Adams State University A-Stater Fall 2014

fall 2014the magazine of adams state universityAAStater

Truecolors

Wes Moore, author of the New York Timesbest seller The Other Wes Moore, recently lec-tured on campus, saying, “None of us get towhere we are without the help of others.” (Seestory page 12.) Governor and former legislatorBilly Adams did not found the Adams StateNormal School all by himself—citizens of Alam-osa and the San Luis Valley had to “pitch in”everything from potatoes to hogs to raise operat-ing funds so the school could open in 1925.Throughout ASU’s 90-year history, hard work

by teams of passionate individuals has kept usgoing, sometimes barely getting by, sometimes thriving, but always movingahead. As we look toward a future for ASU that does not include me, it has be-come obvious that ASU will need to continue to form partnerships with bothpublic and private entities to leverage resources to best serve ASU students. While I will be sleeping in and lying on the coach rereading some of my fa-

vorite books, my successor and current teammates will be working on partner-ships to sustain ASU. We have an excellent relationship with the Colorado StateUniversity system, and in the near future individual CSU agriculture courses willhelp to enrich ASU’s agri-business curriculum. Our partnership with PEBC andthe Boettcher Foundation (see story page 7) will continue to thrive, bringing newresources for STEM instruction to schools in the San Luis Valley and rural dis-tricts throughout southern Colorado. Just within the last three years, enrollmentin our Boettcher Teacher Residency Program has more than doubled. Over the last five years, ASU has worked with the Southern Colorado Higher

Education Consortium, comprised of all ten southern Colorado colleges and uni-versities, to increase college attendance by Southern Colorado high school gradu-ates. Statistics gathered last fall show the first such increase for southern Coloradostudents! Because of this partnership, plans are underway to bring new CISCOtelepresence technology to ASU and to eventually provide compatible technologyin SLV school districts. We are also working with Unmanned Aircraft Systems re-garding a potential curriculum to train UAS operators. The goal is to develop afour-year curriculum using resources provided by private companies, with assis-tance from the University of Colorado.We live in a time of scarce resources; state funding for higher education will

likely continue to be a challenge. ASU will need to compete for funds with cor-rections, Medicaid, transportation, K-12, and other state services. We can lever-age our current and future resources by partnering with public and privateorganizations for the good of our students.

AAPRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY

Dr. David Svaldi

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITYArnold Salazar ’76 Chair Tim Walters ’73 Vice Chair

Paul Farley • Mary Griffin • Liane “Buffie” McFadyen ’91, ’93 Kathleen Rogers • LeRoy Salazar • Val Vigil ’71 • Randy Wright ’84

Dr. Rob Benson Faculty TrusteeKaylee Gomez Student Trustee

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARDLori Lee Laske ’91, ’01

Executive Director of Alumni & Donor RelationsKasey Russell ’03 President

Liz Tabeling-Garcia ’96, ’06 Vice PresidentHolly Felmlee ’76, ‘92 Secretary

Toney Cantu ’70 • D. Mike Garcia ’73, ’77 • Phil Lopez ’04Lynn Michalke ’77 • Karen Rubidoux Miller ’94Robert Oringdulph ’71 • Sandy Ortega ’74

Chris Page ’02, ’03 • Brian Rossbert ’02 • Rich Scanga ’75Jeremy Wilder ’96 • Delzia Worley ’97

ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION BOARDDuane Bussey ’82 President

Dr. John McDaniel Vice PresidentJeni Jack-Goodwin ’85 SecretaryRon Howard ’98 Treasurer

Russell Achatz ’85 • Tim Bachicha ’92 • Greg Bervig ’81Keith Cerny • Genevieve Cooper • Bill Fassett • Valerie Finnegan

Dale Hettinger ’64 • Charles “Chuck” Houser ’62 • Randy Jackson ’98Philip Lopez ’04 • Dorothy Lucero ’61 • Cathy Mullens ’82

Chuck Owsley ’68 • Michelle Roepke Rich Scanga ’75 • Ray Skeff • Donn Vigil

FOUNDATION HONORARY BOARD MEMBERSStephen Bokat ’68 • Marguerite Salazar ’75, ’76 • Michael Ware ’69

FOUNDATION EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERSSharon Carter • Harold Kelloff • Izora Southway ’66

J. Byron Uhrich • R. Paul Wagner

FOUNDATION EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSDr. David Svaldi ASU President

Tammy Lopez ’91, ’00 Executive Director of the FoundationKathleen Rogers Trustee Liaison

GRIZZLY CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORSJeff Owsley ’86 President • Ron DeSautell ’76 Vice PresidentDave Barrows • Keith Cerny • Jeni Jack-Goodwin ’85Ericha Loosbrock • Joe Martinez ’99 • Ted Morrison ’69

Dennis Ortiz ’79 • Steve Valdez ’87

ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENTASU’s mission is to educate, serve, and inspire our diverse

populations in the pursuit of their lifelong dreams and ambitions.VISION STATEMENT

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

EDITOR & DESIGNERJulie Waechter

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gaylene Horning ’94 • Linda Relyea ’96, ’10

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERSASU Sports Information • Kellicia Morse ’14

Mike Skinner • Kyle Terwillegar/USTFCCA • James Trujillo ‘02

president’s letter:

synergy through partnerships

the coverAbout 200 campus and community runners enjoyed the Autumn Colors 5K Fun Run,a new Autumn@Adams event. The week-long celebration explored the theme GreatExpression/Gran Expresión. Read more starting on page 14.

To watch the Autumn Colors 5K Fun Run, visit: adams.edu/a/33

David Svaldi

StaterVOL. 54, NO. 3 • FALL 2014

Published by Adams State University

adams state university • alamosa, co 81101 719-587-7011 • 800-824-6494

www.adams.edu • e-mail: [email protected] edition:

www.adams.edu/alumni/astater/

the art department staged acreative bike race during warmer weather.

cover story

contents

Great Expresion/Gran Expresión 14

alumni eventsJANUARY

15 SLV Martini Bar

JANUARY & FEBRUARYJan. 30-Feb. 4 Phoenix, Tucson

MARCH 9 Florida Dinner 10-19 Panama Canal Cruise See page 25.

Watch your mail for details.www.facebook.com/

adamsalumni•

adams.edu/alumni800-824-6494, ext. 8

Stay up to date on events, sports, and newsfrom Adams State University:

www.adams.edu/news

adams statevideo features

This symbol at the conclusion of an article indicates a related video can beviewed on You Tube.

The staff of the ASU Alumni &Foundation Offices has returned toRichardson Hall, second floor.

update What’s new in Richardson Hall? 4Adams State ranks in top 50 colleges for Hispanic students 5State dedicates $5.8 million for East Campus renovation 5$3.6 million in new Title V grants support education access 6Two grants help ASU improve STEM education 7

featuresThe Sounds of Science 8Getting to know kids today 10Speakers share secrets for student success 11Moore explores the fine line between greatness and tragedy 12Autumn@Adams Great Expression/Gran Expresión 14Svaldi advises on surviving change 16

giving Educators’ legacy aids future teachers 17El Pomar scholarships advance rural health care 17Higels recognized for support of ASU 18Billy Adams Award honors former Trustee Scoggin 19Grizzly Club recognizes ongoing support of SLV Federal Bank 20Owsleys honored for decades of support 21

alumnotes 22homecoming scrapbook 28alumni scrapbook 34sports scenes

Hall of Fame honors the best of Adams State Athletics 36Fall Season Recap 38We are the Champions 39

4 � aStater fall 2014

Q: What’s new in Richardson Hall?

A: Just about everything.

One of the coolest things wasconverting the central attic into the newboard room. It required new concretefoundations and structural steel up fromthe first floor to the roof. New 24”beams were installed under the roof tosupport the loads,” said Tyler Read,project manager of GH Phipps Con-struction Companies. “Another is theeffort that went into keeping and restor-ing the historical aspects of the building.”Staff began occupying new offices in

Richardson Hall’s south and centralwings in November. Work on the northwing is underway. The state-funded,$16.9 million remodel of the 90-year-old structure should be completed inthe spring. Work on new landscapingwill proceed into the summer.

“

Art Professor Dana Provence (above) andhis students recreated plaster carvingsthat had been removed from interiorcolumns over the years, making a moldfrom the originals that remained.

new• 11,000 more usable square footagefor a total of 75,000 sf• HVAC (heating/ventilation/air conditioning)• Electrical & fixtures• Plumbing & fixtures• IT: all new network cable• Windows = 225• Doors• Insulation = R25 (R50 in roof)• Roof: metal standing seam roof withmetal tiles to mimic historic clay tile • Interior finishes & furnishings• Complete auditorium renovation:new seats, curtains, acoustic treatments

improved• Tower repainted• Brick surface cleaned• Eaves repaired

Budget Analyst Jenny Yund ‘00 (above)is cozy in new Business & Finance of-fices on Richardson Hall’s third floor,which previously had been structurallyunsound and unusable.

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Adams State University was the firstfour-year institution in Colorado to befederally designated a Hispanic-ServingInstitution (HSI), which requires aminimum of one-quarter Hispanic en-rollment.Bestcolleges.com states: “In 2012, 49

percent of Hispanic high school gradu-ates enrolled at a postsecondary, publicinstitution. This percentage surpassedthat of white students for the first time,and Hispanic enrollment in collegesand universities, which has increased240 percent since 1996, is expected tocontinue to grow. Many Hispanic stu-dents are the first in their families to at-tend college, so it is important for themto find a support system that will help

them navigate degrees, financial aid,and their school and social obligations.”Bestcolleges.com devised the rank-

ings based upon normal methodologyto find schools that rank well for aca-demics. "Our team then compared thatlist to the 242 Hispanic Association ofColleges and Universities (HACU)member schools in the U.S. to find thebest schools for Hispanic, Latino/a andChicano/a students. We included thepercentage of Hispanic students cur-rently enrolled at each college, alongwith in- and out-of-state tuitions to addmore weight to our rankings. Eachschool on our list boasts a cultural cen-ter, degree programs, or scholarshipsdedicated to enhancing the experiencesof Hispanic students."

committed to diversityAdams State's 2014 freshman class is

its most diverse yet. The group is nearly40 percent Hispanic, with another 12percent of other races/ethnicities. Theproportion of freshmen who identify asHispanic increased from 35 percent lastyear; it was 33 percent in 2012.Overall, 32.5 percent of Adams

State's undergraduate student bodyidentifies as Hispanic. Forty-three per-cent identify as white, with the remain-der representing other races/ethnicities,or unknown. In addition, 49 percent ofthe undergraduate student body is inthe first generation in their families toattend college.

Adams State ranks in top 50 collegesfor Hispanic students

Adams State received $5.8 million in state capital con-struction funds to complete renovation of the East Campus.The first floor of the former Evans Elementary School was remodeled in 2012 to house the Department of Human Per-formance & Physical Education. According to Bill Mansheim, VP for Finance & Govern-

mental Relations, the next step is to hire an architectural firmto develop a program plan on how to best utilize the facilityand grounds.

State dedicates $5.8 millionfor East Campus renovation

cooking with c.a.s.a. Two traditional hornos (adobeovens) were constructed at the C.A.S.A. Center (Cultural AwarenessStudent Achievement) early this semester. The project is one activityfunded through a cultural heritage grant of nearly $5,000 from The San-gre De Cristo National Heritage Area. C.A.S.A is matching the grant with$7,235 in cash and in-kind services. The project, “Roots Run Deep: Pre-serving Heritage by Honoring Identity,” also supports creation of a tra-ditional sheepherder’s museum in the form of a 1930s-erasheepherder trailer from the valley. Other project activities include har-vest and preparation of traditional chicos with acequia farmers in SanLuis and a traditional hog slaughter with the seventh-generationSalazar family.

Adams State University was named in the top 50 for Hispanic students, according to the website bestcolleges.com.

These awards bring the total Title V funding Adams Statehas received since 2000 to more than $17.7 million.

improve master's degree attainmentA five-year grant of $2,838,865 will help Adams State ex-

pand education opportunities for Hispanic and low-incomestudents. It was awarded by the Department of Education'sPromoting Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for HispanicAmericans (PPOHA), a Title V program for Hispanic ServingInstitutions (HSI's). HSI is a federal designation for collegesand universities with more than 25 percent Hispanic enroll-ment. The grant amount for the first year is $574,327.To improve the four-year master's degree attainment rate –

now at 50 percent – for Hispanic and low-income studentsby 15% over the grant period, the project will create a Gradu-

ate Support Center (GSC) that will offer students on-campusand online support services. These will include:• Academic and professional skill-building workshops• A team of Alumni Mentors• Access to streamlined university processes• Incentive stipends and graduate assistantships to support academic successFaculty and staff learning communities will also be created

for professional development and best practice sharing.Lillian Gomez, who has directed multiple Title V grants at

ASU, will serve as project director, with Dr. Melissa Freemanas activity director and director of the GSC.

cooperation with nm schoolsTitle V for Hispanic Serving Institutions awarded

$3,196,636 over five years for a cooperative projectled by University of New Mexico-Taos,"UNIDOS: Building Pathways to Access and Op-portunity for the Upper Rio Grande Region." NewMexico Highlands University is the third partnerin the project; all three are HSIs.The Title V Project will build upon the

strengths of all three HSI's to address barriers ofgeography, distance, and under-funded K-16 edu-cational systems – all of which prevent the region'scommunities and residents from accessing qualitypostsecondary opportunities.The goals are to:

• Increase enrollment and success of Hispanicsand other students at all three institutions

• Increase the number of distance educationcourses (online and ITV) available to studentsacross northern New Mexico• Improve faculty capacity to develop distanceeducation courses and teach effectively in dis-tance modesAdams State will receive $841,470, divided

fairly equally over the grant period. The grantwill fund a full-time designer/trainer in distancepedagogy, a new lecture capture system andother distance technology upgrades, professionaldevelopment for faculty in distance pedagogy,online degree development, and other collabo-rative efforts. Inter-library loan and other digitallibrary services will also be improved.

Coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month, Adams State University was re-cently awarded two grants totaling more than $3.6 million to improve edu-cational access for Hispanic and low-income students.

$3.6 million in new Title V grantssupport education access


14th annualasu cares day • September 20, 2014

• 250 students volunteeredfor 27 SLV non-profit or-ganizations in Alamosa,Monte Vista, Creede,South Fork, Crestone,Mosca, Del Norte, La Jara

• Coordinated by StudentAffairs

ASU students team up to help SLV Habitat for Human-ity.

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�aStater update

rural school districts to benefit

Two grants help ASU improve STEM education

adams state’s scienceand mathematics programs havebeen reaching out to school kidssince long before the current nationalfocus on STEM education developed.

The 23rd annual Chemistry MagicShow, held Oct. 24, took its cue fromthe Halloween season with "TheSweet Side of Chemistry: Candy."

Chemistry students and faculty illustrated the entertaining side ofscience through fast-paced demon-strations involving changing colors,very high and very low temperatures,bright lights, and loud noises.

After the show, elementary schoolchildren participated in safe and funhands-on activities in campus labs.

Two new grant projects will help Adams State strengthen both the quality andquantity of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) teachers in several ruralColorado school districts.

developing more stem teachersThe first grant, of $2.9 million, was awarded to the Public

Education & Business Coalition (PEBC) to enable Adams StateUniversity’s Boettcher Teacher Residency (BTR) program toserve more Colorado school districts and add a focus on STEM.The five-year grant was awarded by the U.S. Department ofEducation’s Teacher Quality Partnership Grant program. It’s estimated the grant will recruit, train, and support a

total of 195 new teachers for 15 rural Colorado school dis-tricts: Alamosa, North Conejos, Center, Monte Vista, Moffat,Sierra Grande, Centennial, Del Norte, Sangre de Cristo,Montezuma-Cortez, Dolores RE-2, Rocky Ford, East Otero,Crowley, and Huerfano.BTR aims to serve high-needs schools and districts – both

rural and urban – by recruiting, preparing, supporting, andretaining high-quality teachers. The two-year program com-bines master’s level coursework with hands-on learning in aclassroom and support from a mentor teacher. Upon comple-tion of the residency, teachers receive alternative teaching li-censure and a master’s degree in education from Adams State.Participants make a service commitment to rural Coloradoschools.ASU’s Teacher Education Department is the sole educa-

tional partner in awarding M.A. degrees for the programthroughout the state. PEBC and the Boettcher Foundationfirst partnered with Adams State in 2013. Two current co-horts of graduate students enrolled in the BTR will earn anendorsement in culturally and linguistically diverse educa-tion.

new tools for current teachersPEBC will also collaborate in Adams State’s grant to “Em-

power Rural Elementary Teachers in STEM Subjects.” TheASU Teacher Education Department received one of threegrants awarded by the Colorado Department of Higher Edu-cation through the federal Elementary and Secondary Educa-tion Act (ESEA), Improving Teacher Quality, Title II. The $210,449 award will provide intensive, research-based

professional development in math and science instruction for173 current K-5 teachers in ten districts: Alamosa, Centen-nial, Center, Moffat, Monte Vista, Mountain Valley, NorthConejos, Sierra Grande, South Conejos, and Huerfano.Twenty-one pre-service teachers and their mentors from theBTR program will also participate.ASU’s math, science, and teacher education faculty will

work with the schools and PEBC to design and pilot modulesthat elevate elementary teachers’ content knowledge of mathand science across disciplines. PEBC will present three math and science institutes and

provide job-embedded instructional coaching to build teachereffectiveness in alignment with standards and best practice in-struction. Teachers participating in the institutes will becomeresources for teachers throughout the districts served.This program responds to research showing the impact of

teachers’ attitudes and comfort in STEM subjects. Because el-ementary teachers are less likely to have STEM backgroundsthan secondary teachers, they may lack knowledge and confi-dence, with the result that nearly 50 percent of students loseinterest in science by the third grade.

All that, plus two faculty sabbaticalprojects are behind the scenes of a dy-namic new touch table in Adams State’sEdward M. Ryan Geology Museum. “You can think of it as a giant IPad,”

said Dr. Rob Benson, professor of geol-ogy and earth sciences. The Ideumtouch table, valued at $20,000, was oneinitiative funded through Adams State’s2011 Title V grant for Hispanic ServingInstitutions, intended to help moreHispanic and low-income students earndegrees in STEM fields: science, tech-nology, engineering, and mathematics.Benson devoted his spring 2014 sab-

batical to building the touch table’sdatabase and interfacing it with suchsoftware as The Layered Earth, GoogleEarth, and Microsoft Planet. The sys-tem also utilizes ArcGIS 10.2, Gesture-works Suite, MS Office apps, andinternet browsers.

It all combines for an inquiry-basedinformation system that can provide de-tailed information about every one ofthe museum’s 3,000 groups of speci-mens. With a touch, a user can matchan actual fossil in the collection to geo-logical maps and call up additional de-tail about the specimen. “Google Earth Pro can import

spreadsheets with position data. I nowhave points on the touch table thatshow locations of the Ryan Museumspecimens for the U.S. Furthermore, Ican show geology at many different lev-els of detail, draped on the topographywith the sample locations,” Bensonadded.

Yes, it was a lot of work, but Bensonsaid, “This is just the tip of what I cando. I could spend the rest of my careerenhancing this.” Under his direction,Adams State students will develop proj-ects that expand the system’s capabili-ties. The system intrigues everyonefrom elementary school kids to geologymajors and professors.

a globe at your fingertipsThe cricket? It’s one sound that

punctuates Aurora Nova, an ambient in-strumental piece composed by Dr.Matthew Schildt, professor of music,specifically to accompany the touchtable. It was one of several pieces he cre-ated during his spring sabbatical.


Dr. Rob Benson (left) and Dr. Matt Schildt demonstrate the Ryan Geology Museum’snew touch table with senior geology major Lia Schiola, who is a docent for the mu-seum.

One-thousand photos . . .Several thousand lines of data . . . At least six different software packages . . . And a cricket.

the

Soundsof

Science

The five-minute composition cameto life over a two-week period in theMusic Building’s Richmond RecordingStudio. Schildt produced the musicelectronically, using a keyboard and spe-cialized software. “I listened to quite afew cricket recordings to find the per-fect one,” he joked, adding the studiofeatures an extensive sound library.Schildt had already considered creat-

ing music for the Zacheis Planetariumwhen he learned about Benson’s touchtable project. “We met for a few hoursand talked about possibilities. I wantedto get across the sense of being in thisplace [Ryan Museum]. The music hadto convey a feeling, but not be distract-ing.”The resulting piece is at times sooth-

ing and stimulating, spacy and earthy.One listener likened it to “water fallingover rocks.” “The sabbatical was intensive,”

Schildt said. “I never had that muchtime to devote to something.” Two years ago, he wrote Ascen-

dance and performed the premierwith students and fellow faculty atAdams State’s University Celebra-

tion. He has also worked with the the-atre department, most recently creatingmusic used in last spring’s production ofThe Outsiders.

another tool for outreach About 8,000 visitors have toured the

Ryan Museum since it was donated toAdams State ten years ago. Valued atmore than $150,000, the collection wascompiled by the late Edward M. Ryan,formerly a geology professor at StephensCollege in Columbia, Missouri. Touch table capabilities greatly mul-

tiply the facility’s educational potential. “Collaboration was key to this pro-

ject’s success,” Benson said.

By Julie Waechter

The Richmond Recording Studio was added to the Music Department when the building was remodeled in 2011, funded by theStudent Capital Construction Fee. It is named for Ed Richmond, emeri-tus professor of music.

“We are incredibly lucky to have this studio. It is a huge tool for musicstudents and composers. This sets us apart from other music pro-grams,” Dr. Matt Schildt said. “Students are in here all the time andhave gone way beyond their class assignments with this facility. Atleast three student CD’s have been recorded here in the last year.”

He noted that the studio looks quite different than it would have tenyears ago, since many of the digital recording tools are all on the com-puter. Plus, the 2010 Title V grant to improve student engagement andsuccess recently supported acquisition of additional studio equip-ment.

The studio includes:• Cubase 7 recording software• Native Instruments KOMPLETE sounds• Universal Audio plug-in effects• Universal audio, Drawmer, and Focusrite preamps• Yamaha 02R digital console• State-of-the-art Neumann, AKG, and Mojave microphones

9aStater features

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Composer Matt Schildt at the controls in theMusic Department’s Richmond Recording Studio.

To watch Dr. Benson working withthe touch table, visit: adams.edu/a/35

40-hr. weeks tuition & fees/yr. min. wage/hr. to earn T&F

1960 $ 165 $1.00 61970 $ 384 $1.60 61980 $ 680 $3.10 5.51990 $1,350 $3.80 92000 $2,186 $5.15 10.62010 $4,454 $7.25 15+2014 $7,449 $8.00 23+*Tuition & fees figures are for Colorado residents, after application of COF stipend, whichbegan in 2005.

three first-yearstudents share a little abouttheir new lives in college:

Young people are subject to many influences their eldersfail to grasp. In an attempt to bridge that gap, for the last 16years, Beloit College in Beloit, Wis., has released the BeloitCollege Mindset List, focusing on current, traditional-aged,college freshman.This year’s list begins with the fact that, as kindergarteners,

this generation was exposed to endlessly repeated images ofplanes blasting into the World Trade Center. In our increasingly electronic, information-overloaded

society, another challenge for today’s “kids” is the relativelyhigher cost of higher education. A degree from Adams Statehas always been one of the most affordable in Colorado. Backin the day, a student could pay an entire year’s tuition andfees by working about six weeks a year, full-time, at minimumwage. Today, that takes more than 23 weeks. (See chart below.)That’s before factoring in living expenses, books, transporta-tion – and technology.One reason costs have escalated is the drastic decrease in

state support of public higher education in the last decade.And while 92 percent of ASU students receive financial aid(grant, scholarship, work-study, loan), aid is more difficult toqualify for. Student loan debt is now considerd a national crisis.


adams state • 1960 - 2014Annual tuition & fees increased: 44.9 timesNet cost for resident increased: 31.2 times

$25 = total student fees 1960Covered health insurance, AS&F, athletics, theater, forensics, musical productions, news-paper, annual, KASF, prom, homecoming dance.

Data provided and analyzed by Dr. Ron Loser ‘65,Emeritus Professor of Mathematics

“I thought it would be much easier thanit is. There is much more to do and lesstime to do it.”

estelle sandovol• Nursing major from Antonito, Colo.; participates in New-man Club and GAB (Grizzly Activities Board)

• Received several scholarships, including the Daniels Fundand ASU’s Valedictorian Scholarship

• 281 Facebook friends, sends 500 text messages a month

“The best part of being in college is having some freedom.”

victoria wert• Interdisciplinary studies major, emphasis in literature, fromBroomfield, Colo.

• Works as Student Ambassador, receives financial aid, andhas taken out a loan

• 540 Facebook friends, sends 200-300 text messages a day

“The best part of college is meeting people and forming relationships.”

darling najar madera• Nursing major from Aurora, Colo.• Holds two campus jobs, receives financial aid and severalscholarships

• 766 Facebook friends, sends 250 text messages a day

Whether it’s the pool hall in quaint River City, or ubiquitous social media ofthe 21st century, older generations always seem to have some complaintabout “kids today.”

Gettingto know Kids today

From left: EstelleSandoval, VictoriaWert, and DarlingNajar Madera

Originally, it was Adams State’s geographic location that determined it would have a high proportion of Hispanic stu-dents. The goal now is to become more truly “Hispanic serving,”rather than simply “Hispanic enrolling.”

Another step on that path was taken duringthis fall’s New Student Convocation. Specialguests Dr. Mario Rivas (below right) and ThomasBrown (left) shared their wisdom with students,faculty, and staff over three days, funded throughTitle V with support from CIELO (Communityfor Inclusive Excellence, Leadership & Opportu-nity) and other campus departments.Both men are nationally recognized authorities

in increasing student achievement and success,particularly that of first-generation and minoritystudents. They speak from experience, havinggrown up and attended school together in Oak-land, Calif. They overcame poverty and other dis-

advantages to become educational leaders. “In creating a campus community, we’ve seen that what works for students on

the margins also works for students at the center of the university,” said Brown.Research shows that quality interaction with faculty seems to be more importantthat any other single college factor in determining minority student persistence.(Levin & Levin, 1991; Brown & Rivas, 2004.)The convocation theme, "You Are Who You Want to Be," conveyed to stu-

dents that success is a shared responsibility. With a good measure of humor, thespeakers talked about such emotional barriers as fear and anxiety. “Public schools are fear factories where students learn to compare and de-

spair,” said Rivas. He completed a higher education against all the odds and soci-etal expectations, and for the first time in his life felt he “had a place stand.”Rivas said faculty and staff can support students as they make the emotional,

cognitive, and behavioral changes that lead to success. Students are more likelyto drop out when they encounter challenges if they feel isolated."It takes a campus community to make students successful," said Brown.

"Trust, compassion, and respect are key to em-powering students." Rivas and Brown identifythree factors that lead to student success: highquality teaching, comprehensive support pro-grams, and advising that develops personal andacademic goals.Title V federal grants for Hispanic Serving In-

stitutions support a number of Adams State pro-grams that build success for all students. Theserange from academic support and faculty devel-opment to technology and celebrations of diversecultures. They all help to increase Adams State’scapacity to better serve low-income, minority,and/or first generation college students.

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Speakers share secretsfor student success

• Meds have always been an option.• When they see wire-rimmed glasses,they think Harry Potter, not JohnLennon.

• Ralph Nader has always been runningfor President of the U.S.

• Hong Kong has always been part ofChina.

• Courts have always been overturningbans on same-sex marriages.

• Joe Camel has never introduced oneof them to smoking.

• Hello Dolly...cloning has always beena fact, not science fiction.

• Women have always been dribbling,and occasionally dunking, in theWNBA.

• There has always been a national data-base of sex offenders.

• Yet another blessing of digital tech-nology: They have never had to hidetheir dirty magazines under the bed.

• Bill Gates has always been the richestman in the U.S.

• Attending schools outside theirneighborhoods, they gather withfriends on Skype, not in their localpark.

• One route to pregnancy has alwaysbeen through frozen eggs.

• They have probably never usedNetscape as their web browser.

• The rate of diagnosed diabetes hasalways been shooting up during theirlifetime.

• Affirmative Action has always beenoutlawed in California.

• “Good feedback” means getting 30likes on your last Facebook post in asingle afternoon.

more fun facts from“the mindset list”Excerpts -www.beloit.edu/mindset/2018/

To watch Rivas and Brown’s presentations,visit: adams.edu/a/28 and adams.edu/a/29.

Moore stepped off the stage in ASU’s Carson Auditoriumto better connect with the near-standing-room-only audi-ence. “The point is not to compare or castigate,” he said,“but to understand how thin that line is between our life andsomeone else’s life.” The book, chosen for the university’s Common Reading

Experience this year, contrasts the lives of two poor, fatherlessboys with the same name who lived in similar Baltimoreneighborhoods and had difficult childhoods. The author WesMoore grew up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran,White House Fellow, and business leader. The “other” WesMoore ended up a convicted murderer serving a life sentencewith no chance for parole. The Other Wes Moore tells the storyof a generation of boys trying to find their way in a hostileworld, according to Amazon.com.“Wes Moores exist everywhere, straddling the line of great-

ness, and they don’t even know it. Everything can hinge on asingle decision,” the author said. He was also on course to a life of crime, having been

kicked out of his first school at age 8 and put in handcuffs forthe first time at age 11. Another arrest at age 13 spurred hismother, with support from their extended family, to changethat trajectory by enrolling him in military school. He initially responded negatively to the new environment,

but eventually came to realize that, in both the school’s plebesystem and in life, “It is literally impossible to make it onyour own.”

one name, two fatesThe author first became aware of the “other” Wes Moore

when their hometown paper, the Baltimore Sun ran two arti-cles around the same time. One was about his receipt of aRhodes Scholarship. He was struck by a second story aboutthe murder of an off-duty police officer during a jewelry store

robbery. One person wanted for that crime was also namedWes Moore.After a time, still intrigued by this irony, the author wrote

to the “other” Wes in prison. “The letter I received back wasthe most interesting and articulate letter I ever read in mylife,” he said. Thus began a long relationship that resulted inthe book. “It was amazing how much we had in common be-sides our names,” he added. “I did not reach out to him inorder to write this book. But I couldn’t let go of the idea thatif we are not willing to understand a life like his, more ofthem will happen.“I asked Wes once if he thought we were products of our

environment. He said we are products of our expectations.But expectations aren’t born from nowhere. They come fromothers, and we internalize them. We both lived up to expecta-tions, and that’s the real shame.”“Potential is universal, but opportunity is not. Opportu-

nity makes the difference between our potential and wherewe end up.” The author related a story he heard from a teacher who

used his book in her class. When she realized one of her stu-dents was the “other” Wes Moore’s son, she offered to substi-tute another book. But the boy said, “No, my dad wants

Moore explores the fine linebetween greatness andtragedy


“Did the ‘other’ Wes Moore read the book, and what doeshe think about it?” was one question students had forNew York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller authorWes Moore, who discussed his book, The Other WesMoore: One Name, Two Fates, on campus October 24.

people to knowhis story.”“Wes knows

that this bookwon’t change hisreality, but hishope is that it willalter the reality of others,” the author said. “I am a better per-son because of Wes. I’m more thoughtful and grateful. I lookat every single day of my life differently. I want to help un-derstand how tragedies like this happen.”Moore’s book includes an extensive listing of organizations

that work with disadvantaged youth to instill greater expecta-tions. A portion of his book proceeds benefit City Year, whichpartners with high-need public schools, and the U.S. DreamAcademy, which helps children whose parents are incarcer-ated to build character, skills, and dreams.

students can relateNielsen Library Director Carol Smith, who heads the

Common Reading Experience committee, explained the pro-gram chooses one book each year for the whole campus andcommunity to read together and discuss. “That’s what the in-tellectual experience is all about. We take a multidisciplinaryapproach and consider different themes in different classesfrom different perspectives throughout the year.”Cathy Heaton ‘12, instructor of developmental reading

and writing, said her stu-dents became very involvedin the book and completed avariety of related projects.A few days prior to the au-

thor’s presentation, studentsgathered to discuss it in theNielsen Library. The discus-sion touched on severalthemes, including personalresponsibility, the influenceof one’s environment, thevalue of education, and des-tiny.Many students could re-

late to the story of the two

Weses. A fresh-man from SanDiego, RacquelMobley said, “Iknow a lot of peo-ple with the samestories. I grew up

in kind of the ‘suburbs’ of the ghetto. But I rose above it, be-cause of the support of my family and friends. I have anotherfriend who’s in jail. It’s all about the kind of choices we make.”Sophomore business administration major Valita Daniels

also saw her experience reflected in the book. “That was me –self-destructive, rebellious. Here I am, at 48, in college, doingwhat I should have done then. The book was also inspiringfor me as a single mom. You don’t always know if you’re mak-ing the right choices.”Freshman Preston J. Williams shared his impression of the

“other” Wes Moore: “He gave up way too soon. He couldhave been stronger. He went for the drugs, the fast cash. Ifhe’d had long-term goals, he would have been more willing tostay with the change. He made a bad choice.”A slam poetry contest and special lectures to complement

the Common Reading Experience will be scheduled throughthe academic year.

By Julie Waechter

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I grew up in kind of the ‘suburbs’ ofthe ghetto. But I rose above it, because of the support of my familyand friends. I have another friendwho’s in jail. It’s all about the kind ofchoices we make.”

“

Wes Moore greets a line ofstudents seeking photos andautographs following histalk.

Autumn@Adamsgreat expression

Gran Expresiónit took a few weeks for the orange color to fade from the pavement in frontof Leon Memorial Hall, but 200 runners of all ages thoroughly enjoyed the Autumn Colors 5K (on front cover).Throughout the course, runners were doused with dyed corn starch. The Alamosa Fire Department was on handwith their water hose for anyone who wanted to rinse off.In keeping with this year’s theme, Great Expression/Gran Expresión, special events explored the creative process

of many arts. During the week’s opening event, Aubrey Lucero, director of Mountain Valley Dance, with assis-tance from her advanced students, demonstrated how choreography is developed. That was followed by a percus-sion performance by Assistant Professor of Music James Doyle, who described his approach to solo work,improvisation, and artistic collaboration with other performers.The now-traditional Last Lecture, given this year by President David Svaldi, prompted two standing ovations

(see story page 16).

fear is both motivator and obstacle for alumna artist Kay Malouff ’80(left) and Dr. Carol Guerrero-Murphy (below), poet and professor of Eng-lish. They teamed up for a lecture, with readings and art, that gave aglimpse into their creative processes.

“We artists are an insecure lot,” Malouffjoked. “It still scares me. You’re puttingyourself out there – actors, writers, musi-cians . . . it’s what keeps us going for bet-ter. It’s creative growth through ordeal.”

She has been creating stained glass artpieces in her Celadon Studios for threedecades. Work she produced as an Artist inResidence is displayed at Mesa Verde,Great Basin, and the Great Sand Dunes na-tional parks. (See www.celadonglass.com.)

“Adams State was good to me,” she said,citing the inspiration of former art professorEd Clemmer.

Guerrero-Murphy said fear, freedom, andobservation contribute to a circular andchanging creative process. “I have plenty ofthings I face as I create,” she said. “It en-tails entering and getting past the fear.

Poetry results from pressure that can bring healing and resolution.”

As a teacher who encourages others’ creativity, she tries to provide a sense of safetyamidst the risk-taking.

Guerrero-Murphy read from her new manuscript, After Lives and Birth, Death, andOther Pastures, as well as from her book Table Walking at Nighthawk (Ghost RoadPress 2007), which was awarded a WILLA for poetry by Women Writing the West.


Held this year for the seventh time, the Autumn@AdamsCook-Off has become an event well-loved by both campusand community members.It attracted 200 participants who tasted and weighed in on salsas and

red and green chili prepared by 20 contestants.Fifteen student clubs also presented fund-raising booths with other

food options and fun activities. Kids enjoyed whacking the piñata and awatermelon seed spitting contest.

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Fieryfun forall

TOP: Esther Lopez (center) has won thered chili competition for the past fiveyears. Adams State’s Model U.N. clubwon in the green chili category, whileMaria Valdez, of ASU’s Business Office,topped the salsa competition for thefifth straight year.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Jonathan Millar (at left)consumed 13 very large jalepeños to be-come this year’s champion in the mostgrueling event of the Cook-Off.

This year’s Autumn@Adams LastLecture was especially meaningful forASU President David Svaldi, who willretire next summer.

His career at Adam State began in1986, when he joined the English De-partment faculty as associate professorof communications, specializing inspeech and coaching the debate team. “I miss those kids, but all my students

were special, and I still love gettingemails from them,” he said. “I have re-ally enjoyed developing relationshipswith students. A university is not aboutthe president, it’s about the students.”Svaldi transitioned to college admin-

istration (affectionately known as “thedark side”) in 1998, when he wasnamed Vice President for Academic Af-fairs. He was appointed president in2006, after a year of fulfilling those du-ties on an “acting” basis. Noting hehadn’t aspired to the presidency, he said“I would not be standing here todaywithout my wife, Virginia.”

Taking a cue from Greek philosopherHeraclitus, whose fifth century B.C.observation that “The only thing that isconstant is change,” Svaldi talked about

the impacts of today’s rapidlychanging society. He thenexpounded on characteristicsthat help us weather andthrive in the face of change.

C: courage“Courage is action taken

in the face of fear—it is not,

as some think, the absence offear. The late Maya Angelouwrote, ‘One isn’t necessarilyborn with courage, but oneis born with potential. With-out courage we cannot prac-tice any other virtue withconsistency. We can’t bekind, true, merciful, gener-ous or honest.’”

H: helping and humor“At the core of a leader is a helper

with a heart.”

A: anxiety “Change leaders recognize that

change causes uncertainty. The A inChange also stands for Acknowledgewhat you don’t know. I am convincedthat one reaches maturity when one un-derstands that ambiguity has to be tol-erated. Not everything is one thing orthe other. “When I was younger, in the ‘60s, I

used to wear a t-shirt that said ‘questionauthority! (thanks to Timothy Leary.)’Now that I am in my 60’s and some-what of an authority, I am fond of say-ing ‘tolerate ambiguity.’”

N: nurture “A change leader nurtures the growth

of change by providing patient, friendlysupport and caring for others engagedin change.”

G: great! “I’m not talking about Frosted Flakes

here — although the greatest man Ihave known was my father, Tony.”As a five-year-old immigrant who

only spoke Italian, Svaldi’s father was

orphaned and informally adopted bythe judge his mother had worked for.He was mistreated and not permitted touse his Italian surname. His first jobwas wrangling mules in a hard rockmine near Ouray, Colo. He eventuallyran away, finished high school in Cali-fornia, then worked as a prize fighter,miner, and ultimately, on the railroad. “My dad lived what Maya Angelou

has said: ‘You may not control all theevents that happen to you, but you candecide not to be reduced by them.’”

E: enthusiasm“Should you ever lose your passion

for your chosen field, please do some-thing to reignite it, or find somethingthat renews your interest. “Let me also say that the things I

have said are not things I have alwaysbeen able to practice; as a human, I amimperfect. Change leaders who over-come obstacles and are not reduced bythem are GREAT. “George Elliot reminded us, “It is

never too late to be what you mighthave been.’ And that is my goal for re-tirement.”

By Julie Waechter

Now that I am in my 60’s and some-what of an authority, I am fond of saying ‘tolerate ambiguity.’


“last lecture”

Svaldi advises on surviving change

When I was younger, in the‘60s, I used to wear a t-shirt that said ‘questionauthority!’

“

”

To watch the President Svaldi’s Last Lecture, visit: adams.edu/a/34

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Educators’ legacy aids future teachers

Wills told Adams Stategraduates that pigs are pre-dictable; they always act thesame. “People, on the otherhand, have their own inten-tions, perceptions, ideas,ways of learning, and ways ofbeing.” Thus, as a lifelongeducator, he followed hisown advice: “Treat each stu-dent as an individual, andgive them the time needed tolearn.”Wills passed away in

2005; in 2010 his widow,Ruth (Osborne) ’46, fundeda scholarship endowment inhis memory to give tangibleassistance to future teachers. When Ruth died in 2013, thescholarship was renamed the Dr. Stanley E. & Ruth WillsScholarship Endowment. True to their parents’ wishes, theWills’ children invested more in the endowment and arecommitted to its growth. The scholarship is for full-time un-dergraduate or graduate students in teacher education with aminimum GPA of 3.0; preference is given according to finan-

cial need. It has been awarded annuallysince 2012.The couple met as students at Adams

State, were married in 1947, and even-tually had five children. Their parentshad homesteaded in the San Luis Valley,making Adams State even more specialto the familyRuth earned a B.A. in education,

then a master’s in counseling fromWayne State College, Neb. She servedas a high school teacher, librarian, andcounselor. With a B.A. in history, Stan-ley completed his master’s at ColoradoCollege, followed by an Ed.D fromGreeley State College (now Universityof Northern Colorado.)Stanley served as a First Sergeant in

the Philippines during World War II,and later was superintendent of schoolsin Mosca, Colo. Beginning in 1963, he held the posts of pro-fessor, registrar, and provost at Wayne State College. In 1975,he helped open the University of Houston-Victoria campusand was an education professor there until his retirement in2000.

Karen Kelton often heard Ira Richardson’s words of wisdom as she was growing up. Her dad,Dr. Stanley E. Wills ’48, would frequently quote Adams State’s first president, she said. Infact, he titled his 1998 summer commencement address after one such quote: “Pigs ArePigs, But Folks Are Funny.”

Dr. Stanley E. Wills ‘48 Ruth Osborne Wills ‘46 as ayoung woman in the BlackCanyon of the Gunnison.

Nursing scholarships provided by theEl Pomar Foundation benefit AdamsState University nursing students andnurse educators, with the objective ofimproving health care services in theSan Luis Valley. Awarded through El Pomar’s SLV

Regional Council, a total of $111,000 ayear is administered through the ASUFoundation. The scholarships are avail-able to SLV residents who intend topractice long-term in the valley, accord-ing to Tammy Lopez ’91, ’00, executivedirector of the Foundation. Financialneed is also a consideration.The fund dedicates $45,000 annu-

ally to undergraduate students inAdams State’s Bachelor of Science inNursing (BSN) program, while

$66,000 is targeted to those pursuingadvanced degrees at any university asnurse practitioner, nurse educator, orphysician assistant. Recipients mustcommit to five years of service in theSan Luis Valley upon their degree com-pletion. For this academic year, 9 stu-dents and 4 nursing faculty membersreceived scholarships.Former Adams State President Tom

Gilmore ‘67, ‘68, an 11-year member ofthe regional council, said the groupidentified improved health care as onearea that could have a broad impact onthe region. El Pomar’s undergraduatescholarships were established after dis-cussions with SLV Health revealed aneed for more bachelor’s level nurses.The graduate awards were added in

order to somewhat offset a physicianshortage with nurse practitioners andphysician assistants, Gilmore explained.“We have had outstanding results,

most of the students we funded com-pleted their degrees and stayed in theregion to practice,” he said.Dr. Shawn Elliott, director of Adams

State’s Department of Nursing, said,“We greatly appreciate the financialsupport El Pomar gives our nursing stu-dents through these scholarships. Suchsupport helps us to train qualifiedproviders for rural health care.”Based in Colorado Springs, the El

Pomar Foundation funds grants andprograms that enhance, encourage, andpromote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado.

El Pomar scholarships advance rural health care


The couple was unable to attend theOct. 29 Donor & Student RecognitionDinner due to health issues, so theirdaughter, Rebecca Hill, accepted theaward on their behalf. "I am in awe ofhow generous my parents are," Hillsaid. “I have a high regard for Adams

State. I have been blessed all my life,and I want to give back and provideothers in this life with a chance,” Floydsaid. He expresses pride in his roots byfinancially supporting such local non-profits as SLV Habitat for Humanityand the SLV History Museum, in addi-tion to Adams State. "I wish I could livethere now," Floyd said of the San LuisValley. "Named for a long-time president of

the Foundation Board of Directors, the

Willis Fassett Jr. Award honors strongfinancial supporters of the university.The award includes the Buffalo Chantbronze, created specifically for theFoun dation by the late William Moyers'39.“I was surprised to learn we had been

awarded the Willis Fassett Jr. Award. Iam still in awe,” Floyd said.

inner strength, dependabilityHill remembers visiting Alamosa for

the first time and coming to understandthe challenges her father had faced fi-nancially; his mother was a single par-ent. "I didn't know how difficult it wasfor my dad."A research statistician, she has seen

data on disadvantaged children and re-spects how her father beat the odds.

"He succeeded because of hisinner strength and tenacity,and courage." Her mom un-derstands how much the val-ley means to him. "They makedonation decisions together."Floyd always planned to

become a chemist and earnedhis degree from Adams State.He particularly appreciatedprofessors Tom Thompson,chemistry; Dean Lyman,English; and Dr. James Craft,emeritus professor of biology. "The work the professors

gave me made me a betterperson. They were knowl-edgeable about their subjects,and I learned a lot fromthem, both personally andacademically. I would stackmy education at Adams Stateagainst any university."

While stationed in Germany withthe U.S. Army following college, Floydaccepted an invitation to correspondwith a fellow soldier's cousin. AlthoughFloyd described himself as "shy," hestarted writing Cordelia. When he wasreleased from duty, they met in person,and were married six months later.Floyd then attended law school atKansas State University.

love of professionFloyd had a 43-year career with the

US Patent & Trademark departmentand received the US Department ofCommerce Bronze Medal for SuperiorFederal Service in 1978 and the SilverMedal for Meritorious Federal Servicein 1987.A patent examiner in organic chem-

istry, he specialized in azo dyes for fab-rics, clothing, and carpeting. "I lovedthat job. It suited my talents." Hill re-members questioning her father abouthis work as a child. "He approved thecolor orange for the original Volkswa-gen Beetle."In 1984, Floyd was the first, and

only, patent examiner invited by theSwiss and German Patent Lawyer Asso-ciation to Europe to tour manufactur-ing facilities. "I had a reputation as anextremely strict man to get a patentfrom." His two-week visit includedtours of plants in Switzerland, Ger-many, and France.The Higels live in Frankford,

Delaware, and have three children, sixgrandchildren, and four great grand-children. Grandson, Michael Hill '01,'13 and his wife, Mena '02, Hill, arealso Adams State alumni.

By Linda Relyea ’96, ‘01

A decade of generous support of Adams State University has earned Floyd (Dale) '55 and Cordelia (Sue) Higelthe Adam State University Foundation’s Willis Fassett Jr. Award. Their contributions have benefited the KayWatkins Scholarship, the Chemistry Gift Fund, and the Alumni Scholarship Endowment. Their unrestrictedgifts benefit the institution in a variety of ways.

Floyd and Cordelia Higel (center) with their children, Darrell, Rebecca Hill(standing), and Deirdre Steinsberger

2014 willis fassett jr. award

Higels recognized for support of ASU

As a trustee for Adams State Univer-sity, Charles H. Scoggin, M.D., demon-strated a deep commitment toeducation that echoes the foundingspirit of Billy Adams. In recognition of this service, Adams

State awarded him its 2014 Billy AdamsAward at the Adams State UniversityFoundation’s annual Donor & StudentRecognition Dinner, October 29. Priorto the dinner, Scoggin said he and hiswife, Karen, visited Billy Adams’ grave inAlamosa. “It seemed like the right thingto do.”

“It is a real honor to receive the BillyAdams Award and to serve the university.This award means so much to me,”Scoggin said.He noted that Adams not only

worked to found Alamosa State NormalSchool, but also Colorado State Univer-sity, University of Northern Colorado,and Western State Colorado University.“There are 50,000 students benefittingfrom Billy Adams’ legacy.”Scoggin made the official motion, in

2011, to pursue university status, saying: "Given that Adams State is acommunity of teachers and scholarsproviding excellent quality of instruc-tion and research in a variety of disci-plines and granting certificates anddegrees to students throughout Col-orado, the United States, and the world,it is appropriate that Adams State's namereflect the depth and breadth of ourgraduate and undergraduate missions."Adams State President David Svaldi

credits much of his personal success toScoggin’s support and encouragement.

"Charles was an anchor for methroughout his time as a trustee. As oneof the last original trustees, appointedin 2003, he was instrumental in pro-moting a thoughtful, yet engaged deci-sion-making environment for theboard,” Svaldi said. “Charles has alsogone the extra mile, promoting AdamsState University in the media and in hispersonal interactions with his peers. Ifnot for Charles, we would not have thepositive relationship we currently havewith President Tony Frank of ColoradoState University in Fort Collins. Charles

always embraced and pro-moted ASU's mission and re-mains one of our mostimportant supporters."

Scoggin has a lot in com-mon with Billy Adams. Both

were stalwart advocates for rural educa-tion. “Charles’s words are measured,but everyone does listen when hespeaks. There has been no limit to hissupport of Adams State,” Svaldi said.And like the university’s founder, a

San Luis Valley rancher, Scoggin canoften be found on horseback. As presi-dent of Roundup Riders of the Rockies,last July Scoggin led 145 horses and 7mules through the La Garita Mountainsand down the streets of Creede, Colo. Scoggin was one of the original

trustees appointed to Adams State’s in-dependent board in 2003, followingdissolution of the State Colleges in Col-orado. He served as a trustee for thenext decade, a period of unprecedentedgrowth for Adams State, highlighted byattainment of university status in 2012.Also during this time, Adams Stateachieved record enrollments, initiatedits first doctoral program, and imple-mented $65 million in campus im-provements.

In addition, as a member of theWestern Stock Show Association, Scog-gin was instrumental in establishing theNational Western Scholarship at AdamsState, a renewable award of $2,500available to agri-business students.

Scoggin founded and headed a num-ber of biomedical enterprises, includingN30 Pharma, Sagemed, Somatogen,Medrock, and Rodeer Systems. He wasformerly a professor of medicine at theUniversity of Colorado and held a num-ber of leadership positions there. Hewas also senior scientist and vice-presi-dent of the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. Scoggin received his medical degree

from the University of Colorado, train-ing in internal medicine at Duke Uni-versity, in pulmonary medicine andcritical care in the Division of Pul-monary Sciences at the University ofColorado, and in molecular and cellularbiology at the University of Coloradoand Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. He isBoard Certified in Internal Medicineand Pulmonary Medicine. Scoggin alsoextends his service as a Trustee of theDenver Zoological Foundation, presi-dent of Roundup Riders of the Rockies,and an emeritus board member of Cen-ter for the American West.

By Julie Waechter

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Billy Adams Award honors former Trustee Scoggin

Like the university’s founder, a San Luis Valley rancher, Scoggin can often be foundon horseback. Thus, it is especially fitting that the Billy Adams Award includes aprint of The Critics (left), by Cowboy Artist of America, the late Willliam Moyers ‘39.

President David Svaldi (above, far right) expresses his appreciation for Scoggin’sleadership during his decade as an ASU trustee.

San Luis Valley Federal Bankhas been recognized as the2014-15 Grizzly Club CorporateSponsor of the Year. Opened in 1899, SLV Federal Bank

and ASU athletics have established along-lasting relationship.“Adams State has an amazing athletic

history and continues to produce cham-pionship teams and quality student-athletes, in the face of very challengingcompetition,” said SLV Federal BankPresident & CEO Duane Bussey ‘82.“We appreciate how hard the coachesand athletes work and the fine mannerin which they represent our communityand university.” Bussey also serves hisalma mater as president of the AdamsState University Foundation.The relationship between two of

Alamosa’s oldest institutions was begunby former SLV Federal Bank PresidentBob Foote and his wife, Joyce ‘61. Asavid Adams State athletic supporters,the Footes helped to maintain a strongconnection with ASU. Their effortswere later recognized during the athletic department’s GrizzlyCourtyard project. SLV Federal Bank contributed the largest

single gift for that project, a

$17,000 donation in memory of Bob and Joyce ‘61 Foote. The bank also played an instrumental role in reestablishing

the Athletic Department’s Hall of Fame and initiating theBanker’s Classic Basketball tournament.As an Adams State Hall of Famer in basketball, Bussey car-

ries several fond athletic memories — both as a spectator andas an athlete. His highlights include watching football’s 1988semifinal game in Alamosa against heavily favored PittsburghState, men’s cross country’s perfect score en route to claimingthe 1992 NCAA Division II National Championship, andwatching All-American wrestler Herb Stanley during the1970s.During his playing career, Bussey recalls Adams State’s

game against the University of Colorado during the 1979-80season. It was a game in which Adams State led at halftimebut ultimately fell short by only ten points. Years later the Bussey family tradition with ASU continued

when his daughter, Emily ‘07, played volleyball for the Griz-zlies. She currently ranks sixth in program history with 851kills and seventh in sets played at 366. “The bank is very proud of its long partnership with ASU

and its athletic programs and looks to continue its supportlong into the future," Bussey added.

By Mike Skinner

Izora Southway ‘66 washonored for decades ofservice to the ASU Founda-tion at the recent Donor &Student Recognition Din-ner.

She first became involvedon a community advisorycommittee during Dr. Mar-vel’s presidency. Under Dr.Fulkerson’s presidency, sheofficially became a boardmember, ultimately servingas Foundation Board presi-dent for four years.


Athletic Director Larry Mortensen ‘88, ‘93 (center) presents the Grizzly Club’s 2014Corporate Sponsor of the Year Award to San Luis Valley Federal Bank, which was rep-resented by alumni Kelly Veneman ‘83, the bank’s senior vice president (left), andDuane Bussey ‘82, bank president.

Grizzly Club recognizes ongoingsupport of SLV Federal Bank

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Owsleys honored for decades of support

In association with his Grizzly Clubinvolvement, Chuck serves on the ASUFoundation Board of Directors. Both Alamosa natives, the Owsleys

have witnessed first-hand the evolutionof ASU athletics. Chuck, a former golferfor Adams State, fondly remembersDarrel Mudra’s tenure as the footballhead coach. Chuck’s involvement withAdams State over the years has sparkednotable conversations with Kentuckybasketball legend Adolf Rupp and for-mer Denver Bronco head coaches JohnRalston and Red Miller. “The sport programs bring so many

great students to Alamosa who leavewith a great education,” Chuck said.“We enjoy all the moments at AdamsState. Track & Field and CrossCountry championships are certainlyhighlights. Winning the Sears Direc-tors’ Cup Trophy in 1999 was also a bigmoment to be a part of.”The Owsley family roots are deep in

Adams State tradition. It all startedwhen Chuck’s father graduated in 1936.Chuck and Becky’s children – Jeff ‘86,Dave ‘89, and Kathy ‘89 – are alsoAdams State alumni, and two of theirgrandchildren are current students.

“If and when our twograndchildren graduate, ourfamily will have four genera-tions with Adams Statediplomas; which I think israre,” Chuck stated. Now retired, Chuck and

Becky owned and operatedthe Curtis Brothers furniturestore, which they purchasedfrom Becky’s dad in 1984after several years of workingthere.“I started helping at

Christmas time for Becky’sdad as a college kid. I wentout on a delivery and it seemslike it took 42 more years tocomplete that delivery,”Chuck said lightheartedly.“There are so many great

Grizzly Club members, andwe are honored to be se-lected for this award,” Beckysaid. “We look forward to at-tending so many Adams State eventsthis year and supporting all of the stu-dents.”In retired life, Chuck enjoys casual

yard work along with configuring model

airplanes from the World War II era.Meanwhile, Becky enjoys spending timewith her grandchildren, three of whomlive in Alamosa.

By Mike Skinner

darin (left) and drake sisneros represented students atthe Foundation’s recent Donor & Student Recognition Dinner. Theythanked donors on behalf of the 246 current Adams State students whobenefit from scholarships managed by the ASU Foundation. Awards forthe fall semester totalled $430,925.

“Thank you for seeing the potential in us and making a higher educationpossible,” said Darin.

The twin brothers are both seniors majoring in cellular and molecular bi-ology, with their sights set on medical school.

“I experienced an adventure and opportunity I didn’t know was possi-ble,” Darin said of a recent biology trip to Costa Rica he participated inthanks to a Porter Scholarship, which both brothers received.

Drake added, “I would never be where I am today without Adams Statedonors. It was indeed a great investment. We will be part of an intellec-tual community. Without your help, that would not be possible.”

Chuck ‘68 and Becky Owsley were honored as the GrizzlyClub’s Individual Sponsors of the Year.

The 2014-15 Grizzly Club Individual Sponsors of the Yearare Chuck ‘68 and Becky Owsley, who have been involvedwith Adams State athletics since the 1960s.

Floyd Quintana `54, `64 and wife, Leila `84,(Colorado Springs, CO) have been married 55years. Floyd retired in 1988 after 30 years ofteaching in District #20 in Colorado Springs.He acquired his real estate license in 1988and glided into real estate: selling, buying,property management, and long-term invest-ment of rental properties. Leila retired fromteaching in District #11. They have 4 daugh-ters, all college graduates. They also have 8grandchildren. Their grandson, MichaelMann, is a 3rd-year student at Duke Univer-sity, playing football.

Gary `56, `61 and Betty `58, `61Stephens (Alamosa, CO) cele-brated their 62nd anniversarythis summer. The couple metwhile attending Adams State in1948. Betty retired from theAlamosa School District after 33years of counseling in high

school and junior high. Gary taught at the jun-ior high level in Alamosa and finished histeaching career at Adams State as ProfessorEmeritus in 1984. They have 2 children, 4grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.

Jim Gribben `58, `61 (Holyoke, CO) retiredfrom teaching in the Holyoke School Districtin 1996. He lost his wife of 57 years, Wilma(Stevens) Gribben, in the fall of 2013. Sheworked in the Admissions office while theywere at Adams State. Their 2 boys were bornin the Alamosa hospital while they were stu-dents.

Gerald `62 and Dixie `62 Longman (WheatRidge, CO) are retired from 36 years of teach-ing. They have 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Stephen Morley `63 (Grand Junc-tion, CO) and his wife, Muriel, areboth retired from elementaryteaching since 2001. Since then,they have done a little travelingto visit family, a cruise to theMexican Riviera with his brother,Paul `66, and enjoy time togetherat home.

Miriam Kolego-Grafe `66 (GrandJunction, CO) reports that herson, Jerry, and his wife, Katie,have had her first grandchild—Jenna—on March 19, 2013.

Gary `66 and Lyndell `69 McEntyre havelived in ColoradoSprings, Colo., for 40years. Gary earned adegree in veterinarymedicine at ColoradoState University.Their family is allraised, and theyenjoy the grandchil-dren.

John `67, `70 and Barbara `66 Olander (FortCollins, CO) have both retired from teaching.They have 5 grandchildren. John is grateful forCoach Vigil and being on his track team.

Philip Born `68 is asemi-retired archae-ologist/teacher. Hehas a part-time re-tirement job at theMuseum of WesternColorado. Fishing,hunting, and coach-ing the Grand ValleyMarksmen Junior Rifle Club still occupy a lotof his time. His wife, Fran, makes sure they gofishing.

Gerhard `68 and Karen `74 Kuhn (Littleton,CO) celebrated their 40th wedding anniver-sary this year with a trip to Italy and Greece,where they had won-derful, exciting ex-cursions to ruins andbeautiful beaches!They have beenblessed with 3grandchildren, withnumber 4 on theway. Their children,Laura and Matt, reside with their families inSeattle, Wash. and Woody Creek, Colo., re-spectively.

Toney Cantu `70 (Thornton, CO) just retiredafter 35 years at San Luis Valley Federal Bank,where he was SeniorVice President. Heand wife, Eileen,moved to Thorntonto be closer todaughter, son-in-law, and grand-daughters.

Michael Patritch `70, `73 (Fort Collins, CO) re-tired in 2012 from the Wyoming Dept. ofTransportation after 32 years, the last 15 asResearch Manager. He now edits research re-ports for WYDOT and prepares them for publi-cation. He has the perfect temperament forretirement and tries to accomplish at leastone thing each day that he dreamed aboutwhile employed. Sleeping in is high on hislist. Reading or writing 2-5 hours a day is agoal, as well as riding his motorcycle, often toSturgis, and doing research on the web. Heand his wife of 35 years love Colorado, espe-cially Fort Collins. He is a PADI-trained SCUBAdiving instructor. He was very thankful for of-fice hours, where he could stop by for a chatwith his professors—Dr. Motz was a favorite.He credits Dr. John Marvel for lending him hisgolf clubs one day and thereby curing him ofever wanting to playgolf. Michael stillfinds time to releasehis alter-ego as anIrish leprechaun atvarious Celtic eventsin the Colorado/Wyoming area, mostnotably at the Long’sPeak Scottish Irish Highland Festival in EstesPark. This whimsical leprechaun would nothave been brought into existence were it notfor ASU and Mr. Dale Jeffryes of the Speechand Theatre Department. He had more faith inhis students then they had in themselves,and he would work with them one-on-one tomake them better actors. It’s safe to say thatMichael wouldn’t be the person he is todaywere it not for ASU and its caring staff.


alumnotes

�1950s

�1960s

�1970s

Lonnie Porter `65, `66 (Denver, CO) will retire as the men’s basket-ball coach at Regis University at the end of the 2014-15 season. This

will end a 38-year tradition and a tenureunsurpassed in length by any collegemen’s basketball coach in Colorado his-tory. With a career record of 533-482,the five-time conference Coach of theYear has amassed more victories thanany men’s coach in state history. Hiswin total ranks 10th among all activeNCAA Division II men’s coaches and31st all time. Porter was hired at Regisafter five years as an assistant coach forthe Nebraska Cornhuskers. Prior to that,he coached at Adams State Universityand Denver’s Manual High School.

Photo courtesy of Valley Courier

John Queen `70(Cedaredge, CO)taught math for 3years in Mancos,Colo. and 23 years inShiprock, New Mex.He was in the AirCorps when he decided to attend AdamsState and get his master’s.

Robert Hoff `71(Centennial, CO)joined the state pa-trol after college. Hesays he’s met mostof his classmates onthe shoulder of I-25at Castle Rock.

Toni Cook `72 (La Junta, CO) retired from edu-cation after 42 years as an elementary teacherand principal. She has one son, Curt Cook,and 2 beautiful granddaughters. She enjoystraveling, volunteering, playing bridge, anddoing needlework. Her husband, Mel `67,`72, retired from Otero Jr. College in 1996 asAssistant Dean of Students. He passed awayin March after a long battle with cancer.

Dwight Proctor `72 (Denver, CO) retired fromQwest Communications in 2006. He currentlyvolunteers.

Tom Goodwin `73 (Cañon City, CO) retiredfrom the US Forest Service in 2007 to focus onhis personal interests, including his spiritualwalk with God and his family: wife, Connie;

daugh-ters AmyandCindy;andeightgrand-sons. He

also raises horses and hay. Some of his otherinvolvements include volunteering with Col-orado Family Action, Rocky Mountain BlackConservatives, and teaching Sunday School.He is also an active member of the followingboards: Fremont Cattlemen’s Association,Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District,and Southeastern Colorado Water Conserva-tion District.

Milton Place `74 (Medina, OH) writes,“Adams State was a wonderful experience forme. I made a lot of friends on the cross coun-try and track teams. Coach Joe Vigil was andcontinues to be a valuable mentor to me. I re-tired from teaching after 35 years. I am stillcoaching cross country and track (68 seasonsand counting).”

Barbara Johnston `75 (Denver, CO) is aschool nurse in Denver Public Schools. Herdaughter, Abby, is attending PIMA Institute inDenver.

Fred Bunch `77(Alamosa, CO) madea special presenta-tion at the Friends ofthe Fort Garland Mu-seum in August titled

"Zebulon Pike, the Lost Pathfinder," the storyof Zebulon Pike in Colorado during the winterof 1806-07. Bunch has done extensive re-search on this subject and provides a histori-cal perspective of Pike and his trek throughthe Valley. He is Chief of Resources at theGreat Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Patricia Anselmo `83 (Mancos,CO) retired in 2011. Her last posi-tion was Town Clerk/Finance Di-rector for the town of Bayfield for9 years. She received her certi-fied municipal clerk designationin 2001.

Corey Doss ’83 (Saguache, CO) was inter-viewed in Chalkbeat, a non-profit, onlinenews outlet that covers education in Col-orado. As superintendent of Mountain ValleySchool District in Saguache, he talked aboutthe challenges small rural schools face asthey work to implement new state teacherevaluation standards.

Joseph Sheader `85(Grand Junction, CO)is working at hisgrowing business,High Mesa Fitness.His wife, Linda `86,is an ecologist forS.M. Stoller in GrandJunction. They areenjoying their “empty nest.” Their son, Kerry`13, and his wife, Katie, live nearby in Pal-isade. Their daughter, Lorien, is studying cos-tume and set design at Western WashingtonUniversity. Joe and Linda love to hike and playin the canyons and mountainswith their Siberian huskies.

Anita Mayes `86 (Ignacio, CO)writes, “Life has gone a full circlefor me, and I am back in myhometown of Ignacio, where Ihave been teaching math for thepast 6 years. Before this, I taught

23

�aStater alumnotes

�1980s

Karen Belmont `81 (Indianapolis, IN) says that her time at ASU was thebest time of her life, where she made wonderful, lifetime friends. Sheworks for an advertising agency and is active in Stephens Ministry andSpecial Olympics.

Virginia Vigil `81 (Chimayo, NM) hasbeen retired for 4 years from teachingin the Española Public Schools. She isbusy doing things she didn’t have achance to do while working.

Michéle Parchman `82 (Fort Belvoir,VA) works in the Washington, DC,area. She and her husband, David,have 2 sons, Wade and John, and 2granddaughters, Katherine and Eliza-beth.

Three alumni authors spoke about their work Nov. 7at Alumni Literature Night, sponsored by theNielsen Library and Alumni Relations.

Frankie Colton ‘79, (top left) CEO of Alacrity HousePublishing LLC, talked about the challenges of

running a small publishing house in the San Luis Val-ley. Ruth Koenig ‘92 (right) discussed her fictionalbook about the rodeo, Sunflower and Tequila. PhilRay Jack ‘88, (lower left) adjunct ASU English instruc-tor and Valley Courier columnist, talked about hisbooks, The Spirit of the Horse and Other Works, andSoar High.

These longtime friends got together on campus this summer (fromleft): Karen Belmont, Michéle Parchman, and Virginia Vigil.

20 years and raised 2 daughters in Prescottand Prescott Valley, Ariz. Thank you, AdamsState, for preparing me for such a wonderfuland successful career.”

Stephanie Parrish `87 (Alamosa, CO) teachesat Centauri High School in La Jara, Colo. Thisyear she was honored by the Boettcher Foun-dation for the profound impact she has hadon some of the state’s top students. She isone of 40 teachers from across the state hon-ored by the Boettcher Foundation. She will re-ceive a $1,000 grant to be used foreducational programs or projects to benefitstudents at her school.

Rob `87 & Kathy `88 Hipwood (Los Alamos,NM) were named the 2014 National HighSchool Athletic Coaches Association Coachesof the Year in girls cross country. The Hip-woods were honored in a ceremony this sum-mer in Jackson Hole, Wyo. In 20 years ofleading Los Alamos’ girls and boys programs,they have garnered 15 state girls titles. Since2000, Los Alamos has won 11 titles, includingfive consecutive titles, not once, but twice.

Tim Hunter `87(Mancos, CO) is stillan Adams State Col-lege Indian, workinghard and playingharder. He owns asmall residentialconstruction/consulting company.

Shawn `92 & Lori Moore `89 Barringer havebeen teaching in Grants, NM, at Grants HighSchool more than 20 years. They are veryproud oftheirdaugh-ter, Kait-lyn, asopho-more atAdamsState.Kaitlyn works in the Alumni Relations office—Gaylene, Tammy and Lori love having her!

James Gilmore `92 (Lexington, SC) is a re-gional general manager for Walmart. He andwife, Amy `91, have 2 children ages 10 and12.

Ernest `93 and Tanya `95 Cienfuegos-Baca(Windsor, CO) report their son Michael (21) isa junior at Marquette University in Milwaukee,and daughter Cora (13) is an 8th grader atWellington Middle School. Tanya has beenteaching in Poudre School District for 19 years.Ernest is an Internship Coordinator with Boul-der County Workforce.

Cliff `93 and Rebecca `93 Haight (Centennial,CO) work for the city of Aurora, Colo. Theyhave 2 daughters: one a sophomore at UtahState majoring in landscape architecture andthe other a HS junior.

Sarah Menapace-Walker `93 (Farming-ton, NM) retired inMay after 25 years ofteaching. She was anelective/ESL teacherat Heights MiddleSchool in the Farmington School District. Sheand husband, Don, took a trip to Peru, wherethey explored Machu Picchu during the wintersolstice. They took an 84-mile raft trip on theGreen River through Desolation/Grey Canyon.She looks forward to more travel, golf, swim-ming, hiking, scrapbooking, reading, writing,substitute teaching and time for herself!

Sandy Barney `94(Clifton, CO) lost herloving husband,Sherwin, a year ago.Her daughter,Mariah, graduatedfrom high school lastyear and immedi-ately started cosme-tology school. Sandy is enjoying her childrenand grandchildren. They love to camp, fish,and swim at the lake in the summer. She isfinishing 2 books she hopes to publish.

Ginia Gutierrez '94 (Strasburg, CO) attendedthe ASU spring performance of The Outsiders,in which a former student of hers, AlexAdams-Pachl, played Sodapop. She's beenteaching in Strasburg, CO, since graduation.

Laura Boe `95 (Du-rango, CO) receivedher NaturopathicDoctorate in 2002and is opening apractice in Durango.

Carrie Zimmerman`95 (Alamosa, CO) isthe new AlamosaSchool District assis-tant superintendent .For the last 5 years,she served the Cen-ter Consolidated

School District, spending one year as the Cen-ter High School and Middle School assistantprincipal before stepping into the middleschool principal position. She was a teacheron special assignment in ASU’s Teacher Edu-cation department, and continues to teachadjunct classes as needed.

Andy Lavier `97, `02 is the new principal ofAlamosa High School. For the past 17 years,he has taught AHS social studies and workedwith student athletes. Before that, he workedfor 5 years fighting fires for the US Forest Serv-


�1980s

�1990s

SLV Federal Bank President DuaneBussey `82 announced several recentpromotions at the bank, including fel-low alumni:

Kellie Veneman `83 (Alamosa, CO) waspromoted to Senior VicePresident, the bank’s num-ber two officer. She is fulfill-ing duties formerly held byToney Cantu `70, who re-tired June 30. She hasworked for the bank for 30years, serving first as thebank’s bookkeeper, then be-

coming the internal auditor beforebeing promoted to the CFO. She ismarried to Scott and they have 2sons, a daughter-in-law, and 1 grand-child.

Joelle Boos-Medina `99, `11 (Alamosa,CO) was promoted from Loan Officerto Vice President of CommercialLoans. She has been with the bank for14 years.

Crestina Lucero `02 (Alamosa, CO)moved into a Loan Officer position.She has been with the bank for 12years.

Jenel Hopper `02 (Alamosa, CO)moved from the Commercial LoanProcessor position to Loan ServicingManager. She has been with the bankfor 11 years.



ice. Andy has devoted his life to education,he said, because “it is one of the greatestprofessions in the world.”

Lloyd Spotted Wolf `97 (Rio Rancho, NM) washonored by the American Football CoachesAssociation and the Jason Foundation with anational award for his work with Youth Sui-cide prevention at the AFCA National Conven-tion in Indianapolis in front of 6000+ of hishigh school and college football coachingpeers. The "Grant Teaff Breaking the SilenceAward" recognized Coach Spotted Wolf'syouth suicide awareness event, in which over1,700 students took the Jason Foundation'sB1 pledge or downloaded their "A FriendAsks" mobile app. For more information, visitwww.jasonfoundation.com.

Leanna Kaspar `98, `99 (Mooresville, NC) justfinished her 15th year of teaching. Her first 10were spent in Aurora, Colo., and the last 5 inthe Charlotte, NC, area. She now teaches 9-12

high school English in an alternative program.It has been the most challenging job of hercareer, but also one of the most rewarding!

Heidi Holland Slezak '98 (Orem, UT) at-tended Dr. Chris Keitges's final faculty recitalon campus in May. Heidi earned a Ph.D. invocal performance in 2011 and now is an ad-junct instructor of voice at Utah Valley Univer-sity in Orem. She and her husband, a physicsprofessor, have two children.

Kasey `99 and Brenda Lanier `99 Koch (Love-land, CO) are looking forward to the arrival oftheir first grandbaby.They have grownchildren, but they hitthe “reset” buttonand now enjoy their2-year-old daughter,Amelia.

Sarah Herrera ‘00 (Alamosa, CO) has been anurse at SLV Health for 13 years. She took anew nurse manager position last year as di-rector of Obstetrics, following six years as Sur-gery Services supervisor. Her son, Darrien, is17, and daughter, Torrie, is 8.

Kristi Kool `02(Fountain, CO)writes, “Life is good.I have 2 fabulouschildren. I have agreat job I love. GoGrizzles!”

Karen Carver `03 (Durango, CO)has used her Master’s in Educa-tion to enhance and enrich herstudents’ experience whenteaching skiing at Purgatory,leading nature walks at Durango

25

�aStater alumnotes

�2000s

Interior staterooms start at $1,599/pp plus tax.(Airfare not included)

Space is limited.For additional information and instructions on how to make areservation, call Alumni Relations at 800-824-6494 ext. 8.

Alumni Cruise 2015Eleven-days • Panama Canal

Departs March 10, 2015Aruba • Colombia • Jamaica

• Costa Rica • Panama

Nature Studies, or subbing at the school dis-trict. No stability, but lots of flexibility to enjoya powder day or a river trip!

Amanda Gallivan `03 (Kankakee, IL) startedher 11th year in education this fall. She hasbeen teaching at Kankakee High School forthe past 8 years. She moved to Illinois 9 yearsago after teaching at Bennett Middle Schoolin Bennett, Colo., for 2 years. In Kankakee,she is the English Department chair, as wellas head varsity volleyball coach and head JVsoftball coach.

Brian Small `03 (Manlius, NY) and his wifehad their second child and first son, AriGeorge Small, on July 17 in Syracuse, NY.Brian is the Executive Director of Hillel at Syra-cuse University.

Darlene Clayton Brace `04 (Du-rango, CO) is enjoying life in Du-rango, teaching Zumba and TaiChi. She is loving married life,rafting, and stand-up paddleboarding the summer away!

Philip Lopez `04 (Commerce City,CO) and wife, Lindsey, recentlywelcomed their first baby, JohnDavid Lopez, on August 14. Philipwas also recently appointed asan Assistant Attorney General inthe water rights unit of the Col-orado Attorney General's Office.

Josh Trahan, `06, `09 returned to Alamosa toserve as Alamosa High School Activities Director/Assistant Principal.

Matthew Pearce `07 (Norman, OK) receivedhis Ph.D. in history in May at the University ofOklahoma and now sports long hair in honorof Ed Crowther. He specializes in western andenvironmental history, which gives him theopportunity to get back to the San Luis Valleyfrom time to time. He is a lecturer at the Uni-versity of Oklahoma. He would like to thankeveryone in the history/government/philoso-phy department, especially Ed Crowther, RichLoosbrock, John McDaniel, and the late StuartHilwig for all their help and support.

Katherine Park Woolbert `07 and husband,Henry, moved back to the San Luis Valley aftera year in Dolores, Colo. The magnetic pull—beit from UFOs or thefrog legend—is justtoo powerful to re-sist. She is teachingthrough ASU Ex-tended Studies:Women and Memoir,Advanced Composi-tion, and The PrisonMemoir.

Jared Romero `08 (Alamosa, CO) is now anasst. professor of biology and earth science:animal physiology at Adams State. He earnedhis master’s and a Ph.D. in biomedical sci-ence from Colorado State University, FortCollins.

BarbaraHollingsworth `09(Grand Junction, CO)is teaching specialeducation at Tope El-ementary. She has 2children: her daugh-

ter is 24, and her son is 22. She loves to read,camp, and play piano. She never misses aJUCO if she can help it and attends CountryJam every summer.

Darrell Kitzman `10(Grand Junction, CO)writes, “I spent over25 years working invarious aspects ofthe construction in-dustry, both domes-tically and abroad.Now I teach tech-ed to middle schoolers. Ba-sically, I am teaching students to operate po-tentially dangerous power tools, althoughthey often lack the focus to keep their shoestied.” His wife, Erica Kitzman `12, writes,“There is a lot to do here on the WesternSlope. I enjoy summer because my husbandis off of school so we can travel and play withour grandchildren. During the year, I managemy business and volunteer as a communitymental health advocate. My favorite thingabout advocacy is teaching short mentalhealth wellness courses!”

Brian Medigovich `10 (Chadron, NE) is an in-terim assistant coach for track and field atChadron State College, where he is in his sec-ond year. He will also help oversee ChadronState's men's and women's cross country pro-grams.

Jess C. Scott (Jessica Chua) `10, independ-ent author and publisher, has been featuredin a variety of online magazines and literaryjournals, such as Bards & Sages Quarterly,Word Riot, Under30CEO, and Maine CoastJournal *(September 2014). Jess creditsAdams State's interdisciplinary studies pro-gram for allowing her to select a combinationof English and business classes that werepertinent to her publishing aspirations. In2012, Jess participated on two panels at the2012 Singapore Writers Festival. Her book TheIntern was a Reviewer Top Pick at Night OwlReviews (2011), and her psychological thrillerPlaymates received a Readers™ Favorite FiveStar Award (2014). Jess is preparing to workon a collection of optimistic, contemporarylove stories. To view her interviews and pub-lished work, visit her website atwww.jessINK.com.

Tiffany Wood `10(Aurora, CO) is theproduction coordina-tor at La Voz Bil-ingüe, a bilingualSpanish-Englishnewspaper in Den-


Two alumni now lead Adams State University Student Life and Recreation. AaronMiltenberger ’13 was recently promoted to director and hired his former student

assistant, Jeni Carter ’09, ’12 to fill his previouspost as assistant director.

“I really enjoy helping students develop into out-standing student leaders and professionals,” saidMiltenberger, who has been with ASU since 2008and earned a master’s in Higher Education Admin-istration & Leadership (HEAL). He believes the cur-rent generation is interested in “doing things forthe right reasons and has a deep sense of empa-thy and caring.”

Carter hopes to become an “advisor and teammatewho empowers students to find their own passionthrough their experiences and involvement in col-lege.”

Jeni Carter ‘09, ‘12 (left) joins her former mentor,Aaron Miltenberger ‘13, in heading Student Life.

�2000s

�2010s

ver. In this position, she has won 4 nationaldesign awards at NAHP in 2012 and 2013. Sheis also active in the Smoky Hill High SchoolBand Parents Association.

Vera Jo Bustos `11(Las Vegas, NM) isthe videographer forthe University of NewMexico Women’sBasketball staff. Bus-tos left Adams Stateas the school’s ca-reer scoring leader (1,859 points) and helpedthe Grizzlies reach the Division II Sweet 16. Atwo-year All-America player, she played pro-fessionally for a season in Greece. For thepast two seasons, Bustos was an assistantcoach at Western State Colorado Univ. She’sgrown to love coaching and said the jump toDivision I – and UNM – is a positive move.

Charlotte Cunning-ham `11 (ColoradoSprings, CO) is theproud mother of abeautiful 1-year-oldboy, Liam. She isdating his beautiful father, David Swaby. Herdear counterpart, Melissa, is still by her side.She is enjoying her days with her ever-so-happy son. She works as a trainer at Xerox.She misses Alamosa every day, but enjoysevery second of being a mom.

Chelsea Allaart `12 (Fort Garland, CO) is thetechnology paraprofessional at Alamosa Ele-mentary’s 3-5 building.

Jon Atencio `12 (Alamosa, CO) is the newAlamosa Cattails’ Golf Course professionaland general manager. He and wife, LindseyJohnson Atencio `13, just welcomed theirfirst child.

Talisha Bell `13 (Manitou Springs, CO) writes,“As soon as I graduated, I got a job as a legalreceptionist at a private law firm in ColoradoSprings. After two months in the same job, Ireceived a promotion to a paralegal positionfor the firm. Now, I am utilizing my profes-sional and writing skills I learned during myundergraduate career at ASU in my job, andam continuing to add chapters to my greatstory. I also am studying for the GMAT inhopes of attending an MBA program in thefall of 2015.”

Lina Carollo `13 (Delran, NJ) was cast inABC's new TV show, “The Quest,” which pre-miered on July 31. She writes, “I wanted to letyou know most specifically because I mentionthat I am a school counselor on the show andobviously I give thanks to each of you thathelped me throughout the program at ASU.”

27

�

aStater alumnotes

Ruth Marquez `42, `62 (Pagosa Springs, CO)passed away Oct. 7 at the age of 92. Amongher survivors are daughters Arlene Marcus`70 and Mary Kaye Mayo `79, `94.

Anna Marie Lobato Chavez `46 (Cincinnati,OH) passed away Sept. 9 at the age of 89.

Ruby Romero `54 (Antonito, CO) passed awayMay 22 at the age of 92.

Douglas Thomas `55 (Bethesda, MD) passedaway Aug. 22 at the age of 81.

Lee Roy Sneddon `56, `64 (Anchorage, AK)passed away Aug. 6 at the age of 83.

Connie Velasquez `58 (Alamosa, CO) passedaway Sept. 21 at the age of 79.

Jay Huiting `58 (Englewood, CO) passed awaySept. 10 at the age of 81.

Hemming Morgan `58, `62 (Sanford, CO)passed away Sept. 9 at the age of 84. Amonghis survivors are son Monte `83, `89, `90 anddaughter-in-law Shauna `84 Morgan, sisterGeorgeAnna `51 and brother-in-law Kenneth`51 Joseph.

Ora Pompeo `59 (Colorado Springs, CO)passed away June 12 at the age of 94.

Robert W. Jones `59 (Liberal, KS) passedaway June 17 at the age of 78.

William Twine `59 (Arvada, CO) passed awayAug. 27 at the age of 82.

Evan Valdez `60, `68 (San Luis, CO) passedaway Aug. 31 at the age of 82.

Robert Martinez `61, `68 (Albuquerque, NM)passed away May 16 at the age of 76.

Larry Haynes `62 (Holyoke, CO) passed awayAug. 21 at the age of 77.

David Murray `62, `63 (San Diego, CA)passed away Sept. 15 at the age of 79.

Andrew LaCombe `62, `67 (Roanoke, VA)passed away June 11 at the age of 74.

Richard Hogan `63 (Romeoville, IL) passedaway May 11 at the age of 86.

Frank Wiget `64 (Valparaiso, IN) passed awayMay 16 at the age of 73.

Charles Sargent `64 (Jackson, MI) passedaway July 28 at the age of 83.

Ronnie Elliott `65 (Monte Vista, CO) passedaway Oct. 19 at the age of 71.

Clara McCarty `65, `68 (Rowlett, TX) passedaway June 8 at the age of 87.

Fern Rudd Mann `67 (Montrose, CO) passedaway Aug. 17 at the age of 80.

Lucille Loser `67 (Monte Vista, CO) passedaway Oct. 21 at the age of 94. Among her sur-vivors are sons Robert Loser ‘62 and RonLoser `65 and daughter-in-law Marilyn Loser`86, `87.

Richard Simonds `67 (Fort Collins, CO)passed away July 18 at the age of 79

Charlesene Stout `70 (West Des Moines, IA)passed away Aug. 10 at the age of 87.

Herbert "Butch" Stantz `70, `71 (Bryan, OH)passed away June 15 at the age of 68. Amonghis survivors is wife, Linda Stantz `72.

Edward Warsaw `71, `72 (Cheyenne, WY)passed away Sept. 4 at the age of 77.

Gerald Boyer `73 (Hershey, PA) passed awayMar. 19 at the age of 64.

Josie Mary Lujan `73, `81 (Alamosa, CO)passed away July 14 at the age of 84.

Laura Emanuel `74 (Santa Fe, NM) passedaway May 26 at the age of 77.

Kathryn "Kino" Ortiz de Gonzalez `74, `75(Sugarland, TX) passed away June 24 at theage of 61. Among her survivors is sister CarolRedding `95, `97.

Johnny Westbrook `76 (New Taipai City, Tai-wan) passed away June 24 at the age of 67.

Michael Wolff `80 (Edgewood, NM) passedaway June 14 at the age of 56. Among his sur-vivors is sister Susan Wolff `77.

David Foiles `88 (Colorado Springs, CO)passed away Sept. 18 at the age of 48.

John Prior `10 (Mosca, CO) passed away July9 at the age of 65. Among his survivors arewife, Gay Prior `80, and son, Kevin Prior `05.

friendsJeff Cook, ASU Retiree, (Alamosa, CO) passedaway July 26 at the age of 55.

Richard Jacobs, ASU Foundation Board Mem-ber, (Roswell, GA) passed away Aug. 25 at theage of 65.

Joe Romero, ASU Retiree, (Alamosa, CO)passed away July 23 at the age of 78. Amonghis survivors is son Donald Romero `03, `05.

remembering . . .

Now retired,syndicatedpolitical cartoonists MiltPrigee ‘76 (left)and Chuck Asay‘67 opened Home-coming Week witha show and lectureof their careers’best work.

To watch theircampus lecture,visit:adams.edu/a/32


everybody &their dog

blasted off with an

intergalactichomecoming

Alumni Cartoonists

Homecoming 5K

�

To watch Homecominghighlights, visit:adams.edu/a/31

29

�aStater scrapbook

The Main Event • MTV Comedians Byers & Barnett

Medicine Show

Tailgate Party


Left: Paul Houser, Gerrie Vale-rio & Jake Martinez

Below: Alumni Office work-study students Katy Francisand Brandi Shawcroft

31


The Svaldis & Grandson

Gary Antisdel ‘59, ‘63 andFran Hull ‘61

Mike ‘07 & Ericka‘08, ‘09 Hender-son and DarleneClayton Brace ‘04

First Southwest Bank in Alamosa always supportsHomecoming by purchasing ASU shirts for its entirestaff, which includes alumni Anne Jones `85, `89,`94, Ray Vigil `13, Jeni Jack-Goodwin `85, KellenWalker `11, Joseph Garcia `06, Nola Heide `87, LeeCrowther `02, and Delzia Pavlovsky Worley `97.


Executive Directorof Alumni & DonorRelations, LoriLaske ‘91, ‘01(right) presentsNorm Tucker ‘79with the AlumniService Award, inrecognition of hisyears of help andparticipation. Homecoming Golf Outing

�

�

Dutch 61, 64 and Marilyn Malberg

�

Emeritus Professorof Art CloydeSnook (front, cen-ter) with alumni.

Exceptional New AlumnusDr. Julian Maendel ‘07

Outstanding AlumnusDr. John Tooker ‘66

�

�

�

Dr. John Tooker (left) accepts his award from ASU Alumni Association Pres-ident Kasey Russell ‘03. While on campus, Tooker presented a “LunchtimeTalk in Science & Mathematics” and addressed a dinner for Porter Scholars(science & mathematics students).

Mary Motz ‘62, Don Stegman ‘61, ‘64,and Joanne Clayton ‘61

Richard ‘64 &Judith Gritz,Don Stegman‘61, ‘64, and Paul‘59 & ConnieHouser

33


�

The Gary ‘ 95 & Amber ‘94de Aragon Family

Gerrie Valerio &Jake Martinez ‘59, ‘69, Floyd‘54, ‘64 & Lelia Quintana ‘84

John Tooker ‘66, ChuckOwsley ‘68, and Ted

Morrison ‘69

IT’SALL

ABOUTALUMNI

Homecoming weather was conducive to an enjoy-able Alumni Golf Outing this year. Front row, from left, are: Gay-lene Horning, Paul Houser, Mike Garcia, Gayl Woodke, DonaldSalazar, Aubin Maestas, Miguel Martinez, Al O’Hara, Ramon &Linda Delgado, Lori Laske, and Phillip Cordova. Back row, fromleft: Pat Herrera, Kip Walker, Guy Bradford, Dave Humann, andJim Woodke.

Outstanding AlumnusDr. John Tooker ‘66

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Dr. John Tooker (left) accepts his award from ASU Alumni Association Pres-ident Kasey Russell ‘03. While on campus, Tooker presented a “LunchtimeTalk in Science & Mathematics” and addressed a dinner for Porter Scholars(science & mathematics students).

Standing from left: Barry Kelner, Harris Allen, Jim Gable, KellyMeek, Billy Dunlap, Jerry Hughes, Barry Heckard, Rich Hen-ning, Bill Rucinski

Front row, from left: Bill Rakow, Bill Wood, TonyGiordano, Larry Avitabile

Front L-R: Jerome & Aimee Martinez, Katie & WandaMcNew, Lyndell McEntyre

Back L-R: David Swaby & Charlotte Cunningham, Lori Laske,Tomas Rivera & Kristi Kool, and Gary McEntyre

Front L-R: Tanya, Cora & ErnestCienfuegos-Baca, Cheri & Bob Hoff,Brenda & Kasey Koch

Middle L-R: Barbara Johnston, LoriLaske, Dixie Longman, Barbara Olander

Back L-R: Eileen & Toney Cantu,Karen & Gerhard Kuhn, Rebecca &Cliff Haight

Table 1, B-F: James & Patricia Anselmo, Darrell &Diane Trembly, Jolleen & Louis Myers, Steve Brace,

Darlene Brace, Anita Mayes, and Lisa Weber

Table 2, B-F: Karen Carver, Tim Hunter, Bruce & Shar Short, Barbara Yurs,Bob Boe, Donald & Sarah Menapace-Walker, Benerito & Stella Martinez

Table 3, B-F: Dutch & Marilyn Malberg, Robert & Deb Kennedy, MaxineBaker, Kathy & Henry Woolbert, Laura Boe & Joe Creech, Lillian Boe

alumni scrapbook

durango • august


denver • november

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dale umberger golf tourney • lebanon, pa

colorado springs • november

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Tiredafter afun dayon top ofLa VetaPass

Some of the 200 alumni who rode thetrain stopped to snap a photo on their

way home.

Jim `69, `71 andGayl `66, `70strike a pose.

From left: Kristy & Tom Motz,Darrell & Erica Kitzman, Drene, SandraBarney, Barb Hollingsworth, Linda &Joseph Sheader, Jim & Julie Witt, andRita Paronto

From left: John & Betty Queen, Phil Born, Miriam & BobGrafe, Lori Laske, Louis & Maria Martinez, Woody Woodward,Muriel & Stephen Morley, and JoAnn Rezen

35


grand junction • may

Alumni enjoy their ride on theRio Grande Scenic Railroad.

slv train trip • june

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The Adams State University Hall of Fame’s 2014induction banquet, October 24, honored five in-dividuals and four teams for their contributionsas student-athletes and/or coaches.

jason mohr '93cross-country, track & fieldAt the 1992 NCAA Division II Cross Country Champi-

onship, All-American Jason Mohr helped solidify a perfectteam score of 15 en route to Adams State claiming a nationalchampionship—their first at the NCAA level. Mohr did sowith a time of 32:28 for a fifth-place individual finish. It isthe only perfect score at a championship meet in NCAA crosscountry history. Preceding that, Mohr captured first place atthe 1992 NCAA Division II Central Regional Champi-onships in Omaha, Neb. with a time of 30:09.He was the 1992 NAIA steeplechase champion with a

meet record time of 8:43.44. He held the school record of8:40.76. in the event for 20 years. Mohr qualified and com-peted at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials in New Orleans andended his Adams State career as a 10-time NCAA and NAIAAll-American. Mohr, alongside teammates Shane Healy, Brian Blazek,

and Dan Caufield, won the Distance Medley Relay (DMR)at the 1992 NAIA Indoor Track & Field with a time of10:02.05. These efforts helped Adams State claim the na-tional team championship. Former head coach Dr. Joe I.Vigil ‘53, ‘59, a fellow ASU Hall of Famer, labeled Mohr "Anoutstanding guy and a true leader."Mohr was also a member of the 1990 U.S. junior men's

team at the World Cross Country Championships inAix-les-Bains, France.

gene moses '63, '67wrestling coach Head coach Gene Moses led the 1972 Adams State

wrestling team to a NAIA National Championship, the thirdin program history. With this team accomplishment, Moseswas named the NAIA Wrestling Coach of the Year; he wasalso a two-time NAIA District Coach of the Year.

bob kincaid '66men's basketballKincaid was a formidable presence at the forward and cen-

ter positions for the Adams State men's basketball programfrom 1962-66. Playing alongside Lonnie Porter ’65, ‘66, afellow Adams State Hall of Famer, Kincaid was a four-yearstarter. He also participated in football and track & field. As a

freshman, Kincaid lined up as a tight end for the 1962 foot-ball team under head coach and College Football Hall ofFamer, Darrell Mudra. That year Adams State compiled a 9-1record and a 23-20 win over Northern Illinois University inthe Mineral Water Bowl. Kincaid also spent three years com-peting in shot put and discus under legendary coach Dr. JoeI. Vigil ‘53, ‘59.

stephanie mondragon '88women's basketballStephanie Mondragon served as a catalyst for the Adams

State women's basketball program during the 1980s. A guard,she earned All-RMAC Honorable Mention as a sophomorebefore being selected to the All-RMAC First Team during herjunior and senior seasons. During that decade, Mondragonranked in the top three of 14 statistical categories in programhistory. As a senior, she led the team with a 21.8 ppg, trans-forming the Adams State offense into a feared unit which ledthe RMAC in points per game. She also displayed herprowess in big games against NCAA opponents. During herjunior campaign, Mondragon led all players with 33 pointsagainst the University of Wyoming and went on to average20.6 ppg. in three games against Denver University, AirForce, and the University of Northern Colorado.

jim paronto '66football and baseballAs a student-athlete at Adams State, Paronto was the foot-

ball team captain during the 1965 season, during which hereceived Academic All-Conference, Second Team AcademicAll-American, and Second Team All-Conference recognition.He then served as head football coach from 1977-80 after

four seasons as an assistant. He concluded his time on thesideline with a 22-19 (.537) record which was highlighted byan 8-3 record in 1980 that resulted in a berth in NAIA BootHill Bowl against Cameron University (Okla.).Adding to his resume, Paronto was the head coach for

baseball at Adams State from 1974-76. Under his leadership,Adams State became NAIA district champions and confer-ence champions in 1974, earning him 1974 NAIA DistrictCoach of the Year. He simultaneously served Adams State asan Associate Athletic Director (1973-76) and Athletic Direc-tor (1977-80).

1972 wrestling teamWith 64 points at the NAIA National Tournament, the

1972 Adams State wrestling team was crowned nationalchampions. It marked the team’s third NAIA NationalChampionship. Doug Moses and Chuck Jean both earned in-dividual championships at the 142 and 177 weight divisions,


Hall of Fame honors the best ofAdams State Athletics

respectively, while Ken Taylor ‘72 was a runner-up at the 150weight division. Along with his individual title, Jean wasnamed Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament and becamethe only Adams wrestler ever to receive the Gorriaran Award,given to the wrestler with the most pins in the least amountof time. Fellow 2014 Hall of Fame inductee, Gene Moses ‘63,‘67, was named the NAIA Coach of the Year at the conclu-sion of the tournament.

1973 wrestling teamAdams State wrestling secured its second consecutive na-

tional championship at the 1973 NAIA National Tourna-ment. Individually, Chuck Jean captured his secondconsecutive individual title at the 177 weight division enroute to being named Outstanding Wrestler. Mike Allison ‘74was also crowned a national champion at the 190 weight divi-sion, while Dan Yoder ‘74, ‘79 claimed fourth place in the126 weight division.

1975 wrestling teamThe 1975 wresting team won the program's third national

title in four years. Four grapplers earned individual recogni-tion, led by Craig Kelso ‘75, ‘89 in first place at the 190weight division. In third place was Tom Cortez ‘76 at the 126weight division, followed by Ray Luna ‘76 in fourth place at150 and Ron Buffo ‘75 in fifth place at 167.

1976 wrestling teamThis team capped off the program's dynasty during the

1970s with their 1976 NAIA National Championship. Fivestudent-athletes led the way with individual titles, highlightedby Craig Kelso's successful title defense at the 190 weight di-vision. Also earning an individual championship was JimWood at the 142 weight division. Tom Jean ‘77 and JohnFlores ‘77 both received fourth place at the 167 and 134weight divisions, respectively. Henry Flores ‘77, ‘83 was alsorecognized with a sixth place performance at the 126 weightdivision.

By Mike Skinner

37

�aStater sports scene

the adam state athletic hall of fame class of 2014: (from left) Bill Fell, Craig Kelso, Ron Buffo, Doug Moses, Andy Pojman, DougJones, Dan Yoder, Stephanie Mondragon, Gene Moses, Ken Taylor, Jack Thaw, Jason Mohr, Dale Kestal, Rich Aggen, Jim Paronto.

women’s volleyballUnder the direction of

10th year head coach LindyMortensen, the Grizzliesmaintained a high level ofplay, despite courting arather young squad. Withonly one senior, ASU fin-ished with a 14-14 overallrecord, 8-10 in the RMAC.Five of six wins at homecame via 3-0 match sweeps. Junior Lindsey Stindt fin-

ished the season with a team-best 366 kills and was namedthe RMAC Offensive Playerof the Week on Oct. 13, afterposting 30 kills duringsweeps over Western StateColorado University andColorado State University-Pueblo. Volleyball’s seasoncame to an end against theColorado School of Minesduring the RMAC Tourna-ment Quarterfinals.

men’s soccerIt was a difficult and frustrating season for head coach Tim

Busen and the ASU men’s soccer program. Their sole win wasthe season opener over Eastern New Mexico University. Fin-ishing 1-16 overall and 0-14 in Rocky Mountain AthleticConference (RMAC) play, ASU loses the services of threeseniors, but will return with

a wealth of under-classmen whogained experienceduring 2014. Jun-ior Ethan Jacksonled the team withthree goals andeight points, whilefreshman goal-keeper, AustinBaumeister, col-lected 71 saveswith one shutout.

women’ssoccerLed by a group

of 12 seniors, thewomen’s soccerteam compiled a5-10-3 overallrecord and a 4-7-3RMAC mark. The

Grizzlies finished strong with a 4-1-1 record during their lastsix matches of the season, highlighted by upsetting No. 24Regis University on the road, 1-0. Adams State hung toughwith strong competition all season, as they played to a 1-1draw at home against No. 23 Metropolitan State Universityof Denver. Senior Alex Sanderson had a team-best five goals

and 11 points, while freshman goalkeeper, MollyO’Connor, tallied an impressive six shutouts and66 saves.

footballIn his final season as head coach, Marty

Heaton ‘82 led ASU to a 4-7, 3-6 RMAC record. Heaton announced his re-tirement midway through the season. The Griz-zlies captured a 23-7 season opening win athome over Oklahoma Panhandle State Univer-sity, then went on to defeat Black Hills StateUniversity, 37-27, New Mexico Highlands Uni-versity, 41-34, and Fort Lewis College, 34-30.In that win over NMHU, junior defensive backRyan Holland finished with two interceptionsand eight tackles. His first interception was re-turned 57-yards for the game-winning touch-down. For his efforts, Holland was named theRMAC Defensive Player of the Week.

By Mike Skinner


coach heaton to retireAfter seven seasons at the helm,Marty Heaton ‘82 retired following the2014 football season.

Heaton's time with Adams State datesback to his playing days as a defen-sive back from 1978-81. As a student-athlete, he was an NAIA AcademicAll-District and All-America selection.From 2000-05, Heaton was the AdamsState defensive coordinator, beforebeing named the head coach in 2007.During that tenure, he led the Griz-zlies to a 40-36 overall record. A na-tional search is now underway forASU's next football head coach.

Grizzly Volleyball enjoyed enthusastic support from the home crowd thisseason.

grizzlies fall season www.asugrizzlies.com

The stout history and tradition ofthe Adams State University men's crosscountry team were reinforced Dec. 6with the program's 11th NCAA Divi-sion II National Championship and23rd overall national title. It markedhead coach Damon Martin’s eighthchampionship as head coach for men'scross country.The Grizzlies paced the field with 69

points for their third consecutive na-tional title; their run sixth over the lastseven years. Adams State tallied a totaltime of 2:34:00.30 for a 58-point mar-gin of victory over Grand Valley State."They really performed unbelievably

well. They definitely brought their 'A'game," Martin said after the meet."From top to bottom, the entire teamgave everything they had."Three ASU runners finished in the

top five, led by Tabor Stevens, who cap-tured his second consecutive individualtitle with a time of 30:02. The seniorends his collegiate cross country careeras the second-most successful runner inNCAA Division II history. In the last

four NationalChampionshipraces, Stevens hasfinished 11th,3rd, 1st, and 1st."You can al-

ways count onTabor. He stuckto his plan ofhanging with theguys before takingoff to finishstrong." Martinadded.Stevens made

his biggest moveat the four-milemark by advancing past four runnersinto third place. Soon after, he tookover the top spot and cruised to a 17-second margin of victory. It was a season marked by domi-

nance, as Stevens also ran to a RMACtitle and took second place with a photofinish at the South Central RegionalChampionship. He was most recentlynamed the USTFCCCA South Central

Region Male Runner of theYear.Also helping secure the

team crown for ASU wereKevin Batt and MattDaniels, who finished fourthand fifth, respectively, and

Chad Palmer, who finished 18th."Kevin had a solid race. He had a

great effort today, and I'm really proudof that. Matt hadn't run in a long time.He went through so much adversityleading up to today's race," said Martin.Batt took fourth with a time of

30:31, with Daniels crossing the line in30:32.

By Mike Skinner

39

�aStater sports scene

we are the champions

Men takes 3rd X-C nat’lchampionship in a row

Battling through cold and wet condi-tions, the women's cross country teamfinished fourth at the NCAA Division IINational Championship, garnering 125points and a total time of 1:49.33.

Sophomores Jenna Thurman and MauraO'Brien paced the Grizzlies, takingeighth and ninth place, respectively.Thurman crossed the finish line in21:26.1, as O'Brien shadowed her team-mate with a time of 21:26.3. It was astrong finish for the duo, who advancedinto the top ten during the last quarterstretch of the race.

Rachel Kresl finished third for the Griz-zlies, with a time of 21.56 for 29th placeoverall. Lauren Martin took 54th in22:20.

"The girls struggled from the start andgetting off the line. Lauren slipped andhurt her leg and ran injured the wholerace, but I'm proud of her effort," saidhead coach Damon Martin. "Jennastepped up big time and really helpedthe team and in the process claimed herfirst all-American honor."

The ASU women's cross country teamcaptured five team titles over the courseof the season: 21st Annual Joe I. VigilOpen, Colorado College Open, Fort HaysTiger Open, RMAC Championships, andSouth Central Regionals. Kresl, Thur-man, and O'Brien all ran to individual ti-tles, while Martin led the way with twoindividual crowns.

By Mike Skinner

Women’s X-C places 4th at nat’ls

Nat’l ChampTabor Stevens

Kevin Batt

Jenna Thurman Maura O’Brien

A-Stater Adams State UniversityAlamosa, CO 81101

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Homecoming Heat

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Adams State University A-Stater Fall 2014

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