Giving Back

from AStater Donor 2022-issuu

Adams Family Album

Longtime faculty members Rex, Ph.D., and Peggy Filer establish a scholarship endowment to support students pursuing a master’s in counseling

Rex Filer, Ph.D., emeritus professor of counselor education, joined Adams State in 1987. During his 28 year teaching career, he witnessed the department’s growth and believes in the idea of 'quality education with a personal touch.' “I appreciated this moniker which I felt made the student’s experience special.”

He understands pursuing a master’s degree can be challenging. “I appreciate the courage Adams State students show. Starting fresh out of an undergrad program or other life experiences, it can be challenging. It doesn’t matter where you start, you have to be yourself in the process and trust who you are. Lives are changed positively with a master’s degree and I wanted to help students achieve their dreams…to be a part of that in some small way.”

Peggy Filer, Class of 1991 and 1993, wants the next generations graduating from Adams State to feel motivated to succeed, with the help of scholarships. She’s thrilled to see the success of the counselor education program and is proud of the student achievements.

“These students are becoming who they want to be and will benefit the world when they graduate, encouraging others to have their hopes and dreams fulfilled,” Peggy Filer said. This certainly happened for Peggy. She grew up deaf and remembers the fear of starting college. The scholarships she received encouraged her to continue with her master’s degree in counseling.

“The scholarships helped so much,” Peggy Filer added. “I was in need of financial aid and scholarships gave me the same opportunities as every student. I wanted to say thank you to the donors by doing my best in school.” The Peggy & Rex Filer Scholarships will be awarded each year. One will support a student pursuing their Master in Arts in school counseling while the other will support a student pursuing their Master in Arts in clinical mental health counseling.

The Filers are retired and volunteer for AARP; and for seven years, Rex Filer has volunteered with free tax preparation. “Helping out in this way just feels like an extension of Adams State – responding to the needs of others.” Peggy Filer can’t seem to stop teaching sign language after more than 35 years, 20 years at Adams State. She volunteers as an ASL instructor. “I can’t really explain all the wonderful memories I have of Adams State. It was just wonderful. Adams State opened all the world to me.”

Dr. William M. Chase Memorial Scholarship

The Dr. William M. Chase Memorial Scholarship was funded through the Chase Living Trust and is restricted to students who are a junior or senior majoring in business. William Chase, Ph.D., emeritus professor of business, retired in 1994. He was admired by his colleagues.

Thomas J. Gilmore, Ph.D., emeritus professor of business, describes Chase as an excellent professor, much liked and admired by students. “His classes were interesting and always of top quality in both the concept of management and its practical application.”

Chase was an excellent advisor to students and took this very seriously. He was equally respected and liked by his peers. “He never spoke until he had thought about the issue, and, when he did speak, it was always sensible and worth hearing,” Gilmore added. “He was an all-around excellent teacher, scholar, and colleague.” Julie Campbell, emeritus assistant professor of business, also taught with Chase. “Dr. Chase was the epitome of a gentleman. In his interactions with students and faculty, he was always professional but his deep concern for them shone through.”

Chase had a soft spot for non-traditional students and liked to tap into their knowledge and experience to keep his teaching relevant and to help them succeed academically in the midst of the younger students. “His office door was open for any student who needed advice or help or just a chat,” added Campbell.

McAninch/Mangum Track and Field Scholarship

Janet Mangum, Class of 1963, remembers a time when women didn’t compete in sports. “We had playdays. I guess they thought we were too fragile to play whole ball games by ourselves.” Once she started teaching physical education in New Mexico she soon began coaching the girls track team.

Her first meet didn’t go so well. “I learned a lesson and I didn’t like losing.” Mangum brushed up on her skills and started coming home with wins for her junior and senior high school teams. Her memories coaching and respect for the sport, and her appreciation for Adams State, inspired Janet, and her husband, Jasper, to establish the McAninch/ Mangum Track and Field Scholarship.

“I have always enjoyed track and field and wanted to help students finish their degree,” Mangum added.

The McAninch/Mangum Track and Field Scholarship is restricted to a senior track and field athlete. The Mangums have a long history of donating to Adams State including establishing a nursing scholarship and helping purchase an advanced, full-body simulator for the nursing simulation lab.

A graduate of Center High School, Mangum has always admired the work ethic of Adams State students. “Most students do not come from privileged backgrounds and understand that in order to be successful they have to work hard. We hope to help alleviate some of the financial burden so they can concentrate on their studies.”

She encourages current students to take the time to enjoy their youth and appreciate all the lessons learned.

Mangum earned a degree in health education but after a few years as a teacher, decided to pursue a different career. She worked for a short time in a doctor’s office and then teamed up with Jasper in his auto body shop. “I hadn’t heard of a body shop before I met my husband. We made a very successful business due to a strong work-ethic and selfdiscipline I learned at Adams State.”

Brothers Kevin Lentz and Doug Lentz

Don and Myrna Lentz Family Scholarship

Kevin Lentz, Class of 1979, and his brother Doug Lentz, Class of 1991, recall their father, Don Lentz being a strong advocate of education, as he was the first in his family to receive a college degree. Don Lentz was chief lab technician and assistant administrator at the Alamosa Hospital, now known as SLV Health. He employed many college students as phlebotomists and laboratory assistants.

Kevin and his wife, Terri, along with Doug and his wife, Jenny, are proud to establish the Don & Myrna Lentz Family Scholarship, recognizing a strong family legacy. “My parents created such an inspiration for my brother and I to pursue our dreams and stick with it,” Kevin Lentz said. “We graduated from Adams State, along with our spouses and our children.”

The scholarship is a two-year award. The recipient must be in their freshman year, pursuing a degree in the sciences, remain in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and demonstrate financial need.

Growing up in Alamosa, brothers Kevin and Doug Lentz always felt the connection between Adams State and the community. They attended basketball and football games growing up and continued to participate in student activities while Kevin earned his double major in business administration and accounting and Doug earned his degree in business administration and management.

“Adams State is a source of pride and an integral part of the community,” Kevin Lentz said. “It is well respected with a very diverse group of students committed to education. There are opportunities here for a quality four-year education where students are able to achieve their goals.

“We wanted to give structure and courage to students pursuing their dreams. Entering college can be a big change from high school and sometimes it is easy to quit. With this two-year scholarship, we felt once a student has completed their second year, there is a good chance they will continue and finish their degree.”

Kevin Lentz advises students not to let the degree pigeonhole their goals or expectations. After 16 years in a corporate career, he fulfilled his lifelong passion and started his own company which now has five branch companies all tied to marketing/technology. “Stick with it – it is worth it.”

Getz Family establishes endowed fund for the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center

Getz and Salazar are respected names in the San Luis Valley. True stewards of the land, these successful agricultural icons recognize the importance of protecting the valley resources, including its most vital resource - water.

This dedication inspired the Melvin Getz’ family to contribute to the Adams State Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center.

The Melvin Getz Endowed Fund is named in honor of longtime water rights activist, loving father, and devoted friend, the late Melvin Getz, pictured above. The endowment will provide ongoing operational and programmatic support for the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center, including the water minor established by the Center.

The family of Melvin Getz, including his son, Steven Getz, Class of 1981; and daughters Jackie Lee Getz White, M.D., Class of 1982; Amy Kay Getz, Class of 2000; and Lynne Marie Getz, Ph.D., Class of 1978, contributed to the endowment. Many generations of the Getz and Lorton families are graduates of Adams State. They value their experiences at Adams State and continue to support its programs.

Melvin Getz was a lifelong student of water. His father, Leslie Getz started working with the United States Geologic Service (USGS) in 1938. He and other ranchers noticed that their artesian wells were changing and worked with the USGS to establish one of the first well monitoring programs in the area.

“The Getz’s have been studying water ever since, said Steven Getz. “Grandpa taught his kids about ranching, and the discussion included water. Dad, in turn, taught his kids, and anyone that would listen, about water.

“Dad always thought outside the box. He pushed novel ideas. Many such as groundwater recharge and water share buybacks, are commonly used today.” In the early 1990s, Melvin Getz was among the first to realize American Water Development Inc. (AWDI) planned to take San Luis Valley water to the front range and helped lead the fight to stop the challenge.

“Our family thanks the Salazar family for this opportunity to continue Dad’s life’s work,” said Steven Getz.

The Adams State Salazar Center works to engage and advance the conservation of land, water, and historic and cultural attributes at the headwaters of the Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley. The Center hosts the annual Rio Grande State of the Basin Symposium; an on-going series of community water talks; and other special programs.

The children of Melvin Getz also established the Florence Lorton Memorial Scholarship, in honor of their grandmother, an educator and long-time supporter of Adams State. Their mother, Alice Lorton Getz, was also an advocate of education for non-traditional students and taught at Adams State. When she died in 1996, the award was renamed the Florence Lorton and Alice Lorton Getz Memorial Scholarship. The Emma and Henry Salazar Family established the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center in 2016.

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The Adams State School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics received an Xcel Energy Education grant for the 2021/2022 academic year, which was used to offer free STEM Saturday workshops to San Luis Valley school-aged students. According to Angie Sandy, Title V STEM activity director, the $10,000 grant funded nine STEM Saturdays, including two offcampus locations, in Antonito and Del Norte. A total of nearly 100 students, in grades 3-12, attended sessions on biology, mathematics, chemistry, electronics, and 3D printing.