SPRING 2021
THE WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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Natural & Environmental Sciences New MCAT Prep Scholarship
Renowned cardiologist helps students on their path to practicing medicine The road to medical school is often fraught with challenges. In addition to good grades, high test scores and dedication to the profession, there is the cost involved in preparing for entrance exams—namely the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Now, through a scholarship established by a renowned cardiologist and steadfast Western supporter, students can tap new resources to prepare for the rigorous test. The fund, called the MCAT Prep Scholarship, was established by Dr. Elliot Brown, a New Jersey doctor who, through skiing, fell in love with the Gunnison Valley. During his summers, Brown teaches a pre-med and pre-health course at Western for students interested in the field of medicine. Additionally, he hosts students for two weeks at his East Coast home who are interested in shadowing him, and he’s a member of the Health Care Advisory Board at Western. Advisory Board members advise students, guest lecture and connect undergraduates with opportunities in and outside the Gunnison Valley. Brown said he contributes his time because of the value he found in Western and its students.
“It was interesting to see the direct impact that one can have on another’s life, to give them a better state of living.” - Jake Wilcox “You’re with a faculty where the ratios are such that learning is very personal, and everyone is very invested in it,” Brown said. “I personally have written recommendations for countless students and seen them grow through the process”. His campus involvement has illustrated all that it takes to be an impressionable young person arriving at Western and seeing their goals become reality while having experiences they’ve never dreamed of. The first recipient of the MCAT Prep Scholarship is—by coincidence—one of Brown’s protégés. Jake Wilcox, who graduates in Spring 2021 with a degree in Exercise & Sports Science. Jake became fascinated with medicine following an injury. A member of the Western Basketball team, Jake said the injury to his back and his progressive recovery inspired him to help others. He enrolled in a summer course taught by Brown, with whom he found a deep connection. Wilcox then did an internship with Brown in the summer of 2019 to learn more about the practice of medicine. “It was interesting to see the direct impact that one can have on another’s life, to give them a better state of living,” Wilcox said.
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Dr. Elliot Brown
n and MCAT Prep Scholarship recipient Jake Wilcox during Wilcox’s internship in New Jersey.
But, as he began to investigate the path toward becoming a doctor, he discovered one of the typical barriers to success. Preparation courses for the MCAT, he said, cost about $2,500. There also are travel costs associated with interviewing with various schools, which can really add up. Wilcox applied for the MCAT Prep Scholarship and became the first to be awarded the funds. “He was the most deserving candidate,” explained Emily McMahill, Western Health Professions Advisor, who reviewed all the applications. “It’s important to note that Dr. Brown has no say in who receives the award so there was no ‘playing favorites.’” “I didn’t know I was the first recipient,” Wilcox said when he learned of the news. “That’s an honor, because I know it wasn’t just me applying.” McMahill described Wilcox as motivated and hardworking, and that the purpose of the MCAT Prep fund is to help deserving young people like him. She hopes to grow the scholarship fund with other donations in coming years. “Our hope is that it will grow—at least one per year, so we can offer multiple scholarships each year,” said McMahill. “We have a number of students, like Jake, who are in need of these funds.”
Written by: Chris Rourke Photo: Dr. Elliot Brown Cover Photo: F4D Studio
CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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Natural & Environmental Sciences Anthropology students dig on Tenderfoot Mountain
Western students preserve the past while building their future Preserving the past while paving the way for the future—that’s the result of a collaborative project between a major corporation, the state’s historical preservation commission and faculty and students at Western. The project—which took place during July and August 2020—gave students the opportunity to gain practical skills, making them career-ready when they graduate, better prepared to enter the field of archeology and historical preservation. It also fulfilled requirements by the State Historic Preservation Office for communications company AT&T to begin improving cell phone service to the south end of the Gunnison Valley.
“I was itching to get some experience in the field and ready to explore Tenderfoot.” - Remy Schultz Anthropology lecturer David Hyde shows students proper methodology in excavating a site.
Communications towers have been a feature for decades, high atop of Tenderfoot Mountain, south of the Western campus. However, the mountain is also home to an archeological site dating back to about 12,000 years ago. The site, once inhabited by the Folsom people, a Paleo-Indian people indigenous to Colorado, has long been the focus of Professor of Anthropology Mark Stiger and his program at Western. AT&T decided it wanted to replace an aging cell tower, upgrading it with the latest technology to improve service. Federal and state law requires that before construction permits can be issued at such a location with historical significance, a cultural resource study involving excavation of the area must occur. AT&T contracted with Western, Anthropology lecturer David Hyde and four Western students who spent five weeks sifting through the soil where the tower would be built. From there, the earth gave up her treasures, revealing more about life on the mountain nicknamed for having the Western “W” emblazoned on its side. The group spent weeks focused on a square plot measuring 8-by-8 meters, with each square meter divided into four quadrants. The soil was excavated down to bedrock with samples brought back to the campus lab for analysis. Through water screening, it was determined 296 of the 655 samples had evidence of artifacts—flakes and other proof that the Folsom people sat at the edge of the mountain and sharpened stone tools. Perhaps, the group surmised, the Folsom people were eying animal movement and observing anyone who may try to approach
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The archeological site atop of Tenderfoot—or “W” Mountain
as they worked. The student archeologists also found a material called “daub,” a baked clay used in building structures. “I was itching to get some experience in the field and ready to explore Tenderfoot,” said Anthropology student Remy Schultz, who graduated five months following the dig. “Mostly, I learned how to identify the materials that the Folsom tools were made from, how to set up a test-pit, keep good field notes, and I learned about daub, a rock which indicates hearth and fire use when it’s charred.” Developing those skills, Hyde said, gives students an edge as they enter their professional fields. Cultural resource management, he said, is a primary function of trained archeologists, as historical sites are nonrenewable resources. The methodology of analyzing a site and the critical thinking required are essential to the work, he said, and aren’t always fully realized in the classroom. Fieldwork, Hyde continued, enhances a new graduate’s ability to jump right into the industry.
But Schultz took far more than technical skills away from the dig. Following the discovery of an ashen pit, Schultz brought his best thinking into interpreting what the artifacts mean. By doing so, he brought a modern-day interpretation to events that occurred tens of thousands of years ago, providing clues to the essence of humanity. “I constantly wonder about the interplay between mountain and Folsom—about the human ethno sphere,” Schultz said, ruminating on his experience. “What could be their knowledge contribution to the way we live life in Gunnison now? What did they believe in? What are we forgetting that they knew? And how exactly did they regard the mountain?” Those kinds of questions essentially bring life to mere fragments of history, giving us insight to the past and the present. Following a preliminary report by Hyde on the excavation, the State of Colorado will provide AT&T a permit to begin construction. However, the final report due in three years is an ongoing project for the anthropology lecturer. Meanwhile, Hyde shares the lessons from the excavation in the classroom. “It was fun and interesting,” said Hyde. “We used this experience in the fall 2020 semester in archeology class. We took some of the artifacts, looked at them and analyzed them, to see the laboratory side of the process.” Written by: Chris Rourke Photos: Remy Shultz and David Hyde
CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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Natural & Environmental Sciences Dataset from Beneath the New Library
Public Library an Ideal Geophysics Study Last summer, locals driving by the five acres at the corner of Spencer Avenue and 11th Street in Gunnison saw preliminary work underway, and envisioned the new public library planned for the land donated by Raymond P. VanTuyl along with a gift of $1 million. Dr. Elizabeth Petrie, Western’s Moncrief Chair in Petroleum Geology and a former board member for the Gunnison Friends of the Library, had other visions dancing through her head. “I knew that they were doing drilling for geothermal heat pumps, so I talked to Drew Brookhart, executive director of Gunnison County Libraries and asked if Western’s Geology Department could utilize the data from this process,” Petrie says. She teamed up with Dr. Brad Burton, Western’s Rady Chair in Petroleum Geology, to collect several refraction seismic lines at the site, which essentially is a geophysics method that utilizes the refraction of seismic waves from geologic layers to characterize thickness of these layers and calculate depth to the water table. Petrie and Burton plan to combine these results with the geothermal energy and drilling reports.
“We are very interested in helping our students communicate their science.” - Dr. Elizabeth Petrie Working on the data during lab sessions will help students understand near surface geology based on seismic velocity, locate the depth to the water table, make predictions about the substrata, and plan wells for use as geothermal heat pumps, Petrie says. “We also hope to work with students to create an infographic or display addressing ‘What is Under Your Library.’ We are very interested in helping our students communicate their science.” Burton and Petrie are looking to integrate the project into a geology class or find interested students to utilize the information in an independent research project. “It seems like a nice dataset that students can wrap their heads around, especially since there will be a library on the location,” she says. “Public libraries are a flexible platform for lifelong learning. We are thrilled that Gunnison County’s dedication to developing responsible renewable energy also provided an opportunity for Western Colorado University students. Dr. Petrie’s creativity and contributions to the greater community have truly formed a unique and lasting partnership,” Brookhart adds. The Gunnison County Commissioners and Library Board of Trustees will host a formal groundbreaking for the library project this spring. Written by: Beth Buehler Photo: Gunnison Public Library
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CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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Natural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Profile: Briana Wiles ’12
Western roots produce strong business Growing up in the Midwest, alumna Briana Wiles always had an interest in plants. But it was during her time at Western when she began to match a plant’s bloom with its benefit. As her passion for plants has grown, the entrepreneur has written two books, established two stores and launched an online business, all in a short five years, all fueled by her time spent at Western. Wiles is originally from Michigan and came to Western with her now-husband, who studied business and later earned his Master in Environmental Management. Wiles, on the other hand, devoted her time to learning about plant biology and flora. Under the watchful eye of biology professor Robin Bingham, Wiles began to study the names of plants found locally and to learn how each plant could be utilized to its fullest.
“You have to find your niche.It was my little passion project that turned into a successful business plan.” - Briana Wiles
Entrepreneur Briana Wiles in her Gunnison store, Rooted Apothecary.
“Briana was interested in edible and medicinal plants,” said Bingham. “I think anyone with a passion for plants finds the details of plant biology fascinating—and that describes Briana. I remember her as being a very engaged and enthusiastic student in all the botany courses she took from me.” “It was my flora class which taught me all the plants around this area,” Wiles said. “And the botany class taught me all the words to identify plants—from that information I teach an online course.” From her love for botany grew her business, beginning with one farmer’s market booth—and then two, serving both ends of the Gunnison Valley. She sold dried herbs, tinctures and other natural products crafted from locally sourced plants. Sales were beyond what she imagined. She took that money and invested in to her first brick and mortar store, Rooted Apothecary, in Crested Butte in 2016. The store sells salves, remedies, teas, tinctures, essential oils, elixirs and skin care products made in the same manner as her farmer’s market products. “It was such a success in a very short span of time,” she said. “We decided it was a great business idea.” Two years later, Wiles established a second location on North Main Street in Gunnison, tapping into a different market than that found in Crested Butte. Out of that Main Street store, Wiles has established online classes, a manufacturing area for her products and a shipping center for her latest endeavor—an online store. If she wasn’t busy enough, Wiles has written two
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books, “Mountain West Foraging” and “Mountain States Medicinal Plants,” which share with readers much of the information she has accumulated. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, almost one in two businesses fail within the first five years. But Wiles is bucking the trend. She even has her sights set on further expansion, such as a third location outside the Gunnison Valley. She credits her husband and staff as key components to her success, combined with a great idea. “You have to find your niche,” Wiles said. “It was my little passion project that turned into a successful business plan.” Written by: Chris Rourke Photos: Chris Rourke
CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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Natural & Environmental Sciences Heron arrival signals springtime
Great Blue Herons migrating to Crested Butte rookery Any day now, the great blue herons will return to Crested Butte. While the herons spend half their life as solitary anglers in another locale, they undergo a transformation on their flight to the Gunnison Valley each spring and become gregarious social breeders. You’ll spot them soaring above the Slate River, wings slowly flapping, necks curled into a tight s-shape, their long legs trailing behind. Seasonal residents, they are heading to their rookery nestled high in the lodgepole pines just a few miles northwest of the Town of Crested Butte. Local land stewards who wanted robust, unbiased data about the effect of human disturbance on heron reproduction and survival requested Western’s expertise. Western’s Biology and M.S. in Ecology Programs put students on the ground, monitoring the birds from a distance over the last three years.
“At some point, shouldn’t we consider curbing our appetite for exploiting every wonderful place – can we leave some of these as refuges for the wild others?” - Pat Magee. The rookery, located on land owned by the Crested Butte Land Trust, is among the highest elevation rookeries in the nation. The oxbows and sloughs of the Slate River provide a savory feeding ground, historically relatively undisturbed by humans. However, recreational use on the river and the nearby Lower Loop trail has increased exponentially in recent years. The Land Trust and the Town of Crested Butte formed the Slate River Working Group (SRWG), comprised of conservationists, public land managers, bird experts, floaters, biologists and nearby landowners, to help navigate a balance between protecting wildlife while offering recreational opportunities on conserved land. SRWG uses the data provided by Western to inform land management. Western’s 2020 report, Ecology of the Great Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias) on the Slate River in Crested Butte, Colorado, demonstrates that great blue herons do not tolerate human disturbance, and will flush, leaving nests unattended and eggs or chicks vulnerable to predation. The birds are especially vulnerable as a flock nesting together in a single location. To quantify disturbances, Western’s researchers recorded human activities within 500 meters of the heronry, and airplane traffic above, through multiple one-hour observation bouts. The heronry declined from 25 active nests in 2018 to 18 active nests in 2020. While a three-year study is not long enough to confirm a long-term trend, Jake Bartholomew, a student and researcher, cites significant peer research that suggests falling below a 20-nest threshold spells bad news for heron productivity and persistence. Jake Jones, executive director of the Land Trust, reports that the SRWG will gather this spring to align around goals for continued heron research. “A hallmark of the working group effort is to bring together diverse interests to come up with solutions that everyone can live with,” Jones said. Last summer the local group asked boaters to agree not to float past the rookery until after July 15. The timing of this closure was based on Western’s data that suggested 50% of the herons are fledged by mid-July. This compromise does leave herons quite vulnerable with potential for adverse impacts on their productivity and persistence. Likewise, a mid-July opening for river recreationist
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does not provide full access for floating, and in low flow years may eliminate the opportunity to float at all. Associate professor of wildlife and conservation biology Patrick Magee, Ph.D., explains that once herons fledge from their nests they almost immediately disperse – both the young and the adults. “They virtually vanish from the landscape from mid-August to late September as their nesting attempts wrap up,” Magee said. “These birds have an ancient origin and have been flying over the marshes of North America for more than 1.8 million years. Whatever we can do as a community to maintain this tradition is positive,” said Magee. “Wearing my non-scientist hat, I realize that humans continue to recreate and expand further into the “wild” places of our valley. At some point, shouldn’t we consider curbing our appetite for exploiting every wonderful place – can we leave some of these as refuges for the wild others?”
Magee concludes, “The central question for the Crested Butte community is not whether herons are disturbed by river recreationists, but whether this river stretch should be floated. That is a values question that can’t be answered by science.” Written by: Ann Johnston Photo: Unsplash
Unsplash
Magee points out that the data collected over the study period strongly suggests that the presence of floaters resulted in increased disturbance behaviors. Further, the literature also suggests herons and people do not mix well at close proximity.
CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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Natural & Environmental Sciences Lost River Field Station in Idaho
Providing a Field Camp during Covid-19 One of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic was the cancellation of geology field camps across the nation. Imagine being a university student, nearing graduation, and finding out that your capstone course is going to be delayed or greatly altered. At Western, two professors utilized their connections to come up with a way for a summer field camp to happen in July 2020. As a result, Western was one of only about 10 universities across the nation able to offer a face-to-face geology field camp. Here’s how it happened. Dr. Brad Burton, Rady Chair in Petroleum Geology, completed his master’s degree at Idaho State University, which operates the Lost River Field Station near Mackey, Idaho. Due to other groups cancelling, Burton secured a spot at the field station and began developing a strategy with colleague Dr. Elizabeth Petrie, Western’s Moncrief Chair in Petroleum Geology, to deliver a six-credit field camp (GEOL 450 and 452) that both respected Covid protocols and provided a great experience for students.
“Most geologists still talk about their undergraduate field camps; they are a rite of passage.” - Elizabeth Petrie In the early stages, Burton and Petrie anticipated that the group would camp, but the Lost River Field Station provided a home away from home with sleeping and cooking facilities. An added bonus was the location along Lost River amongst the Lost River Range and Pioneer Mountains. While there is usually a maximum of 20 students at Western’s geology field camp, the cap for 2020 was set at four. The students, Burton and Petrie made their way to Idaho separately, and daily drives to projects in the Pioneer Mountains were the only times the group rode in one vehicle. “We were thankful to receive permission to teach face-to-face and ensure that students who needed the courses to graduate in summer 2020 or to complete a research experience could do so,” Petrie says. In order to make it happen, the field camp had to be approved by Western and the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Safety protocols included masks in vans, social distancing, sanitization practices for all shared surfaces and health screenings twice a day.
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The field camp courses were based on one week of online preparation, 21 days of fieldwork that included four separate projects looking at different aspects of regional geology, and a final report that summarized the geology using data collected and interpretations made during the field projects. The field area was introduced online first so students came prepared with background information on the geologic history of the Pioneer Mountains. “I really liked doing the introduction of projects online in advance. It made the projects more in-depth, with a wider range of scale versus introducing them in the field,” Petrie says. “This approach made it a lot more fun to teach; we could teach all the different aspects of the geology at the same time. The students liked the format as well,” Burton noted. Plans for a 2021 geology field camp, May 10 – June 18 (for both courses), are well underway with the overall experience being comparable to most years other than various COVID protocols. Field Geology (GEOL 450) is based out of Gunnison, with students and faculty camping during each project and returning to Gunnison for groceries and laundry before starting the next project. A different professor will teach each week. Students enrolled in Advanced Field Geology (GEOL 452) will travel to Utah and Wyoming with Burton and Petrie. The registration number is capped at 20 and is open to applicants from other universities if Western students do not fill all the spaces. Both Burton and Petrie emphasized how important field camp experiences are to the educational experience Petrie says, “Most geologists still talk about their undergraduate field camps; they are a rite of passage.” Burton adds, “Alumni also tell us how much they enjoyed the field experience and how well it has served them in their careers, making them better geologists.” Written by: Beth Buehler Photos: Elizabeth Petrie and Brad Burton
CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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Campus News Alumni Profile: Melvin Foote ’73
African advocate; from Western to the world It was his interest in basketball that brought alumnus Melvin Foote to Western Colorado University. Little did he know that the connections made on campus would lead to a lifetime of service on a global stage. Foote has spent almost 40 years as an advisor and proponent of African issues and has been called upon by several U.S. presidents for his expertise on critical issues in about 30 different countries. He spoke to Western Vice President of Enrollment & Student Success Abel Chávez, Ph.D., during a speaker series on Zoom called “Lunchtime Charla: From Western to the World.” Charla is Spanish for “chat,” and during this lunchtime event, Foote described his humble beginnings at Western that led to a long career in Africa and Washington D.C. Foote, who was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, came to Western to play basketball. Coming from the Midwest, it was the mountains that kept him here. While at Western he began to write a column for the Top o’ the World campus newspaper. Through his column “The Back of the Bus,” which focused upon Black issues in the 1970s, he met a friend who shared with him the Peace Corps. Foote said it sounded like the perfect fit for him. He applied, was accepted and assigned the country of Ethiopia.
“I put myself in the space of, ‘let’s do this together,’ a constituency for Africa and building a base for Africa.” - Melvin Foote “I didn’t even know where Ethiopia was,” said Foote. “Back then, there wasn’t Google. So, I went to the library and saw it was in Africa.” And thus, the journey began. During his time overseas, he worked in 30 countries undergoing various challenges: civil war, famine and drought. With each experience, he grew to understand the challenges faced by the African countries and their people. He began to collaborate with various organizations bringing them under one tent of action. “There are a lot of organizations that consult on Africa,” said Foote. “I put myself in the space of, ‘let’s do this together,’” a constituency for Africa and building a
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base for Africa.” By doing this, Foote founded and is the head of “Constituency for Africa,” a nonprofit organization that educates the United States public and influences policy regarding African nations. Foote, who lives a mile from the White House, is called upon regularly by U.S. leaders. “You know, I always wanted to help Black people. I always wanted to help my people,” he said. “But I wasn’t thinking about it globally….Then I thought I should think globally, so when an opportunity came up to help Africa, I was open to it.” With this world view, he still remembers his humble beginnings at Western at a time when the country struggled with its own unrest—protest over the Vietnam War and civil rights issues that dominated headlines in the 1960s and ’70s. “(Western) didn’t have all the distractions that you have in the urban areas,” he said. “What I appreciated most about it is, it gave me time to think.” “Lunchtime Charla: From Western to the World” continues in March and April: Thursday, March 25, will feature Miss Alyssa Magalong ’16, who has earned the title of Miss Colorado Earth. On Thursday, April 22, we’ll hear from Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Michael Bauer ’05, who has tried more than 70 crime cases.
Written by: Chris Rourke Photo: Alumnus Melvin Foote (right) with African leader Nelson Mandela
CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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School of Business Four tips to protect your investments during a pandemic
Do not panic. Although the pandemic is seemingly approaching an end, most epidemiological experts believe this is not the last global pandemic that the world will experience. Particularly in the age of mass international travel, viruses that in the past that would have been contained to certain regions can now rapidly spread across the globe. That said there are many similarities and differences between a pandemic and other financial crises. This pandemic is similar to 9/11 and the great recession that began in 2008, specifically because panic dramatically affected the financial markets. The most significant difference is that the pandemic offers a more predictable timeline to when the economy will recover. With the other two events, it was unknown when people would be willing to get onto airplanes again or, in the case of the great recession, when the economy could recover from a highly complex financial meltdown. In all cases, investors would have benefited from a long-term investment mindset. It is critical to remember that a long time in the market is more important than market timing. Even with these financial shocks, the S&P 500 has averaged approximately 10% annually dating back to the 1920s.
Be prepared for the next time. No one can predict when the next shock to the economy or the market will be.
Although there is a temptation to keep all emergency funds invested, the reality is when there is a crisis, it is likely that your invested assets will take a substantial financial hit. No one wants to face an employment crisis, or risk a fall in his or her home 16
Mason Schultz
The only thing you can expect is that there will be another one. Many people were caught off guard, suffering layoffs, and unprepared to weather the storm financially. Financial advisors recommend that you have at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses saved in an emergency fund. These savings must be liquid and assessable in the event of another financial crisis.
price or investments all at the same time. Unfortunately, when crises hit they impact all areas of people’s financial lives. This fact is why it is important to be diversified, including in areas that don’t have risk.
Re-finance your mortgage. With mortgage rates at their lowest levels in decades, you could save hundreds of dollars per month with a 2.5% or lower monthly mortgage rate. Current mortgage rates are low now because the Federal Reserve is interested in continually stimulating the economy until the pandemic dissipates. However, there is a limited window for these low rates. Now is also a good time to reduce your mortgage’s duration from 30 to 15 years. Depending on the rates, it is possible that the new mortgage payment will be similar or even lower than your existing mortgage. While there are significant fees with refinancing, in most cases, given the extraordinarily low rates that are available now one could likely recoup those fees within a year.
Re-examine your car insurance.
Written by: Peter Sherman, Ph.D. and James Harriss, Ph.D.
F4D Studio
If you are driving less during the pandemic, your insurance company may waive several months’ premiums or significantly reduce those premiums. Families with multiple cars can save even more. It is essential to check in with your insurance agent with some frequency to discuss opportunities. Additionally, financial experts suggest you price your policies with another company every three to four years to make sure you are getting financially prudent policies.
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Behavioral & Social Sciences Politics & Government
Model UN provides global experience for Western students Politics and government major and Honors Program graduate Kirsten Companik, ’19, currently works for the Bureau of Counterterrorism in our nation’s capital. In her position, she is responsible for assisting in drafting potential legislation as it relates to counterterrorism. The knowledge of global issues she gained in Western’s Model UN and through the Honors Program have been critical in her role. Companik’s employment follows a summer internship for the Supreme Court Marshall’s Office and an eight-month internship with the U.S. State Department. She prepared research for thenSecretary of State Mike Pompeo on topics such as Middle East peace talks and repatriating citizens during a global pandemic.
“I had the benefit of learning from students all over the world. It opened my perspective on policy and politics and that has only benefited me now.” - Kirsten Companik
Professor Maria Struble diagrams relationships with Greece during a Model UN meeting.
She’ll admit she swam in some deep waters during her internship, working with peers from the Ivy League and other renowned institutions. Still, by participating in rigorous classes in politics and government, the Honors Program and the Model UN, she said she held her ground, graduating from a small school in the mountains of Colorado that provided her with transformational leadership opportunities. “I had no idea where it would lead,” said Companik. “I really enjoyed every experience at Western. Fortunately, I took on many roles and leadership positions. Those experiences benefited me greatly.” Companik was also a dedicated NCAA athletic on Western volleyball team. Model UN is a simulation of the U.N. General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies where students perform the role of delegates from U.N. Member States. By doing so, students learn the art of diplomacy and gain a view of pressing world topics. The program, led by Professor of Politics & Government Maria Struble, Ph.D., is in its eighth year on the Western campus and has about 10-15 active students. This year, the students were assigned to represent the country of Greece. To do so, they immerse themselves in research about the country to understand its positions on issues such as nuclear nonproliferation, women’s rights, the environment and development. Each year culminates with a trip to New York City for a convening of close to 2,000 students from around the world. However, this year’s event will be conducted virtually. “There are different committees within the Model UN. Representatives come together with delegates from other countries to
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propose solutions to pressing problems,” said Struble, who serves on the National Model UN New York Faculty Advisory committee. “At the conference, students are responsible for networking, drafting resolutions, delivering speeches and voting on solutions.” Like Companik, senior Honors student Emily Eads took a chance on Model UN. She now finds herself drafting a position paper representing Greece on the establishment of a nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East, advancing responsible state behavior in cyberspace and the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons. “I hadn’t yet taken a class that relied so heavily on research, public speaking and concise writing,” said Eads. “I’ve been able to hone in on these skills while simultaneously learning more about the international political sphere. It’s very challenging, but it is also incredibly enjoyable and rewarding.” Both Companik and Eads were able to take the already demanding material to an even deeper level by adding Honors credit to their Model UN coursework. The Honors curriculum provides ample opportunities such as this to allow students to immerse themselves in a project, thereby exemplifying program values of risk taking and autonomy. “Among the many campuswide partnerships the Honors Program is involved with, Model UN is among the most gratifying to see the students grow into creative thinkers whose skills shine on a national platform,” said Honors Program Director Kelsey L. Bennett, Ph.D. The work is intensive, Eads continued, as she has gone through nine drafts of the position paper, something that Struble believes further helps students develop their critical thinking and technical writing skills. “It’s not personal. We need to submit good work,” Struble said. “The position paper pushes students out of their comfort zone to be resilient and successful.” That is something that has paid back in professional dividends for Companik. “I had the benefit of learning from students all over the world,” said Companik. “We pushed each other to be better. It opened my perspective on policy and politics and that has only benefited me now.”
Written by: Chris Rourke Photos: Chris Rourke
CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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Campus News Women’s Basketball
Soaring to national ranking Much like the iced over Gunnison River at the end of winter, the Western Colorado women’s basketball program had the potential to thaw its freeze and break free from the bottom half of the RMAC standings in the mid-2010s and become a strong, flowing current – not to be deterred no matter what stands in the way.
“Coming to Western and meeting my teammates and getting this experience, you just holistically become so much more of a person” - Mikaela Parker The program just needed the right people to shine the heat of high expectations and hard work to set it free – and that started with the hiring of coach Lora Westling in 2016. A year later, five freshmen from four different parts of the country joined the Mountaineers to rebuild a program that had won 19 games in four seasons before Westling went 7-19 in her first season – the most wins in four years for Western women’s hoops. These five – Jessie Erickson and Jadyn Kanzler from Cheyenne, Wyoming, Katie Dalton from Magnolia, Texas, Samantha Coleman from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Mikaela Parker from Calhan, Colorado – knew they were entering a program trying to reestablish itself that just five years prior was finishing a run of four consecutive RMAC Tournament trips. Fast forward four seasons and each of these five Mountaineer seniors played critical roles in guiding Western Colorado from the bottom of the RMAC standings to a top-10 nationally ranked team in 2020-21. But it wasn’t easy, nor did it happen overnight.
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Coleman, who this season became the program’s all-time 3-point leader and will be the ninth player in Western history to score 1,000-plus points, said she knew the challenges the program faced even before she committed to play in Gunnison. “Coach told me on my recruiting trip that she was wanting to rebuild the program and I was down,“ Coleman said. “I wanted to do that. I wanted to be a part of something that could make history. I knew with her being the coach and the right team, we could really do that. The first year was rough, but we grinded and knew it wasn’t the end.” The freshman year for the five seniors in 2017-18 saw the Mountaineers go 9-19 overall – another improvement from the year before, but a new, unwelcomed feeling for many of the freshmen coming from successful prep basketball programs. Dalton (10.4 ppg) and Coleman (8.6) were the top two scorers on the team while Erickson was fourth in scoring (7.0), led the team in rebounding (5.5) and was second in assists (2.7) and steals (1.3). Kanzler played in all 28 games (6.3 ppg) and Parker appeared in five games. “A lot of us had to make an impact that freshman year and got thrown into it right away,” said Erickson, who was high school teammates with Kanzler at Cheyenne East High School and ranks in the top 10 all-time in assists at Western. “Everyone’s high school teams did pretty well and we won state in high school so we were used to winning a lot. But it was a good experience because we had to learn how to be gracious when we lost. “After the first year, we had a good group and we had a mindset change. The culture of the program changed and coach instilled in us what she expects of us. We began to ask, ‘Why are we playing Western women’s basketball?’” A change came in the effort the student-athletes put into their craft, sacrificing their personal time to go the
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Campus News Women’s Basketball
gym and improve their game outside of practice. “I would say our culture has changed the most since our freshman year,” Kanzler said. “We all know that the only way we are going to get better is to come in and do our own stuff as well as practice. We realized that after our freshman year that we have to work hard for this if we want to be a successful program. Coach Westling led us in the right direction – anytime we needed to work on something she was there to help. She was just there for us.” The extra growth was evident in their sophomore year in 2018-19 as the Mountaineers improved to 16-11 overall – and more importantly – went 12-10 in RMAC play to qualify for the RMAC Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season. They were five of the top eight scorers on the team that season with Coleman leading the way at 11.5 points per game. Defensively they stepped it up a notch, led by senior Tammarrah Gothard, who was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year. Still, the group of then sophomores knew there was more room for growth. “Our sophomore year we got a taste of winning – but we definitely weren’t there yet,” Dalton said. “I feel like our junior season toward the end there was a point where we all flipped our mindset. We all got on the same page. We all knew that we weren’t going to get any better if we don’t get in on our own time.” That junior year in 2019-20 for the five was a season that won’t be soon forgotten. The Mountaineers went 20-7 overall (first 20-win season since 1986-87) and 18-4 in RMAC play (most conference wins in program history), but more importantly, Western received its first NCAA Tournament bid in program history. However, the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19. More focused than ever heading into an uncertain 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 – one of their T-shirts even features the phrase “Unfinished Business” – the Mountaineers picked up where they left off with their best undefeated (5-0) and one-loss (11-1) starts in program history. This led to the program being ranked nationally for the first time in program history – as high as No. 7 in the nation. The ending has yet to be written this season for this group of five – with a few opting to come back next season with this season being a “COVID redshirt” season for fall and winter sports. What is clear, however, no matter the ending these five have played a large part in freeing a program frozen in the bottom of the RMAC standings and not only returning it to respectability, but one to be reckoned with at the top of the conference. Even with all that Coleman, Dalton, Erickson, Kanzler and Parker have done for the program – they recognize that the Mountaineer women’s basketball program, and Western Colorado University itself, has given back to them just as much. “Coming to Western and meeting my teammates and getting this experience, you just holistically become so much more of a person,” Parker said. “So many of your characteristics are shaped and molded. I just take away that I’m so happy that I made the decision to come here. It has made my life so much better. “I don’t think I would’ve been this happy anywhere else.”
Written by: Clayton Jones Photos: Athletics
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