AStater Winter 2019

A

Stater

Help us tell the story

page 22

winter 2019 the magazine of adams state university

A

Stater

VOL. 59, NO. 3 • WINTER 2019

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/

EDITOR

Chris Lopez ’84

DESIGNER

Amy Kucera ’05

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Linda Relyea ’96, ’10, Amy Kucera ’05

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sarah Kuta • Emily Osburn • Kaitlyn Kelley • Jonah Bricker Jade Winton • Chris Burtschi • Aaron Kinnischtzke

PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY Dr. Cheryl D. Lovell

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY

Michele Lueck Chair Donna Griego ’03, ’12 Vice Chair Pam Bricker • Reeves Brown • Jonathan N. Marquez ’13 Wendell L. Pryor • Cleave Simpson • John Singletary • Randy Wright ’84 Dr. James Doyle Faculty Trustee Diane Arias Student Trustee

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD

Lori Lee Laske ’91, ’01 Executive Director of Alumni & Donor Relations Sandy Ortega ’74 President Delzia Worley ’97 Vice President D. Mike Garcia ’73, ’77 • Lynn Michalke ’77 • Robert Oringdulph ’71 Carol Osborn ’84 • Chris Page ’02, ’03 • Kasey Russell ’03 Rich Scanga ’75 • Jeremy Wilder ’96 • Loren Wright ’08

ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION BOARD

Ron Howard `98 President Dr. John McDaniel Vice President Jeni Jack Goodwin `85 Secretary Chuck Owsley ’68 Treasurer Fred Bunch ’77 • Glenn Burnham • Duane Bussey ’82 Keith Cerny • Jenny Cooper • Ed Crowther Bill Fassett • Dale Hettinger ’64 • Chuck Houser ’62 Dorothy Lucero ’61 • Joe Martinez ’99, ’12 Cathy Mullens ’82 • Richard Scanga ’75 • Don Stegman ’61, ’64

FOUNDATION HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS

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

GRIZZLY CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ron DeSautell ’76 President Hoyt Anderson ’97 Vice President Keith Cerny • Dante Gonzalez • Jeni Jack Goodwin ’85 Justin Johnson • Chris Lopez ’84 • Lisa Martinez ’81 • Darrell Meis ’81 Ted Morrison ’69 • Marci Schulz ’93 • Donna Wehe ’12

President’s Letter: One of the many initiatives we have underway is drafting our next five-year strategic plan. We are framing it around our responsibilities to adapt to an evolving, extremely competitive future for higher education where costs continue to increase, a decline in the number of high school graduates is pending, and state support is inconsistent.

Innovations and efficiencies are not just words in a plan. We have to take actions now to keep Adams nimble and vibrant. We have to be creative to maintain quality programs to attract students and to provide competitive resources to retain our highly qualified, committed faculty and staff. We must adopt lifelong learning practices to ensure our graduates are prepared for shifting career paths as industries change and emerging technologies require new knowledge and skills. Our advocacy for equity and inclusion becomes even more important as our communities and workplaces are increasingly diverse.

Student successes matter even more in this new, highly competitive higher education environment. We must continue to demonstrate positive outcomes and gains for our students.

Our mission statement is critical because it differentiates our university from others. We are exploring a revised, more explicit statement: “Our driving purpose is to provide equitable access to education for all. We promote successful and engaged lives by caring, connecting, and challenging our students, campus, and community. As Colorado’s premier Hispanic Serving Institution, Adams State University draws on our rural location in the San Luis Valley, to serve all students, especially to empower historically underserved populations.” In this proposed statement, we recognize and honor our place, the San Luis Valley. In doing so we demonstrate our work as “stewards of place.” In our rural location, we have to work collaboratively to reinvigorate ourselves to ensure a sustainable economic future – for both our university and our surrounding communities.

We need to collectively develop intentional actions where we combine higher education and economic development as a foundation for a vibrant future. As a university, we must offer curricular opportunities relevant to our region. We must play an active, collaborative role in our region to prepare students who will lead innovations and provide solutions for today and tomorrow’s communities.

We take pride in our role as a steward of place and we ask you to join us in shaping a future to serve all. We believe a successful future is in our hands. We also need our surrounding communities to join our passion and support our work with donations, support, and collaborations. We are confident we can achieve our goals and move in a direction with a sense of urgency and strategic focus. As alumni of Adams State, we encourage you to reach out to let us know what you think about our proposed mission statement and we welcome your thoughts on any of our strategic initiatives. We wish all a prosperous 2020.

ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT

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

VISION STATEMENT 2020

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

adams.edu

•

facebook.com/adamsalumni President Lovell with the Kerr family before graduation.

2

AStater

Adams Family Gatherings

Contents

JANUARY 18 ASU Alumni Denver Chapter Annual Meeting

22 Anaheim, Calif.

Coffee with the president

24 Colorado Music Educators Association conference

FEBRUARY 1 ASU Alumni Board of Directors Meeting

17 Adams State Gives Day Re-Engage and Re-Connect.

Tell us how you’re doing and tell us someone you remember.

Read more on page 22.

25 ASU Foundation Board of Directors Meeting MARCH 4 Albuquerque 6 Phoenix 7 Tucson APRIL TBD San Luis Valley

6

Donor & Student Recognition Dinner

10

Billy Adams award recipient: Honorable Carlos Lucero ’61

28

NCAA Championship

MAY 4 New Grad Brunch 6 ASU Educators Hall of Fame Ceremony 11 ASU Alumni Association Board of Directors Meeting

4 Keeping Current 16 News Campus updates

36

38

26 Athletics Hall of Fame banquet

40 Adams Family Album Photo memories of alumni events

34 Great Alumni Stories Mandi Elder ’94

43 Final Chapters Remembering those no longer with us

Photo recap of the semester

Giving Back Scholarships established

Staying in Touch Class notes from alumni

16 ASU Alumni Denver Chapter Colfax Marathon

JUNE 6 Grand Junction Social Watch your mail for details.

ON THE COVER: Memories...Adams State archive photos from different decades AStater 3

Keeping Current

ASU Cares Day: all-campus community service day in September

enGENDERing Change: The ASU Gender Theatre Project included the production of A Doll’s House, Part 2 and an “All Rise Now” rally

4

AStater

Celebrating Hispanic Serving Institution Month in September

Around 75 students attended Discover Day on Sept. 28

ASU wrestling team at the Stephanie Miner 5K run/walk

Rare AIR (Artist in Residency) program hosted Japanese sculptor Koshi Hayashi and clarinetist Chiho Sugo. Hayashi demonstrated calligraphy at a free, public workshop.

Sugo and music majors perform in the Cloyde Snook Gallery.

The Alumni/Foundation staff, trunk-or-treat and the Public Relations staff show Halloween spirit

AStater 5

Donor & Student Recognition The Adams State University Donor and Student Recognition Dinner offered a chance for current scholarship recipients to dine with donors and share their gratitude.

Award recipients included William “Bill” J. Crain, Ph.D. ’60, ’62, and his late wife, Ellen ’82. The Crains received the Willis Fassett Jr. Award in recognition of their support of Adams State nursing students.

“When I heard we were receiving the award, I was a little taken aback,” Crain said. “Thank you very much.” In 2014, the Crains established the Crain Scholarship Endowment for nursing majors.

Bill Crain continues to live in Pueblo, following the death of his wife a year ago. “She started our scholarship program

Adams State donor Karla Shriver with Aly Hogan at the 2019 Donor and Student Recognition Dinner

6

AStater

and we’ve been contributing to it ever since,” Bill said. “Elly and I recognize the importance of higher education. We appreciate all that college has done for us and want to pass it on and share our good fortune with others.”

He encourages Adams State students to “work hard and pay attention and strive to do better to im-prove not only your own life but others you come in contact with, whether teachers or anyone.”

For 26 years, Bill taught auto mechanics at Southern Colorado State College, now known as CSU-Pueblo. He and Elly met at the college, where she was a nursing professor. Bill later earned a Ph.D. from Colorado State University in vocational education.

After retiring from CSU-Pueblo, Bill taught classes at GM training centers in Michigan and occasionally overseas in China, Saudi Arabia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

The Crains have two sons, Tom (Anita) and Jim (Julie), and two grandchildren.

Bill continues to stay busy helping out at the Pueblo Heritage Museum and the Pueblo Historical Society.

President Lovell with award recipients William J. Crain, Ph.D. ’60, ’62; Terry and Fidella Gibbs and the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee

Terry and Fidella Gibbs named Grizzly Club Individual Partners As the waitress sets down the plate of pastry as big as your head and swimming in butter and icing, your taste buds begin to water in anticipation of the first bite as you pull back the first layer of a warm cinnamon roll at the Alamosa Campus Café. It is doubtful you will find a bigger or better treat anywhere in the world.

Much like their world-renowned cinnamon rolls, Terry and Fidella Gibbs have built their restaurant around the principles of warmth and satisfying appetites of current and past Adams State students, faculty and staff. Not only have the two kept their prices reasonable, and the Campus a friendly gathering place, they have also contributed to the Grizzly Club for 15 years.

The Grizzly Club named the Gibbs and the world-famous Campus Cafe its Individual Partner of the Year.

“We are thankful we can support Adams State,” Fidella said. “So many Adams State students and employees help support us.”

Shelves of trophies line the walls. When they bought the restaurant from the Bauers 16 years ago, Fidella asked Cross Country Head Coach Damon Martin if he would have anything to help liven up the blank walls. “Coach Martin brought in four or five boxes of trophies and plaques.”

Born and raised in the San Luis Valley, Terry continues to attend sporting events and Fidella enjoys seeing Adams State students in the restaurant. “We have met some wonderful kids through the years. It makes me feel good to help them out.”

As for those cinnamon rolls, Fidella uses a recipe passed down from her mother and has had requests to ship them as far as New York and Alaska by former Adams State community members.

She encourages current students to “keep up the good work, and know what you are doing will pay off.”

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee named Grizzly Club Corporate Partner The annual Spud Bowl football game at Adams State has always counted on the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee (CPAC) as a supporter going back to the first Spud Bowl game 73 years ago.

For its support over time, CPAC was named the Adams State University Grizzly Club Corporate Partner of the Year for 2019. The Grizzly Club is a volunteer group that raises money to support student athletes at Adams State.

“We want to express our sincere gratitude to the Grizzly Club for selecting us as the Corporate Sponsor of the Year,” said Jim Ehrlich, executive director of CPAC. “It is a great honor to receive this recognition and we appreciate it deeply.”

CPAC plays an instrumental role in promoting San Luis Valley potatoes to a global audience, and it uses Adams State athletics to help get out its message. CPAC and Adams State teamed up on a recent commercial that features former Adams State runners who extol the virtues of healthy eating by consuming San Luis Valley-grown potatoes. ““The potato industry is a critical part of our valley’s history and future, much like Adams State University, and we are thankful to be able to support and partner with them in their educational mission,” Ehrlich said of CPAC’s partnership with Adams State and its athletics department.

“We are very proud to support the university and the athletic department because we know how important the university is to our community,” said Ehrlich. “It is crucial to have a higher education institution here and through its history, Adams State has been a pillar of strength to our valley.”

The same should be said of CPAC, a great partner for Adams State University and ASU Athletics.

AStater 7

Kale Adams Robert Adams Teddy Adkins Pilar Aguirre Tomas Agustin Christopher Ah Mook Sang Amber Alcorta Jacquelin Alvey Jonathan Andreatta Susan Andrews

Gracie Burkhart Juan Calixto Tomas Salvador Capetillo Gihan Cardona Dalton Carleo Rian Carrillo Samantha Carson Shelby Carter Alfonso Casias Alyssa Castaneda Brisa Castillo-Miranda

Allysen Duysen Aryanna Elwyn Eilish Flanagan Roisin Flanagan Leslie Flores Deanna Floriani Amanda Foster Kyle Freel Casey Fringer Baylie Fryar Kol Fuierer

Courtney Hocking Brooklyn Hogan Marshell Hollins Kendell Hollowell Cheyenne Hopkins Logan Hopkins Madison Horton Kelly Hosner Crowley Kaitlyn Jackson Madeline Jackson Davonte Jett-Reynolds

Shania Maestas Raul Magno Pablo Maldonado Chloe Marston Emily Martin Kathleen Martinez Malakah Martinez Michael Martinez James Maupin Briana Maxwell Deon Mayes

Student Scholarship Recipients Donwanae Anthony Nana Appiah Kyrah Archibald Delaney Armstrong Leah Arvanitis Cheyenne Atencio Amanda Avila Coby Baer Cordell Baer Rebeca Baeza Juana Baltazar Francisco Allen Banner Tyler Barats Olivia Beames Joshua Bechaver Alexis Becker Alecia Begay Veronica Beltz Olivia Benavidez Sean Benke Gilbert Benton Brandon Billings Carson Bix Hannah Boatright Bianca Borile John Bowers Ann Brewer MaClay Bruce John Buksa Jamie Bulzomi Joslin Bunker Mathew Burcin

8

AStater

Kevin Castro Andie Caton Godfrey Chama Sandy Chambers Joshua Charles Lilliana Chavez Martin Chrisman Cristopher Cisneros Caleb Clark Scott Clayburn Shaylynn Clinton Tessa Coffelt Kyle Corder Abby Corona Brianna Corona Santiago Cortez Stephanie Cotter Caleigh Cowan Sophia Coy Ashlyn Crossland Hayley Crowther Marli Crowther Dustin Curtis-Glenn Alycia David Isaiah DeLaCerda Emma Deherrera Joshua Dillon Madeline Dorris Dylan Doskocil Allyson Doyle DeAndra Doyle Germaine Duran

Brett Fuller Darrius Gallegos Elaiza Gallegos Jennifer Gaona-Lorenzo Marlene Garcia Presley Garcia Carolann Garcia Scott Savana Geringer Autumn Gerlick Chance Gilleland Emma Gilmore Lauren Gobin Korry Goldstein Desarae Gomez Alexandra Gonzales Davis Gonzales Carlos Gonzalez Luz Gonzalez Diana Gonzalez-Gonzalez Juwan Green Sheniqua Griffith Daniel Gruszka Alec Hall Braden Handcock Allison Harrison Mckinsey Harrop Shelby Haskins Elizabeth Heiny Katie Hensley Noah Hermosillo Mikyla Hernandez Kolten Hillis

Bailey Jones Lacie Jones Joshua Joseph Johanna Karasik Dominik Klein Mattea Klein David Knight Jonna Kuester Connor Kuykendall Nykolas Lange Augustine Larranaga Nicole Lawrence Hailey Lemon Megan Levine Anthony Lewis Miriam Lipke Logan Longo Michelle Longshore Alexia Lopez Amy Lopez Karina Lopez-Duran Brandon Lovato Levi Lowe Irma Lucero

Shania McAlear Kaela McClure Jayden McGinnis Erika Medina Madison Merschel Piper Meuwissen Braeden Meyer Kelly Miglin Felicia Minchaca Lisa Mix Juanita Montoya Skye Montoya Kimberlyn Moreno Morales Alissa Morones Jenifer Motes Brian Mott Shannon Mulkey Katherine Muniz Jayden Nachtsheim Janet Najar Madera Rickey Norris Rylan O’Brien Andrew O’Keefe

“

We would not be able to do what we do without donor support and scholarships.

We thank all of you for aiding us on our educational journey.”

Martin Chrisma, ’22 student speaker

We’re starting a new tradition.

Alexis Ortega Jaqueline Palacios Molinar Jazmine Palacios-Molinar Queensly Pat Enike Otumos Payemanu Lisa Pintor Jerusha Pitzer Esperanza Poole Annahy Quezada Alli Quintana Garrett Quintana

Aspen Stephens Brandton Stokely Madalyn Stouder Chance Strand Shelly Suji MacKenzie Swanson Aluoleava Taito Angelica Thabit Taylor Thompson Vanessa Thong Chelsea Todd

Adams State

Gives Day

The first one will be

Feb. 17, 2020 Maya Ramos Moreno Analaura Raya Trejo Marisol Raya Trejo Thomas Reed Raelynn Robertson Isiah Rodarte Relando Rodgers Isabel Rodriguez Stephany Rodriguez-Moreno Chasta Rogers Eli Rome Phoebe Rosado Erick Ruiz-Mercado Jessica Ryan Mandy Salazar Abigail Sanchez Alexis Sanchez-Duran Felicia Sandoval Lindsey Sandoval Sarah Schaller Bailey Schlosser Jared Schneider Rebecca Schmitt Shawn Scidmore Breanna Shaffer Brittani Shettron Amanda Silva Jordan Simon Bradley Smith Erika Steenburg Jade Stemmler

Aleceya Tolsma Alejandro Tovar Mario Trevino Abigail Tuggle Elijah Tuli Emma Ulmala Brooke Valdez-Trujillo Tyler Valencia Adela Valencia Lucero Shawn Vasquez Deandra Vialpando Danielle Vigil LT Vigil Nina Vigil Alfredo Villa Kiara Villalobos Ginger Walker Oweneika Watson Kyler Welch Megan Wiggins Hydeia Williams Avery Wilson Daniel Woodis Stephanie Wolfe Corri Zaiger

Through Adams State Gives Day, we want to

Entertain Educate and Inspire.

We hope the efforts will result in a stronger culture of giving and investment for Adams State.

Our annual Adams State Foundation Student Phone-a-Thon will begin on Feb. 17.

Please save the date and keep an eye out for additional details.

A conversation with Adams State Alumnus and Billy Adams Award winner

Carlos Lucero ’61

fine arts and in music. I was so lucky. We had a very solid educational background in Antonito, and probably that was my biggest blessing. It laid the foundation to receive a scholarship to any school in Colorado I wanted to attend. I chose Adams because of a guy named Bill Turner, then the college debate coach. We debated in every state in the western and southwestern United States. Then I went onto law school.

Life is a series of building blocks. There is no bad news from which good news fails to flow. If you just take advantage of the opportunities and don’t look at the flip side, that’s a good way to lead your life.

A

Stater Magazine: What are you most proud of in your life?

Carlos Lucero: I’ve been privileged to have a good life in Colorado. It all started with education. There was a series of silver linings, and I took advantage of them.

My family is from Conejos County. The schools there had virtually no funds during the Depression, and the consequence was that the schools had no money to pay teachers. An Order of Benedictine nuns volunteered their services to keep the schools open in the county. During the Depression Era, the schools were run by the nuns on basically a pro bono basis. The school board and parents delineated the subject matter areas to avoid separation of church and state issues. Most of my teachers in junior high and high school had their Ph.D.s in business, physics and other subject areas. Others had their MFAs in 10 AStater

AStater: How do you see rural areas like Alamosa and San Luis Valley and how they fit into the bigger picture of society as we progress through the 21st Century?

CL: Areas like the San Luis Valley have the potential for explosive growth of opportunity because of the combination of a beautiful physical environment, with mountains and water resources that provide a clean environment, unlimited opportunities for recreation and quality of life. With the advent of communications technology, the sky is the limit. For instance, look at my present job. It requires reading, writing, and research. Yet because of communication technology available, I can just as easily do my job in a rural setting as I can in an urban setting. True, you have to be on-site for oral arguments, but when it comes to the day-to-day work, that can happen pretty much anywhere. It is better to work in a beautiful environment than in a congested one. You can multiply that a thousand-fold for any other profession.

Any number of employees can do their work in a rural environment—that was not the case 100 years ago. I see nothing but positive opportunities for rural America, especially rural mountainous America because we have the beauty and the natural resources.

AStater: When you put on the judge’s robe, does your mindset and attitude change?

CL: It does. You have to become hyper-objective in your approach to issue identification and issue resolution. Litigants bring their cases to court expecting justice. It’s easy to say justice is blind. To be just, you must be as totally devoid of bias as you can possibly be. That requires objectivity and an equitable amount of compassion.

AStater: Describe a day in the life of U.S. Court of Appeals judge.

CL: It’s a lot of thinking. It’s learning to listen. It’s reserving your judgement and opinions until you’ve considered all the views that have been presented. Then it’s a lot of reading and a lot of writing. As a friend of mine at the Colorado Supreme Court used to say “When I get bored of reading, I write.

When I get bored of writing, I read.” I would add “with a lot of listening.” It is working with a staff of law clerks who are the best and the brightest in the country.

Hon. Carlos Lucero, 10th Circuit Judge U.S. Court of Appeals, visits with Cathy Mullins, J.D. ’82

AStater: You’ve received numerous honors throughout your incredible life. How do you view the Billy Adams Award?

CL: It has to be among the best because it honors the founder of my alma mater, and my alma mater has done pretty well for itself.

AStater: The work of the Lucero Project and the support for at-risk youth growing up in the San Luis Valley is another of your legacies. Please tell us more about why you and your wife, Dorothy ’61, established the Lucero Project and the work it’s supporting.

CL: Back in my political days I happened to have lunch with the superintendent of the Adams County Schools. He said to me, “As a society, if we want to help children at risk, it’s all about early intervention.” In his view, the fourth grade was already starting to be too late. He felt too many schools waited until junior high to identify a problem, and he repeated, “It is all about early intervention.” So Dorothy and I decided that we would promote early intervention for children at risk. One other aspect is that we had a friend whose daughter was going to Yale. They told us that Lisa was mentoring children in the New Haven schools, and that every student in

the Yale undergraduate school was encouraged to mentor underprivileged youth. Dorothy and I said to each other, “If they can do it in New Haven, we can certainly do it in Alamosa.” That was the birth of the Lucero Project, to encourage Adams State students to work with children at risk in San Luis Valley elementary schools rather than to wait to work with later age groups.

Lucero Scholars go forth and under the guise of tutoring become mentors. They bring students on campus, and pretty soon the kids see higher education as a normal progression rather than as an impenetrable bar. That is the natural way for kids to benefit from an education: encourage them to go as far as they can in their educational careers.

AStater: How did you grow up?

CL: I grew up on our family ranch. My parents were living in the town of Antonito when I was born. They were renting the Antonito Presbyterian Manse. I was born there. Then my parents moved to the ranch that they had purchased next to my grandparents. At the time when we were kids, we didn’t even have electricity or running water. That was part of our chores.

My mother, who had gone to Adams State and was a teacher, and my dad who had gone to business school, had a plan that all of us would learn how to speak Spanish. They carried on the tradition of our predecessors going back to 1598 in colonial New Mexico. Their plot was to speak Spanish at home, but my siblings would come home from school speaking English, and so we really grew up bilingual from the get-go. I was one of six kids—the middle child. All of my siblings are graduates of Adams State.

AStater: How did you and Joe Vigil become such close friends?

CL: Interestingly, even though Joe was born in Antonito, he “escaped” to the big city of Alamosa before I ever knew him. I didn’t meet Joe until after I came back and started practicing law.

He had started his project of teaching the community the joys of running. One day, when as a young lawyer, I was attending one of the early committee meetings of the Alamosa Olympic Project, Joe remarked to me, “Hey you, cream puff, why don’t you do a little running yourself.” He started me running with him at the fieldhouse and courts. I remember it all too well, I started to run-walk and eventually ran three to five miles every day for the rest of my time in Alamosa and on to the other Court.

AStater: Share with us your thoughts on Adams State turning 100. What will the next century look like for the University?

CL: Adams State College began as an improbable dream in a small town in southern Colorado even then. It was not the most likely place to start a liberal arts school. It started as a teaching school, but it morphed into a liberal arts school. It began with a dream. Planning always begins with a dream. As we approach the next century, we need to do a little bit of dreaming. As Joe Vigil says, “Remember, you don’t have to be asleep to dream—you can be awake when you’re dreaming.” I think we need to aspire towards big goals for the next century, and we need to think and plan and dream big—in inverse order. One of my favorite sayings is “A man’s reach should always exceed his grasp.”

We should remember that as we plan for the next century.

AStater 11

Adams State University

HOMECOMING 2019

12 AStater

AStater 13

Palacios-Molinar and Doyle are GrizzLEADS The award recipients Allyson Doyle, far left, and Jazmine Palacios-Molinar, far right, with Adams State President Cheryl Lovell.

2019 GrizzLEADs included, left to right: Trina DeHerrera, Jazmine Palacios-Molinar, Lisa Mix, Colin Saims, Allyson Doyle, Marcos Ramirez, not pictured Victoria Jaramillo and Juan Pablo Segura.

14 AStater

Two students from diverse backgrounds share the same affinity for an organized schedule, physical fitness, and a dedication to their academic career.

Jazmine Palacios-Molinar and Allyson Doyle are first-generation students who have set the bar high for themselves and their futures.

The two students were named Adams State University Grizzlies of the Year during halftime of the homecoming game on Oct. 19. Each received a $500 scholarship.

Doyle, from Arvada, Colo., is majoring in nursing and will graduate with the Class of 2022. She likes to rise early, workout at the gym and then “get ready for my regular day,” which includes work, classes, and then visiting with friends and relaxing when the busy day is done.

Palacios-Molinar, Adams State Class of 2021, is majoring in business healthcare administration.

“Grizzly pride means being proud of being an Adams State student and being positive, respectful, involved, dedicated,” she says. Her day includes morning class, lifting weights for lacrosse, back to class, back to the gym, and then homework and dinner. “Never do I have the time to take a nap,” she laughs.

Besides playing lacrosse, she is active in AS&F and has been involved in the Spanish Club.

An Alamosa High School graduate, Palacios-Molinar originally wanted to leave the valley to attend college. However, she was accepted into College Assistant Migrant Program (CAMP) and now “loves it here.”

“Yo soy hija de imigrantes y por ellos yo estudio y lucho por ellos,” she says. “I am a daughter of immigrants and for them I study and strive.”

Doyle was encouraged to attend Adams State by her high school coaches, who are Adams State alumni.

“I am confident I made the right college choice because I have made amazing friends and was accepted into the nursing program,” she said. She is currently a resident assistant and has been involved in the Grizzly Activity Board and track team. “From day one Adams State has felt like welcoming place. It feels like a second home.”

The Grizzlies of the Year were chosen from eight GrizzLEADs (Leadership, Engagement, Achievement, and Dedication) candidates. Also vying for the honor were Trina DeHerrera, Lisa Mix, Colin Saims, Marcos Ramirez, Victoria Jaramillo and Juan Pablo Segura. All the candidates were scored on each of the following categories: application, interview, student vote and involvement in homecoming week activities.

“GrizzLEAD recognizes students for their uniqueness as engaged students at Adams State, particularly based on the abilities in Leadership, Engagement, Achievement, and Dedication on and off campus,” said Jeni Carter ’09, ’12, director of the Co-Curricular Recreation and Engagement at Adams State.

Join Adams State University on our 7th Alumni Cruise to the

British Isles 12-night cruise on Crown Princess beginning

June 18, 2021 Start in Paris!

Day Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24

Itinerary: Port of Call Le Havre, France (embark) Southampton (London), England Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, UK Cobh (Cork), Ireland Cobh (Cork), Ireland Dublin, Ireland Belfast, Northern Ireland

Interior staterooms start at $2873 pp* (airfare, travel insurance, transfers and optional tours are additional)

Call now to book.

Space is going quickly.

Fri 25 Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland Sat 26 At Sea Sun 27 Invergordon, Scotland Mon 28 South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Scotland Tue 29 At Sea Wed 30 Le Havre, France

For additional information call 800-267-7613

News Adams State to launch new teacher education online graduate programs

Adams State gains national ranking for social mobility Because of its service to underserved students, Adams State University was named a Top Performer on Social Mobility in the recently released Best Colleges 2020 rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Social mobility measures the impact a college degree has on a person’s life, particularly for those students who come from impoverished backgrounds of gross family incomes under $50,000. “The fact Adams State serves a greater proportion of students whose families historically have not attended college or have had access to a college degree means Adams State is changing and transforming lives,” said Adams State President Cheryl D. Lovell. “Our students prove ZIP codes do not matter. Talent is found everywhere, and our student population is evidence. To get national recognition for Adams State’s ability to create social and economic mobility is huge.” Of Adams State’s student population, 69 percent of its in-state students are Pell eligible and 40 percent are first in their family to attend college. Adams State’s SLV Promise Scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and fees for full-Pell eligible San Luis Valley students.

16 AStater

Adams State University has been awarded a major grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch Adams State’s “Promoting PostBaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans” degree program.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded Adams State $593,488 to launch the program. The grant continues annually for five years based on meeting federal requirements, with Adams State receiving a total of $2.9 million over five years. “I believe this grant will allow us to undertake truly significant work, and I am so glad that the U.S. Department of Education agreed,” said Michael Mumper, Ph.D. ’76, project director for the program. “I am really looking forward to directing the project over the next five years.” Through the grant, Adams State will redesign and enhance its online graduate programs in Teacher Education, Educational Leadership, and Higher Education Administration and Leadership (HEAL). Teacher Education awarded Adams State’s first graduate degrees in the 1940s and they remain one of the University’s signature programs.

Adams State makes two key administrative hires Adams State University has a new financial aid director and a new major gifts officer.

Heidi Markey joined Adams State on Nov. 18 as director of financial aid. She served as financial aid director at two schools prior to Adams State -- South Florida State College and Arapahoe Community College in Littleton. She is a 1995 graduate of the University of Colorado-Denver and is currently working on a master’s degree.

Karen Wibrew also joined Adams State in November as major gifts officer. She will work closely with the president’s office and Adams State Foundation in its fundraising efforts to increase private support for the University. Prior to Adams State, she worked as the director of estate and gift planning for Regis University, major gifts officer for The Episcopal Church Center in New York and Denver, and director of leadership and planned gifts for The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, among other experiences. Wibrew is a graduate of the University of Denver and has a M.S. Degree from the University of Houston and a M.A. Degree from Regis.

SLV Native Jonathan Marquez appointed to Adams State Trustees board Colorado Governor Jared Polis appointed Denver resident Jonathan N. Marquez ’13 to the Board of Trustees for Adams State University. He will fill the seat held by Kathy Woods, who resigned from the board this summer. Marquez was appointed to the board for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2021. A San Luis Valley native and Adams State School of Business alumnus, Marquez, received his Master of Taxation from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2014.

“I am a first-generation college graduate who was able to attend graduate school and have a successful career as a result of my education from Adams State,” Marquez said.

“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to serve the institution and community that made it all possible. I believe I can bring a young, fresh perspective to the board. I am passionate about the success of the University and the vast potential it has to be a top tier university that serves a diverse student body.” Marquez received the Future Business Leaders of America PBL National Award of Excellence in 2013; and the FBLA PBL Colorado State Honor Award in 2012 and 2013. He was also recognized with the IRS Outstanding Public Service Award in 2012.

In other Trustees news...

Colorado Health Institute CEO Michele Lueck, pictured right, was named new chair of the Board of Trustees, and Trustee Donna Griego ’03, ’12 was appointed vice-chair. Lueck was also reappointed in December to a four-year term by Gov. Jared Polis.

She has served as an ASU trustee since May 2016, and Griego, an Adams State alumna and retiree, has been on the board since December 2017. “I am honored to be here and delighted to serve in this capacity,” Lueck said, noting the challenge of replacing Cleave Simpson as chair of the ASU Trustees. The Board of Trustees consists of nine voting members appointed by the governor with the consent of the state Senate, and two non-voting members elected by the faculty and the students, respectively. The two current non-voting members are James Doyle, ASU faculty trustee, and Diana Arias, ASU student trustee.

Colorado gives 5-year reauthorization to Adams State Teacher Education Program The Colorado State Board of Education recently approved a 5-year reauthorization of Adams State University’s educator preparation program. Teacher Education at Adams State has been one of the University’s main staples over the course of its history, with more than 70 percent of teachers and administrators working in San Luis Valley earning a degree through Adams State.

Adams State Department of Teacher Education Chair Curtis Garcia ’11 said, “As we celebrate Adams100, we look forward to continuing to live up to the ASU statutory mission as an outstanding teacher’s college for this region and the U.S.” The ASU Teacher Education Department has five new professors this year. They are Joaquín Vilá, Ph.D. professor; Carolyn Casale, Ph.D. assistant professor; Kieran Nduagbo, Ph.D. assistant professor; Michele Mann, Ph.D. assistant professor; and Beverly Devore, Ph.D. assistant professor.

“We are pleased to have new, highly qualified faculty in the department,” Garcia added. ‘With a diversity of backgrounds and experiences we expect to see our programs continue to grow over the coming years.’ Garcia, the chair of the department and San Luis Valley native, graduated from Yale with a bachelor’s degree and from Adams State with a master’s in educational leadership with Colorado professional principal licensure. He is working on his Ph.D. in educational leadership research and policy at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs. Before joining the ASU TED faculty, Garcia taught at Centennial School District and was the principal from 2012 until 2015. He was recognized by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Cross State Learning Collaborative with the Integration Award for Outstanding Principal Leadership.

The State Board determined the following Adams State endorsement areas met the requirements with regard to reauthorization of preparation programs: • Business Education (7-12) • Elementary Education (K-6) • World Languages (K-12) • Music, (K-12) • Physical Education (K-12) • Visual Art (K-12) • English Language Arts (7-12) • Mathematics (7-12) • Science (7-12) • Social Studies (7-12) • School Counselor (0-12) • Principal (K-12) • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education AStater 17

Fall Commencement a smashing success The Fall 2019 Commencement Ceremony saw a unique twist when two students rather than one gave the traditional student address.

All told, 297 students walked across the stage to receive either their associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree.

But it was the unique student address by Sheniqua A. Griffith, sociology major, and Janet Najar Madera, business major, that had the audience cheering.

“Ours are just two stories out of many in the room today,” said Najar Madera. “Your story may be different. Your story may be similar. But at the end of the day, it is your story.”

“Your identity is what shapes your life,” added Griffith, “and your college experience is now a significant part of your identity.”

The students were followed by Lillian Gómez, executive director of Title V Initiatives at Adams State, who delivered the commencement address.

“No matter how much you have and will accomplish, there is always more to learn and there is always more to achieve,” Gómez told the graduating class.

“ 18 AStater

It’s not time to rest on your accomplishments.

Your developed work is yet to come.”

Lillian Gómez

297 degrees awarded

24%

28%

first in family to earn a college diploma

from low-income backgrounds

60%

59%

colorado residents

minority population

Ian Kerr ’19 jumps for joy. His family came in from the Bahamas to help him celebrate graduation.

Congratulations to all the graduates from Adams State University.

AStater 19

Spotlight on Graduates Fall 2019 Skye Montoya

Music Education and Vocal Performance, with honors

Hometown: Alamosa.

Skye’s grandmother earned a degree from Adams State Normal School; father earned a degree from Adams State College.

Transferred to Adams State after two years at another Colorado institution.

“I have had incredible opportunities here which I know I would not have had anywhere else, so I am glad I decided to come home.”

Future Goal: Music educator, high school choir director.

“Education in the arts is a passion of mine; I believe every student should have the right to participate in and have access to art, music, theatre, dance, and any other visual or performing art.”

Support: “Every professor/employee in the music department cares about their students and works to prepare them for a career in music.

The education department has also been a great joy to work with.”

Scholarships: Gary and Judy Gaston Scholarship; Ed Richmond Memorial Scholarship; Ruth, Ray and Jimmy McGee Scholarship; John and Nora Holmes Scholarship; Calvin and Mary Scholarship; Work Study with Beth Robison, D.M.A. Professor and Chair of Music Department.

Clubs: National Association for Music Education (NAfME) ASU Chapter, secretary.

Growth: “In my college career, the most important thing I have learned is to never stop working. It does not matter how well your last project went or how poorly you may have done on your last performance; what does matter is taking each success and loss as an opportunity to learn and to grow. Learning how to work with others, how to take criticism and be appreciative of all of the opportunities you get will take you so far in any profession. I think my freshman self would be proud and amazed of how far I have come.”

Katie Hensley Art & Art Education

20 AStater

Hometown: Alamosa.

Future: Trinity Lutheran Preschool Teacher.

Goal: Elementary art teacher Support: “Dana Provence, professor of art and chair of department, made sure I was on the right track to graduate.

All the art professors had an answer to every question I had and encouraged me to keep going. I have always felt that I am genuinely cared about

by each one of these amazing professors.” Liz Tabeling Garcia, former director of Gear Up and Colorado Challenge, assisted with financial aid and scholarships.

Scholarships (no student loan debt): SLV Promise Scholarship; Gear Up Scholarship; James & Kate Hatfield Scholarship; Lorraine Young Memorial Scholarship; Patterson/McDaniel Scholarship; R & K Vail Scholarship; Chair’s Merit Scholarship; ASU Grizzly Partner G/R/B; Vice President’s Merit Scholarship Growth: “As an incoming freshman, I was nervous, stressed, unsure and didn’t feel confident in my decision to continue my college career. As a senior, I am positive I made the right decision in my school and major. I have learned so much and feel completely confident that teaching is what I am supposed to do and what I am passionate about.”

MaKenna Plott

Elementary Education: Literacy Graduating Cum Laude in 3.5 Years

Hometown: Yucaipa, Calif.

First Generation: “This is important and means a lot to me because neither of my parents went to college, but they always supported me and pushed me to do my best so that I could achieve my dream of becoming a teacher.”

Guaranteed Tuition: “With Adams State’s four-year guaranteed tuition, I knew that I would be able to afford going to school out of state as well.

Future: Currently a kindergarten teacher.

Support: “Curtis Garcia was my first education professor at Adams. He helped me realize my potential and has supported and pushed me to become the teacher I am today. I had many amazing education professors while earning my degree that have also had an impact on helping me become a successful teacher.

My academic advisor, Chrissy McKinney, helped make sure I was taking the right classes, and ensured I stayed on track for graduating early. She was always there for me when I needed advice or just someone to talk to.”

Work-study: Student ambassador; “Sam Sargent, and Uriah Valdez (supervisors) were always supportive and encouraged me to never give up, even when times were hard.”

Growth: “I was 17 as a freshman in college. This intimidated me because although I knew what I wanted to do after graduating, it just didn’t seem like a reasonable expectation at my young age. I focused a lot on my academics and took summer courses so I could graduate early. If I have learned anything, it is that if you set your mind to achieve what you want and don’t give up, you will be able to achieve your dreams.”

Dylan Michael Cavey BS chemistry: biochemistry

Baseball athlete Hometown: Centennial, Colo. “I quickly learned I was brought to Adams for much more than just baseball. The Chemistry Department made me fall in love with the subject.”

Future: Forensic scientist.

Support: “The Chemistry Department truly cared about me. They made the courses challenging in order to prepare me for the next chapter in my life. I now know I can learn anything as long as I work hard and dedicate myself.”

Special Thanks: Frank Novotny, Ph.D. “His life-loving attitude, love for chemistry, and BIG heart has made me attack life differently. I look at everyday as an opportunity to make someone else’s day because Dr. Novotny has made my day countless times. He’s just an okay fisherman though.”

Scholarships and Work-study (minimum student loan debt): Baseball Scholarship; Merit Scholarships; chemistry lab assistant.

Growth: “I have transitioned from an athlete to a chemist.

When I hold my degree, this is what I will remember: allnighters completing lab reports; countless hours studying; sound of a textbook page turning as I read chapter after chapter. I will remember anything is possible with dedication and hard work. I promised myself when I entered college to never lose my inner child. I can proudly say whenever I see a playground, I am still tempted to hop on those monkey bars.

That is an accomplishment.”

Nicolette Jones

English Liberal Arts, minors in Adventure Leadership Programming and Environmental Science 3.5 years to graduate

Hometown: Corrales, N.M. “Drawn by the amazing location of this small liberal arts college, I initially chose Adams in large part because of the scholarship offer to play soccer. While I left the team after my third year, I stayed with Adams because of my increasing interest in the outdoor program and investment in the San Luis Valley community.”

Future: Leadville as a youth ski instructor.

Goal: Career in outdoor or conservation education.

Support: “My professors helped me select classes that would be interesting and relevant for my academic aspirations.”

Scholarships and Work-study: Athletic Scholarship; Bunny Wong Memorial Scholarship; President Merit Scholarship; Vice President Merit Scholarship; Adventure Program Scholarship; Work-study in Adventure Programs Paid internships: Rio Grande Watershed Conservation and Education Initiative intern (Summer 2018), City of Alamosa Outdoor Recreation intern (Summer 2019).

“I was pretty certain I wanted to pursue a career as a secondary English teacher. The more I have learned, however, the more I have become convinced that the most important endeavors are those involved in protecting our natural world and in sharing that with other people. I chose to continue my studies in English because I believe that effective conservation education requires an interdisciplinary approach. As a graduating senior, I feel less certain of what kind of career path I will take, but I am open to a much wider range of possibilities than I was coming in as a freshman.”

Jackson Roberts Communication and Media Studies

Cross country and track athlete Hometown: Round Rock, Texas.

“I chose Adams State because of its history and dominance in distance running. I also love the mountains and the family-like community Adams State has provided.”

Future: Adams State Master in Art. Goal: Career in sports journalism and broadcasting or coaching.

“Dr. Bonnstetter was a great mentor. She really cared about me as an individual and was always willing and available to help me when needed.” Jackson wrote a feature on two Adams State runners from Ireland and Bonnstetter encouraged him to publish it on his blog. The article received over 1,000 views in the first 24 hours and was published in two Irish newspapers. “I’m very grateful for her pushing me to strive for more. Her knowledge and teachings have been invaluable to my success.”

Scholarships, Internships (no student loan debt): Assistant general manager and general manager for KASF 90.9 FM; sports information intern.

Growth: “I have grown immensely in my time here as a writer, blogger, a critical thinker, a public speaker, and a radio host, to name a few. I have also matured as a man and found my identity of who I want to be and what I want to embody.”

AStater 21

The year 2021 will mark 100 years since the founding of what is now Adams State University.

Adams State, established in 1921, has a story worth telling and worth celebrating. To say it has come a long way in 100 years is an understatement.

We need your help, as alumni and friends of Adams State, to tell the story.

Re-Engage and Re-Connect.

Tell us how you’re doing and tell us someone you remember.

We’d love to hear from you. We invite you to send your memories a few ways: 1. Email us at publicrelations@adams.edu or alumni@adams.edu.

2. Fill out our form at adams.edu/adams100 3. Send a letter or a postcard to Adams100 Office, Adams State University, 208 Edgemont Blvd., Suite 3010, Alamosa, CO 81101 22 AStater

Over the coming months we hope you will take a moment to put down your thoughts on the history of Adams State.

We want to hear about individuals who helped you during your time on campus.

Who left their mark?

Who do you consider to be the major influencers of the University?

We want to hear about family members who graduated.

How many generations of your family have graduated from Adams State?

If you’re the first in your family to earn a college degree, we want to hear that, too.

We want to hear how Adams State helped you in where you are today.

We know we have graduates who have gone on to do amazing things in their careers and lives. We want to hear from you on how you’re doing and what you’re doing.

Or tell us someone who influenced you at Adams State.

Maybe it was a professor or a classmate. Tell us about the friendships you made along the way.

We want to hear your thoughts on who should be considered among our most influential Adams Staters in history.

AStater 23

2019 Spud Bowl Queen is Danae Lucero Danae Lucero, a senior at Sargent High School, was crowned the 73rd Spud Bowl Queen during halftime of the Adams State University vs Mesa State football game on November 9.

Adams State appreciates their agricultural partners including Monte Vista Potato Growers, Rockey Farms, Ellithorpe Farms and Mix Farms. Pictured, left to right, Roger Mix, Jake Burris, Adams State President Cheryl D. Lovell, Sheldon Rockey and Jason Tillman.

24 AStater

The Spud Bowl tradition began in 1946, when the potato farmers in the Valley were asked to contribute sacks of spuds to the University, which, in turn, were converted into cash to supplement the athletic program. The tradition and spirit have continued, and Spud Bowl remains a highlight of each football season.

Each year, San Luis Valley high schools are asked to nominate a senior candidate for Spud Bowl Queen. The candidates are interviewed during the morning by a panel of judges, and the winner is selected and announced at halftime of the football game. The Colorado Potato Administrative Committee and Adams State University Foundation award scholarships to attend Adams State consisting of $1,000 to each contestant and $2,000 to the Spud Bowl Queen.

Judges for this year’s contest were Jason Tillman and Roger Mix, Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, and Maria Valdez, Adams State accounting technician II. photos by Linda Relyea

The 2019 Adams State Spud Bowl candidates included, right to left, Emily Crowder, Alamosa High School; Stacy Candelaria, Antonito High School; Aubrey Robins, Centauri High School; Josephine Aragon, Centennial High School; Chantal Almeida, Center High School; Chandler Mondragon, Del Norte High School; Alexandria Harrison, Moffat High School; Karicia Ceballos, Monte Vista High School; Ariel Caldon, Sanford High School; Cana Myers, Sangre de Cristo High School; Danae Lucero, Sargent High School; and Veronica Durgan, Sierra Grande High School. Not pictured, Avery Wetherill, Creede High School.

AStater 25

Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet

Adams State University Athletics held its 2019 Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Plachy Hall on Friday, September 27.

Inductees included Vera Jo Bustos, Class of 2011; Clay Holly, Class of 1984; Jaime Armenta, Class of 1986; Wes Polk, Class of 1991; Jason Hubbard, Class of 2006; Celedonia Solis-Rodriguez, Class of 2006; Melissa Johnson, Class of 1990; and Janelle Olson, Class of 1998, 2004.

Teams inducted included the 1989 Women’s Cross Country team, and the 1991 through 1999 Women’s Cross Country teams that formed a dynasty by winning nine straight national team titles, produced 45 All-Americans and three individual national champions.

26 AStater

Adams State student-athletes shine in service to community Adams State student-athletes contributed 1,156 hours of community service, collected just over 780 boxes and cans of nonperishable food items and created a video campaign to raise awareness around Sexual Assault Awareness Month during the 2018-19 academic year.

For their good work, the Adams State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) was awarded the SAAC Cup, which is the first time Adams State has won the award presented by the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

The mission of the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committees is to enhance the total studentathlete experience by promoting and protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive studentathlete image. Adams State’s SAAC chapter proved that it was most worthy of this year’s Cup by demonstrating a

diligence for community service and holding their studentathletes to the highest of standards by engaging them positively in the community.

Schools are judged on four initiatives: Average community service hours per student-athlete during the academic year; amount of canned food raised during one month; “It’s On Us” video competition; and total funds raised to support local causes and charities during the academic year. In the 2018-2019 school, Adams State collected 4,350 points, which gave them the most of any school, awarding them the SAAC Cup.

Adams State’s SAAC Chapter is a club that

the University and the entire athletic

department can be proud of. After

winning the Cup this past season,

SAAC looks to do even more in the

community moving forward, and

hopes to bring home another title for

their good works in the future.

1,156

780

hours of community service

boxes & cans of nonperishable food collected

Seeking new team members to the Adams State Grizzly Club Athletic Director’s Club $1,000 Includes six all-sport season passes

Platinum Level $500 Includes four all-sport season passes

Silver Level $350 Includes three all-sport season passes

Bronze Level $250 Includes two all-sport season passes

Or make any donation of $25 or more and Adams State will send along a promotional gift by mail.

Please send membership payment to:

ASU Grizzly Club 208 Edgemont Blvd.

Alamosa, CO 81101 AStater 27

One for the record books Adams State University’s Stephanie Cotter won the NCAA D2 6K Women’s Cross Country title in 19:15.5 and Adams State was dominating in winning the team title, finishing 1,2,3 and placing 4 runners in the top 6 to tie the lowest score in DII women’s history. The title is Adams State’s 18th NCAA D2 women’s team title and 21st in school history (3 NAIA titles.) It is also the 66th overall team championship in the sport of running by Adams State. On the men’s side, Adams State’s Kale Adams finished second in a gutsy performance on a fast course. Adams State, never far from the top, finished second in the men’s standings. The NCAA Championships were held in Sacramento, Calif.

Photos by Hector Amezcua for Adams State University

28 AStater

AStater 29

Grizzly Roundup Fall 2019

The 2019 Adams State Grizzlies Men’s Soccer team welcomed first-year head coach Matthew Munhall to the program in early August. Under Munhall’s lead, the Grizzlies struggled early to find their identity, but quickly found who would rise to the occasion and prove to be a key component in 2019. Led by RMAC Honorable Mention players Abdoulie Danso and goalie Jacob Faircloth, the Grizzlies stuck together and fought hard throughout the year. Their top performance came during a thrilling 3-2 victory over conference rival UCCS back on October 6th.

The Women’s Golf team competed in three tournaments this fall. The Grizzlies competed in the Farmer’s Insurance Sam Proal Invitational hosted by CSU-Pueblo, the Maverick Invitational in Grand Junction and the West Texas A&M University Fall Invitational in Amarillo, Texas.

One of the top golfers for the Grizzlies was Madison Horton, who was very consistent over the

semester. Horton’s top finish was at the Maverick Invitational, where she finished 26th. MaClay Bruce was another top golfer. Her top score for the season was in Grand Junction where she finished 29th.

The Adams State Women’s Volleyball team welcomed 10 new faces to the program in the 2019 season. Following the lead of Coach Lindy Mortensen in her 15th season at Adams State, the Grizzlies had many ups and downs. The Grizzlies found success with Hannah Goddard, Shannon Mulkey and freshman Riley Oglevie on the attack. The highlights of the 2019 season were the Grizzlies four-game win streak against Dixie State, Westminster College, New Mexico Highlands and CSU-Pueblo. Adams State finished its season with a great couple of wins at home when facing New Mexico Highlands and Fort Lewis.

30 AStater

The 2019 Adams State Grizzlies Football came into the season with a new mission, and that was to change the

culture and create a winning atmosphere

to get ASU Football back to being one of the RMAC’s best.

Led by Head Coach Josh Blankenship, the Grizzlies raced out to a 3-1 record that included a thrilling victory over archrival Western Colorado Mountaineers in Week 4. This game featured a career day for Adams State’s Tariq Bitson, who had 12 receptions for 257 yards and 4 touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown reception with less than 30 seconds left to secure the 38-31 victory as well as the Colorado Classic Trophy for the Grizzlies. Bitson’s 2019 campaign was one of the best all-time for the Grizzlies, as he amassed nearly 1,400 yards receiving in just nine games and hauled in 11 touchdowns on the year. He was voted First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region, and took home RMAC Offensive Player of the Year. The Grizzly defense was led by edge rusher Alani Pututau, who joined Bitson on the First Team All-RMAC list, as he registered 13.5 sacks and a whopping 24.5 tackles for loss on the year.

The Grizzlies won four RMAC contests in 2019, defeating New Mexico Highlands for their first victory 41-27, Black Hills State 45-31 on the road, Western Colorado 38-31 in the annual Colorado Classic at home, and South Dakota Mines 37-32 in a thriller in Week 7. They hope to continue to improve coming into 2020, and get back to being the class of the RMAC.

The Adams State Women’s soccer team welcomed first-year head coach Colin Baker to lead its 2019 season. With 16 new faces to Adams State, the Grizzlies battled throughout their season, creating a new image for Adams State Women’s Soccer. With two RMAC Honorable mentions, junior Diana Cerillo, and freshmen Sydney Wiedeman, the Grizzlies took down a big non-conference rival West Texas A&M 2-1 in their early season. Adams State also took large strides forward with big wins against Colorado Christian, New Mexico Highlands and CSU-Pueblo. The Grizzlies have laid a foundation to create a strong and powerful program.

AStater 31

Providing Holiday Cheer

Adams State Music Department holiday concert

The Migrant Education Program staff at their 6th annual “Adopt a Family for Christmas� celebration

Adams State Desert Winds Woodwind Quintet performs in the San Luis Valley Health lobby

32 AStater

Adams State Theatre Alumni matinee performance of Treasure Island

Adams State Theatre department and Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. sponsor the annual “Share the Magic� reception.

The holiday season production has raised $600,000, since 2007, to benefit La Puente Home and programs.

wishing you a happy, Grizzly New Year!

AStater 33

Great Alumni Stories

Mandi Elder ’94 pursues both her passions Mandi Elder is in her element when she’s tending to injured cowboys at rodeos. She’s just as at home in academia, preparing the next generation of athletic trainers.

Elder, who graduated from Adams State in 1994, has found a way to pursue both of her passions – education and sports medicine – at the same time.

During the week, you’ll find her at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, where she serves as an associate professor of athletic training and the program coordinator for the UCCS sports medicine program. On weekends, especially during the summer, you’ll find her in the training room at rodeos along the Front Range, helping athletes with injuries and preventative care as a member of the Justin Sportsmedicine Team.

Looking back at her upbringing in Las Animas, Elder’s unique blend of athletic training and education makes perfect sense. She says she was a “gym rat” who spent much of her free time with her father, Bill Sinclair ’70, ’76, a physical education teacher and coach whose memory lives on today with an Adams State scholarship.

“I spent a lot of time in the gym with him and I knew I wanted to do something related to that,” says Elder.

After one semester at the University of Colorado Boulder, Elder transferred to Adams State, which had a warm, welcoming environment and a small size that felt more like home. The fact that both of her parents and her brother attended Adams State may have swayed her decision as well.

Once in Alamosa, Elder initially planned to pursue a career in physical therapy, but changed her mind after meeting Jack Ransone, Adams State’s head athletic trainer at the time.

“As students, we worked with Dr. Ransone on everything – I got to travel with the football team, traveled with basketball,” Elder said. “We had a great time. We were part of the teams and I got to use my love of science and apply it in a very practical way to my love of sports.”

After graduating with a degree in exercise physiology and leisure science, Elder went on to study at San Jose State 34 AStater

University, where she earned a master’s degree in kinesiology.

She earned her doctorate in applied educational studies from Oklahoma State University in 2001.

It was at San Jose State that Elder was introduced to the world of rodeo. A friend encouraged her to check out the “Justin healers,” a nickname for the sports medicine providers at Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events.

Elder immediately felt a connection to the rodeo athletes, who reminded her of her friends and neighbors back home in Las Animas.

“They’re very grateful for what we do, even if what we do is give them the stuff they need to take care of themselves,” she said. “They’re like the people I grew up with. They’re just rural folks.”

The Justin Sportsmedicine Team provides coverage for the top 125 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events. For the hundreds of other rodeos, athletes are mostly on their own, so trainers like Elder try to provide as much education as possible in the training room.

“She’s extremely friendly and can connect with those athletes and develop that trust that’s needed for when we’re doing sports medicine care,” said Chad Smidt, ’91, program manager for the Justin Sportsmedicine Team and sports medicine and outreach director for Orthopaedic and Spine Center of the Rockies.

Whether she’s talking to cowboys about their health or advising students about their future in athletic training, Elder takes the same warm, thoughtful and empathetic approach, says her UCCS colleague Margie Hunt.

And, despite all her successes, Elder has never forgotten where she came from.

“She’s really proud of her southern Colorado roots and her rural roots and she communicates about that culture a lot to individuals who aren’t from there,” Hunt said. “She likes to make sure people remember, ‘Hey, there’s a whole other part of our state that has great people in it who need services and care and should not be forgotten about.’”

by Sarah Kuta

Anytime • Anywhere

Earn A Degree Earn A Certificate Take A Professional Development Course All possible at

adams.edu/online

Giving Back Capra Memorial Scholarship for Adams State football players The Zachary Capra Memorial Scholarship has been established to benefit football players at Adams State University. Alumnus John Capra said sports was a big part of his son Zachary’s life, and a scholarship that supports football players makes sense given the recent efforts of Adams State Head Football Coach Josh Blankenship to increase scholarship money for the players.

“Keep pushing, reach your set goals.” Zachary Capra The Capra family established the Zachary Capra Foundation following his death from an airplane accident. The Adams State football scholarship is one of four scholarships the family established in his honor.

“Adams State has played a very important and everlasting mark on my life,” said John Capra ’86. “I left Adams State with a degree, as well as life lessons and most of all friendships that have continued since the day I stepped on the campus.”

John Capra said it has been the lasting friendships he formed at Adams State that have helped him cope with the death of his son. Zachary also attended Adams State for a semester and played lacrosse before entering the Navy to fulfill one of his dreams.

“We want Zachary to be remembered by the commitment he had for living out his dreams,” said his dad. “Zachary had two dreams that drove his life. Those two were he wanted to serve his country and the other was to become an airline pilot. He fulfilled his first dream by enlisting in the Navy and serving on the Carrier USS Harry S. Truman for four years.”

Zachary was enrolled at Embry-Riddle University to pursue his commercial pilots license. He lived that dream out for two years and was one month away from graduating with his degree, when on his final commercial pilots license check ride tragedy struck and his life was taken, John Capra said.

36 AStater

To support the work of the foundation and the Zachary Capra Memorial Scholarship at Adams State, please visit tailwindsofhope.org.

Robert McAllister Chemistry Scholarship Robert McAllister ’67 Ph.D. recently established the Robert McAllister Chemistry Scholarship and gave a gift to purchase supplies. “I wanted to give back to the institution that helped me achieve my final goal, which was to earn a Ph.D.” Chemistry professors, Kay Watkins, Ph.D., emeritus professor of chemistry, and Frank Moore, Ph.D., were influential in his academic career. It was Moore who encouraged McAllister to major in chemistry. “I made him a promise: I would stay a chemistry major until I stopped doing well academically.”

After graduation, McAllister considered teaching at the high school level, but decided he’d be a better fit at the college level. His fellow student, Arthur Lowe, Ph.D., influenced him the most. “You are just as smart as we are. Get your Ph.D.” McAllister spent his career teaching chemistry at Kettering University. He retired after 40 years of teaching and research. “I could have made more money out in the private sector. But as an African American man with a Ph.D. in chemistry, I wanted to be a role model. When I went through school, I never knew another African American professor of chemistry or any of the sciences. I wanted to show it can be done.”

As a student, McAllister said the professors and administration were supportive. “Adams State gave me the foundation necessary to succeed as a teacher because of the small college atmosphere and the value placed on teaching.” He remembers, more than once, not being able to pay his bill when it came time to register. The director of financial aid would help him work it out. “Adams State gave students a chance to succeed.”

He lived by the philosophy he learned when playing high school football. “To work is to win. Students need to work hard in order to succeed. It is a model I believe in.”

Kenny and Rondaleen Specht Scholarship Endowment Rondaleen Specht recently established the Kenny and Rondaleen Specht Scholarship Endowment for business majors. Her late husband, Kenny, was an industrial arts and art major and Rondaleen graduated with a degree in business education.

After receiving a tuition scholarship for $35/quarter, $150/year, in 1963, Specht started on a path that led to a career as a high school business teacher. “Without that cholarship I wouldn’t have started and finished college, or taught high school for 30 years.”

A San Luis Valley native, Specht grew up in Manassa, and understands the importance of Adams State University.

“When I was there, and since I graduated, Adams State offers an education to those who might not otherwise be able to afford a college degree. It is what the area needed when I went there and continues to need all these years later.”

While pursuing her major in business, Specht also earned a minor in geology. “One of biggest advantages for me becoming a lab assistant to geology professor Dr. Richard Burrows.” For her final two years, she worked for Burrows as a lab, office and classroom assistant. This job opportunity paid all her college expenses. “I have a lot of great memories of Adams State.”

Specht encourages current and prospective college students to “stick with it.” She encouraged her high school students to take a class and explore their options in college. “Some students had no clue and after taking a class or two in college

they discovered an interest that led to a professional career.

I believe a degree helped many students advance in life and enabled them to be more competitive in better jobs.”

Ken and Rondaleen adopted an eight-year old daughter, and they helped one of Rondaleen’s students. Consuelo was born in Mexico; her mother passed away when Consuelo was 14 years old, and she lived with an uncle and aunt for 4 years. When she turned 18, her relatives expected her to move out and live on her own, although she was still in high school. The Spechts took her into their home, where she finished her senior year and one year at the local junior college. She moved to San Francisco, finished her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is now a kindergarten teacher and mother of two sons.

After graduating from Adams State, Ken and Rondaleen accepted teaching positions at Corcoran High School in Corcoran, Calif. They taught for 30 years at the same high school. Rondaleen taught business classes and Ken taught woodworking, drafting, electronics, computer drafting, computer graphics, and video production.” After retiring in 1997, the couple moved to Sun City, Arizona, where Rondaleen continues to live.

Teammates teaming up for the team

LJ Leatherman ’88

Jeff Yearous ’87

LJ Leatherman ’88 and Jeff Yearous ’87 and Mary Yearous ’87, recently donated to the Adams State Wrestling Team to purchase new mats, to give back to a program that was instrumental in their successes.

“I can never repay the debt I owe to ASU. I can pay it forward so they can help others experience the same success,” Leatherman said.

The wrestling room was Yearous’s second home for four years. “I spent more time there than in my dorm room.” He appreciates all he learned from fellow wrestlers, coaching staff and professors who took a “vested interest in helping me.” Tom Gilmore, Ph.D., emeritus professor of business, and all the business professors made learning fun and prepared the students for the business world. “It felt like we were viewed as people and not a number. I am quite certain this personalized approach to education has not wavered over the years.”

Leatherman, a trial lawyer, agrees: “The best asset of Adams State was the personal interest taken by staff and professors in me as a student.” He matured over his college career. John McDaniel, Ph.D., emeritus professor of history, was a great mentor and worked with Leatherman to overcome his learning disability, dyslexia. Other mentors include the Honorable Carlos Lucero and Coach Roger Jelicka. “The degree certified me to move on, the experience prepared me to be successful.”

Yearous, a business owner and entrepreneur, encourages students to enjoy their college career. “The time goes by quickly so take the time to foster relationships in addition to focusing on your degree.” One of his companies, Z Customization, supplies the golf industry and has customized bags for the last five U.S. presidents.

Leatherman encourages students to trust the process. “College and transition to adulthood is a scary and challenging experience, filled with pitfalls. The people at Adams State have not only negotiated that transition, they help students every year negotiate that space and care about the outcome.”

AStater 37

Staying in Touch What have you been up to since graduation?

Your classmates want to know.

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

•1960s

•1990s

Ronald C. Nelson ’62, ’63 was voted life member of Chicago Homebuilders Association and is a past president of the Illinois Mortgage Brokers Association. His favorite teacher was Dr. Wick in the Economics Department.

Eileen K. Lovell ’95 is starting her 30th year in education - 22 years at the elementary level and three years as K-12 social studies teacher.

She also has served three years as Pueblo County Teacher’s Association president. She earned her Master of Arts in education from Adams State. “The best part of my job is definitely the students. I just love when they ‘catch on’ to a concept or skill. Their smiles say it all. It’s a great feeling to have an impact on a student’s life. As a teacher, there are never any boring days. It truly is an amazing career.”

Stephan Morley ’63 and his wife, Muriel, were elementary school teachers and retired on May 30, 2001. They had an enjoyable retirement.

He enjoyed biking and yard work. Muriel was a writer and her novel, “A Cottage in Akin,” was published. She passed away on March 29, 2019.

Gail Gray Davis ’68 is currently living in Woodridge, Ill., with her two children and five grandchildren living nearby. She works as an office manager of a computer software company in Wheaten. “I enjoy the seasons here in Illinois but often miss the beauty and grandeur of the mountains in Colorado and the spectacular San Luis Valley.”

•1970s David Pennington ’72 has lived in Arlington, Texas, since 1974. He worked for 39 years in the property tax field as director of legal services for Dallas Central Appraisal District before retiring in 2013. He was also the president of the Texas Association of Assessing Officers. He and his wife, Linda, of 41 years have 2 children and 5 grandchildren. He has fond memories of Alamosa and the Friday Afternoon Club (FAC) at the Goal Post. Currently, he enjoys exercising, helping with the grandchildren and traveling as much as possible. He recently has become involved in property taxes part-time by serving on the Appraisal Review Board in Tarrant County (Ft. Worth).

•1980s Kris Kollasch ’84 graduated with a Bachelor of Art in art education. Her public art can be seen in several cities in the Phoenix area, with murals and themed environments in several states across the U.S.

38 AStater

Montana HiselCochran ’98 is a professor and the coordinator of the Global Acumen Initiative in the Pamplin School of Business at University of Portland. She and other colleagues celebrated National First Generation (FGEN) Day. During her time as an Adams State student there was a large population of first-generation, low-income students. This statistic continues today. In college, people in her dorm became part of her support system. “This was, though, before FGEN was a thing. There was no recognition at all about the fact that your parents didn’t go to college. But we were naturally drawn to each other based on some of our experiences, at first without knowing it.”

• 2000s Jose Ortega ’00, ’04, ’07 was recently hired as the Monte Vista High School principal. He started teaching special education and ESL at Ortega Middle School, worked at Center High School and then Alamosa High School, where he was the football coach and PE teacher and athletic director for OMS. His next career move was at Alamosa Elementary as dean of students. For the last two years, before accepting the position at MVHS, he was a business partner at Alamosa’s Woody’s Q Shack.

Dustin Seger ’05 was recently appointed Peetz School superintendent. He served one year as principal for K-8 before accepting the role as superintendent. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in history, government, and philosophy with an emphasis in secondary education. “I have always been in small schools and I am very passionate about rural education.” He and his wife, Sharon, have three children.

Diego S. Martinez ’07 is the Empowering Projects coordinator for Delphian School in Sheridan, Ore. “Educators share a tremendous responsibility. I love and appreciate all the many great educators that I had the privilege of calling my friends at Adams State.”

Nicholas Lara ’08 is the new head coach for the men’s and women’s Metro State University cross country teams and the assistant coach for the track and field. An Alamosa native, he is among the most decorated athletes to come out of Adams State, winning seven national titles from 2005-2008.

Luke McPeek ’12, a former undefeated state champion and three-time All American and National Champion while wrestling for Adams State, is being inducted into the La Cueva 2019 Hall of Fame. He is a former Marine who served in Iraq and is currently an officer with the Albuquerque Police Department.

•2010s Cydney McHenry ’17 has accepted the position as assistant women’s basketball coach at Fort Lewis College. She started every game with the Grizzlies women’s basketball team her junior and senior seasons. She averaged nearly 10 points per game her senior year. She served as a graduate assistant for the Grizzlies men’s basketball team, and spent the 2018-19 season as assistant coach for the Adams State women’s team. “I feel like playing in the RMAC helped me a lot as a coach,” McHenry said. “A lot of the coaches don’t change that often, so I had that knowledge going in about what kind of offenses and defenses teams used and what kind of athletes each school tends to get.”

Great Stories David Wood ’67 ’75 and Kay (Timmons) Wood ’68 were pleased to connect with alumnus Derek Garza ’05 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in September. They were attending the new production “Between Two Knees.” “As I read the play bill, I was pleasantly surprised to read that one of the actors had graduated from Adams State,” David said. Derek was cast as Young Isaiah, Eddie and Ensemble. Derek continued his education receiving an MFA in Acting from Penn State University in 2008. He completed his second year at the Oregon Festival. Last year he played Cassio in “Othello” and Tybalt in “Romeo and Juliet”.

“I asked him why he had chosen Adams State,” David added. Both alumni chose the college because of its size. “The ASU Theatre program encouraged Derek to take risks, the bigger the risk the greater the reward. This helped him build confidence in himself which is the greatest asset for an actor,” David said. Derek and his wife are moving to Washington, D.C., where he will continue to pursue acting opportunities.

The football team of 1966-1971 (including the Mineral Water Bowl team) yearly reunion. This year the group met in New Orleans for golf and fun.

Back left to right: Kelly Meek ’71, ’78, Billy Dunlap ’71, Butch Jones ’69, Jerry Hughes ’70, Tony Giordano, Bill Wood ’72 Front left to right: Harris Allen ’70 Barry Heckard ’73, Bill Hard ’70, ’76, Bill Rakow ’69. Missing George Kos ’71 and Don McKillip ’70.

Adams State teammates forever.

Did you know?

New Year’s Eve is the single biggest day of online giving each year in America.

Derek Garza and his children, Blaze and Storm, stopped in Alamosa on their move east. They enjoyed catching up at the Alamosa Campus Café with Jim Willis and John Taylor, Ph.D. professor of theatre, both of whom made a “big impact” on his academic career.

Submit your request for next year’s Outstanding & Exceptional New Alumni awards.

November and early December see a steady low rate of giving, there’s a slight uptick around Christmas, and then donations skyrocket on New Year’s Eve.

Why? Tax deductions.

This link lets you give to Adams State until the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve:

https://www.adams.edu/foundation/online-donation/

alumni@adams.edu

AStater 39

Adams Family Album Coach Vigil meets U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Coach Joe Vigil was invited to talk to the 10th Judicial District Federal Judges in Santa Fe, N.M., and he shared this photograph of him and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotamayor. Coach said there were 117 federal judges and spouses in attendance and says meeting U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor was a highlight.

CSU Tailgate party Buffie McFadyen ’91, ’93, Dan Korber ’76, ’88, President Lovell, Dave Johnston ’77 and Ron Johnston ’80.

New Student Orientation parent reception Alumni Relations hosted a social for parents of new students as part of the New Student Orientation activities. Parents made connections and enjoyed a little down time.

Teacher appreciation at Centennial Alumni Director, Lori Laske ’91, ’01, and president of alumni association board, Sandy Ortega ’74, deliver lunch to Centennial School, San Luis, Colo. The alumni relations office travels to SLV schools each semester to express appreciation for all the alumni in the school district. “We know it is difficult for the teachers to come to ASU so we go to them,” said Sandy, “What an exciting opportunity listening to great stories begun at Adams State. Thank you for your support and dedication to the future alumni members.”

If your school district has over 50 percent of educators who are ASU alumni, please let the Alumni Relations Office know.

40 AStater

The Denver Chapter luncheon with a match from alumnus Camila Alire, Ph.D., ’70 raised over $10,000 for the scholarship.

Back left to right: ASU Trustee Reeves Brown, John Fuller ’57, Michael Cawthra ’76, Al Lopez ’70, ASU Foundation Chuck Houser ’62, Jane ’71 & Ken ’71 Barber, Vida Martinez ’75, scholarship recipient MaClay Bruce, John & Dana ’94 Frazee, Robert ’90 & Angela ’90 Ownbey, President Cheryl Lovell, Sally Schulz ’70, Denver Chapter President Liz Watts ’70, Jerry Schloffman ’65, ’70, Valerie Vigil, Wayne Melanson ’69. Front left to right: Mary Alire, Camila ’70, Angelica Lopez, Alfred ’15 & Fabian Petross, Olivia DeHerrera ’14 & Jack Hunsinger, Annabelle & Val ’71 Vigil, and Jacque Archuleta ’11.

Woodward Family Scholarship Joshua Bechever ’23 received the Woodward Family Scholarship established by Bill Woodward ’61 and his late wife, Linda.

Porter Scholarship Marli Crowther receives the first Porter Realty Scholarship from Preston Porter.

AStater 41

Remembering Cloyde Snook A kind soul who left his mark on Adams State A gentle, kind man who defined art at Adams State University, Cloyde Snook created his own legacy as chair of the art department from 1980 until his retirement in 1992.

Lloyd “Butch” Jones ’69, said Snook was the most inspirational person and best educator he ever met. “Cloyde had high expectations standards. He wanted everyone to do their best and he provided guidance for his students to meet those standards.”

Snook, 89, passed away on Oct. 13 in Denver. Memories flooded in for artists across the globe, who remembered one of Adams State’s most respected and beloved professors.

Over the course of his career, Cloyde taught art appreciation and art as a form of communication to students of every level, from kindergarten to master’s level college students.

He was passionate about drawing, ceramics, printmaking, metalsmithing, weaving, sculpture, and art history. He even taught photography while in the U.S. Navy prior to receiving his own education.

In addition to being remembered as an influential teacher to decades of Adams State art alumni, he was also a nationally recognized artist. His ceramic pottery has been displayed in galleries across the nation, including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the Museum of Contemporary Crafts in New York City, the National Crafts Exhibition in Albuquerque, the Quiller Gallery in Creede, and many other galleries and museums.

42 AStater

Cloyde was inducted into the Adams State Educators Hall of Fame in the spring of 2019, and he had returned to campus months earlier to reminisce and take one last look around. He was stunned at the remodeling of Richardson Hall, talked about the great students he mentored and looked genuinely happy to be back in Alamosa and at Adams State where he had left an indelible mark.

In 2001, when the science building was remodeled as the art building, the Cloyde Snook Gallery was named in his honor to recognize his significant contributions to the campus and community.

Born in Chadron, Neb., he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Chadron State University and a master’s degree at the University of Iowa and an MFA from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.

The family is planning a spring service in Alamosa.

Although time passes, Adams State connections remain strong for the many whose legacy of true dedication and loyalty built a strong foundation for academic programs.

One of those legends is Cloyde Snook.

Final Chapters

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

Frank Wilson Vigil ’51 (Brea, CO) passed away Aug 18 at the age of 95.

Armando Griego ’55 (Albuquerque, NM) passed away Aug 15 at the age of 81.

Kurt K. Cornum ’57 (Palisade, CO) passed away Nov 9 at the age of 85.

Luther Harold Burns ’68 (Greeley, CO) passed away Sept 20 at the age of 73.

Anthony Monfiletto ’69 (Albuquerque, NM) passed away Aug 31 at the age of 77.

John Lynn Shawcroft ’59 (Mesa, AZ) passed away Oct 3 at the age of 90.

Dale Glenn England ’70, ’71 (Salida, CO) passed away Jun 07 at the age of 75.

Robert Nelson Gray ’61 (Ogden, UT) passed away Oct 21 at the age of 80. Among his survivors is wife Nancy Gray ’63.

Helen Leora Davis ’71 (Trinidad, CO) passed away June 15 at the age of 94.

Della Alice Nielson Pottberg Steineckert ’62 (Sandy, UT) passed away Sept 24 at the age of 86. Among her survivors is sister Wilma Crowther ’59.

Gary Maurice Moore ’64 (Colorado Springs, CO) passed away Sept 30 at the age of 78.

Grimes Fortenberry ’65 (Weatherford, TX) passed away Oct 24 at the age of 85.

Evelyn K. Olson ’66 (Orem, UT) passed away Oct 4 at the age of 96.

Jan Zeman ’72 (Littleton, CO) passed away Oct 12 at the age of 69.

Among her survivors is brother Bruce Dunn ’65, brother Blake Dunn ’71, brother Brant Dunn ’77.

Carla Kinser Burow Nash ’73 (Pagosa Springs, CO) passed away Mar 19 at the age of 76.

David Loyal Morgan ’73, ’77 (Monte Vista, CO) passed away Oct 23 at the age of 71.

Paul Pratt ’73 (Surprise, AZ) passed away Mar 8 at the age of 82.

Sam Carmino Reno ’66 (Escondido, CA) passed away Aug 26 at the age of 86. Among his survivors is sister Mary Lou Boehme ’70.

Gary Shimizu ’75 (Philadelphia, PA) passed away Mar 15 2018 at the age of 72.

Virginia Sue Pepper ’66 (Wellton, AZ) passed away Sept 16 at the age of 82.

Raymond Adams ’75 (Aurora, CO) passed away Jun 22 at the age of 69.

Barbara J. Relyea ’67 (Alamosa, CO) passed away Sept 28 at the age of 96. Among her survivors is daughter Linda Relyea ’96, ’10, son-inlaw Chris V. Medina ’12, granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth Ramirez ’04, grandson Matthew ’04 and Sarah M. Relyea ’07.

Janet Lowther ’67 (Fowler, CO) passed away Aug 3 at the age of 73.

Among her survivors is husband Willis Lowther ’66, son Mark Lowther ’02, granddaughter Amber Price ’15, granddaughter Taylor Donnell ’14.

John Clay Carlson ’67 (Walsenburg, CO) passed away Sept 1 at the age of 75.

Rachel Louise Fortenberry ’67 (Weatherford, TX) passed away Mar 25 at the age of 80.

Sally Cooke ’98 (San Antonio, TX) passed away Aug 18 at the age of 73.

Barbara Floria Orcutt ’11 (Glenwood Springs, CO) passed away Nov 1 at the age of 64.

friends Dr. Ed Lyell Emeritus Professor (Denver, CO) passed away Aug 27 at the age of 74.

Jose A. Gonzales ASU Retiree (Alamosa, CO) passed away Sept 19 at the age of 101.

The ASU Alumni Denver Chapter will meet at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, at the Clements Center, 1580 Yarrow St, Lakewood, CO, which is accessible from Sixth Avenue or I-70.

The main cross streets are Wadsworth and Colfax.

We hope to see all Metro-Denver alumni at the meeting featuring guest speaker Jim Bullington, ASU prison college program coordinator, and Bikram Mishra ’14, ’16, who received his bachelor’s and MBA through the prison college program. The meeting will also include a short business meeting and election of officers.

Be watching for a postcard announcing all the details.

AStater 43

A-Stater Adams State University Alamosa, CO 81101