President’s Letter:

Both Darin and I take great pride in reading the AStater, this edition in particular. The annual donor report highlights the generosity of our alumni and friends in advancing the mission of the university; to provide access for education for all while caring, connecting, and challenging our students, campus, and community.

The Fourth Annual Adams State Gives Day held in Richardson Hall Auditorium on February 16 is an excellent example of a community effort to help our students. Over $127,000 was raised over the course of Adams State Gives Day from 108 individual donors. That effort equates to immediate impact for our students in the form of financial aid and learning/technology upgrades, to name a few.

Our students continue to amaze me. In just the first half of the spring semester, student athletes earned five individual national championships and one team national title. Two theatre majors devoted themselves to directing plays, one who wrote and directed his production. The AS&F officers traveled to Denver to visit the state legislature and champion our University and Jose Villagomez, AS&F president, received two awards in recognition of his leadership. Ariel Caldon was featured at a lunchtime talk speaking about her African volunteer work, funded by the Porter Scholars program. In fact, Porter Hall buzzed with STEM students on February 28 and March 1, as their research posters and oral presentations impressed and inspired faculty, staff and fellow students.

This is just a small sampling of our students across all our departments that chose Adams State. They are willing to put forth the effort to excel in their discipline, leadership roles, sports, and clubs. As many of you benefited from the generosity of strangers while you were pursuing your Adams State degree, so do our students appreciate financial assistance as they reach their goals.

Great stories do begin here and I want to THANK YOU for keeping Adams State as part of your philanthropy.

Go Grizzlies

David Tandberg, Ph.D. ’02 Interim President

Adams State does not tolerate discrimination in any form. Go to adams.edu/ads for the full anti-discrimination statement.

Ariel shadowed deliveries, dressed wounds, checked vital signs, and comforted patients at the Manhyia Government Hospital. “Lack of resources meant women were not offered medications to ease childbirth pain.” At the New Life Orphanage, she fed, dressed and played with the children. “Many in the facility have severe needs and were abandoned due to superstitious beliefs, others were left until the family could better provide for them.” Ariel acted as a teacher assistant for fifth graders at the Divine Public School. “The entire school only had two or three teachers who rotated through classrooms.”

Due to a lack of beds, many orphans spend most of their time on one large mat. Children must pay to take exams to get to the next level at the public school and most don’t have the money. “I realize your happiness is not dependent on your circumstances because all the children were very happy. I am grateful for this experience and for gaining a perspective I will carry with me the rest of my life.”

THERE'S A NEW BEAR IN TOWN

After 22 years, Boomer, the long-time mascot officially retired, opening the door for two new mascots, Russet (aka Russ) and Billy, to now represent the Grizzlies.

The names for the mascots were selected following campus and community-wide nominations, surveys, and focus groups. Russet is named in tribute to the local farming community, specifically the potato industry. Billy is named for the founder of the university, Billy Adams.

Throughout the following pages, you'll see Russet and Billy diving right into their new positions, both on campus and throughout the community.