AStaterAutumn2021

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autumn 2021 the magazine of adams state university

Adams State keeps traditions alive by serving its students and the community

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VOL. 61, NO. 2 • AUTUMN 2021

Published by Adams State University Foundation Adams State University • Alamosa, CO 81101 719-587-7011 • 800-824-6494 email: alumni@adams.edu Digital magazine: adams.edu/alumni/astater/

EDITORS

Amy Kucera ’05, Linda Relyea ’96, ’10

DESIGNER

Amy Kucera ’05

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Andy Brown • Chris Lopez ’84 • Linda Relyea ’96, ’10 Chris Burtschi ’21 • Garrett Carroll ’21 • Greg Carter ’22 Kris Owens ’25 • Alexis Sanchez-Duran ’22

PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY Dr. Cheryl D. Lovell

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY

Michele Lueck Chair David Tandberg ’02 Vice Chair Pam Bricker ’03 • Amanda DeLaRosa • Donna Griego ’03, ’12 Jonathan N. Marquez ’13 • Arthur Ortegon • John Singletary Randy Wright ’84 Dr. Beth Bonnstetter Faculty Trustee Courtney Hocking Student Trustee

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD

Sandy Ortega ’74 President Delzia Worley ’97 Vice President Olga Montano ’06 Secretary Jacqueline Archuleta ’11 • Alfonso Lopez ’70 • Reyna Martinez-Ramirez ’10 Robert Oringdulph ’71 • Carol Osborn ’84 • Chris Page ’02, ’03 Richard Scanga ’75 • Marcus Shawcroft ’15 • Elizabeth Watts ’70 Jeremy Wilder ’96 • Loren Wright ’08

ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION BOARD

Ron Howard ’98 President Dr. John McDaniel Vice President Joe Martinez ’99, ’12 Treasurer Fred Bunch ’77 • Duane Bussey ’82 • Keith Cerny • Jennifer Chavez ’00 Joshua Cody ’05 • Jenny Cooper • Ed Crowther • Bill Fassett Chuck Houser ’62 • Dorothy Lucero ’61 • Liane “Buffie” McFadyen ’91, ’93 Cathy Mullens ’82 • Richard Scanga ’75 • Cheryl Schroeder ’07, ’09 Jesse Torres ’97 • Tyree Walton ’08

FOUNDATION HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS

Stephen Bokat ’68 • Marguerite Salazar ’75, ’76 • Michael Ware ’69

FOUNDATION EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS

Glenn Burnham • Harold Kelloff • John Marvel Jr. ’70 Izora Southway ’66 • J. Byron Uhrich • R. Paul Wagner

FOUNDATION EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

Dr. Cheryl D. Lovell ASU President Tammy Lopez ’91, ’00 Executive Director of the Foundation Pam Bricker ’03 Trustee Liason

GRIZZLY CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Hoyt Anderson ’97 President Ted Morrison ’69 Vice President Chas Moeller ’98 Treasurer Keith Cerny, Donna Wehe ’12 Secretaries Ron DeSautell ’76 • Joseph Garcia ’73 • Nicholas Lara ’12 Amanda Maez • Marcus Shawcroft ’15

ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY PURPOSE STATEMENT

Adams State University’s driving purpose is to provide equitable access to education for all. We promote successful and engaged lives by caring for, connecting with, and challenging our students, campus, and community.

As Colorado’s premier Hispanic Serving Institution, Adams State University draws on its rural location in the San Luis Valley, to serve and empower all students, especially those from historically underserved populations.

VISION STATEMENT

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

Adams State does not tolerate discrimination in any form.

Go to adams.edu/ads for the full anti-discrimination statement.

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President’s Letter: Happy 100th Anniversary, Adams State University! What a remarkable century it has been. It all started with Billy Adams, whose grit and determination to found a college in the remote San Luis Valley eventually led to the legislative act that established Adams State Normal School.

The first president, Dr. Ira Richardson, served for a quarter of a century. He set the tone for Adams State. In the early years, the demands for all subjects exceeded faculty expertise and, in some cases, faculty had to educate themselves in order to provide a class for certain subjects. (You can read all about our great story in the Adams100 History Book, due out by year’s end.) As with our beginning, our faculty continue to reach out to our students, to meet them at their level and stay up-to-date on the latest content and pedagogy.

On August 31, 1923, the cornerstone was laid for Adams State Normal School, soon to become Ira Richardson Hall. The view from my office, located on the second floor, is lovely any time but my favorite is the beginning of the academic year. What a treat to see our students return and cross the same paths our first students began to walk 100 years ago.

I can visualize the styles of the day, short curls adorned the heads of the females, while the male students all had crew cuts. When President Richardson had time to look out this same window, the structure of the campus was different, in fact Russian olive trees lined the boundaries to keep out the wild horses, but at heart, the student population was much the same. First in their family to attend college, students were from a diversity of backgrounds fueled with the desire to make a positive difference in their future and the future of their communities, and absolute trust in their choice to attend Adams State.

At Convocation this year, I looked out on a student audience eager to begin their great story at Adams State. Afterwards, I informally interacted with the students, their families, and our faculty and staff. The air was charged with possibilities – maintaining a high grade-pointaverage, a winning season for sports teams, taking the arts to the next level through the guidance of engaged professors, and meeting new challenges and opportunities with true Grizzly grit and spirit.

Possibilities are endless for this next generation of college students just as they have been for the last 100 years at Adams State. As Chuck Owsley says in the upcoming Adams100 documentary film, when speaking about the Owsley family legacy (several generations of alumni): “All of them used what Adams State gave them. It gave them degrees, they all walked out of Plachy Hall with a piece of paper, but I think they walked out with more than that. They walked out with the confidence that whatever they wanted to do, they have the ticket.”

Adams State’s Homecoming of the Century is October 15 - 17. Whether you have been on campus often or haven’t returned since graduation day, I invite you to return and reconnect with your great story that began here.

Contents

Denver Chapter Alumni All ASU alumni living in the Denver Metro area and living north to the Wyoming border are invited to participate in the following events.

Saturday, October 16, 2021 9 a.m.

Join the Adams State Homecoming of the Century Parade in Alamosa. Walk together behind our chapter’s banner.

Re-Engage and Re-Connect.

Homecoming 1952 – Dr. and Mrs. Fred Plachy and Dr. Ira Richardson Homecoming of the Century begins on page 6

Saturday, December, 4, 2021 2 p.m.

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Billy Adams recepient, Dennis Lopez ’74, ’78

New Alumni Director, Ashley Maestas ’13, ’20

Influential Adams Stater, Ken Marquez ’87, ’94

Cookies with Adams State’s very own Santa.

All children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins are invited to participate. Place to be determined.

More to come in 2022.

4 Keeping Current

22 Athletics

6 Outstanding Alumnus

26 Giving Back New Scholarships

7 Exceptional New Alumna 12 Adams State Theatre Celebrates 95 Years 16 Spring Commencement 20 News

30 Staying in Touch Class notes from alumni 32 Adams Family Album 35 Final Chapters Remembering those no longer with us

Stay updated. Follow us on

Adams State Alumni – Denver Chapter

ON THE COVER: The first faculty member and president of Adams State was Ira Richardson, Ph.D. AStater 3

Keeping Current

Students are welcomed back to campus during New Student Orientation and activities during Welcome Week.

Adams State starts the fall semester with consistent enrollment from 2020. Adams State’s total student enrollment was 3,040 compared to 3,039 a year ago.

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Pictured, left to right, Adams State University President Cheryl D. Lovell awards Peyton Metz, Kyla Davis, and Kelsey Martin the ASU Foundation Stampede Scholarship at the 2021 Ski Hi Stampede in Monte Vista.

As part of the Adams100 celebration, Three Barrel Brewing Company in Del Norte, Colo. released a commemorative beer, pictured above.

The Colorado Farm Brewery in Alamosa will be releasing a Centennial Pale Ale later in October.

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Outstanding Alumnus Edward Atencio ’68, ’73 In recognition of his remarkable success, Atencio is already a member of the Colorado Coaches Hall of Fame and the Adams State Educators Hall of Fame. Now he can add another honor to his list: 2021 Outstanding Alumnus. Atencio will receive the award at the Adams State Homecoming Alumni Awards Banquet on October 15.

Edward “Champ” Atencio is no stranger to accolades. That’s what happens when you spend nearly four decades dedicated to teaching and coaching high school students and preparing them for the challenges they’ll face.

“I think education is vital to every child,” Atencio says.

“You have to prepare them for the world, because life is really changing. I always tried to show my kids there was a better way through difficult situations, and I always stood behind them.”

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The Value of Hard Work and Education Born and raised in the San Luis Valley, Atencio graduated from Sierra Grande High School in 1963 and entered Adams State that fall with a $50 scholarship … which he promptly lost.

“I had to maintain a B average, and so I lost that scholarship the first semester, because it was a big change from high school to Adams State,” he says. “But I started to learn how to study. I had never studied so much like that. All the classes were really hard.”

Atencio’s hard work paid off, and during his junior and senior year he made the Dean’s list, an accomplishment that speaks to his tenacity and desire to keep improving.

A health, physical education and recreation (HPER) major, Atencio remembers taking classes with some of the school’s legendary faculty, including the late Jack “Doc” Cotton, Ph.D., emeritus professor of HPER, who was Atencio’s advisor, and Joe Vigil, Ph.D., emeritus professor of HPER. “One thing they told me was never come late to class,” he says. “Dr. Vigil is probably the hardest professor I ever had. I never went late, but if you went late, he’d lock the door. He would take attendance every day. Well, they all did, but he was a stickler for it.”

Fortunately, Atencio hated to miss class anyway, a habit he credits to his upbringing. Atencio’s parents instilled in him the value of education and encouraged his interest in teaching at a young age. “My mom and dad hated for us to miss school, so even if it snowed 10 feet, my dad would manage to get us to school, even if the bus didn’t run,” he says. “They were poor and unable to go to school themselves, but they were really smart, AStater

especially my mom. She would help us with all our homework.

If she’d had an education, she’d have been a schoolteacher, easy.”

He adds: “My mom would say, ‘you love sports and you love kids. You should go to Adams State and become a teacher.

Adams State is probably the best college in the country if you want to be a teacher.’”

Teacher, Coach, “Champ” After graduating with his B.A. in 1968, Atencio started teaching at Centennial High School, in San Luis, Colo. He also became the first coach of a brand-new track-and-field program.

His teams did well, so the superintendent asked him to take over the cross-country program as well. “I started with the program and won the league the first year,” he says.

His teams would continue to dominate the league, winning six consecutive championships, which prompted a student to remark: “They should call you ‘Champ,’ because all you do is win.” From then on, Atencio says, the nickname stuck.

Atencio is certain that Adams State laid a foundation for his success as teacher and coach. In 1973, he earned his second degree from Adams State, a master’s in school administration.

As an alumnus, Atencio continued to benefit from connections he made at Adams State. He remembers when Jim Ryun, an Olympic track-and-field athlete, was training at the school. “Dr. Vigil said ‘You better come and learn something,” says Atencio. “So I’d go watch Jim Ryun … and I remember they’d hook up all kinds of things and then a car would run right by him and they’d check his oxygen intake after every lap.”

He also remembers taking classes from renowned high school coach Joe Newton, whose cross-country teams won 28 state titles during his career. “It was 1983 when they brought in Joe Newton,” says Atencio. “I wanted to learn everything to help my kids. When you first start out, you think running is just running, but it’s a thousand times more. Oxygen intake, how many steps you take … it was fierce.”

Retirement: Collection and Reflection For years after his retirement, Atencio became a serious collector of coins, sports cards, and Hot Wheels. Though he doesn’t devote much time to the activity anymore, he enjoyed traveling to shows and meeting other collectors.

Today, he’s happy to be home and reflecting on his career. Of course, he’s still a loyal fan of Adams State sports, and you can find him at most football and basketball games.

by Andy Brown

Exceptional New Alumna Carissa Sidor ’16, ’17 Still early in her career, Carissa Sidor has already excelled in her chosen profession as an elementary school educator and made impressive impacts on her fourth-grade students’ lives.

For her accomplishments, she is Adams State University’s 2021 Exceptional New Alumna.

Teaching runs in her family, but Sidor didn’t know for a fact that she would end up in a classroom. She volunteered at elementary schools while in high school, but when Sidor first came to Adams State, her plan was to study pre-veterinary medicine. During her second year, however, she changed her major to elementary education and never looked back.

“As soon as I started the classes, I fell in love with it,” she recalls. “There were about 20 of us who had most of the same classes together after our sophomore year. We got to know each other and be ourselves because we were a close-knit cohort.”

After graduating with a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies with emphasis in child development and mathematics, Sidor was accepted into the Boettcher Teacher Residency, a program that helps prepare teachers for low-income, rural and urban public schools.

Sidor worked alongside a mentor teacher in Thornton, Colo., while simultaneously earning a Master of Arts in education with an endorsement in culturally and linguistically diverse education from Adams State. “Sometimes student teaching is just a semester, but in the residency you get to teach for a year, and by the end of the year you’re taking over the classroom,” she says.

From there, Sidor moved to Rio Rancho, N.M., where she not only began teaching but soon took additional responsibilities as the fourth-grade team leader. As team lead, she liaisons with the school’s administration, making sure teachers at her grade level are kept in the loop. “The administration picks the teacher they’d like to be team lead, whomever they think is doing a good job at teaching and can take on the additional responsibilities,” she says.

Teaching in a Pandemic When Sidor started teaching, she knew there would be a learning curve, and after three years, she had put in enough hours to feel confident in her role. “I’m an elementary teacher, so it’s constantly a new experience. I’m comfortable with the curriculum, knowing what I’m teaching, how to help students with their growth and to be successful,” she says.

Still, no one anticipated just how much that education would change when the COVID pandemic began. “When we went to online learning, everyone was starting from scratch, figuring it out as we went,” she says. “It’s definitely constantly changing, and we have to be willing to make adjustments.”

She is fortunate to work in a school district that is supportive of teachers. “Our school is very good. Anytime the principal gets information, she shares it right away. Our district is very

on top of it,” she says. “I have very supportive parents. They understand we don’t really have control over it.”

Despite the uncertainty, Sidor feels that Adams State prepared her well, even for the challenges the pandemic brought. “I think Adams State has it set up correctly, having you in the classroom right away,” she says. “During undergrad, we got a lot of classroom teaching and observation experience.”

She also credits faculty and mentors at Adams State, including then teacher education advisor Lynn Crowder and Kelly Ozawa Class of 1988 and 1999, for sharing their experience and knowledge. “Kelly Ozawa was actually an elementary teacher, so she would teach during the day to elementary kids and then have classes with us and share her real-life experiences,” says Sidor.

This year, Sidor is hosting a student teacher of her own, completing the chain through which knowledge learned becomes knowledge shared. “I’m excited to teach others how to teach and being able to hopefully offer her everything I’ve learned,” says Sidor. “She was with me last week, and it was neat to see her thought process and to help her understand what I’m doing. It shows how much I’ve grown.”

A Passion for Soccer and Coaching In her spare time, Sidor plays soccer, a sport she first took up at the age of four. In fact, soccer is how she ended up at Adams State. “I was given the opportunity to continue playing soccer at Adams State,” she says. “It was helpful for getting to know people, because we started a couple weeks before school started.

I lived in the soccer house, with soccer girls and we were a really tight group. It was definitely nice to have that relationship with those girls.”

She stays connected to her passion by holding independent training sessions; working with Lil’ Kickers, a program that holds classes and camps for kids; and by playing in an adult co-ed league.

Sidor will be accepting her award at the Adams State Homecoming Alumni Awards Banquet on October 15.

by Andy Brown

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Billy Adams award winner, Dennis Lopez ’74, ’78 With such a storied career and history here in the San Luis Valley, it comes as no surprise that Dennis Lopez is the recipient of the 2021 Billy Adams Award.

Lopez received bachelor’s degrees in Spanish, French, and secondary education along with minors in Chicano Studies and psychology in 1974 before finishing his Master of Arts in secondary education in 1978.

“Adams State was a logical choice,” said Lopez, whose experience and involvement at Adams State has been ongoing since he first arrived on campus. While commuting to and from his family home, his friends jokingly referred to him as the professional student, and his obsession with learning has continued throughout his life. “I feel fortunate that I had some wonderful professors in each of the fields of study that I pursued and these professors inculcated that knowledge which allowed me to be prepared as a teacher.”

The namesake of the award, Billy Adams, a Colorado Governor, helped establish Adams State while he was still in the legislature. He believed in the right for all people, including those in rural areas, to have access to higher education and to reach out to the underserved.

When asked about the mission set forth by Billy Adams, Lopez replied: “As an observer of what takes place here at Adams State, I see continued efforts to recruit students from local high schools, and especially from rural and underserved populations.” The University’s focus to help underserved and rural communities goes a long way towards continued economic and educational growth in the San Luis Valley. “People who grow up in the San Luis Valley and graduate from Adams State will continue to serve local communities because they have roots in the Valley. The mission of Adams State has been on the right track since it was first promulgated

by Billy Adams.”

Since 1971, Adams State has recognized those who exhibit the dedication to education shown by the college’s founder, Billy Adams, with the Billy Adams Award.

Lopez’s post-secondary education began in 1968. It took him six years to receive his B.A. “I wanted to learn and learn and learn.” While the degree was not offered at the time, he had also received enough credits to acquire a B.A. in Chicano Studies.

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After finishing his undergraduate studies as a first generation college graduate, Lopez began a 27-year teaching career at Alamosa High School. He taught Chicano Studies, where his classes would regularly have 42 to 46 students per class. After becoming the chair of the Foreign Language Department, he also started teaching Spanish. With students wanting more options for learning languages, Lopez added French classes.

Alongside teaching, Lopez sponsored clubs for Spanish, French, and Chicano Studies; he was an assistant baseball coach, a supervisor at athletic events, and the announcer for the Alamosa High School wrestling program for over 20 years. He was a member of the Alamosa Education Association, serving two stints as president, and was a member of the National Education Association until entering into administration. Lopez was hired as the extracurricular activities director in 1986. In 1993, he became the associate principal at Alamosa High School and finished his career there as principal from 1998 until 2002.

His dad was a carpenter and his mother came from generations of farmers and ranchers. From these humble beginnings, Lopez commuted to and from his family home, held work-study positions cleaning various facilities on campus, and became an active member in student organizations and community-wide social justice issues. Lopez said the activities “helped me develop leadership skills that later served me well in my administrative positions.

Growing up in a small, rural, and agrarian Hispanic community, I was blessed to have a very strong upbringing that allowed me to have an open and curious outlook on life. Being Chicano and Hispanic, I

Billy Adams Award Recepients

experienced the rich culture, language, history, and lasting heritage.”

For many families, funding a college education has been an impossible dream. “But thanks to Adams State’s financial opportunities, students from low-income families can pursue a degree in higher education, resulting in opportunities for career advancement.”

Lopez regularly gives lectures and presentations on the rich history of the San Luis Valley, including a recent lecture on the history of mining in Platoro, in the San Juan Mountains.

Lopez has been a case manager at the Alamosa Convenient Care Community Clinic since 2013, where he assists people finding a primary care provider, scheduling appointments with a provider, assisting with appointments with medical specialists, and other related patient needs.

Lopez said that he has many people to thank for always pushing him to become a lifelong learner along his path to receiving the Billy Adams Award. “There are many professors, staff members, classmates, and colleagues that I need to thank for their part in helping me and guiding me.” He is especially thankful for his family, who helped shape him into the person he is today: “I also leave my father and mother-inlaw, my extended family, my parents, my brothers, my sons and my wife, Sally, to the last because all these people who helped shape me are my family, to whom I owe the greatest thank you.”

by Garrett Carroll ’21

Share your memories from your time at Adams State.

• Email us: publicrelations@adams.edu or alumni@adams.edu • Send us a letter: Adams State University, Public Relations 208 Edgemont Blvd, Suite 3010 Alamosa, CO 81101 • Fill out our online form: adams.edu/adams100

Re-Engage. Re-Connect. Re-Commit.

1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

J. Leslie Kittle Luther Bean Glennys Rugg Donald Gulley ’72 William Meyer Willis Fassett, Jr. James Craft, Ph.D. Dale Thomas John Reason Margaret Plachy Charlotte Kavanaugh Littleton J. Bunch, Ph.D. Mary Hennessey ’75 Roy B. Heilman Charles and Beryl Woodard John A. Marvel, Ph.D. George Woodard Harry U. Hull John W. Price William Moyers ’39 Ralph H. Outcalt William O. DeSouchet Ignacio “Nacho” Martinez Cliff Hartman John Roybal ’51 Robert Foote Joe Maestas ’67 Ray & Ruth McGee ’50 Ted & Janet Morrison ’69 Keith Cerny Don & Gloria Wuckert Tim Walters ’73 Joe I. Vigil, Ph.D. ’53, ’59 Billy J. Bond, Jr. William A. Porter ’51 Marv Motz, Ph.D. ’58, ’59 Glenn M. Burnham, Ph.D. Izora ’66 & Butch Southway Glen Bean ’36 John McDaniel, Ph.D. Don Stegman ’61, ’64 Robert Oringdulph ’71 Erik van de Boogaard Charles Scoggin Steve Valdez ’87 Joseph A. Garcia Camila Alire ’70 Millie Hamner, Ph.D. ’87 Carlos F. Lucero ’61 J. Thomas Gilmore, Ph.D. ’67, ’68 AStater 9

Homecoming of the Century Friday, October 15 10 a.m.

Cattails Golf Outing • Cattails Golf Course • $25/person 18 holes, includes cart • pre-registration is required

3:30 p.m.

Alumni Reception • Student Union Building, room 308

5:30 p.m.

Awards Banquet • Student Union Building, room 131 pre-registration is required

5–7 p.m.

Exhibition Opening Reception: Kathy Park A 50-Year Retrospective Art Building, Cloyde Snook Gallery 1953 El Parnaso Float

8 p.m.

Bonfire • McDaniel Hall parking lot

9:30 p.m.

Fireworks • behind lacrosse/soccer fields

Saturday, October 16 10 a.m.

Adams100 Celebration Parade • Main St. Alamosa

11:30 a.m. Homecoming Carnival & Tailgate • North Campus Green/

parking lot between SUB and Coronado Hall

1963 Alumni Banquet

1 p.m.

Football Game vs Chadron State College • Rex Stadium

6 p.m.

Adams100 Documentary Showing • Richardson Hall Auditorium

7:30 p.m.

The Lost and Found Comedy Improv • Theatre Building

7–9 p.m.

Night-Sky Viewing • ASU Observatory

Sunday, October 17 9–11 a.m. Alumni Farewell Breakfast

Richardson Hall Lawn

2005 Football Game

2021 Special Edition “100 Year” Long-Sleeve Shirt

adams.edu/alumni/homecoming/ 10 AStater

Meet our new alumni director, Ashley Maestas ’13, ’20 Ashley Maestas, two times a graduate of Adams State and a San Luis Valley native, is the new director of alumni relations and engagement. She began her duties on July 1, 2021.

She has a diverse range of education and experience in the public workforce system, having been with Colorado Workforce Center in Monte Vista since graduating with her bachelor’s degree from Adams State in 2013. “This has provided me with valuable knowledge and transferrable skills I bring to the alumni relations and engagement office.”

A native of San Luis, Colo., Maestas brings a wealth of experience in organization, management, and planning, as well as a first-hand knowledge of rural Colorado. She earned a master’s degree in public administration and humanities from Adams State in 2020. Working with current faculty and staff, Maestas helped organize the Adams100 documentary film premiere and has been finalizing homecoming events.

“We are beyond thrilled Ashley joined us as our director of alumni relations and engagement,” said President Lovell. “She is already doing amazing things in helping our alumni become more engaged and involved with their alma mater, and she is a great role model and mentor to our current students and will help them become productive and successful as they graduate.”

In order to attract recent alumni and keep in close contact with those already involved with their alma mater, Maestas uses social media platforms and community engagement. “I recruit at all levels to spark and spread the Grizzly spirit. I remind current alumni of their experiences as students and provide insight on how their involvement will impact the University now and in the future while enticing others to get involved after they graduate.”

Maestas started as a career counselor and case manager with The Training Advantage (TTA)/Colorado Workforce Center in 2013 and four years later was promoted to Labor and Employment Specialist through Colorado Department of Labor and Employment/Colorado Workforce Center. She

was named the 2020 CDLE Leader of the Year and 2020 CDLE Team of the year. She created and presented many forms of training, including job readiness. She implemented processes and procedures for rural client success, partnered with unemployment, and worked with customers to provide services and trainings. She also established and maintained relationships with local and state government, higher education, economic development, communities and businesses.

It’s not only her professional experience that makes her well prepared for her new position. As an Adams State junior and just one week before her 21st birthday, Maestas learned she was pregnant. As she accepted the new challenges and changes being a new mother brings, she realized she could handle much more than she ever thought possible. “With family support to continue to pursue my goals, I never gave up on my dreams. I completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees while navigating motherhood, my personal life, my full-time job, and serving on various community committees. I hope one day to be an inspiration for my daughter as she pursues her own dreams.”

“ I am really looking forward to building

meaningful relationships with fellow alumni. I want to cultivate an atmosphere of generational pride and continued legacy with the Adams State community.”

Her professional affiliations and community volunteer work includes member of the Migrant Coalition of the San Luis Valley, Colorado Trust Programs of the San Luis Valley, Rio Grande County Board of Health, Rio Grande County Prevention Partners, and Working Together Implementation Grant Partnership.

In her first three months, Maestas helped organize alumni participation in summer parades around the San Luis Valley and took the lead on finalizing the homecoming of the century. “I can’t wait to meet you during our homecoming weekend.”

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Adams State theatre productions through the decades

Adams State Theatre celebrates 95 years From blacked-out windows and makeshift walls for a theatre-in-the-round to a tucked away area on the second floor of Richardson Hall, to its own building with two stages, costume shop, scene shop, green room, dressing room and grand front lobby, the Adams State theatre program has grown and developed over the last 95 years.

Soon after the college opened its doors, the faculty recognized the need to provide cultural events to enrich the student experience and to connect with the community. A theatre club was established and as the college grew, the club became a program in the English department.

In 2001 the Theatre Building was dedicated and the theatre program began to expand its size and programming. Today, it is both an academic program and a producing theatre company. Its combination of a strong academic curriculum and a robust calendar of theatre productions is essential to the education of its students and a significant part of campus and community life.

From the classics to new works, comedy improv to social change theatre, Adams State theatre students are 12 AStater

challenged to explore theatre in its various forms in order to gain a more expansive understanding of what it is they study and what they can do with their lives and careers.

Over the years, the theatre program has developed a reputation for strong community outreach and partnership. “We take seriously our commitment to, and responsibility for, providing a variety of educational, artistic, cultural, and social programming that entertains, educates, and inspires,” says John Taylor, Ph.D., chair of theatre.

Through a partnership with Alamosa’s homeless organization, La Puente Home, and Valley Wide Health Systems, the annual holiday season benefit performance has raised nearly $700,000 since 2008. “We encourage our majors to think about how they will use their degree in theatre to change their part of the world. While still in college, this is a concrete example of how they can make a difference in their community,” Taylor said.

In remembering and celebrating the past 95 years of theatre at Adams State, the theatre program looks ahead to the next century of educating new generations of theatre artists.

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One in

Marquez presents Outstanding Leadership Award

Marquez pictured middle

Marquez beginning his pole vault

Influential Adams Stater

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“ Often the higher up you go in administration the

further you get from students. I was not going to let that happen. I can’t advocate for students if I don’t know what is happening from their perspective.”

Ken Marquez ’87, ’94 retires after a legacy at Adams State As an Adams State student-athlete, Ken Marquez propelled himself through the air, cleared the bar and then free fell onto the thick pit. His pole-vaulting technique, skill and success were future indicators of his approach to his life and profession.

Marquez, Class of 1987 and 1994, still moves with quick precision, sees obstacles ahead as challenges to overcome, and knows when to relax his grip and follow his instincts, talents he used the last ten years as vice president of student affairs at his alma mater. He retired on April 30.

“I love it and I miss it so much,” he says of his former job and Adams State.

His impact on students continues long after their graduation.

Patrick Cleary, Adams State Class of 2017, is currently a practicing attorney with Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt in Portland, Oregon. “I was fortunate enough to learn from Ken in multiple settings and witnessed him speak up for what he thought was right, regardless of popularity. This is something easy to preach and hard to practice. I specifically remember cabinet meeting votes or resolutions where Ken was the only one to call out flaws in otherwise popular opinions. I was impressed then, remain impressed now, and strive to emulate him as I shape my career.”

Marquez’s story is one of paying it forward. What Marquez did for Cleary and hundreds of other students came from kindness shown by a resident assistant his first semester at college. “My resident assistant took the time to pay attention to me and bring me out of my shell and I knew that was the kind of person I wanted to be,” Marquez says. “Someone who sees and really cares about others, who is compassionate and takes the time to listen and really give of their time.”

Students first In college, Marquez became a resident assistant and, after graduation, a resident director before leaving for Northern Arizona University in 1994 to gain additional experience in housing and student life.

Fortunately for Adams State, Marquez accepted the position of associate director of housing and residence life in 2000 and was promoted to the director position when it became available. His supervisors saw nothing but promise in Marquez, whose positive attitude and energy are his hallmarks. In 2004 he was responsible for the overall operations of Adams State’s campus housing system and broad overall program of the Student Union Building as director of auxiliary services.

His skill set and welcoming personality truly found their place when he accepted the full-time dean of student affairs, eventually promoted to assistant vice president of student affairs, and retiring as vice president of student affairs.

“Often the higher up you go in administration the further you get from students. I was not going to let that happen,” he says.

He stayed in touch with students’ needs and expectations as the Associated Students and Faculty (AS&F) advisor. “I can’t advocate for them if I don’t know what is happening from their perspective.”

AS&F Presidents say ‘true that’ Mariah McDermott, Class of 2020, appreciated Marquez as a down-to-earth and approachable advisor when she was AS&F president. “Ken genuinely cared for everyone on the team and he made an effort to get to know each team member,” she says. “He was available and present during each meeting, event, retreat and interaction I shared with him. Ken went above and beyond to make sure students knew who he was and stood out compared to all other administrators.”

Cleary served as AS&F president from 2015 through 2017. “Ken inspired me during my time at Adams and continues to serve as an inspiration today,” the attorney says. “Ken’s deep, caring nature, not only for the university, but the development of each student, was contagious and unmatched. He took a genuine interest in the success of students and always encouraged continued growth through extracurricular activities, which he ardently supported. If it mattered to a student, it mattered to Ken and that permeated throughout everything he was involved in, and AS&F was no exception.”

After decades of working with college students, Marquez has seen many of the same issues arise over and over again.

“Here is the deal: I treat everyone like an individual. I really take the time to listen and give them my time. Every situation is different and everyone needs to be heard.”

His dedication inspired Cleary. “There is no one who cares more about Adams State and its students than Ken. It is difficult to explain the magnitude of the impact Ken has had on me,” he says. “He is a huge part of where I am today and

I hope to one day be the leader he is. As a corporate lawyer, I encounter difficult decisions daily and am able to maneuver each [one] thanks to the guidance that Ken provided during my time at Adams State. Throughout my career, I strive to emulate his traits of leadership, amicability, and passion.”

Marquez earned his M.A. in community guidance and counseling from Adams State in 1994, which he says was invaluable during his career working in higher education.

“Ken’s empathy and genuine interest in the lives of students inspired me,” McDermott adds. “Ken is a good person, and that makes him a good leader and I was inspired to try to do the same.”

Open Door Open Mind In the world of student life, there are no office hours or scheduled appointments. His final semester on campus, Marquez arrived at 8 a.m. and unexpectedly found five students and a mother waiting for him. “I missed a meeting to help them. I know I can’t fix everything but if I tried, I can live with that.”

Cleary testifies to the truth in that philosophy. “He took the time to learn about students and their priorities, needs, and struggles. His door was always open and he was always willing to help however he could. Having been at other institutions, I can confirm that Ken is one in a million.

He always made time for students whenever they needed it — whether it was picking up the phone or stopping into his office. It was never ‘set up a meeting’ or ‘I can look at this next week’ … Ken was there when a student needed it, period. Ken’s commitment to students made him the best mentor possible and he will be irreplaceable.”

Marquez is not ready to leave the profession altogether.

He and his wife, Dolores, plan to remain in Alamosa and he hopes to continue serving students, possibly in the public school system.

“Mine is a great story, every single bit of the way. I am the luckiest guy in the world.”

in addition...

2011-2021

Adams State vice president of student affairs/services

2010-2011

Adams State assistant vice president of student affairs

2006-2010 Adams State University (ASU) dean of student affairs 2005-2006 ASU interim dean of student affairs 2004-2005 ASU director of auxiliary services 2002-2004

ASU director of housing and residence life

2000-2002 ASU associate director of housing and residence life 1996-2000 Northern Arizona University (NAU) area coordinator 1994-1996

NAU residence hall director

1991-1994

ASU residence life coordinator (bi-lateral assignment)

1988-1994 ASU residence hall director

course instructor at ASU and NAU

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spring 2021 commencement 16 AStater

Adeline Sabedo, 2021 nursing major, engaged her fellow graduates with humor and insight as the student speaker during the undergraduate ceremony which began at 9 a.m.

The undergraduate commencement speaker Senior Judge Carlos Lucero ’61, received an honorary doctorate degree in history and political science.

Adams State students pick-up their diplomas and cross the stage at the first in-person commencement ceremony in over a year.

spring 2021 graduate breakdown

337

Associate and Bachelor degrees awarded

268 Master degrees awarded

6

Ph.D. degrees awarded Ph.D. candidate Melissa O’Neill was the graduate commencement speaker.

undergraduate stats

36% Identify as first generation

46% Identify as minority

56% Colorado residents AStater 17

spring 2021

spotlight on graduates 18 AStater

Chad Crowther

Chad Crowther Finance and Minor in Marketing and Management, with honors Hometown: La Jara, Colorado Crowther held an off campus job throughout his three years at Adams State and appreciates all his supervisors for working around his class and homework schedule.

He started his career after graduation with the San Luis Valley Federal Bank as a full-time mortgage loan officer.

He was the representative of the Adams State Bulls and Bears Finance Club and graduated debt free.

Isabel Rodriguez

Emily Martin Music Performance, Summa Cum Laude Hometown: Cortez, Colorado Martin plans on starting graduate school in the fall of 2022 to continue her education in music performance.

Thanks to many scholarships she graduated without much loan debt after her four years.

She played in the ASU Winds and Percussion Ensemble and the Desert Winds Quartet.

Emily Martin

Samantha Margaret McDonald

Alfredo Villa II

Samantha Margaret McDonald Kinesiology, Exercise Science Emphasis Hometown: West Valley City, Utah A transfer student from Lamar Community College, McDonald began a master’s degree program in dietetics at Washington State University this fall, planning to become a registered dietitian.

She appreciated the many opportunities she experienced at Adams State. She received an athletic scholarship to play softball, and held a work-study position in the Rex Activity Center. She also participated in the Larry Holder Exercise and Cancer Survivorship Grant research.

Kyler Welch

Isabel Rodriguez Physical Geography and Conservation; Art, Drawing emphasis, with honors Hometown: Santa Fe, New Mexico Rodriguez plans to attend graduate school in scientific illustration. Her dream job is working in the parks service as a scientific illustrator.

She received several science and art scholarships while a student as well as being a program assistant for the ASU Rare AIR program and a peer mentor in the NSF mentorship and leadership program.

MacKenzie Swanson Kinesiology Hometown: Houston, Texas Swanson has been accepted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at New York Medical College. She graduated in four years with no student loan debt.

A starter on the volleyball team, she has expanded her horizons since freshman year.

MacKenzie Swanson

Alfredo Villa II Mass Communication, Public Relations and Minor in Marketing Hometown: Tucson, Arizona Villa, a first-generation college graduate, will continue playing on the baseball team as he finishes the MBA program at Adams State.

He received an athletic scholarship and academic scholarships. He was a summer intern and held off-campus jobs, including coaching baseball for Center High School.

Along with being a student athlete, Villa was a New Student Orientation leader.

Ian Fryday

Kyler Welch Biochemistry, Summa Cum Laude Hometown: Richland, Washington Welch will be the first in his family to earn a doctoral degree. He will start dental school in the fall of 2022. In high school, Welch was a concurrent student and the credits he received from a community college transferred to Adams State, where he completed his degree in three years, with little debt.

He played on the men’s lacrosse team and earned a place in the RMAC All-Academic First Team. He was also a member of the Adams Atoms Chemistry Club.

Chelsea Todd

Ian Fryday Business Administration, Management Emphasis Hometown: San Marcos, California After a total of five years, Fryday will have earned his undergraduate and graduate degree (MBA), debt free, thanks to parental support, academic and athletic scholarships, and a job as a resident assistant.

He had a great internship with Cover 0 Sports Agency, and learned the ins and outs of being an NFL agent. He also was a tight end for the Adams State football team.

Chelsea Todd Music Education, Music Performance, and Music Business Hometown: Monte Vista, Colorado A native of the San Luis Valley, Todd hopes to start her music education career in one of the public schools.

She received many scholarships and gained experience through her workstudy positions, including as an audio/ visual technician, managing the Richmond Recording Studio, located in the Music Building, and managing chamber ensembles for educational outreach to schools across Colorado.

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News Leaders on campus

President on NCAA Board

Lindsey Sandoval, Nursing Class of 2022, and BOT Amanda DeLaRosa were appointed by the Colorado Department of Higher Education Executive Director Angie Paccione, Ph.D., and Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Executive Director Joe Barela to serve on the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) advisory board.

President Cheryl D. Lovell, Ph.D., has been appointed to the NCAA Division II President’s Council for a six-year term, beginning last summer. She joined other presidents or chancellors from across the nation on the 18-member Council.

President Lovell is filling one of the at-large positions.

“I am excited and proud to represent Adams State at this national organization.”

Student-athletes make up one-third of Adams State’s student body and it makes sense for President Lovell to focus on national organizations and national advocacy groups that represent significant student populations of the campus.

“It is amazing how many know about Adams State University because of our athletic standing, especially our running programs, and I believe we need to be represented at the national level,” she says.

According to ncaa.org, the President’s Council is Division II’s highest governance office. Its members are charged with setting the strategic direction for the division in all areas, including its financial affairs and championship administration. The President’s Council is also the primary sponsor of legislative proposals at the NCAA Convention, and the chair of the Council moderates the Division II Business Session at the annual Convention.

President Lovell plans on continuing to advocate for the students, as she did on the NCAA Division II Academic Council. “I spoke up with any new policy being introduced to ask how it would impact the student-athlete experience and enhance their ability to earn a degree,” she says. “We have to think from the student-athlete’s experience. They have to do well in the classroom or what they do on the track, on the court, or in the field doesn’t matter.”

The Council’s composition is based on a weighted regional representation that includes one president or chancellor per region for every 22 institutions in that region.

In addition, two “at-large” positions exist to help achieve diversity of representation and to accommodate independent institutions.

Matthew Valverde, D.M.A., associate professor of music, was selected as the Title V Cornerstone to Capstone grant director in July. The focus of this grant is to implement the Adams Experience, an innovative undergraduate curricular reform. Valverde has served the campus as the Inclusion and Equity liaison, on the President’s Advisory Group on Equity and with the Community for Inclusion, Equity, Leadership, and Opportunity.

Laura Bruneau, Ph.D., professor of counselor education, co-authored a chapter in the new book, “Bringing Postsecondary Students Together with Dogs: Dog Welfare, Health, Safety, and Liability Considerations.”

Bruneau’s chapter, “The Canine-Campus Connection: Roles for Dogs in the Lives of College Students,” is just one of the offerings in the book, edited by Mary Renck Jalongo, Ph.D., a professor emerita from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and which is published by Purdue University Press. The book provides evidence-based guidance on bringing college students and canines together in mutually beneficial ways.

Bruneau’s co-author is Amy Johnson, Ed.D., director of the Center for Human Animal Interventions at Oakland University and senior coordinator of continuing education in OU’s School of Nursing.

Board of Trustees Update The Adams State Board of Trustees voted August 13 to retain Trustee Michele Lueck as chair of the board and elected Trustee David Tanberg vice-chair.

At their May meeting, the BOT raised the faculty salary floor to 80 percent of the College and University Professional Association (CUPA) level. Over 70 percent of faculty saw an increase to their base salary, with an average increase of $5,195.

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“I think of it as elevating Adams State and moving its name and reputation into the national arena, where it should be,” President Lovell says.

Henry Robinson, Ph.D., named vice president of student affairs “ I am very honored to have been appointed to serve

as the next vice president of student affairs. I have always valued having a heart for students, and I look forward to providing the leadership essential for student success at Adams State University.”

“We are thrilled Dr. Robinson accepted the offer to become our vice president of student affairs,” said President Lovell. Robinson began this role on July 1, 2021.

Robinson has an array of expertise focused on counseling and TRIO-Upward Bound programs, student services educational opportunity programs, and a strong commitment to serving all students, especially firstgeneration students and those from diverse backgrounds.

He has an impressive track record of securing federal funding for a variety of programs supporting Youth PreCollege Initiatives, Adult Student Services Initiatives, and Undergraduate Student Success Initiatives. He has spent the last decade at Wayne State University where he developed and led programs and services to ensure college access and fostered student development to nurture student success.

Robinson, a progressive educator, with more than 33 years of higher education experience, is committed to the intellectual development and economic empowerment of diverse communities. Throughout his career Robinson raised millions to provide programs and services for low-income and first-generation students to succeed in life through higher education.

Robinson’s Ph.D. is from Michigan State University, Master of Arts from Ohio State University, and his Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green University. He is also a graduate of the Harvard University management development program, American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Millennium Leadership Institute for Future Presidents and Chancellors, and the National Council for Black American Affairs-Leadership Development Institute.

Robinson’s service with community, state, and national organizations includes the Detroit Rotary Club, New Detroit Multicultural Leadership Initiative, Detroit Chamber of Commerce-Detroit Drives Degrees Initiative,

Michigan Workforce Development Agency King-ChavezParks Initiative, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Higher Learning Commission Peer Review Corps and International Colloquium on Black Males in Higher Education.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Robinson join us as he has a tremendous depth of knowledge and experiences in student affairs administration, student success support systems, and an uncompromising passion for improving students’ lives” said President Lovell.

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Katelyn Smith ’16 is the new athletic director Smith established herself as a key member of the Grizzly athletic department in 2018 when she first joined it as business manager, then earning promotions to co-athletic director and serving as the key point of contact for Title IX at Adams State. With additional experience in booster memberships, game day operations, and team travel, she stood head-and-shoulders above a field of more than 100 applicants.

“Katelyn rose to the top because of her passion for Adams State University athletics and her strong desire to ensure our student-athletes have a successful experience in the classroom as well as on the field and court,” said President Lovell.

“She bleeds green and white and is a great example of our Grizzly spirit. I have every confidence in Katelyn and her abilities to be the one who will lead our Grizzly athletic program into a successful future. She brings the right mix of strong leadership and enthusiasm to be our successful AD for many years to come.”

Smith oversees an athletic department of 45 staff members and 600-plus student-athletes at Adams State. “We hold our student-athletes to a high standard and expect them to succeed both in the classroom and on the court or field,” she said. One of her immediate goals is to raise the cumulative GPA of Adams State studentathletes to above 3.0.

“Simply put, we will improve our academic success rate and continue

“ I would like to thank President Lovell, the

search committee, and all who were involved in the search process to allow me to continue to serve Adams State Athletics. I love Adams State and I am excited to continue to build on the rich traditions of both athletic and academic successes. I am looking forward to a successful future for Adams State Athletics.”

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Katelyn Smith at the Manassa Pioneer Days parade this summer

to recruit, retain, and graduate. Part of my duties include serving as the SAAC (Student-athlete advisory committee) advisor and the SWA (Senior Woman Administrator). These additional duties have allowed me to build relationships with our diverse student-athlete body and become a mentor for them as they manage and juggle the challenges of being a collegiate student-athlete.”

As athletic director, Smith manages an annual operating budget of $4.4 million, as well as oversees the Grizzly Booster Club and the department’s annual fundraising efforts. Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Pacific Lutheran University, Washington, in 2014. She made her way from there to Alamosa and Adams State, where she completed her Master of Science in exercise science in 2016.

As athletic director she serves on the executive management team for the University. She is also a member of the awards committee for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and is a member of the Women Leaders in College Sports.

Her professional career at Adams State began in August 2014 when she joined the Adams State women’s basketball team as an assistant coach. She worked as an assistant coach through the 2016-17 season.

In 2017 she began working as a student advisor and recruiter for the Adams State correspondence education program and then shifted to the athletics department under Larry Mortensen in July 2018.

“I am passionate about Adams State and about our student-athletes,” she said. “I am so excited to continue to be a part of, and lead, the Grizzly family.”

Adams State welcomes new football coach Jarrell Harrison

Coach Harrison at a September football game

“ I would like to thank AD Katelyn Smith and

President Lovell for this amazing opportunity to lead the Adams State football program into the future. I appreciate their confidence in me to mentor the wonderful student-athletes in our program and the ones we have recruited to join our campus and community. I want to thank them for their leadership within our institution, and their continued support of Adams State football.”

Coach Harrison supports his student-athletes during a Black Lives Matter march in Feb 2021.

support our student-athletes today adams state university

GRIZZLY CLUB

Consider joining over 200 members supporting Adams State Athletics.

asugrizzlies.com or contact Katelyn Smith at ksmith@adams.edu for further information.

All funds raised by the Grizzly Club are managed by the Adams State University Foundation.

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Grizzly Updates Adams State athletics is back in action and with fall sports in full swing it is exciting to be a Grizzly fan Women’s Soccer: The Grizzlies, under third-year head coach Colin Baker, opened the season with a strong showing against No. 25 Western Washington before earning the school’s first win of the 2021-22 academic year with a 2-1 win over perennial powerhouse St. Edwards. They finish the non-conference portion of the season 1-3.

Volleyball: 16-year veteran, Lindy Mortensen, leads the Grizzlies to one of the best starts in program history as they finished the preseason portion of the schedule with a 4-5 record. The record does not reflect the success of the week, as the Grizzlies were able to get one of the biggest wins in program history on Sept. 7 when they swept the No. 2 team in the nation, Angelo State, with scores of 25-19, 25-23 and 26-24 inside Plachy Hall. They are currently 6-5 overall and 2-0 in RMAC action.

Men’s Soccer: Second-year head coach, Brett Bentley, is still looking for his first win since returning to the Grizzlies before last season. The Grizzlies have been on the cusp of wins three times but ultimately have fallen in the final two minutes and overtime those three times. They enter the conference portion of the season with an 0-5 record.

Football: First year head coach, Jarrell Harrison, is looking for his first win for the Grizzlies as they have dropped games to Western New Mexico (17-35), Eastern New Mexico (14-42) and despite getting four interceptions in the game, Western Colorado (10-24).

Cross Country: The Grizzlies, who enter ranked No. 2 and No. 3 respectively, have competed in two meets so far this season including the 28th Annual Joe I. Vigil at Cattails Golf Course.

The Grizzlies posted a perfect score on both sides as Ahmed Sado (25:01.9) and Brianna Robles (17:49.1) won the individual titles and earned RMAC Runner of the Week accolades.

Hall of Fame: The Adams State Athletic Hall of Fame announced ten new individual inductees and four teams representing six sports. The 2021 inductees are: Katelyn Lovato (SB), Shane Palmer (WRES), Melanie Schiele (VB), Victoria Martinez (TF & XC), Stephen Gitten (TF), Amber Klein (TF & XC), Larry Mortensen (MBB & AD), William Rakow (FB), Ray Ramsey Sr. (FB) Chris Holman (TF & XC), 1990 & 1992 Indoor Track and Field Teams and 1990 & 1992 Wrestling Teams. In addition, former SWA and Business Manager Dianne Lee will be honored as the Ted and Janet Morrison Special Citation winner.

Eilish Flanagan is Adams State’s latest Olympian

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Eilish Flanagan secured her ticket to Tokyo with a 9:42.71 time in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in Lucerne, Switzerland. Although Flanagan did not make the Olympic finals, she ran a personal best with a time of 9:34.86 in the trials.

An Adams State University track and cross-country star, Flanagan represented Ireland at this summer’s Olympic Games in Japan. She was one of 26 Irish athletes to qualify for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in track and field and qualified through rankings.

At Adams State, Flanagan was on the 2019 NCAA Division II Women’s Cross Country championship team, finishing second in the 6,000-meter race. Throughout her academic career, she brought home top medals. Most recently, in 2021, she finished first in the 1,500-meter at the CSU Pueblo Spank Blasing Open at 4:23.42; set a new NCAA Division II record at the Oregon Twilight in the 3,000-meter steeple with a time of 9:40.68; and won the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championship in the 3,000-meter steeple at 9:57.44. She also took second in the 5,000-meter with a time of 15:50.59.

Alamosa State Bank employees showing their grizzly colors during Adams State spirit day, fall 2010

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Giving Back Jeffryes Scholarship One-on-one communication became a professional motto for Michael Patritch, Class of 1970 and 1973. This model was demonstrated throughout his college career at Adams State and inspired him, whether teaching scuba diving or working with engineers for the state of Wyoming.

Michael and his wife, Karol Ann Krakauer Patritch, recently established the Dale Jeffryes Memorial Scholarship for Adams State theatre majors. Jeffryes, M.S.E., emeritus professor of speech and theatre, had more faith in his students than they had in themselves and he would work with them one-on-one to make them better actors. “I would not be the person I am today if not for Adams State and its caring staff.”

Michael admits to not being the type of student that learning came easily and therefore appreciated the open-door policy of professors. “I would present myself during their office hours and my professors would go over and over the concept until I finally got it. I so appreciated that” Adams State means an awful lot to Michael personally and he believes he received a better than average education. He was so appreciative of the personal care demonstrated by his professors that he focused on one-to-one communications when he taught his student actors at Miller Junior High School, in Durango, Colo. Later he focused on one-to-one learning when he was a scuba diver instructor and still later when he became the research manager for the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

During his career at the Wyoming Department of Transportation he would talk to the engineers and then relay to the general public what they said. “I used what I learned at Adams State about communication.”

He was the first non-engineer to be hired as a research manager. “I was successful because of Adams State.”

Looking back fondly on his time at Adams State and the success it brought him in his career, Michael wanted to do

Michael and Karol Ann Patritch

something for the institution and the person he loved dearly was Jeffryes. “Freshmen to grad students worshiped the ground Mr. Jeffryes walked on. I am so proud to carry on his legacy. He did so much for the school and the students. It is my pleasure to establish a scholarship in his name.”

Theatre students were like a big family. “We learned all about how to build sets and costumes, the techniques of lighting and scene design. I tended to focus on lighting and really liked it.”

At a theatre reunion several years ago, Michael recognized that the true spirit of individual attention and personal relations had continued throughout the years. He was treated to an impromptu tour of Richardson Hall Auditorium by then theatre director Paul Newman, Ph.D., emeritus professor of theatre. “It is another reason I love Adams State.”

The scholarship is restricted to theatre majors who are at least a sophomore during the award year. “Money is hard to come by for students and scholarship money helps relieve the financial burden,” Michael added.

Her name is Jazz, and she will be instrumental in teaching Adams State nursing students the many facets of live birth. Thanks to the continued generosity of Janet, Class of 1963, and Jasper Mangum, Jazz has become a permanent fixture in the simulation lab.

Jazz is an advanced, full-body simulator available in both manual and automatic delivery modes. Features include: covers all stages of labor from antepartum to postpartum; provides opportunities for enhanced in-situ training with cross-functional teams to work collaboratively; train for the low-frequency, high-risk incidents; prepare learners to recognize and respond to potential high-risk births and postpartum complications such as PPH; controlled wirelessly with LLEAP, Laerdal’s simulation software.

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Camilla Alire Scholarship With a deep sense of gratitude to Adams State University, Camilla Alire, Class of 1970, established a scholarship endowment. “Adams State has always been dear to my heart.”

From her first semester, when she was an hourly employee, throughout her time at Adams State, Alire felt valued and appreciated her many mentors. She remembers Mr. Clark, the Financial Aid director, meeting with her and asking why she wasn’t on scholarship. When she explained she registered too late to be eligible, he “awarded me a scholarship right then and there.”

Alire also worked as an RA to cover her housing and meals as a student and took a position as a resident director after starting her master’s degree at Adams State. “I am so grateful for Adams State as an institution and for the professors, administration, and staff who helped shape me into who I am.” Alire has a special place in her heart for Connie Lewis who, as a role model, believed and fought for Alire. “I established this scholarship to acknowledge Adams State and my deep gratitude for the institution.”

The scholarship is restricted to freshmen, with a preference given to students from underrepresented populations, to increase diversity and thereby enrich the learning experience.

“I decided the best way to help students was through a scholarship. Because it is for underrepresented students, I am comfortable knowing it will help alleviate the stress of paying tuition.”

Alire encourages current students to be the best they can be. She believes they should be open to any kind of mentoring, formal or informal, that will help them tremendously while on campus and when they graduate and begin their career search. “I encourage students to look for mentors in their professors, administrators and/or staff.”

She also hopes once they graduate, students will consider passing along the gift either as a mentor to someone else or another way that will benefit and give back to Adams State.

“I encourage current alumni to consider making a gift to

SLV Federal Bank employees showing Grizzly pride during spirit day fall 2010

Adams State, whatever the gift might be. Whatever they give is going to help the institution serve the students.”

Alire was active in the Alumni - Denver Chapter when it was first initiated.

When talk of establishing a scholarship began, she offered a challenge: she would match any donation to the Alumni Denver Chapter Scholarship up to $5,000. Within six months the challenge was met. “I strongly believe the best way we can help students be successful is to provide the means for them to not have to worry about the cost of their education.

I have a warm place in my heart for Adams State and it feels so good to do something like this for somebody else.”

Having retired from a career in university libraries, Alire combined professional expertise with a passion for her alma mater when she served as interim director of the Nielsen Library during 2016-17. She began her path of library science as a work study student and completed a minor in the field. She went on to work in several academic libraries, having earned a master of library science from the University of Denver and a doctorate in education from the University of Northern Colorado. Alire retired from Colorado State University as Dean Emerita and full professor in 2001, then in 2005 from the University of New Mexico as Dean Emerita of University Libraries and full professor.

Alire served as president of the American Library Association, the Association for College and Research Libraries, and National REFORMA and has received many prestigious professional awards. Most recently, she was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to sit on the National Endowment for the Humanities Board of Advisors.

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Giving Back

Robby handles a live snake during a hike in the San Luis Valley.

Robby Henriksen Memorial Scholarship An abundance of love for family, friends, animals, nature, and knowledge fed Robert “Robby” Henriksen’s passion for life. Robby unexpectedly passed in 2020 and his parents, Judy and Tom, recently established the Robby Henriksen Memorial Scholarship in his honor and to spread his spirit of adventure and thirst for knowledge to current Adams State students.

Robby, Class of 2008, found a home at Adams State, which fueled his constant quest for furthering his education.

Although he visited other campuses, the Illinois native knew the minute he stepped on campus that Adams State was the school for him.

“He loved Colorado and felt immediately at home at Adams State,” Tom Henriksen said.

His intuition about Adams State was right on point.

He quickly made lifelong friends, became involved in all the campus had to offer, especially outdoor activities, and bonded with his professors.

Robby traveled with Tim Armstrong, Ph.D., professor of biology, when he organized scholastic trips to other countries including Kenya and Costa Rica. “Robby loved to learn,” Armstrong said. “He had an intrinsic curiosity about the world and made connections among his classes in a way that few students ever do. He was extremely outgoing and was everyone’s friend. He will be missed.”

That was just like Robby, his parents agreed. “He made friends with anyone who could engage in intelligent 28 AStater

Robby’s dog, Riccochet “Ricco” followed him everywhere, including up a boulder.

conversation, regardless of their age or background.” His friends, from all walks of life thought the world of him and when Robby made a friend, he was “a friend for life.”

This zest for living extended to animals and the outdoors.

He took every biology class offered, played rugby, and, along with housemates, built a bouldering wall in his garage while a student at Adams State. “If we were traveling and a boulder or rock formation caught Robby’s eye, he’d have me pull over so he could climb it,” Tom Henriksen said.

After college, Robby extended his interests to cars and owned over 15 at the time of his untimely death, at age 35.

“Robby lived life to the fullest. He got more out of life than many who live to be twice his age,” his parents added.

Robby was employed at the JW Mumma Aquatic Species Restoration Facility. He then worked at the Sanchez Reservoir before he was employed at the Taos Pueblo as an Aquatic & Conservation Species Biologist Program Manager.

Robby loved being a mentor to young children. “They loved him and would trail along with him when possible,” his parents said. At the time of his death he was employed at the Taos Market, specializing in farm-to-table and healthy and organic foods.

Robby was a voracious reader and his favorite quote was from Charles Darwin: “A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.” While a student he was awarded the Keene Outstanding Biology Student Award; was named a Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society Member and was recognized with other prestigious academic recognitions. Robby presented research for Student Scholar Days, was a volunteer judge for the Regional Science Fair all four years; and assisted Armstrong with field research.

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, Robby’s memorial service was held in August of 2021, at the SLV Brewery Company in Alamosa. “His friends traveled from all over Colorado as well as out of state. He made an impact on those who cared for him,” Judy Henriksen said.

The Robby Henriksen Memorial Scholarship is available to current biology majors with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 who are at least a junior during the award year. “We remembered the older classmen often had less opportunities for scholarships,” his parents said.

Grant Central Back to Work Adams State received $850,000 in funding over three years to help workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic earn postsecondary credentials and degrees. The grant was awarded by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, through its Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) Community Partner Program.

Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) County Matching Scholarships Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Las Animas, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties will work with the ASU Foundation and the Trinidad State Educational Foundation in partnership with ASU and TSC to administer locally matched scholarship funds tied to student support programs at each institution.

Harriet Dalzell Hester Sponsor

Proud sponsor of Adams100

USDA/ NIFA (National Institute of Food and Agriculture), Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Program: Experiential Education in Agriculture and Food Studies at Adams State University The $274,986 grant will assist Adams State in expanding its enrollments, increase retention and graduation rates, and advance equity in education in three food and agriculture bachelor degree programs: Business Administration (agribusiness emphasis), General Agriculture (agricultural business or agricultural biology emphasis), and Food Studies.

Women’s Sports Foundation, Tara VanDerveer Fund The $13,536 grant supports the part-time salary of the WSF VanDerveer Fellow, assistant coach men’s/women’s cross country/track & field, who will be mentored by Hall of Fame Head Coach Damon Martin. Emma Wren was hired to fill the position.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

Colorado Historical Records Advisory Board, Digitization and Preservation of San Luis Valley Historic Photographs at the Luther Bean Museum at Adams State University The $3,860 project is a collaborative effort by the museum and Nielsen Library. The project aims to preserve, enhance, and promote the history and culture of the San Luis Valley as recorded in the museum’s collection of some 400 historic photographs by: 1) digitizing the images, and 2) sleeving and documenting the originals after each has been scanned, and 3) posting a selection of images to a publicly accessible website.

Museum work-study student, Kayla Wohlheter, is assisting by scanning and documenting the photographs.

College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Phil Langan Internship The $15,000 internship supports hiring a sports information intern for the academic year. Paiton Demps was hired for the position.

The 1st Southwest Bank employees proudly wearing Adams State’s 2005 homecoming shirt.

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Staying in Touch •1950s

What have you been up to since graduation?

Kenneth ’51 and Geogeanna Joseph ’51 received their degrees together. Georgeanna taught school in Michigan for seven years and Ken served in the FBI for 29 years before retiring. “Our education at Adams State served us both well.” Georgeanna continued her education at Michigan State University receiving a Ph.D. in education.

Your classmates want to know.

Celsa Vialpando ’54 remembers the first time she met her husband, Joe. When he returned from fighting in the Korean War on Sept. 12, 1952, he enrolled in the fall quarter. They met in the Registrar’s Office. “He looked over at me and I at him, and we fell in love at first sight.

Our love blossomed at ASC.” They married in 1954 and were together for 67 years until his passing March 6, 2021. “So, we (I) credit ASC for bringing us together. Ours was a true love story.”

•1990s

•2010s

Jacqueline Burt North ’91, ’92 lost her “beloved” husband, James Michael North ’89, who passed away in Sugar Land, Texas, on June, 4 2021. He was 64 years old. He battled stage 4 lung cancer and brain cancer for twoand-a-half years. He graduated with a M.F.A. under the guidance of Cloyde Snook and Ed Clemmer. His art accomplishments include a six-foot bronze sculpture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, located at the Sacred Heart Church in Richmond, Texas. He also created a nine-foot bronze baseball across the street of center field of Minute Made (ASTRO) Park. “He shared what he learned at ASC with students at Houston Community College SW Campus.”

Snowy Coleman ’18, received a Bachelor of Science in business. She is currently a structural mechanic for the United States Navy.

She inspects the jets and launches her pilots.

She says, along with her hard work, Adams State faculty and staff have gotten her to where she is now and she appreciates her alma mater.

Robert Hamm ’55, ’59 retired from teaching with the Pueblo District 60.

Harvey E. Billington ’58, ’65 was a music education and vocal major. He taught music at the high school level for 16 years and was a high school principal for 16 years, and served as a superintendent for 8 years.

•1960s Sue K. King ’66, ’90 is 77 and still enjoys teaching and 2021 will be her last year as a substitute teacher in Maui. She ran a 5K on Sept. 18, 2021 in Lahaina, Maui. “Keeping healthy is very important!”

Ellwood Ervin, Jr. ’67 moved to Francis Heights Senior Center in Denver, after the pandemic ended his movie career. “I couldn’t do Denver Film Festival 43. It looks like I can do Denver Film Festival 44.” Despite health issues in 2019, Ellwood is doing well now.

•1970s William Hinz ’72 writes, “we celebrated our 35th anniversary by taking a trip to Guatemala where we visited the Tikal National Park (Mayan Temple Ruins). I joined my Gallup High School Class of 1974 for a 45th reunion trip to Las Vegas, Nev. in August 2019.

facebook.com/adamsalumni

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Email your update and photo to alumni@adams.edu.

Sarah A. Menapace-Walker ’93 is pleased to once again travel. They took a 56-day RV trip through Wyoming, North and South Dakota, and Minnesota. “We saw Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Ft. Abraham Lincoln (Custer’s house), Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the headwaters of the Mississippi located in Itasca State Park. They were the trip highlights.”

Duane K. L. France, M.A., M.B.A., L.P.C. ’15, ’17, received the 2021 Carl D. Perkins Government Relations Award, a national award from the American Counseling Association. Duane is the director of Veteran Services with the Family Care Center and executive director at the Colorado Veterans Health and Wellness Agency, located in Colorado Springs. The award is named in memory of the late Member of Congress from Kentucky, Carl D. Perkins, who chaired the House Education and Labor Committee from 1967 to 1984.

“I would like to express my thanks for all of the support that I have received from ASU and the excellent foundation that it has been for my efforts to make a difference in the lives of my fellow service members, veterans, and their families.”

Duane was very recently selected to serve as the co-director of SAMHSA’s Service Member, Veterans, and Military Family Technical Assistance Center. This is a federal government program that provides resources for communities implementing suicide prevention and behavioral health integration programs for the military affiliated population.

He began that position on September 27, 2021.

The CARES Act’s tax incentives for charitable gifts have been extended through 2021 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.

how non-itemizers win: Are you among the majority of Americans who take the standard deduction (do not itemize) on your tax return?

Your cash donations to qualified charities like Adams State are now deductible up to $300 ($600 for joint filers as of 2021).

The $300 deduction ($600 for joint filers) does not cap the amount you can give, only the amount you can claim in your deduction.

benefits for those who do itemize: The provisions of the CARES Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 allow filers a charitable deduction up to 100% of their adjusted gross income (AGI) for cash contributions to qualified charities, such as Adams State University.

For more information on these and other tax-smart ways to give, please contact our office at: (719) 587-7165.

As always, please consult with your advisors about your gift plans and the tax law’s impact on your personal situation.

Information contained herein was accurate at the time of printing. This information is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results.

Joseph Salazar ’83, and his wife, Deborah “Debbie”, were married on the Adams State campus nearly 40 years ago last summer. Joseph lost Debbie to cancer in the spring and wanted to do something significant in her memory. On August 7, 2021, 39 years after their union, he gathered with friends and family at the same spot near Leon Memorial Hall to remember happier times and say goodbye. “I really appreciate Adams State allowing us to use the campus 39 years ago and I appreciated that they allowed us to use it again. Adams State has been good to me in the past and they helped me again. Debbie would really have liked the celebration. Once again, thank-you.”

The family of former physics professor Moe Morris, Ph.D., stopped by Adams State in June and, while touring the campus, took the time to take a family photo in front of Porter Hall. Pictured, left to right, Larry Dozier, Marti (Morris) Dozier, Rebecca Patzer, Sage Patzer, Cassia Patzer, Koufax Dozier, Blue Patzer, Zulema Dozier and Daniel Dozier. Moe’s wife, Jackalene earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Adams State. Two of Moe’s daughters Marian Morris ’68 and Kathy (Morris) Schenk ’77, also received degrees from Adams State. “We have been told that our grandmother, Clara Milford Morris, attended Adams State in some of the first years of the college's existence,” Martha Dozier said. She and her sister, Marian, plan on returning for the Homecoming of the Century October 15 and 16.

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Adams Family Album

Denver Alumni Chapter luncheon Fall 2021

Throughout the summer, Adams State alumni participated in the Alamosa 4th of July parade, Monte Vista Ski-Hi Stampede parade, the Santiago y Santa Ana Parade in San Luis and the Manassa Pioneer Days parade.

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Coming Soon...

Adams100 History Book Read excerpts below and learn more about our upcoming release date in the next issue of the AStater.

The cornerstone of the Normal School was placed on August 31, 1923, but the real foundation of the college has always been its location and connection to the local land and community.

Regarding facilities, (President Fred) Plachy pushed ahead with an ambitious plan to revitalize the campus. He embarked on a journey that would continue Adams State’s physical transformation, adding new facilities, refurbishing old buildings, and paving roads and parking lots.

Marguerite Salazar ’75, ’76, remembers a campus filled with students who wanted to make a difference: “We grew up in an era where whatever we did, we knew had to be good for the entire community. It was always about, how are we going to bring everybody else up so that we’re all standing even, because we saw the injustices.”

“Athletics brought a lot of different kinds of people here,” Todd Cotton says.

“Athletics can be your window to the world, the handshake to the world. That’s the beauty of it. It’s a wonderful melting pot of cultures, brought together with teamwork, and that’s how the world needs to think today.”

“One of the good things about ASC is that we looked at every student as important,” said President Gilmore. “Every year at graduation, there were always a couple of students for whom you felt you really made a difference.

Despite their early struggles, they had succeeded, and it made me realize what Adams State does for the individual. I can’t think of anything better than an education to help people better their lives.”

The reality is that Adams State has been empowering Hispanic students long before it received an official recognition for doing so. Adams faculty and staff know that to be an HSI is more than a federal distinction. It’s a call to serve, celebrate, and support the advancement of the diverse students who identify as Latino/a, Chicano/a, Mexican-American, and Hispanic.

“We have a responsibility to educate the people of the Valley, and I think we need to keep that mission near and dear to our hearts as we move into the future,” says Board of Trustee member Donna Griego ’03, ’12.

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In Memoriam The Adams State community is saddened by the loss of longstanding Grizzly Club member, Janet “Skippy” Morrison ’69.

Janet died on August 8, 2021 of natural causes, surrounded by her loving family.

Janet and her husband, Ted ’69, were avid supporters of Adams State. They received the Adams State University 1999 Billy Adams Award, the institution’s highest award, and the Grizzly Club Individual Partner of the Year in 2017.

Janet was a long-time member of the Alumni Association Board including serving twice as president. She owned and operated Arby’s Restaurant in Alamosa for 27 years. During that time she hosted many tailgate parties for homecoming games.

She was also dedicated to all San Luis Valley students and for years helped organize the yearly all-star game, which funded scholarships for Adams State students from the San Luis Valley.

Other causes near and dear to her heart were the orphanage in Mexico and the Conejos County Gift of Giving. She was a very kind and gentle person that had a bit of spunk to her. She had the ability to make everyone feel special. Skippy was one to work behind the scenes and get things done without anyone’s knowledge. Her greatest love was her family and she especially enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. They will miss their Mimi very much.

Skippy is survived by Ted; her children Kim ’95, (Aaron ’94) Woodke of Del Norte and Melissa ’21, (Chas ’98) Moeller of Alamosa; and her grandchildren Sydney and Jayda Woodke and Brayden and Kamryn Moeller.

For more information or to send condolences visit www.rogersfunerals.com.

Ignacio “Nacho” Martinez, former owner and president of Jalisco, Inc. and the Best Western Alamosa Inn and true supporter of Adams State University passed away in March of 2021.

Nacho received the 1993 Billy Adams Award and the first Grizzly Club Corporate Partner of the Year Award in 2004. He also served on the University’s athletic booster clubs and was a trustee for the state colleges for a four and onehalf year term, concluding in 1999.

His commitment was not limited to sports. He hosted banquets at the motel and in the early 90s, when Adams State ran out of housing room, Nacho offered a block of profitable rooms at cut-rate prices.

A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Nacho came to the United States with his family at age 10. He is a graduate of Arizona Western Junior College. He started his very successful career in the hospitality industry at the age of 15. In 1978, he arrived in Alamosa to manage the Best Western. After a transfer to Dallas, Nacho and his wife, Karen, returned to the Alamosa Inn in 1986, and purchased the motel in 1994.

While living in Alamosa, Nacho volunteered for a vast number of community organizations.

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Final Chapters Laverne Etter ’50, ’55 (Layton, UT) passed away Jul 29 at the age of 93.

Maureen D. Hicks ’68 (Sandpoint, ID) passed away Jul 29 at the age of 73.

David J. Novak ’52 (Colorado Springs, CO) passed away Jan 31 at the age of 74.

Franklin D. Goodman ’69 (Highland Village, TX) passed away Mar 26 at the age of 67.

Richard S. Mazur ’53 (Bradenton, FL) passed away Aug 15 at the age of 87.

James R. Garcia ’69, ’73 (Espanola, NM) passed away May 20 at the age of 77.

Bertha L. Morris (Yauck) ’53 (Bakersfield, CA) passed away Jun 24 at the age of 92.

Janet “Skippy” Morrison ’69 (Alamosa, CO) passed away Aug 8 at the age of 74.

Betty Lorraine Oba ’53, ’61 (Meeker, CO) passed away Apr 12 at the age of 89.

Fred E. Gaither ’70 (Bolivar, MO) passed away Oct 2 at the age of 77.

Joe C. Vialpando ’54, ’60 (Aurora, CO) passed away Mar 6 at the age of 91.

Louise Maria Pasztor ’55 (Littleton, CO) passed away Mar 27 at the age of 86.

Charles F. Lewis ’58 (Scottsdale, AZ) passed away Mar 26 at the age of 85.

Alexander Colville ’59 (Del Norte, CO) passed away Jul 31 at the age of 89.

Cecil E. Lollar ’60, ’68 (Rangely, CO) passed away May 2 at the age of 83.

Beverly A. Percival ’60, ’80 (Pueblo, CO) passed away Jul 6 at the age of 82.

Carol D. Jeppson ’70, ’72 (West Bountiful, UT) passed away Dec 10 at the age of 82.

Margaret Mitchell ’70 (Newtown Square, PA) passed away Dec 25 at the age of 71.

Janet M. Postelle ’70 (Creede, CO) passed away Jul 6 at the age of 67.

Harold B. Richardson ’70 (Jackson, WY) passed away Jun 1 at the age of 77.

Gary L. Pace ’71 (Woodland Park, TX) passed away May 5 at the age of 63.

Jerry Abeyta ’74 (Hooper, CO) passed away Jul 26 at the age of 78.

Milton J. Place ’74 (Medina, OH) passed away Aug 21 at the age of 69.

Annabell T. Rael ’74 (Alamosa, CO) passed away Jul 8 at the age of 72.

Ronald F. Fink ’62, ’66 (Rocky Ford, CO) passed away Mar 31 at the age of 85.

Margaret E. Garcia ’75, ’77 (Antonito, CO) passed away May 13 at the age of 79.

Lenora J. Gylling ’63 (Arvada, CO) passed away Jul 30 at the age of 77.

Calvin Dawe ’76 (Leadville, CO) passed away May 20 at the age of 67.

Merlin J. Miller ’64 (Iowa City, IA) passed away Jul 1 at the age of 78.

Janet Makris ’77, ’79 (Pueblo, CO) passed away Aug 6 at the age of 70.

Adolf Heersink ’65 (Ontario, CA) passed away Jul 4 at the age of 83.

Kalendar E. Gokturk ’79 (Overgaard, AZ) passed away Feb 13 at the age of 51.

Onesimo D. Maes ’65 (Las Cruces, NM) passed away Aug, 19 at the age of 74.

Derald D. Maxwell ’65, ’87 (Salida, CO) passed away May 26 at the age of 84.

Donald G. Leidheiser ’66 (Grand Chute, WI) passed away Jul 22 at the age of 70.

Dorothea K. Moore ’66 (Hays, KS) passed away May 30 at the age of 79.

Carolyn G. Smith ’66, ’73 (Alamosa, CO) passed away Jul 22 at the age of 77.

James E. McGrew ’67 (Knoxville, TN) passed away Oct 5 at the age of 85.

Dorothy M. Roberts ’67 (Pueblo, CO) passed away May 7 at the age of 84.

Ernest Sanchez ’67 (Sante Fe, NM) passed away Dec 19 at the age of 87.

Dennis L. Valentine ’67 (Monte Vista, CO) passed away Jun 29 at the age of 81.

Gregg A. Maul ’89 (Longmont, CO) passed away Mar 27 at the age of 55.

James M. North ’89 (Livingston, TX) passed away Jun 4 at the age of 64.

Jeffrey K. Rasmussen ’89 (Longmont, CO) passed away Aug 11 at the age of 55.

Shirley Frank ’97 (Carbondale, CO) passed away May 11 at the age of 67.

Timothy Whitney ’97 (Manassa, CO) passed away Jul 30 at the age of 55.

Miguel K. Chaparro ’09 (Alamosa, CO) passed away May 26 at the age of 48.

friends Phil Gore (Centralia, KS) passed away Sep 5 at the age of 85.

Ignacio “Nacho” Martinez passed away in early Mar 2021.

Robert R. Adams ’68 (Joplin, MO) passed away Apr 17 at the age of 80.

ON THE BACK COVER: Adams State University’s Run of the Century held September 24-25

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A-Stater Adams State University Alamosa, CO 81101