Exceptional New Alumna

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.

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.

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

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

Billy Adams Award Recepients

1971 J. Leslie Kittle 1972 Luther Bean 1973 Glennys Rugg 1974 Donald Gulley ’72 1975 William Meyer 1976 Willis Fassett, Jr. 1977 James Craft, Ph.D. 1978 Dale Thomas 1979 John Reason 1980 Margaret Plachy 1981 Charlotte Kavanaugh 1982 Littleton J. Bunch, Ph.D. 1983 Mary Hennessey ’75 1984 Roy B. Heilman 1985 Charles and Beryl Woodard 1986 John A. Marvel, Ph.D. 1987 George Woodard 1988 Harry U. Hull 1989 John W. Price 1990 William Moyers ’39 1991 Ralph H. Outcalt 1992 William O. DeSouchet 1993 Ignacio “Nacho” Martinez 1994 Cliff Hartman 1995 John Roybal ’51 1996 Robert Foote 1997 Joe Maestas ’67 1998 Ray & Ruth McGee ’50 1999 Ted & Janet Morrison ’69 2000 Keith Cerny 2001 Don & Gloria Wuckert 2002 Tim Walters ’73 2003 Joe I. Vigil, Ph.D. ’53, ’59 2004 Billy J. Bond, Jr. 2005 William A. Porter ’51 2006 Marv Motz, Ph.D. ’58, ’59 2007 Glenn M. Burnham, Ph.D. 2008 Izora ’66 & Butch Southway 2009 Glen Bean ’36 2010 John McDaniel, Ph.D. 2011 Don Stegman ’61, ’64 2012 Robert Oringdulph ’71 2013 Erik van de Boogaard 2014 Charles Scoggin 2015 Steve Valdez ’87 2016 Joseph A. Garcia 2017 Camila Alire ’70 2018 Millie Hamner, Ph.D. ’87 2019 Carlos F. Lucero ’61 2020 J. Thomas Gilmore, Ph.D. ’67, ’68

Homecoming of the Century

1953 El Parnaso Float

1963 Alumni Banquet

2005 Football Game

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

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

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

2021 Special Edition “100 Year” Long-Sleeve Shirt

adams.edu/alumni/homecoming/

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.”

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.”

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.”