THE FIRE FORGED WITHIN PAGE 20 THE ROCK DOC PAGE 22
GOING FOR THE GOLD
Three students represented their countries and CMU at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
RESCUE READY
CMU Tech’s Live Scenario Day prepares future medical professionals for real-world emergencies
A team of CMU faculty and students triumph in the global race to save the rainforest BY
KELSEY COLEMAN
CLASS NOTES
Alumni through the years featuring:
Jo Ann Colosimo Click, ’55
Tim Schultz, ’69
Austin Kaiser, ’14
Bradley Riva, ’21
Akaycia Berger, ’22
Amber Martin, ’24
BEYOND THE BALLOT
CMU focuses on uniting campus through civic engagement
World renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, PhD, visited CMU’s Asteria Theatre to share a glimpse into humanity’s place in the universe
SHAPING A SKILLED WORKFORCE
How one of CMU Tech’s apprenticeship programs is helping to solve the childcare crisis to create a better future for western Colorado’s economy and workforce
CMU alumnus took the blacksmithing world by storm on national TV
CMU student-athletes make a difference in their community
Hotel Maverick welcomes a new General Manager and Director of Food, Beverage and Culinary who are inspired to mentor the next generation of students 38 DIGNITY THROUGH OUR DIFFERENCES
How instructors Nikki Mantyla and Eric Riddle, PhD, encourage dignity in their classrooms
40 CMU AT THE CENTER
CMU Professor of Geology Gregory Baker, PhD, inspires his students through researchcentered education
Expanded Mobile Learning Lab fleet brings more career and technical training to rural communities
Rick and Staci Adleman are forever entwined thanks to the love they found at CMU
STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY
Dear Maverick Community,
In the last edition, we highlighted that CMU is changing perceptions about higher education. Our record enrollment, increased retention and continued physical growth of campus made state and national headlines as we advanced our mission as a Human Scale University.
On the heels of our record-setting fall, we experienced some successes and milestones that are captured in this edition of The Maverick
Our fall journey began with the remarkable success of our team in the XPrize Rainforest Competition. This accomplishment highlights our students and faculty's dedication to environmental opportunities and underscores CMU's role on the global stage of innovation and conservation.
We celebrate the spirit of athleticism and perseverance with stories about our student-athlete Olympians. Their stories aren’t just about the medals they've won, but about the courage and resilience they've brought to our campus, inspiring us all to use our power for good.
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's visit was a highlight of intellectual exchange on our campus. It sparked curiosity and fostered a love for science among our students, faculty and community. His visit initiated our annual Reaching for the Stars speaker series, which is focused on wonder, curiosity and awe.
CMU Tech Live Scenario Day provided a platform for our efforts to continue elevating the trades. The story shows how our students engage in real-world scenarios that prepare them for the careers of tomorrow. These events are crucial in bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application.
The CMU Civic Forum had another meaningful semester of authentic civic engagement. Through Mav the Vote and the Dignity Index, we demonstrated our commitment to fostering a community of valuesdriven citizens who understand the importance of dialogue and dignity in our democracy.
This edition of The Maverick is full of the reasons why you continue to support CMU. Enjoy the read, and let it show you what can happen when we live our values and are fueled by Maverick Spirit.
Best,
John Marshall CMU President
President
John Marshall
Board of Trustees
Lori Buck, Vice Chair, Ron Davis, Charles Dukes, David Foster, Tim Fry, Chair, Alison Griffin, Kasia Iwaniczko MacLeod, Secretary, Daniel Ramos, Gary Reiff, Treasurer, Dominick Moreno, Joyce Sekharan, Brian Parry, Faculty Trustee, Kylie Graham, Student Trustee
Managing Editor Haley Hahn
Art Director
Lisa R. Smith
Graphic Designers
Jesus Almader, Connie Betancourt
Copy Editors
Katlin Birdsall, Amber Whisman
Videographers and Photographers
Bronson Henriques, Michael Gallegos
CMU Marketing student: Curran Estes
Online Maverick
Andrea Keck, Lauren Lewis
CMU Foundation Communications and Marketing Liaison Kacie Wolter
CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO CMU TECH STUDENTS FOR INNOVATIVE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT DESIGN
Last November, the City of Grand Junction awarded scholarships totaling $4,750 to eight CMU Tech students for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Design Challenge. Through collaboration between the city and CMU Tech, students had the opportunity to participate in the ADU Design Challenge, showcasing their talents in planning, design, communication and innovation. The competition awarded $2,500 to the first-place team, $1,250 to the second-place team and $500 to the two third-place teams.
Additionally, the Colorado Mesa University Foundation matched these awards with contributions to student scholarships, bringing the total scholarship amount awarded through the ADU Challenge to $9,500.
An awards ceremony for the Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Challenge was held in the City Hall Auditorium at a City Council meeting in November 2024. The City of Grand Junction awarded $4,750 in scholarships to eight talented CMU Tech students.
Students participating in the ADU Design Challenge were required to submit comprehensive proposals that included a planning clearance form, project narrative, presentation and summary. Prior to submission, students attended an introductory session to learn about city planning processes and ADU planning requirements. Proposals were reviewed by a committee of city staff and local building experts. Students presented their designs to the city’s Planning Commission, where projects were evaluated and scored based on criteria such as universal design, aging in place, affordability, cost effectiveness, sustainability, resilience, innovation and creativity.
The competition aimed to promote innovation, foster sustainable and affordable designs, and provide meaningful learning opportunities for students. The winning ADU designs will be further developed into plans available on the City of Grand Junction’s website for use by local homeowners and developers wanting to construct an ADU. •
The winning ADU design is affordable and includes solar panels making it self-sustainable. The open living area with two bedrooms suits seniors due to easy access, is ideal for single parents or small families and is a good choice for college students living off-campus.
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL
The winning ADU designs will be further developed into plans available on the City of Grand Junction’s website for use by local homeowners and developers wanting to construct an ADU.
THANDEKA TUTU-GXASHE'S GLOBAL IMPACT AND CMU’S ROLE IN CIVIC LEADERSHIP
In late September, CMU hosted a special Cultural Café event featuring Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe, daughter of renowned human rights activist and late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Tutu-Gxashe highlighted the critical work of the Tutudesk Campaign, which she co-led with her father before his passing. The campaign aimed to provide 20 million Tutudesks to African school children by 2025. With over 95 million children in sub-Saharan Africa facing classroom desk shortages, her initiative seeks to combat the negative impacts these shortages have on literacy development and continued education. By offering a mobile, stable desk, the Tutudesk provides a tangible resource that creates immediate, lasting benefits for children's educational experiences.
Tutu-Gxashe's visit was particularly impactful for CMU students, especially those who come from regions where educational opportunities have been dismantled, such as Afghanistan. Her story deeply resonated, aligning with CMU’s mission of making college accessible and affordable for all. The event encouraged attendees to reflect on how education, whether through global campaigns like Tutudesk or local efforts like Mav the Vote, is a powerful tool for personal and societal transformation.
Made possible through a partnership with The Rotary Club, Tutu-Gxashe's visit reinforced the importance of community collaboration in promoting cultural awareness, social justice and the power of education. •
Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe visited CMU and highlighted the importance of community collaboration in promoting social justice.
THE HORSE: A GALLOPING HISTORY OF HUMANITY
In his New York Times bestselling book, The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator, Associate Professor of History Timothy Winegard, PhD, presented an entirely new understanding of the enormous historical and cultural impact of the pesky, disease-vectoring insect. This summer, he addressed a vastly more appealing and well-beloved animal in his new book, The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity
In this meticulously researched nonfiction narrative about the indelible relationship that began 5,500 years ago when a daring human first jumped on the back of a wild horse, Winegard traced the horse’s unrivalled historical influence across millennia to the present day. Readers learn how the horse dominated every facet of humanity — as a mode of transportation, a vehicle of trade, an essential farming tool, a status symbol, a formidable weapon of war, a source of energy, an agent of both lethal disease and lifesaving medicine, a participant in sport and a steadfast and loyal companion.
After the release of his latest book, Winegard joined Ryan Warner, host of Colorado Public Radio’s Turn the Page, on the stage at Love Recital Hall (see photo left) to explore the themes and topics his book tackles in greater depth. Additionally, he was featured in an episode of What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates titled “Can We Outsmart Disease?” In the episode, he shared his expertise on malaria, creating a full-circle moment from the insights in his first bestselling book. •
COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY HONORED AS A FIRST GENERATION-SERVING INSTITUTION
CMU is proud to be recognized by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) as a First-GenerationServing Institution. This designation highlights CMU’s deep commitment to supporting first-generation students — a group that makes up nearly 50% of the university's student population.
On National First-Generation Day, CMU celebrated its effort of ensuring that first-generation students not only have a place to connect, learn and grow but also thrive in their academic and personal journeys. In 2021, 37% of students enrolled in Colorado’s public higher education institutions were first-generation students. CMU's first-generation population has consistently exceeded this statewide average, reflecting the university’s proactive efforts to make higher education accessible and affordable.
On November 11, 2024, First-Generation Day, students picked up commemorative T-shirts and snacks. They also created buttons promoting their first-gen status.
CMU is one of only five four-year institutions in Colorado to receive the enrollment distinction, underscoring the university’s leadership in engaging and enrolling a large portion of first-generation students. Through initiatives like the Early Start Program, the CMU Promise, TRIO, Upward Bound, targeted scholarships and peer mentoring networks, CMU ensures that these students are equipped to succeed. •
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL
COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES CMU FIRST AID: A
OFFER INITIATIVE
GUARANTEED EARLY AID
In 2024, CMU was the first campus in Colorado to offer guaranteed early financial aid through its new CMU First Aid program. By integrating a custom financial aid calculator into the application process, students received aid offers within days — significantly faster than the typical months-long wait.
Originally developed in 2023, the calculator was part of CMU’s commitment to radical affordability and a response to the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) delays. The success of this approach led CMU to make early aid offers a permanent feature, ensuring students — especially those from low-income and firstgeneration backgrounds — can better plan for college costs regardless of federal timelines.
Hear more about the CMU First Aid program from President John Marshall at coloradomesa.edu/now.
Building on the previous year’s The Wait Is Over initiative, CMU First Aid provides guaranteed aid offers at the time of application, making it the first program of its kind in Colorado. These offers are based on family income and available to students during or after applying to CMU. This innovative system reflects CMU’s dedication to removing financial uncertainty for students at risk of not attending college.
CMU continues to encourage students to complete the FAFSA or the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid to maximize aid eligibility when federal systems are resolved, ensuring they receive the fullest support possible. •
CMU TECH MAXIMIZES CARE FORWARD AND CAREER ADVANCE FUNDS TO FAST-TRACK STUDENTS INTO HIGH-PAYING JOBS
CMU is leveraging state-funded programs like Care Forward Colorado and Career Advance Colorado to expand educational opportunities and strengthen the local workforce. These initiatives provide financial support for shortterm training in high-demand fields, enabling CMU Tech to grow programs that benefit students and industries alike.
Care Forward has boosted CMU’s capacity to train students in critical healthcare roles like Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Nurse Aides and Medical Office Assistants. Since 2021, enrollment in these programs have surged by 50%, with over 440 students earning credentials to address healthcare workforce shortages. The initial funding of $1.38 million was supplemented with $525,000 in Fall 2024 due to the program’s success.
While Care Forward focuses on healthcare, Career Advance — which granted CMU Tech $3.67 million — expands educational opportunities in other highdemand sectors such as fire science, electrical construction and early childhood education. During the past two years, enrollment in these programs have risen by 20%, with certifications in electrical construction increasing by over 40%.
… CMU Tech is creating a pipeline of highly trained graduates ready to meet Colorado’s workforce demands.
By prioritizing Care Forward and Career Advance programs, CMU Tech is creating a pipeline of highly trained graduates ready to meet Colorado’s workforce demands. These efforts not only prepare students for in-demand careers but also enhance workforce readiness across western Colorado. Early data for the 2024–25 academic year indicates this growth trend will continue. •
Three students represented their countries and CMU at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
BY JENNA KRETSCHMAN
OLIVIA CUMMINS, HARRY STACEY AND EMMA MEYERS spend most of their days on campus at CMU as studentathletes, studying for exams and training with their teams. But last summer, they were halfway across the globe making history at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
OLIVIA CUMMINS: ALL ABOUT MINDSET
Olivia Cummins, an accomplished senior on CMU’s Cycling Team studying psychology, was an alternate on Team USA’s
five-person Cycling Pursuit Team who claimed gold in Paris. She celebrated her 21st birthday on the first day of competition — making her the youngest member on the team by six years.
“I was very aware of the age difference, but I was able to learn so much,” she said. “I felt like a sponge the whole time. I was just trying to soak up every experience that I had. All the other girls on the team had won Olympic medals in the past, so I knew they knew what they were doing. I look up to all of them.”
Cummins didn’t have her sights set on the Olympics until a year before her wheels hit the ultimate track. As she raced in increasingly higher caliber races through the years, even alongside Olympians who competed in Tokyo, she realized that making it to the Paris Olympics was a realistic possibility.
I JUST DECIDED THAT IF THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE, THEN I WAS GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.”
OLIVIA CUMMINS, CMU SENIOR
“For a lot of people, the Olympics is a dream they’ve had since they were a kid, but that was never really the case for me,” she said. "I just decided that if the opportunity is there, then I was going to do everything I could to try to make it happen. I totally shifted my mindset and training and oriented it around the team pursuit event specifically.”
Cummins hopes to impart the lessons she’s learned on her younger teammates at CMU.
“I just want to help the underclassmen enjoy being student-athletes. It’s college and
in general with my professional racing on the road, too,” she said.
Cummins hopes to compete at the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in the United States. As she wraps up her senior year, she’s considering furthering her education to become a clinical psychologist.
HARRY STACEY: CAPITALIZING ON OPPORTUNITY
In the Paris Olympic pool swam another remarkable CMU student-athlete, Harry Stacey.
and a citizen of Ghana, he came a long way from home to study engineering and swim at CMU.
After meeting with close to 40 different colleges, Stacey chose to attend CMU when he made a positive connection with Assistant Swim Coach Andy Parro. That, paired with the rigor of CMU’s engineering partnership program with the University of Colorado Boulder, made CMU the right choice for him.
“I had interviews at a lot of different schools, and I realized what I’m looking for is a connection with the coaches and
these are supposed to be the fun years of your life. It’s important to protect your peace, have fun and enjoy what you’re doing,” she said.
Originally from Fort Collins, Cummins chose to attend CMU because she wanted to stay in Colorado and join her friends who were already on the cycling team. When she toured the campus, she immediately knew that CMU was where she belonged.
“The coaches at CMU have supported me more than I can even describe. More than anything, they’ve been a rock for me, not just for the Olympics, but
Stacey, an incoming freshman on the CMU swim team, represented Ghana in the 100-meter men’s freestyle race and finished 52nd with a time of 51.12 seconds. Originally from the United Kingdom
to feel like I can have a good working relationship with the coaching staff. I felt like Coach Andy, my sprint coach, was the best out of the lot, really,” he said.
continued on next page
RIGHT: CMU Cyclilng Team senior, Olivia Cummins, third from left, was an alternate on the 5-person cycling pursuit team at the 2024 Olympics.
continued from page 9
For Stacey, the path to Paris was paved with consistency and discipline. With his sights set on the Olympics, he developed his own training plan and tenaciously stuck to it.
“Just staying mentally strong, that’s honestly what I think is my greatest accomplishment. I had to rely on myself to get it done,” he said.
Stacey also hopes to return to the Olympics in 2028. For now, his goal is to win alongside his CMU teammates at NCAA Division II Championships, focus on his schoolwork and continue to improve at his sport.
“Getting to improve myself every day, being in the best shape of my life and experiencing things that I would never otherwise get to experience, I really appreciate,” he said. “With swimming, I have this opportunity to be the top 0.001 percent in the world at something. I’d be a fool to just neglect that opportunity.”
EMMA MEYERS: SHE CAN AND SHE WILL
CMU triathlon recruit, Emma Meyers, competed in the Paralympic Games representing Team USA amidst her arrival to CMU and Grand Junction.
At 18 years old, Meyers was the youngest of the 15 para-triathletes competing in Paris, where she finished ninth in the women’s PTS4 category.
Meyers was born in China with fibular hemimelia, a rare genetic condition that causes
WITH SWIMMING, I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE TOP 0.001 PERCENT IN THE WORLD AT SOMETHING.”
HARRY STACEY, CMU FRESHMAN
the fibula bone to be missing or underdeveloped. At age two, she was adopted by her parents and shortly thereafter underwent surgery that enabled her to wear a prosthetic leg.
ABOVE AND RIGHT: Emma Meyers, CMU freshman, competed as a triathlete in the 2024 Paralympic Games. BOTTOM LEFT: Harry Stacey, CMU freshman, swam the 100-meter men’s freestyle in the 2024 Olympic Games.
For Meyers, making it to the Paralympics was just as grueling mentally as it was physically. Not only was she on a rigorous training schedule, but within a three-month timespan she graduated high school, moved to Grand Junction from Florida and attended an international camp with her teammates.
“There were numerous significant life events all happening at the same time. It was overwhelming adjusting to college and then heading straight to France,” she said. “Preparing for the Games involved a lot of self-reflection, open conversations about my feelings and tough training.”
The news that Meyers made the team officially broke when she was on a flight to Washington for maintenance on her prosthetics. When she landed, her phone flooded with missed calls and text messages containing the words she had longed for years to hear.
“USA Triathlon even delayed the public announcement of the team selection so I could hear the news firsthand,” she said. “I can’t describe how emotional I was feeling. Making it to the 2024 Paralympics has been a goal of mine for over a decade.”
Overall, what Meyers is most proud of is having the opportunity to compete at all. With one Paralympic Games under her belt, she’s determined to return even stronger.
“There is no hoping — I will return to the Games,” she said. “My goal is to medal in 2028. I constantly
THERE IS NO HOPING — I WILL RETURN TO THE GAMES. MY GOAL IS TO MEDAL IN 2028. I CONSTANTLY WANT TO BETTER MYSELF, WHETHER IT’S IN ATHLETICS OR LIFE.”
EMMA MEYERS, CMU FRESHMAN
want to better myself, whether it’s in athletics or life.”
After graduation, Meyers hopes to use her education in social work to further the missions of nonprofits that promote active lifestyles and mental health, particularly for people with disabilities. Until then, she’ll be training alongside her teammates on the CMU triathlon team.
“The triathlon team is super strong, and not only do they push you, but they also support you,” she said. “Training with my friends has made me enjoy it even more. It’s helped me become a stronger athlete and learn what it’s like to be part of a non-paratriathlon team.”
In competition and in the classroom, Cummins, Stacey and Meyers exemplify the determination and spirit that define CMU as a campus of Mavericks. •
AT first glance, the scene is startling. An ambulance is parked with lights flashing as an injured individual is carefully moved onto a stretcher. Look a little closer, and everything becomes clear — this isn’t a real emergency. It’s Live Scenario Day at CMU Tech, where Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students step into the role of first responders in carefully crafted simulations.
Live Scenario Day brings classroom curriculum to life through immersive real-world emergency simulations. The event has been running since 2010 and continues to prepare students for the high-stakes world of emergency response careers.
“It’s so rewarding because you can see the fruits of your labor. You can see how your students are putting together all the theory and practical application in a real-life experience,” said Allied Health and Paramedic Program Director Pam Holder, who has been involved in Live Scenario Day since day one.
The schedule of events takes EMT students on location where faculty stage live emergency scenarios. In the scenarios, community members and students act as patients. EMT students encounter a variety of emergencies ranging from fractured femurs and injured car crash passengers to heart attacks, strokes and diabetic emergencies. Past scenarios have even involved a
RESCUE READY
CMU Tech’s Live Scenario Day prepares future medical professionals for real-world emergencies
BY AMBER WHISMAN • DESIGN BY CMU VISUAL ARTS STUDENT KARLA SOTO
simulated drowning at Highline Lake, complete with CPR and the arrival of a helicopter from CareFlight of the Rockies.
Each scenario is made even more realistic with moulage, a technique that involves applying makeup, prosthetics and other materials to simulate realistic injuries or illnesses. Moulage experts like Holder can accurately replicate various wounds, broken bones and even the visible symptoms of specific medical conditions to help students recognize a patient’s diagnosis more quickly.
Some simulations include collaboration with local hospitals like Family Health West. Students work together as an ambulance team to drive and deliver patients to these hospitals, where they receive feedback from medical professionals upon arrival.
The attention to detail in each scenario is meticulous. Students must assess patients, create treatment plans, administer medications and practice handoff reports to hospital staff. Students are graded on their performance while faculty members evaluate their every move, from how they drive and park ambulances to how they manage the stress of the situation.
The feedback from students is overwhelmingly positive.
“They just love it. After each scenario, they always want to do it again,” said Holder. “The students feel more prepared and it helps them realize they’re capable of being in this line of work.”
The effectiveness of Live Scenario Day is reflected in the program’s job placement rates, which have historically been as high as 100% and currently hover around 90%. Most graduates have gone on to work for fire departments and hospitals both locally and across the country.
Holder was quick to credit the program’s success to the dedication of the faculty and the partnerships with local organizations.
“The faculty are very well qualified and experienced. Most of us have more than 20 to 25 years of experience in the field. After students complete the program, they should be prepared to be entry-level EMTs,” said Holder. “We felt it was important to help the area with partnerships and provide quality
THE STUDENTS FEEL MORE PREPARED AND IT HELPS THEM REALIZE THEY’RE CAPABLE OF BEING IN THIS LINE OF WORK."
PAM HOLDER, ALLIED HEALTH AND PARAMEDIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR
students that could go to work. The addition of the live scenarios has enabled us to do that. We hope employers don’t have to spend so much time training them because we’ve done it for them.”
By blending expert instruction with realistic simulations, live scenario day ensures graduates are prepared, confident and ready to serve their communities. For the students who participate, it’s a glimpse into their future. For the faculty and partners who guide them, it’s proof that investing in hands-on learning today shapes the capable professionals we’ll rely on tomorrow. •
CMU focuses on uniting campus through civic engagement
BY AMBER WHISMAN • DESIGN BY CMU VISUAL ARTS STUDENT BRAYDON SONDROL
POLITICS on college campuses can be divisive, often mirroring what’s happening on a national level, especially during election years. With the introduction of the Mav the Vote Engagement Series, CMU flipped the script by uniting the campus community during the 2024 election cycle.
The series offered students and community members a fresh approach to civic engagement
with a lineup of events designed to inspire civil discourse and boost voter participation. The series encouraged respectful dialogue through bipartisan debate watch parties, voter registration drives and forums that welcomed voices across the political spectrum to share their perspectives and ideas.
“At the end of the day, we only vote occasionally, but democracy and engagement are things you
can participate in every single day,” said Assistant Professor of Political Science Holly Oberle, PhD, who oversaw several elements of the Mav the Vote Engagement Series alongside Professor of Political Science Tim Casey, PhD.
WE’RE REMINDING PEOPLE THAT DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY AND DISCUSSING ISSUES — EVEN IF YOU DON’T ALWAYS AGREE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS.”
TIM CASEY, PHD, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
“We’re reminding people that democracy is about building community and discussing issues — even if you don’t always agree with your neighbors,” said Casey.
One series highlight was An Evening with Governors , a bipartisan panel discussion moderated by CMU President John Marshall. Former Colorado Governors Bill Owens (1999–2007, Republican) and Bill Ritter (2007–2011, Democrat) shared the stage to discuss the polarized political climate and a path to greater civil discourse. Their conversation demonstrated the potential for finding common ground, even in politically diverse spaces.
During the election season, CMU organized a field trip to the Mesa County Elections Office to provide deeper insights into the electoral process. Students toured the facility with Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Bobbie Gross, where she walked the attendees through the many safeguards that protect voting integrity, including 24-hour surveillance and precise ballot-handling procedures. The event attracted students from various majors and allowed attendees to see the human element behind the vote-counting process.
“It was incredible to see students from different disciplines participating and asking questions I wouldn’t have thought of,” said Oberle.
Thanks to Kyle Patten, CMU Political Science Club president, the series also highlighted the importance of cybersecurity during elections. Patten secured guest speakers Andrea Byrne and Kara Lamb from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) who informed attendees of the many ways that CISA supports states in safeguarding elections and offered students insight into potential cybersecurity career pathways.
Patten also assisted with coordinating voter registration drives and debate watch parties. Each event in the series was designed to encourage students to get involved and engage with fellow students, regardless of political leanings.
“I think student and community engagement in elections is important, and I wanted people to participate in the election regardless of who they voted for. Voting is the most important part of democracy, and students can’t be afraid to make their voices heard,” Patten said.
He was optimistic that the events in the Mav the Vote Engagement Series fostered an inclusive environment for political discussion and said that the series inspired him to continue making politics accessible to fellow students.
I HOPE THE SERIES HELPED STUDENTS KNOW THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAN TALK ABOUT POLITICS AND RELATED ISSUES WITHOUT BEING JUDGED BY THEIR PEERS.”
KYLE PATTEN, CMU POLITICAL SCIENCE CLUB PRESIDENT
“I hope the series helped students know they have a community where they can talk about politics and related issues without being judged by their peers,” said Patten. “I’m now inspired to help make information about our political and democratic processes more easily available to students.”
The Mav the Vote Engagement Series helped foster a culture of informed and respectful political participation. With each event, CMU created opportunities for students to actively engage in the democratic process and build connections within the community. The series reflected CMU’s commitment to teach students how to think, not what to believe, ensuring students leave campus as informed citizens ready to take an active role in their communities well beyond their college years. •
Assistant Professor of Political Science Holly Oberle, PhD, and CMU Political Science Club President Kyle Patten.
WONDER MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND
World renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, PhD, visited CMU’s Asteria Theatre to share a glimpse into humanity’s place in the universe
BY DAVID LUDLAM
DESIGN BY CMU VISUAL ARTS STUDENT ABBY HAISTING
LAST November, Neil deGrasse Tyson, PhD, graced the Asteria Theatre stage to connect CMU, the Asteria Theatre and the local community to a broader global conversation. Tyson, one of the most well-known science communicators in the world, served as an inaugural speaker for CMU’s new Reaching for the Stars Series with two shows titled An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies – Part I and A Cosmic Perspective.
The series and his visit to the Asteria Theatre marked a profound moment for the Grand Valley, highlighting not just the importance of science but the power of human curiosity and how the cosmic mystery of the stars unites people who might otherwise find themselves with nothing in common.
… THE COSMIC MYSTERY OF THE STARS UNITES PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE FIND THEMSELVES WITH NOTHING IN COMMON.
The Asteria Theatre itself served as a fitting venue. Named after Asteria — the Greek word for “the stars” — the theatre embodies humanity’s timeless fascination with the cosmos that has manifested itself through famous art and performances throughout history. Its design aims to bring that sense of wonder to earth, drawing inspiration from the starry sky to create an environment that feels deeply connected to something much larger than time and us as humans. Tyson’s visit helped set the stage for this higher motif — literally and metaphorically — anchoring the theatre’s identity as a place where science, culture and the arts converge.
During his first show, Tyson broke down if movies like Star Wars, Armageddon, The Titanic and The Martian got the science right or wrong in an engaging
and entertaining presentation. The event also highlighted the surprisingly accurate science found in unexpected places. Attendees experienced a fun and thought-provoking evening that blended science with pop culture.
The second night of Tyson’s visit explored themes that align seamlessly with the mission of CMU and the Asteria Theatre. His show, A Cosmic Perspective, relayed a message to viewers about envisioning themselves as pieces of the invisible cog of space and time that governs all our lives. By simplifying the relevance of science and astrophysics to daily life, Tyson unknowingly wove ties between the beauty of the universe and CMU’s dedication to modeling the world we want to create by fostering a Human Scale University experience on campus.
The values that CMU holds dear, such as curiosity, courage and humility, are also essential to the scientific inquiry that Tyson so passionately embodies. His ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in ways that make them accessible, engaging and deeply meaningful has earned him recognition as one of the most influential voices in science today. His presence at CMU helped inspire not just the students but the entire community to reach for something greater, something higher, like the stars.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Asteria Theatre’s mission is its emphasis on how the stars have connected humanity throughout time and across cultures. Every culture has looked up at the night sky and found meaning, inspiration
and guidance. Stars have long been symbols of the boundless possibilities. Tyson’s expertise lies in making the cosmos relatable, reminding us that our connection to the stars is not abstract but deeply personal and incredibly human. This kind of connection is what the Asteria Theatre hopes to foster further by bringing people together through shared wonder.
Grand Junction is, in many ways, an unexpected place for this convergence. By hosting someone like Tyson, CMU and the Asteria Theatre are making a statement: that here, in this corner of Colorado, we are part of the global conversation about what it means to be human. How we as people get to dream, explore and discover our place in the universe. Tyson’s visit emphasized that science and discovery are for everyone, not just for those in major cities or prestigious universities. It highlighted CMU’s commitment to making high-caliber educational experiences available to all.
The significance of Tyson’s visit extends far beyond his speaking events. It’s about the legacy that the Asteria Theatre will build from this moment onward. His presence has helped to anchor the theatre as a space where exploration, imagination and education meet — a place that inspires people to keep their aspirations high and their eyes forward, just as the stars have always inspired humanity to do. •
DECEMBER COMMENCEMENT
BY MADELYNN FELLET AND DAVID LUDLAM
DESIGN BY CMU VISUAL ARTS STUDENT ABBY HAISTING
Featured Graduate
SONIA GUTIERREZ
Journey of Resilience
Standing before her fellow graduates, Sonia Gutierrez took a deep breath, her voice full of emotion. As the first in her family to graduate college, she knew her achievement was not hers alone. It was a shared victory for her parents, her community and all those who dared to dream beyond their circumstances.
Gutierrez’s path to a college degree was anything but conventional. As a first-generation student, she grew up without a clear roadmap to higher education. She initially pursued degrees in psychology and business at CMU but put her education on hold as life led her in a different direction which required her to juggle the demands of both motherhood and entrepreneurship.
Determined to finish what she started, she returned to CMU for a third time to study construction management. With years of hands-on experience in the field, she found herself back in the classroom alongside her son, Luis De La Torre, who was pursuing a degree in construction technology.
At CMU, Gutierrez found not just an education but a supportive community. Despite her hardships, including health challenges and the loss of a loved one, she remained focused. She was driven by the encouragement of her professors, classmates and son to continue her studies.
With a proud smile, she reflected on her journey.
“Today we celebrate, not just an accomplishment, but a culmination of dreams, struggles and countless early mornings and late nights. This moment is a result of resilience, determination and unwavering belief that every challenge is a steppingstone towards growth,” she shared.
Gutierrez’s story is a testament to resilience which proves that success is possible with determination and support no matter how winding the path. Her journey reminds future Mavericks that education is not just about degrees, it’s about impact, perseverance and lifting others along the way. •
Featured Graduate MATHIUS MULUMBA
Streets of Kampala to Commencement
In a poignant address at commencement to the Class of 2024, Mathias Mulumba, first-generation United States citizen and first-generation student shared his profound journey from the hardships of abandonment and homelessness as a child in Africa to walking across the graduation stage at CMU.
Mulumba painted a vivid picture of his early life in Uganda, marked by extreme poverty and survival on the streets. He narrated his childhood, living in a “mad house full of rats and dust,” where even basic comforts like a proper bed were not part of his childhood. His story took a turn when his parents gave him away to an abusive home where he reflected that he was “treated like a slave.”
His time on the streets was a testament to his resilience. Yet, Mulumba found hope thanks to the kindness of strangers who rescued him, introduced him to his faith and gave him purpose. Such kindness made education a possibility despite numerous setbacks, including failing his GED three times.
Mulumba’s speech was not just a recount of his personal struggles but a call to action for his fellow graduates. He emphasized the power that love, education and community have on breaking cycles. He thanked the CMU community for embracing him, acknowledging the scholarships and support that made his education possible. He also encouraged current and future students to seize the breadth of opportunities at CMU, where “nobody can become somebody.”
His message was clear: choose love as your compass, use education to uplift others and stay curious. Mulumba’s story is one of transformation, showing that from the toughest beginnings, one can achieve greatness and inspire others to do the same. •
CMU alumnus took the blacksmithing world by storm on national TV
IRA HOUSEWEART’S roots in metalwork started on his grandfather’s ranch.
“As a kid, I would work with him to repair farm equipment,” he said. “We’d spend hours working on all sorts of stuff. I grew to enjoy the metalwork aspect of it.”
Decades later, Houseweart has grown and refined his skills as a blacksmith — branching out beyond welding farm equipment to making a name for himself on a national scale. He’s a two-time champion of Forged in Fire, a reality TV competition where world-class bladesmiths recreate historical edged weapons.
In his most recent appearance on Forged in Fire, Houseweart and his undefeated opponent were tasked with creating Shamshir swords. The episode aired on November 27, 2024, and showed Houseweart claiming yet another victory.
BY EMILY BENDA GAYLORD
While he was more confident being on the show for the second time with a previous win in 2022 under his belt, Houseweart said he knew it would be a tough competition. He said the win felt surreal because of the fast-paced filming and that he had to keep the results a secret until the episode aired.
“It didn’t sink in right away,” he said. “It’s been a fun thing to let the public know as the episode came out.”
EXPANDING HIS CREATIVE HORIZONS
Unsurprisingly, the Shamshir sword from the competition is Houseweart’s favorite project to date. But he’s also proud of the public art displayed in his town of Hotchkiss and across the western slope. He enjoys the freedom of owning his business to take on projects that are meaningful to him.
I DIDN’T WANT TO WORK FOR ANYBODY ELSE. I LIKE BEING ABLE TO WALK AWAY WHEN I NEED TO SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY.”
IRA HOUSEWEART, CMU ALUMNUS
“I enjoy meeting unique clients and seeing my work show up in different places, especially in my hometown,” he said.
Houseweart’s portfolio spans from knives and swords to railings and sculptures. Every piece is unique and treated with the care of a true artist. Houseweart has expanded his work from commissioned pieces to creative metal sculptures for buyers to browse and select from. He enjoys honing his craft through new techniques or collaborating with other makers.
“I like projects with a variety of metalworking techniques or incorporating different metals, such as copper and aluminum instead of only steel,” he said.
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
Houseweart’s interest in metalworking started on his grandfather’s ranch, but he credits his teachers at CMU for helping him discover the possibilities of a career as a blacksmith. He originally began with welding courses, but an instructor noticed his talent and suggested he take some blacksmith courses.
“I had some really good instructors at Mesa,” Houseweart said. “I wasn’t that inspired in my standard classes. It took until I was in tech school and in front of something I was really into for me to thrive.”
until he decided to branch out on his own after seeing what was possible for other metalworkers.
“I didn’t want to work for anybody else,” he said. “I like being able to walk away when I need to spend time with my family.”
As his two daughters were growing up, Houseweart would spend time with them in his shop, much like his childhood memories with his grandfather. Both daughters are adults now, but still appreciate their father’s talent and will occasionally return to the shop for his help on a project.
To continue passing on his skills to the next generation, Houseweart also visits art classes at CMU to share his knowledge with students and demonstrate the best way to work with different metals.
“It’s important to learn skills outside of your traditional major classes,” he said. “I hope what I show these students will help them think more creatively and incorporate more metalworking into their projects.” •
THE ROCK DOC
CMU
Professor
of Geology Gregory Baker, PhD, inspires his students through research-centered education
BY DENNIS TAYLOR
WITH a doctorate in geophysics and seismology and a master in geological and Earth science, Professor of Geology Gregory (Greg) Baker, PhD, is living the dream — working a stone’s throw from the some of the best geological research opportunities in the country.
There is no argument that Baker loves teaching in Grand Junction. He said he’d choose this location any day, and that the Grand Valley is in his top ten list of geologic playgrounds.
“Teaching geology in the Grand Valley, on Colorado’s western slope, is like teaching art in Paris or teaching English and Shakespeare in London,” Baker said.
His love for his work speaks for itself, and after nearly 32 years as a student, educator, researcher and scientist, he has built a curriculum vitae that might reach the top of Grand Mesa — 44 pages. But Baker said he feels humbled to be walking among giants as a freshly minted lifetime Fellow of the Geological Society of America (GSA).
“Some of the other people who are GSA Fellows, I mean, they’ve served on the international climate panel, they’ve been doing these hugely meaningful things,” he said.
“Fifty years from now, you might be able to dig deep on Google Scholar and find my name, but I’m not a world-class scientist,” he humbly said. “In a
way — and I don’t say this derogatorily — I sort of feel like I’m being honored as a good worker bee.”
But he is, in fact, a busy bee.
During his career, Baker has funded his interdisciplinary research with $2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.
TEACHING GEOLOGY IN THE GRAND VALLEY, ON COLORADO’S WESTERN SLOPE, IS LIKE TEACHING ART IN PARIS OR TEACHING ENGLISH AND SHAKESPEARE IN LONDON.”
GREGORY BAKER, PHD, CMU PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY
For the GSA, he has voluntarily taught nine short courses as the sole instructor, chaired sessions, authored and presented 21 abstracts and supervised graduate and undergraduate students as they authored and presented 32 of their own abstracts.
In 2019, he came to CMU as a full-time professor of geology, with focuses on groundwater hydrology, environmental geophysics, seismic imaging, ground-penetrating radar, geology field mapping and 3D modeling.
Baker acting as the “Silver Surfer” on the east coast of southern Argentina.
Greg Baker, PhD, at the foot of the Haleakalā Volcano in Kaupo, Hawaii.
In total, the “Rock Doc” has taught more than 4,400 students in 88 university courses during a career that has spanned three decades.
“He conveys his enthusiasm to his students and has recruited scores of geoscientists, providing them with a first-rate geoscience education. And his record is rich with innovation,” said Professor of Geology at Slippery Rock University Patrick Albert Burkhart, PhD, who nominated Baker for the GSA honor.
Baker always dreamed of becoming an educator, like his mother. As a boy, he wanted to be a grade-school teacher. As a teen, he aspired to teach high school.
“Then I went to college [Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania] for civil engineering,” he said. “I saw it as a high-paying job that would integrate my interests in science, technology and the outdoors.”
But Baker began to rethink that plan after taking two geology classes from a talented professor, Ed Evenson, PhD, who “turned on a lightbulb for me.” His trajectory pivoted dramatically during his junior year when he studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
“Edinburgh is one of the original homes of modern geology, and that’s where I became hooked on becoming an earth scientist,” he said. “I’d walk around those university halls looking at photos of the old professors there and started to feel a deeper connection to people teaching people,” Baker said.
It was easy to become awestruck by the work geologists had come to accumulate years before him.
“You can still find their old field books with the sketches they made of things they were seeing. Then you can go for a walk and look at the same rock they were looking at when they came up with these brilliant ideas.”
Baker has always been adaptive in his field and uses what he learns in his own research to better educate his students. Since 2016, Baker has been teaching students how to use an evolving technology — drones.
“Drone work has been a major revolution – it’s given us the ability to see things that satellite imagery and Google Earth can’t,” he said. “A satellite image can continued on next page
Baker teaching in the field among the Wind River Mountains near Pinedale, Wyoming.
Greg Baker, PhD, in front of Matanuska Glacier in Alaska, 2005.
Baker fossil hunting in Wyoming, 2008.
continued from page 23
differentiate things that are a meter in size. With drones, you can see pebbles, or a millimeter-size fracture in a rock — features that are just miniscule or over a bigger area than you can see with your naked eye.”
Piloting an image-making drone also affords geologists like himself and his students a close-up look at rocks on cliffs and other locations previously too treacherous to safely explore.
“And then we can go back to the lab and study those images safely,” said Baker, who currently implements this course work into two of 10 undergraduate courses a year and while serving as director of CMU’s Summer Field Program.
As a student himself, Baker would take to the field, hiking thousands of miles to uncover all that the rocks around him had preserved. The time it took him to uncover each unique snippet of history would’ve taken minutes with the technology he is using in the classroom today.
“As an undergrad student, I’d grab my tent and spend three months hiking to find the same things we’re finding with a drone today in a fraction of that time.”
It is easy to continue chasing your passions when you have like-minded people in your corner. Baker and his wife, Jennifer Roberts, PhD, — a senior
and discoveries thanks to their shared passion for science and geology. Both Baker and Roberts are accomplished contributors to science. Baker even humbly compared his accomplishments to that of Roberts’.
“Jennifer is an awesome geologist,” he said. “I mean, she’s had papers in the proceedings of the National Academy of Science — which I have not.”
Despite their marriage of almost 10 years, Baker laughs at the fact they battle science's two-body problem — managing to get two academics together in the same town at the same time. But the two of them do spend most of their time together during university and holiday breaks, alongside their three kids from their previous marriages, one in high school and two in college.
Sometimes, you can just tell where a person’s passions will take them, and how they will help form the person they will someday become. Baker’s mom always had the right inclination.
“My mama has a clear recollection of looking out the window, watching me run around the yard as a toddler, all by myself, catching butterflies, then releasing them after careful examination,” Baker reflected. “She said she always thought I’d be a scientist.”
And she was right — Baker became an accomplished doctoral level geological scientist, a lifetime
Exploring the Henry Mountains in Utah with the Bachelor of Geosciences 2022 cohort.
A team of CMU faculty and students triumph in the global race to save the rainforest
BY KELSEY COLEMAN
TROPICAL rainforests are one of the most complex ecosystems on planet Earth. Equally as complex is the lingering question, ‘How do we save them?’
Some of the oldest rainforests in the world can be found in Southeast Asia, specifically the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore. The island nation is home to over 5 million people, sharing the land between urban development and the rainforest alike. In the spring of 2023, it was
in this metropolitan city that a group from Grand Junction, Colorado, deboarded a plane with the mission to make change, no matter the impact. Little did they know at the time, their research would eventually lead them to Brazil where they’d be crowned international stewards of the rainforest and be awarded $5 million dollars.
Team Limelight Rainforest, composed of a dozen CMU faculty and students alongside an international team of Indigenous people and academics representing more than seven institutions, was one of six teams selected to compete in the semifinals of the global XPRIZE competition to save the rainforest. This five-year, million-dollar competition aimed to accelerate innovation in biodiversity monitoring and conservation through cutting-edge technology. It was a mighty challenge, but that didn’t deter over 300 teams from 70 countries from trying.
continued on next page
To win, groups had to survey as much biodiversity as possible in 24 hours within 100 hectares of tropical rainforest. Then they had another 48 hours to process that data into a real-time, meaningful analysis.
The work by Team Limelight began long before their trip to Southeast Asia. The team, led by CMU Professor of Biology Thomas Walla, PhD, first started developing the technology for the competition in 2019, with the intention of not only advancing scientific research but also providing a meaningful, hands-on experience for CMU students. While the subject matter of rainforest conservation is Walla’s bread and butter, he wasn’t necessarily in it to win it. He even considered it a ‘longshot.’
“I thought it unlikely we would get past the very beginning,” reflected Walla, adding that a critical component of a successful team is having deep pockets and sound fundraising, which many of the other teams had. “We did it on a shoestring budget, we did it with volunteers, we did it with passion,” said Walla.
clearly dedicated, eyes wide at the opportunity before them. They were ready to position themselves as talented, viable competitors.
They did indeed advance beyond the first leg of the competition and soon packed their bags and traveled to one of the most biodiverse and unforgiving environments on Earth. In July 2024, Team Limelight took on the final stretch of the competition: tackling the Amazon Rainforest.
In Brazil, the team was challenged both physically and mentally. Adding to the challenge’s complexity, the team had to collect DNA samples in the heart of the rainforest using remote cameras and microphones. Battling the hot, humid environment, the team prioritized keeping the machines at a regulated temperature to prevent them from overheating.
To capture as much data as possible, the team spent hours through the day and night managing drone and facial recognition technology. CMU student Taylor Schmitz remembers going days without sleep, being beyond exhausted but persevering
to get the job done. While her friends and classmates were back in the States — mostly unaware of what she was doing in Brazil — Schmitz was pushing the technological boundaries of sequencing remotely.
“Sophisticated software experts developed these systems to recognize faces, but we can use them to recognize insects,” explained Walla. “And when we can now recognize insects with a computer, that increases our speed of detections and identification by 100,000 times. I mean, it’s unbelievable the number of insects we can identify now compared to only five or six years ago.”
The same technology can be applied to sound. So, while they collected data on the insects below the canopy, they also used drones to capture the sound waves of birds high above the forest floor to analyze the sonograms. The drones were also used to pump water from the jungle floor so the team could extract and measure DNA cells left in the water. A wide variety of species were identified — from jaguars and monkeys to pink river dolphins.
According to Walla, while existing technologies can sequence around 1,500 species over two
years, Limelight has the potential to sequence 2,500 species in just one week. The precision, accuracy and speed of their technology would later garner the attention of the XPRIZE judges.
While technological capabilities contributed heavily to the success of Team Limelight, one of the most instrumental drivers towards success had to be the people involved.
… AND WHEN WE CAN NOW RECOGNIZE INSECTS WITH A COMPUTER, THAT INCREASES OUR SPEED OF DETECTIONS AND IDENTIFICATION BY 100,000 TIMES.”
TOM WALLA, PHD, CMU PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY
Years ago, when the team began to form, each member brought a sophisticated and specialized skillset, talent and an abundance of humility. They recognized that where one person may lack expertise, another person’s strength could cover the difference. Taking on the challenge with an interdisciplinary approach, participants from different departments and fields around campus brought their best to the table for the betterment of rainforest research.
“Dr. Weeks is an excellent geneticist, evolutionary biologist and ecologist. She applied her field work of collecting frogs in the Colorado River and looking at
their DNA and brought that to the Amazon,” said Walla.
Mentoring two students through the project, Weeks recorded hours of sound early in the competition that was later used to train Team Limelight’s models to identify the birds and frogs of the Amazon. However, with hours of collected data on hand, the team needed someone on deck with the capabilities to digest and translate it all into comprehensive information. This is where Associate Professor of Biology Johanna Varner, PhD, shined.
continued on next page
“Dr. Johanna Varner is an absolutely brilliant strategist who can purify complex data from many different fields and communicate that information so clearly that anybody could understand who is interested in understanding,” added Walla.
Additional faculty members who made meaningful contributions include Assistant Professor of Computer Science Sherine Antoun, PhD, Associate Professor of Computer Science Karl Castleton, Assistant Department Head of Computer Science and Engineering/ Professor of Mechanical Engineering Sarah Lanci and CMU Tech Technical Instructor of Mechatronics Robbi Grimm.
The final piece of the puzzle required the help of CMU Professor of Political Science Tim Casey, PhD, who applied his expertise in political science to help adapt the technology so local and Indigenous communities could use it. Casey’s help ensured that the team’s efforts would have lasting, real-world applications beyond the competition.
Not to mention, this was a unique opportunity for undergraduate student research. CMU biological sciences major Matthew Pederson brought to the team his skills in specimen processing, linguistics and machine learning.
Tim Casey, PhD, capturing the moment of victory.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Associate Professor of Biology Johanna Varner, PhD, Professor of Biology Tom Walla, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology Denita Weeks, PhD, and Professor of Political Science Tim Casey, PhD, with Team Limelight’s XPrize trophy.
CMU student CJ Christensen also leveraged his machine learning skills alongside Pederson. CMU student Tad Hittle contributed his knowledge of data transfer technology and Schmitz performed incredible work on the genetics team.
The breadth of interdisciplinary efforts paid off. On Friday, November 15 at the G20 Social Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Team Limelight Rainforest won first place.
“We launched XPRIZE Rainforest with an audacious goal to accelerate the innovation of novel biodiversity assessment technologies that could effectively transform the rate at which we measure and protect global biodiversity and we’re so proud to be awarding the grand prize to the fantastic Limelight Rainforest team led by faculty from Colorado Mesa University,” said XPRIZE Executive Vice President for Biodiversity and Conservation Peter Houlihan.
“Their work throughout the course of the competition was nothing short of remarkable, and the Limelight sensor platform can measurably and more rapidly improve insights we can gather from the most under-researched layer of the rainforest,” he said.
In the end, it wasn’t just their technology or innovative ideas that set them apart. Every member of Team Limelight Rainforest displayed a deep commitment to a cause greater than themselves. They weren’t just collecting data; they were providing a lifeline for the rainforest, ensuring that the beauty and biodiversity of these ancient forests would be preserved for generations to come.
Winning the XPRIZE was more than a victory for the team — it was a victory for the planet’s future. It marked a new chapter in the fight for biodiversity conservation, where the intersection of technology, passion and collaboration can make a tangible difference.
Their success proved that even the most ambitious challenges are not insurmountable when people come together with purpose, vision and a shared determination to protect the world’s most vital ecosystems. •
Team Limelight Rainforest at the XPRIZE award ceremony.
How one of CMU Tech’s apprenticeship programs is helping to solve the childcare crisis to create a better future for western Colorado’s economy and workforce
BY KELSEY COLEMAN
TAFFING challenges in early childcare is one of the biggest crises facing American families and employers today. For an economy to function at its best, businesses need a workforce that has access to reliable, high-quality childcare. The Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program at CMU Tech was created to address this pressing challenge. The solution: prepare a new generation of educators with the skills and real-world experience necessary to make a significant impact.
CMU TECH APPRENTICES ARE GAINING ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE THAT PREPARES THEM FOR TODAY’S COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET."
BRIGITTE SÜNDERMANN, CMU VICE PRESIDENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Apprentices can be found in a variety of industries. They work directly in the field they’re studying and gain practical experience while being mentored by experienced professionals. The students also earn while they learn, breaking down financial barriers that often prevent individuals from entering or completing their education.
For employers like Robin Hood, talent acquisition specialist at Centro de la Familia in Grand Junction, Colorado, the apprenticeship program has made a significant impact on her hiring process. With about 30 centers across four states, she has seen firsthand how difficult it is to hire qualified candidates.
After connecting with CMU Tech Early Education Apprenticeship Specialist Mindy Gutierrez and becoming an apprentice partner with the campus, she was introduced to Sierra Watkins, a CMU Tech student enrolled in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program. Watkins started at the facility in January 2024 and worked 2,000 hours to complete the training.
“We struggle like everyone in the valley to find good people who qualify,” said Hood. “Sierra needed hours, and we needed teachers. She received the experience she needed working side by side with certified teachers and now that her apprenticeship is over, she’s staying on with us for another six months as she finishes out her studies in preparation for graduation.”
The apprenticeship model is a win-win for both the student and the employer. It not only benefits students by providing them with an immediate pathway to employment but also enhances the quality of care within the local communities, which are in desperate need of well-trained educators.
“I greatly value the CMU Tech apprenticeship program, which has been an excellent addition to Centro de la Familia. Mindy, the apprenticeship coordinator, is an absolute pleasure to work with. Our program focuses on employing preschool teachers, a profession currently in high demand,” said Hood.
Making the program even more robust is CMU Tech’s partnership with the Mesa County Workforce Center (MCWFC). Businesses that sign on with
CMU Tech’s apprenticeship programs enjoy significant financial benefits. The MCWFC can reimburse companies between 50-75% of an apprentice’s wage, which makes the program financially viable for more local businesses.
“I highly recommend this program to any organization seeking skilled and educated employees,” said Hood.
Hands-on learning experiences like the ECE Apprenticeship Program at CMU Tech are essential for building a stronger foundation for the youngest members of society while addressing the critical staffing shortages that have plagued the field for years. A benefit to the Grand Valley and beyond, CMU Tech’s apprenticeship programs includes a variety of fields, not just ECE.
“CMU Tech’s apprenticeship programs span a wide range of industries, reflecting the diversity of the workforce needs in western Colorado. From healthcare to technology and even early childhood education, CMU Tech apprentices are gaining essential experience that prepares them for today’s competitive job market,” said CMU Vice President of Technical Education and Workforce Development Brigitte Sündermann.
By fostering this innovative apprenticeship model, CMU Tech is not just preparing students for their careers — it is shaping a future of skilled professionals by providing tangible resources during their most formative years. CMU Tech’s variety of apprenticeship opportunities ensure that local businesses and the workforce continue to grow together — fostering a stronger economy and a bright future for western Colorado. •
CMU Tech student Sierra Watkins and Centro de la Familia Talent Acquisition Specialist Robin Hood.
TOP TO BOTTOM: Sierra Watkins putting her apprenticeship skills to work at Centro de la Familia.
GAME CHANGERS
CMU student-athletes make a difference in their community
BY AMBER WHISMAN
DESIGN BY CMU VISUAL ARTS STUDENT BRAYDON SONDROL
COLORADO Mesa University’s studentathletes are proving that their impact extends far beyond the rink, field and court. Through various charitable efforts like the Pink the Rink fundraiser, volunteering with HomewardBound and participating in a Reading Buddies program, Maverick student-athletes are making a meaningful difference in the community they call home.
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
The Men’s Hockey Team set a gold standard for blending athletics and philanthropy with their annual Pink the Rink event. The fundraiser, now in its eighth year, has raised more than $132,000 for the St.Mary’s Cancer Assistance Fund. Last season’s event brought in a record-breaking $32,128, earning the team national and local awards including the St. Mary’s President’s Award and the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s National Community Service Award.
“Pink the Rink is something our team talks about as soon as the final roster is announced. To see all our hard work get recognized is awesome, but it also brings more awareness to what we’re doing here, which helps us do more each year,” said Team Captain Bryson Sutterby.
The event’s success stems from months of teamwork and a shared commitment to set and surpass ambitious goals. The players coordinate all fundraising aspects of the event. Their efforts often include selling T-shirts, raffle tickets for game-worn jerseys, a silent auction, a “shoot a puck” contest and more. The team’s goals help them surpass the previous year’s
TOP TO BOTTOM: Men’s basketball serves breakfast at HomewardBound Pathways Shelter. CMU Hockey Team donates to St. Mary’s Regional Hospital Intermountain Health. Men’s Soccer players Justin Ibrahim and Isaac Zamora with Reading Buddies at Orchard Avenue Elementary.
numbers, which they always do. Their efforts are about more than just the numbers, though.
“Raising money for a cause like this is already motivating enough, but the fact it’s helping people in our community is an amazing feeling,” said Sutterby.
“Giving back to a community that has given us so much is our inspiration. They fill the stands. They show us so much support and they do it consistently every season.”
The team’s personal connection to the cause also made Pink the Rink especially rewarding.
“Last year, two of our players, Ryan and Logan Koch, who have been impacted by cancer, had the opportunity to celebrate their sister through the sport they love. It was an awesome moment to be part of,” Sutterby said.
Through Pink the Rink, the team has used their love of hockey to uplift the community, demonstrating that success can be measured beyond goals, checks and stops, but also in the number of lives touched. The hockey team leads as a powerful manifestation of CMU’s values and what it means to lead with heart.
INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS
The Mavericks’ impact doesn’t stop there. Through programs like Reading Buddies and Recess Buddies, organized by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), CMU student-athletes volunteer at Orchard Avenue Elementary to connect one-on-one with local students. These programs support Mesa County School District 51’s literacy initiatives and inspire children to explore movement and exercise through athletics.
Reading Buddies and Recess Buddies were introduced as volunteer opportunities last year, thanks to former SAAC secretary and CMU student Mira Houck. Each week, the SAAC sends two groups of student-athletes to the school. On Tuesdays, volunteers participate in Reading Buddies in the library, where they either read to the children or listen as the children read aloud. The main goal of Reading Buddies is to build excitement and confidence around reading. On Thursdays, a second group takes part in Recess Buddies and spends their time playing games with students during recess.
“It’s fun because the kids often want to play the sports of whatever athletes are there,” said SAAC Vice President and women’s soccer player Isabel Schauber, who helps organize the program.
The initiative aims to involve representatives from every CMU sports team at least once per school
year, with student-athletes typically volunteering during their off-season.
“The students get really excited when they see the CMU athletes,” said Schauber. “I think it’s very inspiring for them and is a great avenue to show them that they can reach their goals.”
For Schauber, volunteering has been incredibly rewarding. One moment that stood out to her was when a student picked a soccer-themed book for them to read together, creating a special connection over their shared love of the sport.
“It’s a fun way to make a difference within the elementary school community. The schools in Grand Junction are such a big part of our support system at games,” Schauber said. “It feels great to give back to a community that means so much to us.”
PASSING THE PLATE
Another team making a difference in the Grand Junction community is the Men’s Basketball Team, who took action by feeding people in need during the holidays. During the week of Thanksgiving, the team suited up in gloves and hairnets (just hours after playing a late-night game) to volunteer at HomewardBound Pathways Shelter, a hub in Grand Junction that provides emergency shelter for unhoused families and individuals. Players cooked and served breakfast to over 150 guests that day.
The initiative was led by Assistant Coach Sean Evans with the support of Head Coach Mike Dunlap and Assistant Coach Skyler Burgess. The holiday spirit was felt throughout the building as the team took time to connect with the guests as they shared their stories and opened up about their current circumstances. After the meal, they also stayed to help the HomewardBound staff clean up.
“We felt like it was a great thing to do. The experience helped us realize what we have and how we should be grateful for everything we’re given because it can be rough out there,” said CMU basketball sophomore center Yaak Yaak. “Getting out in the community is a big part of this program. It’s about being better people off the court and showing dignity to others.”
From raising money for cancer research, assisting to boost Mesa County literacy initiatives, to being active contributors in the local community, each initiative taken on by CMU student-athletes demonstrates they are more than competitors. They’re leaders, role models and active participants in their community. •
Expanded Mobile Learning Lab fleet
brings more career and technical training to rural communities
BY EMILY BENDA GAYLORD
RURAL communities across the western slope will have the chance to experience hands-on technical and career training with the expansion of CMU Tech’s Mobile Learning Lab fleet.
In addition to the existing mechatronics and welding labs, the program is launching a new Allied Health lab this year focused on healthcare training.
The Mobile Learning Labs are semi-truck trailers equipped with advanced technical tools so that individuals can gain skills needed for high-demand careers in today’s modern workforce.
Vice President of Technical Education and Workforce Development Brigitte Sündermann said the labs are meant to make training for careers like welding, mechatronics and emergency medicine more accessible to people in rural communities.
“The hope is communities will have the chance to learn about things they haven’t been exposed to and learn new skills if they want to have careers in these fields,” Sündermann said.
The Mobile Learning Lab program began in 2019 with the mechatronics lab, provided by the Sturm Family and ANB Bank, which is stocked with high-tech tools like programmable electronic controls, sensors and robotics.
Ready for its debut, the lab embarked on a two-day tour from Montrose to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, so residents of these communities could see lab demonstrations. Since then, the lab has visited schools and industry partners across the state to show young adults and community members the range of possible mechatronics careers.
Sündermann emphasized that remote learning will make earning certifications and degrees even easier and more convenient for students.
Jack Kortz, who oversees the coordination and mobilization of the Mobile Learning Labs.
Beyond inspiring future students, the labs work directly with local businesses to meet workforce demands. Through customized training modules, the program helps employees gain new skills tailored to industry needs.
WHEN YOU SEE THE CHILDRENS’ EYES LIGHT UP AFTER SEEING ONE OF THE LABS — IT’S THE BEST FEELING. WE’RE HELPING THEM SEE WHAT’S POSSIBLE.” BRIGITTE SÜNDERMANN, VICE PRESIDENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
“We’re asking people what they’re interested in and then we’ll see what kind of courses we can provide,” she said.
As the program grows, CMU Tech is focused on increasing engagement with Mesa County School District 51 schools in conjunction with local business partners to provide more careerprep opportunities. The labs have already visited several western slope schools, summer camps and career fairs.
“These visits to local schools showcase the technical skills training offered by CMU Tech and helps high school students see what’s possible for their futures,” said Commercial Driver’s License Fleet Manager and Trainer
“We’re asking businesses what they need to succeed in their operations. Then, we can customize a training module plan for their individual needs,” said Kortz.
One initiative in development is a Commercial Driver’s License program designed to meet the region’s demand for certified drivers. The program will offer skills courses and behindthe-wheel instruction while students drive semi-trucks, trailers and the Mobile Learning Labs.
CMU Tech also aims to expand its
workforce training efforts further by bringing the labs to the Clifton Community Campus, a new facility focused on serving residents of Clifton by promoting a better quality of life through accessible services and resources.
Sündermann and Kortz are eager for the Mobile Learning Labs to continue reaching new communities. They both encourage schools, businesses and organizations interested in hosting one of the Mobile Learning Labs to reach out and schedule a visit.
“When you see the childrens’ eyes light up after seeing one of the labs — it’s the best feeling,” Sündermann said. “We’re helping them see what’s possible.” •
Mobile Learning Lab visits Thunder Mountain Elementary School.
Inside the mechatronics Mobile Learning Lab with members of the Sturm family who gifted more than $450,000 for the mobile classroom.
THE HEART OF HOSPITALITY
Hotel Maverick
welcomes a new General Manager and Director of Food, Beverage and Culinary who are inspired to mentor the next generation of students
BY MEGAN MCMORRIS
TEACHING hotels are nothing new. In fact, they’ve been around since the 1800s, when the first hospitality program started in Switzerland. It’s only in recent years, though, that teaching hotels have become popular in the U.S.
One of these hotels is located right on CMU’s campus. Hotel Maverick — a 60-room boutique hotel with the rooftop restaurant, Devil’s Kitchen — opened in 2020 and offers students hands-on opportunities in hospitality and culinary arts.
Recently, the hotel hired two members of its management team to lead the charge: General Manager Brian Smith and Director of Food, Beverage and Culinary Ernie Brown.
BRIAN SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER
Brian Smith knew he wanted to be in the hospitality business ever since he was a child growing up outside of Boston.
“My father worked with hotels and I’d tag along on business trips, so I got a lot of exposure to the hotel environment from an early age,” he said. “I enjoyed the dynamic nature, fast-paced environment and the passion that the employees seemed to have for their job. There were so many smiling faces and positive attitudes and positive energy, so it drew me in.”
When he was in high school, he worked as a dishwasher and busboy in Boston hotels, which is when he realized the industry was a true calling. Smith went on to study hospitality at the University of Massachusetts, which has its own teaching hotel.
“The university has a fantastic hotel management program and a great teaching hotel environment similar to what we have on CMU’s campus,” he said.
Smith’s career has taken him from San Francisco to Seattle to Denver to Washington D.C. — working for brands such as DoubleTree, Kimpton and Hyatt. While being a general manager at a downtown Boston hotel was his dream growing up, during the two years he spent back near his hometown, he felt a pull to return to Colorado.
“I just missed Colorado too much,” said Smith. “After seven years of Colorado living and coming back to the East Coast, I realized that Colorado was where my heart was. Besides, my son was even born
Hotel Maverick General Manager Brian Smith.
in Denver, so he’s a Colorado native, which is important out here,” he laughed. “So, we saw Grand Junction as a great place to raise him. We’ve lived in a number of different communities, but we felt that Grand Junction offered just as much if not more.”
The general manager position at Hotel Maverick appealed to him not only because of its location, but because the campus offered hands-on education to hospitality students through the teaching hotel program.
“I benefitted greatly from studying in that environment and I really wanted to be a part of that,” he said. “And the small hotel size means that I can talk to almost every guest that’s in our hotel and talk to every employee that’s working here. Some of those larger hotels where I’ve worked, you simply can’t spread yourself that thin.”
ERNIE BROWN, DIRECTOR OF FOOD, BEVERAGE AND CULINARY
Ernie Brown acquired a love for cooking growing up in Oklahoma.
“My mom home-cooked all the time so I spent a lot of time as a kid learning from her,” he said.
As a teenager, his dad opened a steakhouse outside St. George, Utah and Brown learned through working there that he was a natural.
“My dad really put me to work,” he laughed. “I was peeling potatoes and cleaning shrimp and prepping steaks and learning how to butcher at an early age. It piqued my interest.”
When Brown was in high school, his family moved to Vegas, an epicenter of the culinary world. He started his career immediately after high school, starting as a late-night cook on Fremont Street and then working on the strip at the Monte Carlo Hotel. He obtained a degree from the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas and then worked at Caesars Entertainment, working with everyone in the food scene from Gordon Ramsey to Bobby Flay.
He got his first taste of Colorado in 2015 when he moved to Breckenridge where he became executive chef of Vail Resorts. But
his career aspirations took him on another path to pick up front of house skills across the country. He worked everywhere from New York to Wisconsin to Georgia where he served as a food and beverage director and corporate executive chef at casinos and resorts.
When the position opened at CMU, he knew it was meant for him.
“Something about the hotel just speaks to me,” he said. “The idea of being on a campus and training and mentoring people was exciting for me, too. The atmosphere and attitude here is just so much better than anywhere I’ve ever worked.”
The Devil’s Kitchen’s focus on upscale Colorado-based fare also makes the environment a special one to Brown.
“I wanted to focus on keeping things local and to teach students about being sustainable and make it a positive environment for Colorado itself,” he said.
Both Smith and Brown’s addition to the Hotel Maverick staff have already made an impact on students and guests alike. Passion like theirs always shines through, and these two certainly have an abundance of it. •
Devil’s Kitchen Director of Food, Beverage and Culinary Ernie Brown.
DIGNITY THROUGH OUR DIFFERENCES
How instructors Nikki Mantyla and Eric Riddle, PhD, encourage dignity in their classrooms
BY DAVID LUDLAM AND AMBER WHISMAN DESIGNED BY CMU VISUAL ARTS STUDENT KARLA SOTO
AT Colorado Mesa University, Visiting Instructor of English Nikki Mantyla and Instructor of Composition Eric Riddle, PhD, have found innovative ways to integrate the university’s core values: love, dignity, courage, humility, resilience, curiosity and power, into their teaching. By using tools like the Dignity Index, a self-reflection rating system used for promoting respectful and empathetic communication, Mantyla and Riddle encourage students to embrace dignity, resilience and empathy. Their approach aligns with CMU’s mission to develop socially responsible individuals who pursue personal growth and model the world we want to create within a Human Scale University environment.
Mantyla’s journey to CMU and her approach to teaching have been profoundly shaped by her roots in a family of educators, which instilled in her a deep commitment to student-centered learning. Meanwhile, Riddle was inspired by his own transformative college experience, which fueled his desire to mentor students in the same way his professors once guided him.
TEACHING WITH INTENTION
For both English instructors, teaching goes far beyond the mechanics of writing. Mantyla approaches lesson planning with an intentional, holistic perspective, asking herself where her students need to be by semester’s end and how to best guide them. Recognizing the multiple challenges students face, she consciously engages them in a way that respects their unique perspectives.
“I see their lives reflected in the expressions and energy they bring,” she said, referring to the deeper, human side of teaching that is easy to overlook.
From the start of the semester, Mantyla introduces her students to campus values, using the Dignity Index as a foundational tool to build empathy and
THE MAIN POINT IS TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE TREATING EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE WHO ARE VALUABLE AND WORTHY OF RESPECT EVEN IF THEY DISAGREE WITH YOU."
ERIC RIDDLE, PHD, INSTRUCTOR OF COMPOSITION
self-awareness. She encourages students to consider the power of their words on others, recognizing the humanity in everyone they interact with.
Riddle approaches his role in a similar way. Having discovered his passion for teaching during his undergraduate studies, Riddle sees his classroom as a space where students can critically examine their beliefs while learning to communicate with respect and empathy. Riddle uses the Dignity Index in the classroom to encourage students to articulate their perspectives with confidence while embracing the diverse viewpoints of their peers.
“The main point is to make sure you’re treating each other as people who are valuable and worthy of respect even if they disagree with you,” Riddle said.
THE POWER OF THE DIGNITY INDEX
This shared commitment to utilizing the Dignity Index in class aligns seamlessly with CMU’s core values. The Dignity Index offers students a tangible way to understand how respect and contempt differ, illustrating the nuance of effective, respectful communication. Mantyla incorporates textbooks like They Say, I Say to teach students how to acknowledge opposing perspectives. Both instructors encourage students to express their thoughts respectfully and constructively, promoting an environment where students can discuss ideas openly and even disagree while still extending dignity to one another.
“It’s a good reminder that we grow when we interact with people who don’t agree with us,” Riddle said. “It helps us avoid the echo chamber.”
For Mantyla, dignity isn’t just a concept to discuss, but a value to live by. Observing how her students adapt the principles of the Dignity Index into their own lives, she’s noticed a transformation in classroom dynamics.
“I’ve seen a greater sense of community,” Mantyla noted.
WITH COMPASSION COMES COMMUNITY
Mantyla and Riddle’s teaching approaches reflect a broader culture-building effort at CMU, one in which students and faculty actively engage in civil discourse related to some of today’s most controversial topics. President John Marshall himself frequently emphasizes the importance of dignity, respect and empathy when communicating with others.
Mantyla recalled a student’s comment about President Marshall’s genuine approach to displaying dignity towards everyone on campus — ‘CMU is so great; you can tell President Marshall really cares about us.’
Mantyla’s own experience reflected this perspective.
“These values are lived from the top to the bottom. We’re not expecting something of our students that isn’t modeled by President Marshall,” she said.
When CMU’s largest freshman class in history entered this academic year, it was the perfect opportunity to integrate CMU values into their curriculum. For many students, this was their first exposure to a community where love, dignity, resilience and power are championed as foundational values. Riddle and Mantyla embraced the opportunity to contribute to this culture, noting that even seemingly small interactions contribute to a more welcoming and respectful environment.
Through their approach, Mantyla and Riddle are cultivating the next generation of compassionate communicators, helping students recognize the power of dignity in all areas of life — a lesson that will benefit them long after they leave CMU. •
WE MET AT MESA
Rick and Staci Adleman are forever entwined thanks to the love they found at CMU
BY JENNA KRETSCHMAN • DESIGN BY CMU VISUAL ARTS STUDENT ABBY HAISTING
IT was the winter of 1986, and Staci Ferguson, ’88, arrived early on the first day of her business software class in Houston Hall. Just one other student had beaten her to the classroom.
“Rick was the only one in the room, and I sat down right next to him. I’ve never done anything like that in my life,” Staci said. “I did not flirt well. I said ‘hi,’ and he said ‘hi,’ and then he didn’t talk to me.”
Rick Adleman, ’90, acted aloof, but his stomach fluttered.
“I looked to my left, and this pretty young woman had sat right next to me in a fully empty room, and I was like a little dog chasing cars who just caught one,” Rick said. “I was like, ‘what do I do now?’ I was in full panic mode.”
That moment kicked off what would become their shared life. Small talk in class led to the discovery that the pair had grown up in neighboring communities with mutual friends. A date to see Crocodile Dundee was the first of many. Two years later, Rick and Staci wed and eventually welcomed a daughter, Kricket, into their lives.
got a message from the fortune-telling game that read, ‘Love is doing stupid things together.’ We’ve done a lot of stupid things together.”
In Rick and Staci’s story, CMU has been a main character in every chapter. Rick’s career eventually brought him back to CMU where he’s worked for the past 23 years, first as the director of alumni relations and now as the associate director of development. Their daughter, Kricket, attended and played volleyball for CMU, and even met a husband of her own on campus.
“We’ve had a lot of fun,” Staci said. “We enjoy spending time together and traveling, and we traveled a lot following Kricket with
LOVE IS DOING STUPID THINGS TOGETHER. WE’VE DONE A LOT OF STUPID THINGS TOGETHER.”
STACI ADLEMAN, ’88
“We love Mesa,” Rick said. “It was more of a calling than a job, and for Kricket, it was part of our life. She was pretty much raised on campus. The first time watching her run out on that court in the Maverick jersey was super special. It’s just always been part of our life and our family. It’s home.”
Rick and Staci don’t just wear Mavroon and gold; they embody it. Their passion for one another seamlessly intertwines with their love for CMU. Whether it’s the nail-biting football games or the stunning artistic displays at Asteria Theatre, you’ll always find them hand in hand, decked out in their best CMU gear at nearly every university event. Meeting at CMU brought them closer to one another and deepened their connection to the university. •
THANK YOU TO OUR EMPLOYER SPONSORS
The Employer Partnership Program through Colorado Mesa University's Alumni & Career Services offers a Gold Sponsorship tier that significantly enhances the resources and opportunities available to our students and alumni. We are deeply grateful to our three Gold Sponsors — Enterprise Mobility, Community Hospital, and ProSet Construction — for their unwavering support. Your contributions play a crucial role in fostering a thriving community and workforce, and we thank you for being an integral part of our mission and success!
GOLD SPONSORS
ALUMNI PULSE
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2024–2025
Jennifer Pacheco, President Gussie Boyd, President Elect
Jerry Sheetz, Treasurer/Secretary
Troy Nesheim, Past President
Deb Bailey
Emmylou Blanco
Tyler Dahl
Mandy DeCino
Jennifer Holdren
Alex Maher
Brittani Martin
Les McPherson
Kim Raff
Heather Root
Katie Sweet
Stephanie Williams
Lindsey Wiltse
Dear Fellow Mavericks,
As another May commencement draws near, I’ve been reflecting on my own Maverick journey and the relationships that have shaped it. Fifteen years ago, I graduated from Mesa State College. That milestone still stands out in my memory, not just because of the pouring rain that fell as we crossed the stage, but for the overwhelming pride and sense of accomplishment we all felt as we received our diplomas. Together, under the banner of “Mavericks for Life,” we celebrated a moment that bound us together forever.
The connections I formed at CMU have truly stood the test of time. Those relationships continue to enrich my life in ways I never imagined and for that, I am deeply grateful. But my Maverick experience didn’t end with graduation. Throughout the years, I’ve been amazed by the new bonds I’ve built with fellow alumni and each connection is strengthened by the shared experiences we all hold as Mavericks. Whether it’s cheering together in a football or hockey Alumni Zone, hitting the slopes for Mavs Take Over
amazing alumni and students who call it home only grows. Being a Maverick is more than a personal journey — it’s a shared legacy that spans generations. Our unique identities and experiences as individuals are amplified when we come together as a community.
As we honor our past 100 years as an institution and look ahead to the next century and beyond, I encourage you to stay connected with your CMU family. Attend an event, support a scholarship initiative or simply reach out to an old classmate. Each act of engagement strengthens the Maverick network and helps pave the way for future generations to thrive.
We are lucky to be a part of this incredible community. Together we will continue to build on the legacy of CMU and create opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime.
With Maverick pride,
1990s
Mandy DeCino, ’97, MBA ’04
Mandy DeCino is the new director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Grand Junction’s Business Incubator Center and serves on CMU’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. DeCino earned a BS and MBA from CMU and has over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience. After working in corporate wellness on the Front Range, she returned to the Grand Valley, building a career in real estate, property management and mortgage planning. She later merged her mortgage company with a Californiabased firm. Inspired by her work with HopeWest, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector, launching a senior care program. Her experience with state and federal regulations will be invaluable in her new role at SBDC. As the new director, she is committed to providing the resources, counseling, training and support needed to strengthen Grand Junction’s business community.
Shawna Grieger, ’98
Shawna Grieger is the 2024 Lion of the Year, a prestigious award given by the Grand Junction Lions Club. Grieger, who has a long history with the DoubleTree Hotel in Grand Junction. The club recognized her extensive community involvement, her ability to make friends anywhere, her leadership as president during the height of the COVID-19
A PIONEER IN HER FIELD
Jo Ann Colosimo Click, ’55
BY MARGARET PILCHER AND EMILY SAMS
In 2021, a scholarship was established to honor Jo Ann Colosimo Click, a pioneering figure in Occupational Therapy (OT). Born in 1935 in Grand Junction, Colorado, Jo Ann was the oldest of five children. She graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1953, then earned her associate degree from Mesa Junior College in 1955. Jo Ann completed her OT degree at Colorado State College in 1961 thanks to hard work and earned scholarships that supported her education.
After marrying Bill Click, Jo Ann returned to Grand Junction, where she founded the first OT Department at the State Home and Training School. They later moved to Denver, where Bill pursued his bachelor’s degree and Jo Ann worked at Saint Joseph Hospital, establishing its OT Department. She then moved with her family to Casper and Sundance, Wyoming, where she provided OT services to seniors while raising her seven children.
Jo Ann's dedication to Occupational Therapy and her community has had a lasting impact in Grand Junction.
In 1978, Jo Ann returned to the Grand Junction State Home and Training School, where she led the OT Department until her retirement in 2000. During her career, she was instrumental in the de-institutionalization process, advocating for the integration of individuals with special needs into schools and group homes. She was a strong advocate for making ongoing education available to her staff. She also supported students from various universities find internship placements at Grand Junction Regional Center.
Jo Ann’s dedication to OT and her community has had a lasting impact in Grand Junction. Her compassion, leadership and commitment to education earned her the respect of patients, students and colleagues to this day. She is known for her ability to listen with her heart and continues to build meaningful connections with everyone she meets.
The scholarship, which supports students in CMU’s OT program, was awarded to Teal Skoe and Hailey Lippincott, who are currently enrolled in the program.
“I am incredibly inspired by the unwavering dedication to advocacy, innovation and growth in the field of occupational therapy. Experiencing this passion and resilience through Jo Ann motivates me to become a dedicated and compassionate occupational therapist for my future clients,” scholarship recipient Lippincott shared. •
1952
Students in their residence hall.
pandemic and her work as executive director of the Western Colorado Contractors Association (WCCA) and the WCCA Foundation. Grieger graduated from CMU with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and has served on more than 10 regional boards, including the CMU Alumni Association Board, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s regional board and the Colorado Energy Equity Board.
Jim Roedel, ’98
Jim Roedel, a proud Colorado Mesa University alumnus, recently reflected on his long and impactful coaching career at Fort Lupton High School. Throughout the years, Roedel has dedicated himself to mentoring young athletes, fostering both their athletic and personal growth. His commitment to the community and the sport has left a legacy, inspiring countless students to pursue their dreams. As he steps back from his coaching role, Roedel’s contributions to Fort Lupton and the broader sports community will be remembered and celebrated for years to come.
2000s
Kalani Pe’a, ’06
Kalani Pe'a has won his fourth Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album with his latest recording, Kuini Pe’a, a proud Colorado Mesa University alumnus, continues to make significant contributions to Hawaiian music. His album Kuini honors influential Hawaiian women and the community of Lahaina. Pe’a's dedication to his craft and his ability to connect with audiences worldwide have earned him this significant recognition once again.
Brett Armour, ’07
Brett Armour, a former CMU standout pitcher, has transformed his passion for baseball into a thriving business with the opening of Armour Athletics. Armour and his wife, Rachel, who met at Colorado Mesa University in 2006, invested nearly $100,000 to create this premier indoor baseball and softball training facility. Located in Grand Junction, Armour Athletics features 5,400-square-feet of green, padded turf, 14-foot-high permanent shell nets and advanced pitching and hitting technology. Armour’s dream of providing a top-notch facility for local athletes has become a reality, offering a space that rivals those found in major metropolitan areas.
MR. COLORADO
Tim Schultz, ’69
BY ALEXANDRA SHIMALLA
Before Colorado Mesa University, it was Mesa College, where Tim Schultz, ’69, would walk from his parents’ bakery to class to earn his associate degree.
True to his Grand Junction roots, after Schultz got his bachelor’s degree in political science from Colorado State University, he came back home and became a banker. After a few years, he moved to another small Colorado town, Meeker.
“My heart is in rural Colorado,” said Schultz. “My biggest involvement is around rural Colorado and small towns.”
As a rancher in his early 20s, he ran for the local school board in an effort to save the one-room schoolhouse that was in danger of closing, meaning kids would have to travel one hour each way to school.
“CMU really gave me the background in communication that gave me the confidence to run for the school board at 24 years old,” said Schultz, who has since been a board member for more than 30 organizations.
Just two years after saving the schoolhouse, Schultz ran for county commissioner and became one of the youngest county commissioners in Colorado. These positions launched his career in public service, which included becoming the commissioner of agriculture and head of the Department of Local Affairs before landing at the Boettcher Foundation, where he was president and executive director for 22 years.
Schultz says he began to appreciate local public service as a young man because “you’re accountable in a very unique way.” Rather than working in Washington, D.C., Schultz was running into constituents at the grocery store or pumping gas.
“I found that if you are creative and put yourself out there, you could make big changes, and that became my life,” he said.
Though Schultz retired five years ago, he’s still an active public servant. He’s the vice chairman of the board of the Colorado Trust, a healthcare foundation.
He’s also gives back through the Western Colorado Community Foundation, where the Boettcher Foundation started a fund in honor of his work. It was through this foundation that he and his wife, Debbie, were able to donate to the recently opened Asteria Theatre. The theatre’s concession area was named in recognition of their contribution.
“I’m blessed to have been engaged in so many activities around Colorado,” said Schultz. “I’ve enjoyed being a connector of people.” •
Matt Kroschel, ’11
Matt Kroschel has transitioned from nearly two decades in print and television newsrooms to a communications role at Northrop Grumman, based out of their Colorado
Springs campus. Kroschel’s extensive journalism career includes roles at CBS 4 Denver, WHNT News 19 and KKTV 11 News, where he earned an Emmy award for his storytelling. In his new position, he supports teams across the country, leveraging the skills and experiences he gained at Colorado Mesa University. Kroschel fondly recalls his time in the mass communication program, where he
CREATING A HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Austin Kaiser, ’14
BY MEGAN MCMORRIS
The first time Austin Kaiser visited CMU in 2009, he felt like he belonged.
The baseball outfielder chose CMU because it provided a perfect blend of opportunities to play baseball and study exercise science. The school’s size appealed to him, too.
“It’s big enough where you can meet someone new every day, but at the same time it’s small enough where you’re seeing familiar faces every day, too,” said Kaiser, who obtained a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and minored in business and sports management.
After achieving a breadth of accomplishments and accolades while on the baseball team, where he was a part of the 2014 NCAA Division II Championship Game his senior year — Kaiser was inspired to make a career out of collegiate athletics, earning a master’s degree in sports administration from the University of Alabama.
Then he was presented with an offer he couldn’t refuse: a chance to work as an assistant athletic director at CMU, a position he held for six years.
“It was so fun to be involved in the campus and the community through a different lens, not just as a college student,” he said.
When he and his wife, Lauren, and oldest child, now five, relocated to Colorado Springs to be near family with their second born following close behind, Kaiser joined a cadet-matching program with the local Air Force Academy.
“Sometimes the cadets just want to get a home-cooked meal, a ride to the airport or someone to show them around town,” said Kaiser, who has been matched with two cadets since joining. “Other times, they may want more of a mentorship.”
The experience was so meaningful that Kaiser recently had an “aha” moment: ‘While the program was designed for cadets far from home, why not expand it to other campuses?’
“My wife and I both went away to school, and we agreed that we would have loved this type of program,” he said.
His program, called Sponsor Families, started in early 2024. The program inaugurated its resource network with CMU, and he hopes to expand it to other campuses and get business students involved as program directors as well.
“I hope it enhances a student’s experience so that they walk away as a more engaged student, a more successful student and a more satisfied alumni,” he said. •
developed valuable skills that continue to serve him well. He is excited to continue telling stories in his new role at Northrop Grumman.
Sean Rubalcaba, ’16
Sean Rubalcaba, a standout athlete and CMU alumnus, has been inducted into the Grand Junction High School Hall of Fame. Rubalcaba earned the
Denver Post’s Gold Helmet Award and led the Tigers football team to a 21-3 record over his final two seasons. As a senior, he guided the Tigers' offense to a state-best 482.7 yards per game, throwing for 1,229 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,220 yards and 11 touchdowns. At CMU, he excelled as quarterback, earning All-RMAC honorable mentions and
setting impressive records. He also helped the team secure two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championships. Now, Rubalcaba serves as CMU’s executive director of alumni engagement and career services, where he supports students and alumni in their professional journeys.
Kayla Hallock, ’16
Kayla Hallock is currently serving as the associate director of admissions at Colorado Mesa University, where she enjoys sharing the campus with future Mavs. Hallock married her husband, Austin Hallock, ’17, on October 3, 2024, in Buena Vista, Colorado. During her time as a student at CMU, she developed valuable leadership and communication skills, which have been instrumental in her career. Hallock believes she is still creating her legacy by sharing the story of CMU and the opportunities available to students out west.
2020s
Nick Carozza, ’21
Nick Carozza has been named a National Finalist in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artist Woodwind Competition. A seasoned oboist with 14 years of study under his belt, Carozza is a student of Stephen Caplan, PhD, and performs with the Red Rock Quintet, bringing music to thousands of Clark County elementary students each semester. Carozza has played at prestigious Las Vegas venues, including the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and Wynn Encore Theater. He holds a Master of Music from the University of Alabama and a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Colorado Mesa University, where he studied with William Aikens, PhD. The national winner of the MTNA competition will receive a cash prize and perform at the MTNA National Conference.
Patrick Oglesby, PhD, ’22
Patrick Oglesby has been honored with the New Mexico Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service in Healthcare Award. Oglesby, a Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner, is a transitional care provider at San Juan Health Partners Family Medicine (SJHPFM) in Farmington, New Mexico. He was instrumental in implementing the Transitional Care program, which helps patients discharged from the Emergency Department manage their health and find primary care providers.
Oglesby’s dedication to patient care and his innovative approaches have made a significant impact. With over 25 years of service at SJHPFM, including 23 years as a flight nurse and paramedic with AirCare, Oglesby continues to exemplify excellence in healthcare.
Caleb Williamson, ’24
Caleb Williamson has demonstrated remarkable innovation and adaptability. Under the guidance of a CMU faculty member, he aimed to market a new style of longboards using just two wheels instead of the traditional four. As a mechanical engineering technology student and accomplished two-wheeled inline skateboarder, he faced challenges with the prototype, including a high-speed shimmy, which required further iterations. In his senior year, he pivoted to AI-driven board games through an entrepreneurial class, where he developed a unique product. Utilizing CMU’s Handshake platform, he worked as a business owner under faculty supervision, collaborating with his brother, friends and faculty while leveraging resources like the Maverick Innovation Center. His final product demonstrated his creativity and ability to apply his knowledge and skills in new and innovative ways.
Kaylee Walsh, ’24
Kaylee Walsh has quickly made her mark in the sports industry by becoming the director of operations for the Grand Junction Jackalopes after graduating last December. The Jackalopes, a prominent baseball team in the Pioneer League, are known for their competitive spirit and community involvement. Walsh's role involves overseeing the day-to-day operations, coordinating events and ensuring a top-notch experience for fans and players alike. Her rapid ascent to such a significant position is a testament to her dedication, skills and the excellent education she received at Colorado Mesa University.
In Memoriam
Clara Barry, ’46; Marsha Beach, ’88; Nancy Bollig, ’85; Antra Boyd, ’96; Arthur Bulla, ’49; Virgil Cooper, ’58; Carolyn Copeland, ’76; Betty Edwards, ’50; William Elsberry, ’62; Harold Harris, ’74; Linda Higgs, ’85; Nathan Jones, ’19; Frankie Law, ’74; Dennis Lowery, ’52; John Ludlam, ’73; Allen Lundy, ’73; Michael Milholland, ’76; Steven Mills, ’73; Jerry Mutchler, ’59; Dale Nickerson, ’53; William Nixon, ’75;
FROM THE GROUND UP
Bradley Riva, ’21
BY ALEXANDRA SHIMALLA
The concept of building something has always intrigued Bradley Riva, ’21. He landed his first job in construction at 16 and graduated with his construction management degree from CMU in 2021. From the start, he has been impressed by just how much goes into creating something unique from the ground up.
Years later, Riva now plays an active role in such creation as a project engineer for Shaw Construction. More recently, he found himself collaborating alongside fellow Colorado Mesa University alumni and current students as they worked on the new campus highlight: The Asteria Theatre.
“The camaraderie comes easy when there is a common connection like that,” said Riva.
The Asteria Theatre broke ground in March 2023 and opened its doors in September 2024 and has already hosted special guests like Neil deGrasse Tyson as well as CMU student productions and community performances. The theatre has helped fill a long-awaited gap in Colorado’s west slope by elevating the arts and entertainment scene in Grand Junction.
For this project, Riva handled documentation and paperwork, procured needed materials and assisted with general day-to-day activities.
“My favorite part of the project was seeing all the finishes going in to create the beautiful space everyone sees now,” said Riva.
That’s one of his favorite parts of being in the construction industry.
“Seeing things come to fruition,” Riva said, “Watching a project go from construction plans to a completed building is satisfying and rewarding.”
While that initial construction gig at age 16 may have helped Riva narrow his career focus, he credits CMU for providing the foundation for his future success.
“I’ve noticed that a construction management degree from CMU gets you in the door. It also makes you job-ready,” said Riva.
His lessons on scheduling, planning, financial management and documentation of responsibility taught by CMU allowed him to create and maintain the critical skills needed for his position in the field.
Riva believes CMU graduates are ready to “jump in and take off from day one.” •
New Arrivals
Shirley Pennal, ’78; William Ruckman,’55; Vickey Ruth, 82; Sharon Ryan, ’02; Marion Shaw, ’51; Suzanne Swartz, ’75; Larry Vaughn, ’66; Abby Vigil, ’15; Ronald Wilcox, ’63; David Wilson, ’98
Peyton Daniels
Born February 15, 2024, to proud parents Cody Daniels, ’16, and Taylor (Bruno) Daniels, ’17.
DIVINE TIMING
Akaycia Berger, ’22
BY HALEY HAHN
Akaycia Berger, ’22, is no stranger to a life of hustle and self-determination. Growing up in a family where the entrepreneurial mindset was deeply ingrained, it was no surprise that she chose to attend CMU to study business with a concentration in entrepreneurship.
While Berger was determined to apply her education toward a future career, she couldn’t shake the nervousness that came with starting college. She was eager to gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge that she could apply to her business classes. She was waiting for a sign to stick with her degree path, and sure enough, one presented itself at the last moment.
A family friend and founder of a local company, Rooted Gypsy Farms, reached out to Berger and her mom with a proposition: to take on the business and make it their own. It was exactly the kind of opportunity Berger was waiting on, and it felt like such divine timing that she couldn’t resist the chance to jump at it.
“Right as I was about to unenroll from college, we got the call from our family friend and she was actually the reason why I finished college, because she gave me this opportunity to take over a business. It was a huge sign to keep applying my education,” said Berger.
Rooted Gypsy Farms is a subscription-based food delivery service focused on providing more than 300 customers across the Grand Valley with fresh, locally grown food. Building a network of farmers and vendors, Berger learned early on the importance of personable communication.
Juggling a full-time business role amidst attending classes and submitting assignments, she was faced with a steep learning curve but found her professors were a key resource to her success. Taking time to visit with her professors at CMU proved critical to her new business venture success, as well as her education.
Taking time to visit with her professors at CMU proved critical to her new business venture success, as well as her education.
“They were heavily involved in what I was doing. You get out of it what you put into it,” Berger said.
Owning a business is no small feat, but Berger’s strong networking skills and entrepreneurial spirit allowed her to pick herself up time and time again. She embraced setbacks as learning opportunities and tapped into her resources on campus to maximize the value of her degree.
Celebrating the little wins is what makes running a small business like Rooted Gypsy Farms so near and dear to Berger’s heart — and what makes her entrepreneurial journey, which has only just begun, truly special. •
Born on January 14, 2025, to proud parents
Born January 18, 2025, to proud parents Shania Lovell, ’20, and Bracken Lovell, ’21.
New Arrivals
Born October 11, 2024, to proud parents James D. Mckee, ’18, and Lindsay Mckee.
James Devon Mckee II
Twins Cecelia Holden and Elaine Holden
Clay Holden, ’17, and Ella Holden.
Lowden Pete Lovell
Akaycia Berger (right) with her mom, Hadassa Berger.
CONTENTS
A team of CMU faculty and students triumph in the global race to save the rainforest
BY KELSEY COLEMAN
CLASS NOTES
Alumni through the years featuring:
Jo Ann Colosimo Click, ’55
Tim Schultz, ’69
Austin Kaiser, ’14
Bradley Riva, ’21
Akaycia Berger, ’22
Amber Martin, ’24
08
GOING FOR THE GOLD
Three students represented their countries and CMU at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
12
RESCUE READY
CMU Tech’s Live Scenario Day prepares future medical professionals for real-world emergencies
14
BEYOND THE BALLOT
CMU focuses on uniting campus through civic engagement
JOIN US IN MAKING HISTORY AND CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF MAVERICK SPIRIT!
As we mark 100 years of history, growth and achievement, Colorado Mesa University invites you to be part of an unforgettable year-long celebration. Kicking off with exciting events in August, commemorative occasions will continue through Homecoming Week and extend throughout the academic year, culminating in a spectacular closing at the 2026 graduation.
Together, we will honor our shared past, celebrate the unique milestones that define CMU and embrace the shared vision that will shape the next 100 years of excellence.
