr. Michael Chrisman `04, and Eileen Cantu

◗ ◗ Katie Kelley `06, Dustin Richardson `05 & Rus Buyok, Alicia Fields `03 & Brian Skinner, and Michael Romero `95

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â—— Alumni competed against students in the Adams Family Feud game. An alumni team was the champion. Back L-R: Lisa Wilson `94, Rob Oringdulph `70, Raymond Miller `83 and Tammy Lopez `91, `00 Middle L-R: Holly Felmlee `76, `92, Kristen Van Gieson `14, Belen Maestas `02, Angelica Valdez `98, `08, and Stacy Madrid `11 Front L-R: Gaylene Horning `94, Lori Laske `91, `01, Winema Van Iwaarden `02, Erica Maes `07, Jeannie Miller `85, `91 and Diane Mondragon `07

annual alumni homecoming golf outing

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alumnotes ◗1950s Clair Martinez `56, `75 (Durango, CO) taught and counseled for 43 years and was an administrator for 3 years in Oregon, New Mexico, and Colorado. There was never a dull moment — he enjoyed it all. He also taught Religious Ed for the same amount of time. Clair still plays a lot of golf and enjoys his grandchildren. He lives in Durango, where he was born.

Jerrold Booher `59, `61 (Pocatello, ID) taught school, coached, and was an administrator over a period of 39 years. His last assignment was in Holyoke, CO, where he worked for 27 years prior to retirement in 1994. He then coached baseball for another 4 years. In 2003, he and his wife moved to Pocatello, where they spend their summers. They winter in St. George, Utah. His main hobby now is golf.

◗1960s Merlyn Boss `60 (Northglenn, CO) retired in 1992 after 34 years as a physicist and says he is now just biding his time.

His wife, Mary Alice `57, retired in 1995 after 27 years as a business teacher and department chairperson at Thornton High School. They have enjoyed traveling and being with their family.

Richard Decker `60 (Aurora, CO) and his wife, Arlene, are fully retired and moved from Fountain, CO, to Aurora 4 years ago to be near their oldest son and his family. Richard taught mostly junior high/middle school band before his retirement and served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1999-2006. Now they spend quality time with their grandchildren, who attend the Colorado School of Mines and Eaglecrest High School.

Dolores Padilla `60 (Westminster, CO) retired in 1996 after teaching for 30 years. She now does volunteer work for two Catholic churches. She has been married for 53 years, and they have 2 lovely daughters and 1 granddaughter. She says it’s been a good life.

Hugh Hill `61 (Crossville, TN) was a naval aviator from 1962-71 and on the Apollo 11 Recovery Team in 1969. He then sold insurance from 1972-2003, when he retired. He and his

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wife, Carolyn, have 2 boys, 1 girl, and 4 grandkids, all in southern California. They live in Fairfield Glade Resort, 13 miles NE of Crossville. One of his fond memories was marching with the ASC band in the 1961 Rose Bowl Parade.

Fran Hull `61 (Alamosa, CO) and husband, Harry, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary August 6. Harry was the Adams State College Center Director for 40 years. Fran was the business manager at Acheson’s Attic for 37 years. They have 2 married daughters: Judy (Joe) Vaz and Jo Anne (Ruben) Allen, 2 grandsons, 3 stepgrandsons, and 5 great-grandchildren.

Lillian Gutierrez `62 (Northglenn, CO) retired ten years ago after teaching school for 20 years, then serving as regional director for the Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Education. She has a son and daughter who are both teachers. She also has 3 grandchildren.

One is a principal, one is a chef, the other is in kindergarten. She also has 5 great-grandchildren.

Norman Howey `62, `65 and his wife, Mary Sue `64, (Fruitland, NM) are just watching their grandkids grow. They still enjoy traveling and gardening.

Jon Johnston `62 (Westminster, CO) retired in 2003 from Gates Rubber Co. after 38 years as a rubber chemist. He spent 25 years as Director of Materials Research.

Ray Seib `66, `67 and his wife, Connie, celebrated their 50th anniversary in June.

Their son, Brad, and his wife, Nicole, have 2 sons: Easton (15) and Luke (12). Their daughter, Heather, and her husband, Desmond, have 3 kids: Aiden (9), Ava (7), and Austin (5). Ray coached high school track for 9 years, then at Barton Junior College in Kansas for 3 years. He has been in insurance and financial services for 36 years and is a semi-retired MetLife registered broker.

Judy Martin `67 (Phoenix, AZ) writes, “My sister Darla Chappell `77 and I went cruising with the ASU Alumni group for the second time. Our first cruise was to Canada, and the latest was to the Panama Canal. We had a terrific time connecting with people we hadn’t seen for a long time and making new friendships. Lori Laske and Gaylene Horning are to be commended for representing ASU so well!”

(Thanks, Judy.)

James Pellicer `67 (Walnut Creek, CA) taught for 40 years at the City University of New York.

He holds a Ph.D. from New York University. He retired and moved to the East Bay in California. He has written several books on western thoughts.

His forthcoming book is a historical study, The Power of Peter, The Fisherman and Mary, The Magdalene.

Ruth Martinez Pedersen `67 (Palm Desert, CA) is enjoying retirement after 31 years teaching elementary school. Her time is devoted to traveling with her husband, Bob, to Dubai, UAE, Colombia, and Asia. Her 3 daughters are in the medical profession: Jenai is a pharmacist, Krista is a clinical psychologist, and Shannon is a dietician. She attended the San Francisco alumni event while visiting her sister, Bernice Martinez `66. Ruth’s identical twin sister, Polly Martinez `67, lives in Denver.

William `68 and Sharon `70 Hall are both retired from the Department of Defense Educational Activity after a super career of working with the American military overseas.

Tony Giordano `69 (Forked River, NJ) retired as an educator after 36 years. He was a track & field coach for 28 years.

He has been married to Elaine for 47 years, and they have 2 children: Shaun and Shalon. They have 4 grandchildren: Derek, Luke, Jordyn, and Jayden. They enjoy traveling and watching grandchildren play sports.

◗1970s Camila Alire `70 (Sedalia, CO) has a consulting business, is a national/international speaker on leadership and diversity, and has finished her 5th book on management basics. She was appointed to serve on the National Endowment for the Humanities Council by President Obama. She also serves on the Senior Services of America national board. She was also granted a visiting professorship at Northeastern Normal University in the College of Computer Science & Information Technology in Changchun, China.

Harris Allen `70 (Castle Rock, CO) is a retired pilot from Flying Tigers/Federal Express. He married Stella Quirico on February 14, 2012. She is a semi-retired realtor.

Toney Cantu `70 retired from SLV Federal Bank in Alamosa, Colo., and moved with wife Eileen to Thornton to be closer to family.

They are enjoying retirement and their granddaughters.

Virginia Elder `70, `90 (La Junta, CO) has been married to her wonderful husband for 58+ years. They live in a great retirement facility. It keeps them active with meals, gardening, wood shop projects, and activities to help keep the body and mind sharp. They feel really blessed to be there.

Robert “Ex” Exler `70, `73 (Hertford, NC) is retired and residing in North Carolina with his wife, Susan. His favorite pasttime is playing golf and enjoying his golden retrievers, Rudy and Cody.

Sharon Fujinaka Ihara `70 (San Francisco, CA) has been a retired special education teacher for 10+ years and now works for a private school in their after-care program. She moved to San Francisco when her 3 daughters graduated from high school.

William Hard `70, and wife, Linda `71, (Bridgeport, NY) are retired. Linda was a school teacher, and Bill was an engineer. They are traveling when they want and enjoying life together. They have 3 children — 1 girl and 2 boys. Their sons were NCAA Division I Lacrosse All-Americans.

Jerry Hughes `70 (Reno, NV) met his wife of 46 years, Tina Scott, at Adams State. He has been a lifetime educator. He was the executive director of Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association and professor of athletic administration at UNLV. He retired in 2010 and now leads bicycle tours for the Adventure Cycling Association. He and Tina have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Michael Patritch `70, `73 (Ft. Collins, CO) writes, “Now that I’m retired from the rat race, I marvel at the affect ASU has had on my life.

Undergrads, pay attention! Whether I was teaching school or teaching SCUBA diving students, or managing a transportation research program, I learned from my instructors at ASU the importance of one-on-one communication. You see, my instructors were actually in their offices when they had office hours.

Imagine that! You are so lucky to have that same opportunity. Because of these things, I was able to graduate and then pass on their legacy to my own students. Dr. Marvel, Dr. Weldon, Dr. Motz, Mr. Jeffryes, Mr. Yarborough, and Mr. Talley, I thank you. Wherever you are, I want you to know that you are the reason I’m a success today!”

Charlotte Burke `71 (Odessa, TX) just retired after 25 years of teaching 4th-6th grades with Ecton County ISD. Capt. Billy Dunlap `71 (New Orleans, LA) has over 40 years of professional experience in the areas of business development, strategic planning, program management, system engineering, system integration, international

sales, tactical and combat systems, and secure information systems. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Specialist Officer qualified in all aspects of US and NATO EOD. He was also in salvage and deep sea diving and ship salvage operations and is the US Navy’s first African-American Diving and Salvage Officer. He is currently president and owner of USA FutureTech, Inc., headquartered in Gilbertsville, PA. USA FutureTech is a residential and commercial building contracting company, currently working out of New Orleans, LA, providing construction support in all divisions of construction services. He and his wife, Barbara, have 6 children: William, Zachary, Keith, Daniel, Noah, and Serena. He holds a Master of Science in Management from National Louis University. He was inducted into the Adams State Hall of Fame in 2009 for wrestling.

Kelly `71 and Karen `69, `70 Meek (Steamboat Springs, CO) are proud graduates. They write, “We made so many wonderful friends during our 5 years at Adams State, with whom we still get together. Thank you ASU — our professors were great!”

Inez Muniz Ray `71 (Jonesboro, AR) was married to Art Ray `70, `71 for 42 years until Ray’s death in December of 2014 after a 4month battle with colon cancer. He had retired twice, but had gone back to work with Arkansas State University at the time of his death. He worked in management in several states (Colorado, Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas) for various companies. Inez taught English, speech/drama, and Spanish in Colorado, Nebraska, Indiana, and Arkansas and was principal of a small Catholic school in Arkansas. Inez is retired, helping teachers and enjoying grandkids.

Russ Cagle `73 (San Mateo, CA) is not yet retired, still working as a software publisher. He loves the memories and experiences at ASU. He has 2 grandchildren — maybe future ASU students.

Barry Heckard `73 (Lebanon, PA) and his wife, Judy, will celebrate 40 years of marriage this spring.

He is a retired educator, having taught English (thanks, Virgil Hoff) and physical education (13 years), then serving as a secondary school administrator and athletic director for 23 years; a total of 36 years. They have 2 daughters: Molly and Kassy; and 1 granddaughter, Maurin (3 mos). He is active in the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame and its local chapter, of which he is president.

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Fred Lopez `69 (Aurora, CO) writes, “My golf company, Fred’s Used Golf Gear, or Fugg, is growing, as is my criminal trial consultant business. ‘If you have a bad day of golf, fugg it.’ See you on the links!”

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◗1970s Mary Ann Rotolo `73, `77 (Pueblo, CO) has been painting walking sticks during her retirement. At her husband’s urging, she entered them in the Colorado State Fair and has won (2) 1sts, (1) 2nd and (1) 3rd. They are of Elvis, hummingbirds, and hot air balloons. She also enjoys painting in watercolor, acrylic, and oils.

Mike Boehm `77 (Brush, CO) has been with Farmers Insurance Group for 30 years and feels there are many good years left. He was awarded “Championship” agent status based on sales and service. In his spare time, he spends time with his wife at their cabin in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He writes, “I am always amazed at the transformation of the campus at ASU. What a beautiful place for a great learning experience. I’m always happy to say I am an Adams State graduate.”

Sam Towers `77 is a behavior analyst (imagine that!). He is quickly approaching retirement.

He and his sweetie, Barby `86, live near Otis, Colo., in a passively solar-heated adobe that Barby designed and built almost entirely by herself. Barby is still quite pretty, and Sam . . . well, that’s another story all together.

Jack Rudder `79, `84 (Alamosa, CO) is a retired teacher/principal for Sanford schools.

He is the Veterans Service Officer for Rio Grande County and was appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs.

◗1980s Mike Erickson `80 (Highlands Ranch, CO) left the business world 14 years ago and has been teaching high school. He said, “The joy of helping future generations with their journey has been amazing. We are in this together so let’s make this a better world, one day at a time.”

Joyce C. Martinez `81, `95 is a special education teacher for Pueblo City Schools.

She has 3 children: James (29), Patricio (28), and Marcos (24).

Barbara Holmes `82 (Nashville, TN) was in private law practice for almost 30 years until her August 2015 ap-

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aStater fall 2015

pointment as a Federal Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the middle district of Tennessee. She was also recently installed as the 34th chair of the Tennessee Bar Foundation. She was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2011 and has served as a regional Trustee and as treasurer. Barbara received her law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1986. She is a past president of the Nashville Bar Association and has served in numerous leadership positions for the Tennessee Bar Association and the Mid-South Commercial Law Institute. In addition to her extensive work in the commercial area of the law, she served as a referee in Juvenile Court and chaired a statewide commission on juvenile justice.

Jackie Getz White `82 (Bridgewater, NJ) is responsible for clinical supply logistics at Celgene Corporation. She has 2 sons, ages 24 and 20.

Mark MacDonnell `83 lives in Las Animas, CO, with his wife, Kim. He was appointed as Chief District Court Judge, 16th Judicial District, in 2013.

Richard Mariani `86 (Colorado City, CO) is manager of the training and quality departments at Innotrac, where he has worked for 16 years. He still is an avid runner, after running on the track team for Adams State. His wife, Rosalie Valdez Mariani `86, has taught for Pueblo City Schools for 20 years and now has a 1st grade classroom. She enjoys teaching line dancing classes when she has the time and still thinks fondly of her dancing days with Semillas De La Tierra at Adams State.

Rosalie and Richard love living in Colorado City, where they enjoy the open space, fresh air, and watching wildlife in the beautiful Greenhorn Valley. They will celebrate 30 years of marriage next August.

Mark Steward `86 (Colorado Springs, CO) has a beautiful wife, Bonnie, a son, AJ, and a daughter, Jenna. He flies C130’s at the 302nd airlift wing at Peterson AFB. His civilian job is flying cargo at FedEx.

Carol Sessums `83, `91 (Monte Vista, CO) teaches at Sangre de Cristo High School. This year she received the Mountain-Plains Business Education Association Secondary Teacher of the Year Award.

Priscilla Falcon `85 taught high school in Alamosa, then earned both a master’s and doctorate from the University of Denver, completing her doctorate in international relations in 1994. She also received a fellowship that allowed her to travel in Mexico and Central America. She taught at Adams State from 1990-95 and in 1996 joined the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley, where she has been for 21 years. She is a member of the National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE) and the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American Studies and is active with Al Frente de Lucha, an organization which focuses on issues of immigration and youth leadership. Her only son, Ricardo Jr., is a pediatric anesthesiologist and professor of anesthesiology at the University of New Mexico.

Priscilla has 6 grandchildren.

Peter Graham `86 (Santa Fe, NM) is in his 29th year of teaching and coaching at Santa Fe High School.

William Talkington `86 (Littleton, CO) taught in public elementary education for 34 years, then retired in 2009 from the Cherry Creek schools.

Julie Kove `87 is a licensed professional counselor and a national certified counselor who has had a successful private practice in Alamosa for 27 years. Both her children are also successful and live in the Boulder area.

Her daughter, Johanna, is a bilingual SpanishEnglish therapist and is married. Her son, Seth, is a weather specialist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. He is married and has a daughter, Lilly (3), and one on the way. After 23 years in Alamosa, Julie’s husband, Alan, built a solar energy home in Crestone, where they live now. She enjoys hiking and being in nature, cooking, and spending time with her kids and granddaughter. She loves her work and is enjoying life!

Darlene Holland `90 (Seguin, TX) is going into her 10th year of coaching at Texas Lutheran University.

She is head coach of men’s and women’s cross country/track

◗1990s Craig Dickson `90 is a mental health therapist and a co-director/coach of “Guerilla Running” running club. He lives with his fiancé, Rachael Jamison, and her daughter, Freya.

Rosalyn Johnson Smith `93 (Centennial, CO) writes, “I’m very thankful for the quality education I received from ASU. I became an elementary teacher in Jefferson County. I had a great career there and retired. My daughter, Melanie Johnson Yalacki `00, is also a graduate. She taught in Jeffco until she and her husband and sons moved to California. Thank you, ASU. Drs. John McDaniel, Carolyn Harper, and Lena Samora, among others, were all instrumental to my success.

remembering . . .

Enid Ruark Harper `51 (Bakersfield, CA) passed away Sept. 20 at the age of 87.

Ruby Harris Barber `57, `80 (Cortez, CO) passed away Aug. 23 at the age of 90. Among her survivors is sister Irene Harris Gohr `49.

James Driskill `60 (Mesa, AZ) passed away June 17 at the age of 80. Among his survivors are wife Georgetta Driskill `68 and sister-inlaw Jeannie Driskill `67.

Pat Robbins `93, `96 (Alamosa, CO), associate professor of business administration at Adams State, recently received the Mountain-Plains Business Education Association (MPBEA) Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award. She served on the CBE Executive Board of Directors as a collegiate representative and as president of the board. The 2013 CBE fall conference was hosted at the ASU School of Business. The MPBEA Awards Ceremony recognized her outstanding contributions to education during her 21 years of teaching: 1994 - 2008 at Trinidad State Junior College, then at Adams State.

Robert Baca `94 (Pueblo, CO), in addition to being a realtor with Remax of Pueblo, has been wreaking havoc on

Dolores "Dee" Downing McLean `65 (Ames, IA) passed away Oct. 4 at the age of 85.

Among her survivors are daughters Kristine Magel `73, Karen McLean-Simmons `74, Kimberly McLean `82, and son Barney McLean `83. Memorial donations may be made to the McLean Family Scholarship by contacting the ASU Foundation, 719-587-7122.

Janet Black `66 (Monte Vista, CO) passed away June 24 at the age of 70.

J. Durward Morsch `68 (Colorado Springs, CO) passed away Aug. 2 at the age of 94.

Lewis Spano `61, `62 (Stamford, CT) passed away Feb. 15 at the age of 78.

James Pressley `70 (Albuquerque, NM) passed away May 16 at the age of 75.

Armenio Lujan `62, `64 (Las Vegas, NV) passed away July 23 at the age of 76.

Paul Peterson `71 (Colorado Springs, CO) passed away Aug. 2 at the age of 69.

Gary Gaston `62, `65 (Monte Vista, CO) passed away Sept. 16 at the age of 76.

Billy Streeter `72 (Galveston, TX) passed away July 28 at the age of 72.

Loretta Frazier Folsom Copley `63 (Wetumpka, AL) passed away March 2 at the age of 79.

Anthony Cantu `72 (Alamosa, CO) passed away Sept. 18 at the age of 65.

Marjory Swenson `64, `68 (Arvada, CO) passed away Oct. 2 at the age of 93. Among her survivors are husband Dr. Lloyd Swenson, Emeritus Professor of Education and former Asst. VP for Academic Affairs, daughter Karen Parker`76, and son Gary Swenson `81.

Eric Weedin `95 (Loveland, CO) has operated Weedin Agency, Inc., for 13 years. He was President of Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Colorado from 2012-2013. He is a Rotary member and plays trumpet with the Colorado Swing Big Band. (www.coloradoswing.com).

Diane Hurt `96 still lives in Rocky Ford, CO, with her husband, Ross. She is retired after 10 years teaching. She and Ross enjoy their grandchildren and greatgrandchildren who live nearby.

She has wonderful memories of Adams State and writes, “I think about so many of my classmates and pray you are all doing well.”

“Remembering” lists only survivors who are Adams State graduates or are affiliated with ASU.

Marvin "Corky" Lyons `60 (Grand Junction, CO) passed away Aug. 20 at the age of 84.

John Howard `64 (Pasco, WA) passed away June 30 at the age of 80.

I-25 with the Alumni Relations state car. . . nuff said.

Janet Kent `72 (Victoria, TX) passed away Sept. 20 at the age of 66.

Betty Gurule `75 (Alamosa, CO) passed away Aug. 9 at the age of 73.

Frances "Francie" Ton `78 (Alamosa, CO) passed away July 11 at the age of 60. Among her survivors is brother John Ton `87.

Ross Barlow `80, `81 (Monte Vista, CO) passed away Aug. 18 at the age of 61.

Anthony DiTorrice `83 (Westminster, CO) passed away Feb. 17 at the age of 57.

Craig Jessop `83 (Ogden, UT) passed away Feb. 9 at the age of 62.

Nora Holmes `86 (Alamosa, CO) passed away Sept. 25 at the age of 39++. Among her survivors are son John Holmes `83 & daughter-in-law Barbara Holmes `83; daughter Jeni Jack Goodwin `85 & son-in-law Greg Goodwin `96; son James "Fuzzy" Holmes `97; granddaughter Erica Holmes Trujillo `11, `14 & grandson-in-law Diego Trujillo `11.

Jean Mickelsen `86, `88 (Harrison, AR) passed away June 27 at the age of 77. Among her survivors is husband Warren Mickelsen `66, `90.

Eugene Pacheco `90 (Monte Vista, CO) passed away Jan. 30 at the age of 59. Among his survivors are wife Linda Pacheco `91, son Clinton Pacheco `12, and sister Catherine Montano `78.

friends Marian Seegrist, ASU Retiree (Arvada, CO) passed away Sept. 26 at the age of 87.

Carolyn Chrisman `79 (Hooper, CO) passed away June 23 at the age of 71.

aStater alumnotes

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& field. She is applying everything she learned at “ASC” to her teams!

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◗1990s Katrina Ruggles `96, `98 (Monte Vista, CO) was named School Counselor of the Year by the Colorado School Counselor Association, beating 60 other nominees from around the state. Among Ruggles’ signature achievements is the ICAP Program, Individual Career and Academic Planning. She places kids into career clusters to identify possible future careers. Students do a half-day lesson geared toward college readiness and what it takes to be in that career. The program, now in its 3rd year, has been such a resounding success that Ruggles has taken the show on the road, helping districts around the state develop similar programs. Ruggles also spearheads a peer mentorship program and is raising 6 kids of her own. In her free time, she loves the outdoors and reading, but she doesn’t have much time to read anything other than work-related material these days.

Shane Showalter `96, `98 (Clarksville, TN), who has been Austin Peay State University assistant softball coach for the past three seasons, is serving as the Lady Govs head coach for the 2015-16 season. During his time with APSU’s program, Showalter has assisted with recruiting, coached the Lady Govs’ hitters and pitchers, worked defensively with the infield and catchers, and helped with the team’s annual camps and clinics. He certainly owns head-coaching experience — 14 years at the Division II and III levels. He spent 11 seasons as the program’s leader at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

◗2000s Joshua Cantu `04 (Alamosa, CO) married Megan Beiriger on June 27. Josh works at Centauri High School, and Megan attends Adams State and coaches volleyball at Sangre de Cristo High School.

Erin Smith `06 (Aurora, CO) graduated in June from Northcentral University with her doctorate of education, specializing in e-learning and teaching online.

Danielle McDonald `08 (Wichita, KS) recently completed her residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Family Medicine Residency Program at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan.

◗2010s Don `10 and Jacque `10 Straka (White Bear Lake, MN) were missionaries in Granada for 3 ½ years through Living Water Bible Fellowship Church of Alamosa. He is now enrolled in a master’s program in Minnesota. Don is the son of Comfort Cover, asst. professor of management information systems at Adams State, and Jacque is the daughter of Kateri Reeves, who works in Adams State Extended Studies.

plan now for the next

Fun Alumni Cruise Alaska • June 2017 watch your mail for details.

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Amanda Kleinsasser Graham `11, `13 (Fountain, CO) is an admissions counselor for Adams State, recruiting students in the southern Front Range, including the southern Denver-metro area, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. If you know of any high school juniors or seniors interested in Adams State, please have them contact her at agra-

ham@adams.edu. Remember: if an alumnus refers a student to Adams State, the student’s application fee is waived.

Lindsey Grasmick `12 was named assistant coach for Western State Colorado University’s track and field program. She previously served as a volunteer assistant during the 2012-13 season. She served as a graduate assistant coach for 2 seasons at Minnesota State University, Mankato. While there, she also served as an Athletic Academic Advisor Intern during the 2014-15 academic year, advising student-athletes from 18 sports. As a graduate student, Grasmick received the Sport Management Leadership Award and the Woman of Courage and Vision Award in 2015.

She earned her master’s degree in Sport Management in May. Vance Barskdale `13 is attending medical school at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School in Denver. He and ASU classmate Marcus Newell '13 conducted research with Dr. Kristy Duran, asst. professor of biology, that was published in the May issue of Tri Beta's journal, BIOS. The paper is titled “Nuclear intergenic DNA sequence divergence in a Texas dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium divaricatum) population.”

Marcus Newell `13 is working in a research laboratory in California and is applying to graduate schools. He and ASU classmate Vance Barskdale '13 conducted research with Dr. Kristy Duran, asst. professor of biology, that was published in the May issue of Tri Beta's journal, BIOS. The paper is titled “Nuclear intergenic DNA sequence divergence in a Texas dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium divaricatum) population.”

Jessica Achatz `15 is an assistant athletic trainer for the Utah State Aggies. She works primarily with the cross country and track & field programs and provides support for the Aggies' 14 other NCAA Division I programs.

Achatz spent the past two years at Adams State, where she earned her master's degree in exercise science. The native of Rocky Ford, Colo., was a graduate assistant trainer with the Grizzlies, working with the men's soccer program for two years, women's basketball program for a year, and men's lacrosse program for a year.

Samantha "Sam" Cordero '15, (Alamosa, CO) is a nurse on the med-surg floor of SLV Health and recently joined the Alamosa Kiwanis Club.

She was featured in the summer 2015 A-Stater along with other outstanding recent graduates.

However, the photo used was of another senior nursing student. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience.

alumni scrapbook Homecoming Helpers

the homecoming spirit is catching in Alamosa. ASU staff have a great time wearing the green (right). They were joined this year by staff at City Market (above) and First Southwest Bank (top), who purchased the “throwback” homecoming t-shirts to express their loyalty to Adams State and the Grizzlies.

college friends visit campus

peru is calling you machu picchu • manu national park Two weeks • Early July, 2016 Approx. $5,000 per person (incl. flights, ground transportation, lodging, meals)

For more information, contact trip leader: Dr. Tim Armstrong, professor of biology

719-587-7211 taarmstr@adams.edu.

aStater scrapbook

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A group of friends who had their own reunion on campus recently were (from left) Mary Ann Pyzer Sansom, Carmen Lucero Bruno `70, Camila Alire `70, Rose Mary Piazza Humble, and Betti Cable Marvel.

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alumni scrapbook

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mineral water bowl reunion

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san francisco

Back, L-R: Bob Exler, Harris Allen, Jim Gable, Doug Plank, Kelly Meek, Jerry Hughes, Billy Dunlap, Butch Jone, Bill Hard, Jerry Peyton, Barry Heckard, Kent Thompson Front, L-R: Bill Rakow and Tony Giordano.

Back L-R: Patricia Ihara & Sharon Fujinaka Ihara, Val & Ralph Cramer, Russ Cagle and Lori Laske Front L-R: Patricia Morales-Pellicer & James Pellicer, Ruth Pedersen, Bernice Martinez, Shari Steiner and Carol Cagle

◗ la junta

Back L-R: Willie & Janet Lowther, Lori Laske, Mark MacDonnell, and Jake Martinez Front L-R: Diane Hurt, MJ Reed, and Dr. Beverlee McClure

Wayne Melanson, Camile Alire, Toney Cantu, Sally Schulz, Liz Watts

Dr. Beverlee McClure visits with Jean & Stan Nelson

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colorado

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denver • class of 1969-70

Back L-R: Phil DeLorenzo, Jon Johnston, Merlyn & Mary Alice Boss, Grant Faucette, Jeremy Wilder, and Eric Weedin

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Front L-R: Dr. Beverlee McClure, Ron Gallegos, Lillian Gutierrez, Dolores Padilla, and Lori Laske

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south denver Back L-R: Lori Laske, Camila Alire, Mike Erickson, Arlene Decker, Wayne Melanson, Liz Watts, Amanda Graham, Bill Talkington, and Toney & Eileen Cantu Front L-R: Richard Decker, Dr. Beverlee McClure, and Sally Schulz

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north denver

creede teacher appreciation: Creede staff gathers in their new cafeteria to eat lunch provided by the Alumni Relations office.

creede

walsenberg

◗ ft. garland

◗ Cathy Mullens, Dr. Beverlee McClure, and John Carlson

Dr. Beverlee McClure chats with Helen Gonzales and daughter Ila Tafoya.

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L-R: Milton Trujillo, John Singletary, Ellie Crain, Lori Laske, Bill Crain, Richard & Rosalie Mariani, and Margaret Trujillo

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L-R: Carla & Mike Garcia, Donald Salazar, Joyce Martinez, Carol Wheeler, and Mary Ann & Ken Rotolo

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pueblo

Dr. Beverlee McClure and former ASU Trustee Buffie McFadyen

L-R: Linda O’Leary, Lori Laske, Emmett O’Leary, Robert Baca, Henry Trujillo, Amanda Graham, Milton Trujillo and Bernice Trujillo

aStater scrapbook

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o springs

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Track & sha

2

4 6

1 3 1. Dan `03 & Mark `75 Rose with Dr. Vigil 2. Dr. Joe Vigil, Jim Woodke `69, `71, Alan Johnson `70, Cliff Miller `69 and Larry Zaragoza `73, `74

5 7

3. Mike McGuire `80, Randy Cooper `82, Dr. Joe Vigil, Alan Stahlecker `82

5. Ken Woodard `86, `92; Jim Bevan `84, `86; Peter Graham `86; Chris Carroll `89; John Thomas `86

4. The men behind the legend—coaches Joe Vigil `53, `59 and Damon Martin `87

6. The younger generation enjoys time on the campus green.

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7. Elda & Marco `90, `92 Ochoa, Jack Sperber `88, Melissa Johnson-Schnyder `90, Bob Fink `79 8. Rita Vigil `90, Darlene Holland `90, and Melissa Johnson-Schnyder `90 9. Drew Graham ‘08 challenges local kids to a race against his wheelchair.

Last September, Graham was severely injured in a swimming accident. He was an assistant coach at Abilene Christian University and the 2012 the USTFCCCA Indoor Track Male Athlete of the Year.

10. The reunion wouldn’t have been complete without the Campus Cafe’s famous cinnamon rolls.

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internationally renowned distance runners are not rare at adams state, so to stand out among them is saying something. pablo vigil ’75, ’91 achieved that distinction, having run – and won – races ranging from one to one hundred miles. in his prime, he was acclaimed the “greatest mountain distance runner in the world.”

Recalling the challenges, success, and lessons of his running career, Pablo Vigil gave the welcome address at the 2015 Track & Field and Cross Country Reunion, held on campus in late July. About 150 former student-athletes Pablo Vigil ‘75, ‘91 shares a laugh with Larry `69 & Shirley reunited to celeJeffryes. brate their success in all running venues: track, achievements and honor coaches Dr. cross country, road races, and mountain Joe I. Vigil ’53, ‘59 and Damon Martin racing.” ’87.

Olympic Gold and Silver medalist Coach Vigil, a two-time Olympic Frank Shorter noted, “His running Lead Distance Running coach, has record speaks for itself, but it is his known Pablo for over 40 years and said, quiet, ongoing contribution to his sport “Pablo is unequivocally one of the most over the years that sets him apart. . . outstanding runners to ever represent Many, many young runners have been the State of Colorado and the United coached and advised by Pablo over the States on both the national and internayears.” tional scene. He has had outstanding

the running success of

pablo vigil ‘75, ‘91 halls of fame 2006 Adams State University 2006 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 2012 Colorado Running • 1970: Colorado State High School XC champ • 1971: State High School 2-mile run runner up • 1971: First place, Colorado Springs Junior Division, Pikes Peak Marathon, 4th overall • 4x NAIA All American at Adams State • 1971: Member of 1st Adams State Nat’l XC Championship team • Only runner in RMAC to win three cross country championships • 1974: Top USA runner, 3rd overall, at NAIA Nat’l XC Championships • 1978: Qualified for USA World Team XC Championships • 1977 & ’78: winner, Garden of the Gods 10 Miler, Colorado Springs • 1979: 4th place, Coamo, Puerto Rico International Half Marathon • 1979-82: 4x winner of International Sierre Zinal 32K Mountain Race – only male international runner to achieve honor, held record for 10 years • 1980: 4th place, Bolder Boulder 10K • 1980, ‘84, ’88: USA Olympic Marathon Qualifier • 1980, ’81, ’88: won Revco Cleveland Marathon; presented Key to the City of Cleveland ’80 & ‘81 • 1981: 2nd place, Kyoto, Japan, Marathon • 1981: Winner/record holder, Catalina Island Marathon • 1983: Won Kitzbuehel, Austria, Mountain Race • 1985, ’86: Winner/record holder, Albuquerque, NM, Duke City Marathon • 1988: Won Landwasserlauf, Switzerland Road Race • 1989: 2nd place, Russia Peace Marathon, Moscow • 1989: Won Super Marathon De Hoggar 100mile stage race over 5 days, Algeria • 1990: 2nd place, Super Marathon De Hoggar • 1993: 5th place, 1st Master runner, 1st USA runner, Denver International Marathon • 1995: National Champion, Masters 25K Old Kent River Bank Run, Grand Rapids, MI

aStater scrapbook

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& X-C alumni are the good times

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Athletic Hall of Fame honors ASU’s best the adams state university athletic hall of fame inducted eight individuals and a collection of three baseball teams at a banquet, oct. 16. emeritus president david svaldi: ted & janet morrison special citation Athletic Director Larry Mortensen ‘88, ‘93 expressed appreciation for Dr. Svaldi's support during his decade as ASU president. “Our athletic programs increased from 12 to 20 sports, the student/athlete population doubled, and there was an impressive expansion of athletic facilities. Dr. Svaldi believed in the role and mission of the student/athlete.” bob anderson '67 • wrestling Bob Anderson was one of Adams State’s first All-Americans, with a fourth-place finish at the 1965 NAIA National Championship. That led to an NCAA Division I All-American nod, as he placed sixth in the university division of the NCAA tournament. The following season, with Anderson as co-captain, the team placed third at the NAIA National Tournament, the highest finish for the wrestling program at the time. Anderson was a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Champion, as the team went undefeated in dual meets and won two Mountain Intercollegiate Wresting Association (MIWA) championships.

After graduation, Anderson assisted head coach Frank Powell in 1967 when the Adams State program finished second at the NAIA National Tournament. Anderson continued to compete, winning the 1968 Western Regional Olympic Trials and Olympic trials in Greco Roman. He earned a spot as alternate on the U.S.A. Olympic wrestling team in 1968, 1972, 1976. Anderson went on to win two gold medals and a silver medal at the Pan Am games. In 2003, he was featured in Sports Illustrated as the Masters World Champion, having had no points scored against him. He followed with a silver medal in 2004 at the World Championships in Greco Roman. Anderson also coached a Junior World team, a World Cup team, and a U.S.A. wrestling team. aaron braun '09 • cross country, track & field Aaron Braun finished his illustrious Adams State career as a 15-time All-American. As a junior, he was declared the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and the Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.

He went on to earn NCAA Division II individual titles for the indoor mile (2009 & 2010) and a pair of RMAC titles in the 1500 meters and as a member of the distance medley relay team for the 2009 indoor season. He also tallied three runner-up performances at NCAA DII Championship meets.

As a cross country runner, Braun finished second at both the 2007 and 2008 NCAA DII National Championships. He won the 2008 RMAC Championships, crossing the finish line in 24:35.3.

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Collegiately, he tallied personal-best marks of 4:06.98 in the mile, 7:51.68 in the 3000 meters, and 13:36.85 in the 5000 meters. In cross country, he recorded a 10,000 meters time of 30:05.6, 8,000 meters time of 23:38, and a four-mile mark of 19:27.4. Braun was a member of one indoor track & field national championship team and two cross country national championship teams. He holds school records in the 3000 meters-indoor, 5000 meters-outdoor, 5000 meters-indoor, and is part of the record-holding distance medley relay team. curt christensen '88 • track & field Curt Christensen showed the nation that Adams State was much more than a distance running team. As a triple jumper, Christensen captured three RMAC crowns from 1985-87.

His 51' jump at the 1987 conference meet set a school record that stood for 27 years. His individual success played a vital role in Adams State claiming conference championships during all three of those seasons.

At the 1986 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, he captured a national title in the triple jump with a distance of 49' 5.25". Adams State recorded 67 team points to finish second. He was named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete in 1987. aucencio martinez '10 • cross country, track & field Aucencio Martinez ran to a pair of national titles during the 2006 indoor track and field season. The first came in the mile with a time of 4:07.44. The other came as a member of the distance medley relay team, which finished in 9:50.48.

Martinez’s first of 10 All-American honors came as a freshman at the 2003 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where he finished sixth in the 1500 meters. He earned a 13th place finish at the 2005 NCAA DII Cross Country Championships, followed by 10th place in 2006.

Martinez achieved a 10,000 meter personal-best time of 29:45.3 and an 8,000 meter personal-best mark of 26:35.0.

He clocked personal-bests in track in 2007 with marks of 3:44.15 in the 1500 meters and 4:00.69 in the mile. He is a member of the record-holding distance medley relay team. steve nichols '74 • track & field It was a memorable 1973-74 track and field campaign for Steve Nichols, when he clocked a time of 49.5 seconds for an individual title in the 440 meter dash at the NAIA indoor championships. Earlier in the indoor season, he set a school record in the event (47.3) that still stands.

His success carried into the outdoor season, with Nichols winning RMAC championships in the 440 yard dash (48.7) and 880 yard run (1:59.0). His efforts helped secure an RMAC team championship. Nichols holds RMAC records and titles in the 100 yard dash (9.8), 220 yard dash (21.8), and 440 yard dash. He was also a member of the RMAC record-setting mile relay (3:22.8).

The Adams State University Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2015: (bottom from left) Dr. David Svaldi, Aaron Braun, Aucencio Martinez, Richard Tamble, Mark Steward, and Dick Lee; (top from left) Curt Christensen, Stan Nelson, Jim Workman, Dee Dee Shiplett, Bob Miller, Jerrold Booher, Tom Bobicki, and Bob Anderson. Not pictured was Steve Nichols.

for the 115 lb. wrestler. Tamble was a two-time RMAC champion, two-time Mountain Intercollegiate champion, and two-time NAIA All-American. As a co-captain during his senior season in 1968, Tamble led Adams State to its first wrestling national championship. He then became the first Adams State athlete to represent the U.S. in Olympic competition (Mexico City, 1968).

Tamble was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969, and he continued his wrestling career as a coach and wrestler for the 7th Corps Army team in Germany. In 1971, he was named Inter-service wrestling champion in freestyle and Greco Roman and finished second in the A.A.U. National Championships. He was then assigned to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to serve as an assistant wrestling coach and military tactics instructor.

1958, 1959, & 1960 baseball teams Hall of Fame coach Spud Orr led Adams State baseball to second-place finishes in the RMAC standings from 19581960. With a 14-7 record, the 1958 team advanced to the NAIA regional tournament. The program had a 12-game winning streak and snapped Colorado State University's 39game winning streak.

The team hit .314 in 1958 and finished with a .943 fielding percentage. Sophomore pitcher Darrell Westbrook led the pitching staff with a 5-0 record (including 2 shutouts) and a 1.55 ERA entering the NAIA Tournament. Freshman Jim Workman pitched 4-1 and finished second on the team with a .435 batting average, along with 23 RBI's. Ben Brown boasted a .436 batting average and 16 stolen bases.

Members of the 1958 team that reached the NAIA regional tournament included Bill Waters, Ben Brown, Jerry Booher, Gabby Picone, Tom Bobicki, Bill Latham, Dick Lee, Jim Colbert, Bill Blatnick, Bob Reed, Don Bucher, Bob Miller, Jim Workman, Bill Humphrey, Doug Anderson, and Darrell Westbrook.

By Michael D. Skinner

aStater sports scene

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dee dee shiplett • volleyball, basketball, softball There was no such thing as an off season for Dee Dee Shiplett, who competed in volleyball, basketball, and softball from 1983-88.

As a freshman on the basketball court, she ranked within the top 25 scorers in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Her team won an RMAC Championship under Hall of Fame coach Jack 'Doc' Cotton. As a junior, Shiplett was named to the Second Team All-RMAC and ranked second in the conference, with a 51 percent shooting clip from the field.

On the diamond, she was an NAIA District 7 All-American Honorable Mention selection in 1986. In 1987, she threw a no-hitter against Colorado School of Mines and posted a 1.34 season ERA, while hitting .474. In her final season, she ranked first in the RMAC in hitting, hitting percentage, and runs batted in. She was a two-time RMAC AllConference selection as a pitcher (1987 & 1988) and an All-NAIA District 7 utility player in 1988. Adams State was crowned RMAC Champions that season.

Shiplett also lettered twice in volleyball (1985 & 1986). mark steward • track & field It was Mark Steward's time to shine during indoor track and field season. He won back-to-back individual titles in the mile at the NAIA Championships in 1985 and 1986, with times of 4:09.79 and 4:08.69, respectively. Steward was also a member of the 1986 first place distance medley relay team that finished in 10:05.73, the third fastest DMR mark at the NAIA indoor championship meet. Steward's efforts at the 1986 national meet helped Adams State finish in secondplace with a total of 67 points, the best finish to that point at an indoor national meet. Steward finished his collegiate career as a five-time NAIA All-American. richard tamble '68 • wrestling Richard Tamble was already a wrestling champion when he came to Adams State. The accolades continued to stack up

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men place 2nd

Women’s Cross Country takes Nat’l Championship The women’s cross country team ran to its 19th overall NCAA Division II national title, Nov. 21 in Joplin, Mo. The men’s team finished second. Both teams entered nationals as RMAC champs and NCAA DII South Central Region champs. Furthermore, head coach Damon Martin ‘87 was named the NCAA DII Women’s National Coach of the Year, his 21st such award in cross country.

This was the women’s first NCAA crown since 2009. ASU garnered 83 points as Noel Prandoni, Jenna Thurman, Maura O’Brien, Grace Tinkey, and Kelsey Corbin earned All-American honors. After a first place run of 20:43.7 at the RMAC Championships, Prandoni was named the RMAC Runner of the Year and the RMAC Freshman of the Year.

grizzlies fall season

For the men, Sydney Gidabuday placed 6th overall at nationals with a 10K time of 29:39.9, and Dominic Cabada placed 29th overall. Both were named All-Americans. Gidabuday was named RMAC Freshman of the Year at the RMAC Championships, held in Alamosa, Oct. 24. He placed fourth overall with a time of 24:44.8. The men’s program torched through the 2015 season with five team titles.

www.asugrizzlies.com Men’s Golf ASU finished tied for 14th at the RMAC South Invitational, Oct. 12-14. Frazer Pomfret tied for 63rd overall, with a three-round total of 255. Pomfret also produced ASU’s best 18-hole performance at the tournament, with a second round score of 80 (+8).

Women’s Golf In their final tournament of the fall season, Oct. 13, ASU wrapped up their second RMAC event in 15th place. Brooke Lucero led the Grizzlies on the final day with a round of 82 (+10). She tallied one birdie on the par-four second hole. She finished in a four-way tie for 31st place with her two-day total of 168 (+24).

Men’s Soccer

Junior quarterback Auston Hillman eludes Western State defenders during a thrilling 52-51 double overtime victory on Sept. 26. Hillman led ASU to a 36-point comeback win that set a new NCAA record.

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The Grizzlies defeated South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (2-1) and Colorado Christian University (3-2) for a 2-13-2 overall record for the 2015 season. Sophomore goalkeeper, Austin Baumeister, was the lone Grizzly to earn postseason recognition with his second consecutive AllRMAC Honorable Mention nod. Baumeister collected 80 saves while starting all 17 games.

Football

Women’s Soccer

Under first-year head coach Timm Rosenbach, the Grizzlies have defeated Western State Colorado University, Black Hills State University, and New Mexico Highlands University. In the 52-51 double overtime win over Western State, the Grizzlies completed the largest comeback in NCAA history. The program trailed 42-6 in the final minutes before halftime, but rattled off 36 unanswered points to force overtime. Junior quarterback Auston Hillman was selected the National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter (NFFCC) Player of the Week for his performance against Western State.

Freshman quarterback Johnny Feauto was also named NFFCC Player of the Week, after throwing for 444 yards during a 44-24 win over Black Hills State.

With a 7-8-3 (.472) overall record, Grizzly women’s soccer achieved the second best winning percentage in program history. It also matched the program's highest win total of 7, which was accomplished only four other times (2002, 2003, 2005, and 2011). The Grizzlies completed their 2015 home slate with a 4-5-2 mark, while going 3-3-1 away from the confines of the ASU Soccer Field. Seniors Dezirae Armijo and Shelby McBain were both named All-RMAC Honorable Mention at the end of the season.

aStater fall 2015

Volleyball With a roster of nine underclassmen and only two seniors, the Grizzlies remain competitive as they enter the final stretch of the season, still in postseason contention. After beginning the season 0-6, ASU turned things around with a five-match winning streak in October with three conference road wins.

athletics has grizzly-sized economic impact the asu athletic department creates an economic impact in the san luis valley of over $13 million, according to an economic impact analysis conducted by students in dr. liz thomas hensley’s ‘05 economic feasibility study class.

The class included three undergraduate students, Justin Kauffman, Kale Mortensen, and Josh Peterman, and two MBA students, Lauren Martin ‘14 and Tayler Warren ‘14. Hensley is also director of the MBA program. She created the new, one-credit course as part of her 2014 Presidential Teacher Award.

“This was a great experience. The students got a lot out of this. It was a ton of number crunching,” Hensley said, “They learned the process of how to do one of these analyses, something real-world, obviously a great resume builder for them.”

Hensley’s group consulted with John Stump, now retired, who conducted a similar economic impact study of Adams State as a whole in 2005, on behalf of the SLV Development Resource Group. “The students really learned a lot from him, and he was very supportive,” Hensley added. He confirmed that the multiplier he used ten years ago, 1.7, was still valid.

A multiplier of 1.7 means every dollar spent generates another seventy cents in spending.

The new report found ASU Athletics creates a financial impact to the valley of $13,127,306. This stems from several sources: living and personal expenses by student-athletes, spending by visiting teams and student-athletes’ friends and family, direct spending by the department, and wages earned by department employees. In addition, the study found every two positions in the Athletics Department support another job in the valley.

doc cotton honored by shape colorado dr. jack “doc” cotton received the “Joy of Effort” Award from the Society for Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America state affiliate, SHAPE Colorado, at its annual convention. The Award recognizes individuals who have personified the concept that the effort made to enrich the goals and objectives of health, physical education, and sport is a labor of love, inspired by commitment and dedication.

clayton ellis ‘84, past president of SHAPE Colorado and former student of Cotton, said he “has influenced hundreds, if not thousands of physical education teachers and athletes across Colorado and the country during his 38 years in education.”

“I can honestly say that I am a better person for having Coach Cotton in my life,” said debra gilbert ’83, Adams State women’s basketball Hall of Famer.

Cotton’s acceptance speech can be seen at: https://vimeo.com/142551779

coach martin directed team usa, noted in denver mag damon martin ‘87, head coach/director of Cross Country and Track & Field, coached distance runners for Team USA at the NACAC (North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletics) Senior Championships, held Aug 7-9 in San Jose, Costa Rica. A total of 31 countries were represented.

bosen’s stats • 3x NCAA Division II National Champion • 12x All-American • 1999 Nat’l titles: Indoor 5K, Outdoor 5K, Outdoor 10K; Set RMAC championship record for 5K (17:03.9) • 10 individual RMAC titles • 2000 RMAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year • 2011 inducted to Adams State Athletics Hall of Fame

Kimberly Bosen ‘02 and the 1991-1999 Adams State University women's cross country teams were inducted into the 13th annual Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Hall of Fame this past July 24.

Bosen was one of seven individual inductees, while the 1991-1999 cross country squads were the only teams enshrined.

The 1991 women's cross country team started a run of nine straight national championships for Adams State. Three runners became individual national champs: 1991 - Amy Giblin ‘94, ‘96; 1996 - Denise Summers ‘99; and 1998 - Kim Bugg Jackson ‘00. The 1999 squad notched an NCAA DII record of 23 team points at the national meet and captured a NCAA DII South Central regional championship and their fifth straight RMAC title. Adams State now has a total of 16 individual RMAC Hall of Fame members and an RMACbest 34 teams enshrined.

He was also recognized as the 2014-15 RMAC Coach of the Year for women's cross country.

In addition, 5280 – The Denver Magazine billed Martin as “Adams State's Secret Weapon” in its October issue.

grizzly fans can watch online Fans who can’t attend Grizzly games can watch them either live, or later, via Stretch Internet by going online to: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/adams/.

KSPK’s video feed is used for home football, basketball, and select volleyball matches; other streamed events are produced by ASU Athletics. Sports Information Director Michael Skinner said plans call for extending the video streaming to outdoor events in time for spring sports.

aStater sports scene

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rmac hall of fame inducts kim bosen ‘02, 8 women’s x-c teams

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ASU Cares Day 275 volunteers • 20 projects