President's Letter - Colorado State University-Pueblo

President’s Letter
Because the
financial condition of
the State has brought
a 19 percent decline
in state funding,
enrollment growth
—including the
largest freshmen class
in University history
this fall — has been
critical to our financial
situation this year.
While most institutions
are cutting budgets,
we are proposing a
budget that will add
more than $1.2 million
in new programs
and personnel to our
current year’s budget
to meet the needs that
accompany our rapid
growth.
Dear Alumni and Friends:
It brings me great pleasure to introduce the current issue of our alumni magazine,
which highlights the success of our athletic programs, our tremendous enrollment
growth, our new and renovated facilities, and most importantly, the contributions of our
students, faculty, staff, and alumni to our state and community.
Our faculty and students have teamed up to test water quality in the Fountain Creek
and Arkansas River and to assess needs and improve access to health care services for
rural citizens, among many other projects. By doing so, CSU-Pueblo faculty, staff, and
students continue to show they understand the importance of building partnerships with
organizations, businesses, and individuals beyond campus borders as part of our mission
as a regional comprehensive university. I credit our current growth to expansion of those
outreach efforts and to the other improvements and additions we have made to our
campus.
Because the financial condition of the State has brought a 19 percent decline in state
funding, enrollment growth — including the largest freshmen class in University history
this fall — has been critical to our financial situation. While most institutions are cutting
budgets, we are proposing a budget that will add more than $1.2 million in new programs
and personnel to our current year’s budget to meet the needs that accompany our rapid
growth. That new money will be invested in paying, first and foremost, for the additional
instructional costs of serving so many new students.
Although our funding levels from the state are significantly lower than they have
been in the past, we are making every effort to maintain our tuition at an affordable level.
Although most institutions increased their tuition by nine percent, we increased tuition
at a lower rate (4%), in order to help our students stay in school and to continue to attract
new students. At CSU-Pueblo, we serve a high percentage of high-need students, and we
believe that large tuition and fee increases are more likely to affect our student body than
would similar increases at some other institutions. That is good news for our students,
but there is bad news for our hard working faculty and staff. While we believe we will be
able to avoid furloughs and layoffs, our employees did not receive any salary increases
this fiscal year, a direct result of the decreases in per student funding levels from the state
for all public institutions of higher education. I find this particularly disappointing having
seen firsthand how hard everyone has worked to improve and grow this institution.
On balance however, the outlook for CSU-Pueblo is overwhelmingly positive. Our
enrollment is growing, our facilities and our academic reputation are improving, and
the morale of our outstanding faculty and staff remains high. Please share news of our
success with friends, neighbors, relatives, and business colleagues. Show your pride by
wearing CSU-Pueblo clothing. Word of mouth has always been one of the most successful
marketing tools and among the best ways to enhance reputation.
We are proud of our ongoing transformation, and we hope that the news in this issue
will give you an even greater sense of pride in your alma mater. We would welcome a visit
from you to witness the transformation for yourself.
Go Thunderwolves!!
Joseph Garcia, President
2 C O L O R A D O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y - P U E B L O

Contents
VOLUME 20 • NUMBER 1 • SUMMER/FALL 2009
MAGAZINE Staff
Editor:
Cora Zaletel
Graphic Designer/
Photographer:
Jim Bowman, ’82
Staff Writers:
Kristi Bonham, ‘07
Todd Kelly, ‘90
DenaSue Potestio
Anthony Sandstrom, ‘03
Cora Zaletel
12
19
FEATURES
12 Med School Prescription
20 CommUNITY Matters
Printer Liaison:
Dale Alber
Administration
Executive Director
External Affairs:
Cora Zaletel
Executive Director
University Development:
DenaSue Potestio
Director, Alumni Relations &
Annual Fund:
Tracy Samora, ’95
Director, Development:
Julie Rodriguez
Special thanks for photos from:
Steven Arrellin, Pueblo Chieftain,
Colorado Tourism Site, Lou DiGesare
/Real Judo Magazine
Comments and questions about
the CSU-Pueblo Magazine may be
addressed to:
CSU-Pueblo Magazine
External Affairs
2200 Bonforte Blvd.
Pueblo, CO 81001-4901
or 719.549.2810
website: alumni.colostate-pueblo.edu
DEPARTMENTS
4 Campus Beat
7 Alumni Connections
10 Sports Central
14 Alumni Class Notes
19 Global Reach
20
Cover Photo:
Recent graduate Hollie Vigil began her pursuit of a medical degree this fall at the University of Colorado
Health Sciences Center.
S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 9 3

CAMPUS BEAT
New Residence Halls Named for Southern Colorado Mountains
The three-building, 750-bed residence hall complex
scheduled to open in Fall 2009 and Fall 2010 on the northwest
corner of campus will bear the names of three Southern
Colorado mountain peaks – Crestone, Culebra, and Greenhorn.
The Colorado mountains were chosen as the theme because
they connect with the unique Colorado environment and
experience CSU-Pueblo offers students, and allows for future
renaming should donations or circumstances support doing
so. The 253-bed Crestone opened this fall with project
completion schedule for Fall 2010 for the other two buildings.
A brother and sister who
have excelled both in the legal
profession and in historical
preservation shared their
experiences with graduates in
May. Pueblo natives Frances,
A69, and Joseph Koncilja,
A73, who both earned
undergraduate degrees from
the University, presented the
Commencement Address
during the spring ceremony
on Saturday, May 2 at the
Colorado State Fair Events
Center.
A CSU-Pueblo senior
who aspires to change lives
as an elementary school
math teacher was named
the 2009 recipient of the
Threlkeld Prize for Excellence.
Jenna Garcia, Alamosa,
received the first diploma
for a bachelor’s degree in
Liberal Studies and a minor in
Elementary Education and a
concentration in math with a
3.971 graduate point average.
Other finalists for the award
included: Laurie Corridino,
Janet Martinez, Cole Mcgee,
Hollie Vigil, and Amanda
Winterseick.
Commencement 2009
Joe and Frances Koncilja, President Joseph Garcia
4 C O L O R A D O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y - P U E B L O

NEWS BRIEFS
New CSM Dean. Dr. Richard Kreminski
is the new Dean of the College of Science and
Mathematics. Kreminski has an undergraduate
degree in biology from MIT and received his
M.A. and Ph.D. in applied mathematics from the
University of Maryland. He also holds a J.D. from
the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist
University. Previously, he served as professor
of mathematics, head of the Department of
Mathematics, and Assistant Dean of the College
of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M-Commerce.
He replaces Dr. Janna McLean, who accepted the
position of Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill.
Faculty/Staff Honored at Luncheon
Outstanding faculty and staff leaders were
recognized in April. Sports Information Director
Anthony Sandstrom was recognized as the
2009 Outstanding Professional Employee, while
Manager of Telecommunications Services Doug
Summer was the Outstanding Classified Employee.
Dr. Matt Harris, associate professor of history,
earned the top faculty honor for Excellence in
Teaching. Other faculty award winners included
Dr. Chad Kinney, assistant professor of chemistry,
Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activity; Janet
Nichols, assistant professor of mathematics, Faculty
excellence in Service; and Brian VandenHeuvel,
assistant professor of biology, Faculty Excellence
in Advising/Mentoring. Sociology Lecturer Betty
Alt and Student Life and Development Assistant
Jeanne Stewart earned Students’ Choice Awards.
Also honored at the luncheon were recent retirees
of the University and individuals who achieved a
service milestone for employment during the past
academic year from five to 50 years. Five employees
earned special recognition for service beyond 35
years: They included: 35 years – Patricia Orman,
mass communications; 40 years – Scott Herrmann,
biology; 45 years – John Griffin, English, and Jack
Seilheimer, biology, and 50 years – James Duncan,
music.
Program Earns Nation’s Top Ranking.
CSU-Pueblo ranked first among the Top Best
Buys in Online College Degrees for its distance
bachelor’s in social science and sociology, according
to GetEducated.com, which recently released its
national affordability rankings of colleges that
offer the best values in online bachelor degrees
in psychology, social science and human services.
The University ranked #1 on GetEducated.com’s
affordability rankings for its distance education
bachelor’s degrees in social science and sociology.
Students will pay under $18,000 for a four-year
degree completed through distance learning, far
less than the average online bachelor’s in this career
area, which costs $40,676. State of residency does
not make a difference in the distance learning
tuition rate at CSU-Pueblo.
CAMPUS BEAT
Classic
Cords
Music student
Sam Cogburn (Walsh, Colo.)
won the 2009 National Solo
Competition sponsored by
the American String Teachers
Association (ASTA) held in mid-
March in Atlanta, Ga. Cogburn
graduated magna cum laude in May
with a degree in music education
(K-12). ASTA member Ben Cantu was
Cogburn’s instructor.
S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 9 5

CAMPUS BEAT
New System Chancellor
The CSU System Board of Governors named former board
member Joe Blake as the new Chancellor of the CSU System.
Blake has served as president and CEO of the Denver Metro
Chamber of Commerce since 1999. His career has been
focused on statewide leadership and stewardship of Colorado’s
economy, competitiveness and business climate. A Denver
native, Blake is a graduate of Denver East High School,
Dartmouth College (B.A., English Literature) and the University
of Colorado School of Law (Juris Doctorate). He currently
resides in Denver and is the father of two and the grandfather
of four. He and new CSU-Fort Collins President Tony Frank
celebrated their inauguration together on Sept. 17.
Pueblo Hall of Fame honors
Kogovsek, Simmons
Joining the prestigious ranks of some of Pueblo’s
most influential leaders, movers and shakers were former
Congressman Ray Kogovsek and legendary basketball coach
Harry H. “The Chief” Simmons. Kogovsek attended Pueblo Junior
College and then Adams State College, where he graduated
in 1965 with a degree in business administration. Lobbyist,
philanthropist and strong community supporter, Kogovsek was
elected a state representative and served two terms. He then ran
for the state Senate, where he served two more terms, and was
elected to represent the 3rd Congressional District, a post he
retired from in 1985 after serving three terms.
Simmons, who died in 1990, was honored posthumously.
Simmons retired from the U.S. Marine Corps as a colonel after
returning from World War II in 1945 and began a coaching career
that spanned 35 years, and included a career record of 603-326
and a national championship. He coached at Pueblo Junior
College, Southern Colorado State College and the University of
Southern Colorado. His Pueblo Junior College team clinched the
1961 National Junior College Championship. A member of the
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s and Colorado Sports Hall
of Fame, Simmons retired in 1980. The center court of Massari
Arena at CSU-Pueblo is named in Simmons’ memory.
Three-time Grammy Award winner Ludacris (third
from left) rocked Massari Arena on the CSU-Pueblo
campus April 16. Ludacris received 16 Grammy Award
nominations, and has won three. Mass Communications
student and acoustic guitarist Kraig Brownlow of
Lakewood earned the opportunity to be the warm up
act for Ludacris by winning the Battle of the Bands
competition on campus.
6 C O L O R A D O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y - P U E B L O

T-Wolf Work Force
ALUMNI CONNECTIONS
Alumni rise at SunWest Credit Union
With nearly ¼ of its 34 employees boasting degrees from CSU-Pueblo,
including much of the company’s leadership (President/CEO, Vice President,
Controller, Marketing Manager, Mortgage Specialist, Accountant, Loan
Administrator, and IT Assistant), the Wolf Pack has got SunWest Educational
Credit Union covered. Friends and fun are what SunWest alumni remember
from their time at CSU-Pueblo, and they seemed to have carried that
forward into their careers by building their own pack.
SunWest has a strong commitment to education and promotes
from within, according to Vice President Janice Mehle. She said CSU-Pueblo alumni employees are well educated, highly
motivated, and possess a strong work ethic. Mehle, A77, said the best part of her job is having the opportunity to help people
with their finances and then knowing she has made a difference in their lives. She is married to fellow alumni, Gary Mehle,
A76. Marketing Manager Leslie Shepard, A96, agrees that it’s easy to hire CSU-Pueblo graduates because they have a solid
education and a great deal of enthusiasm. She, too, married a fellow alum, Ted Shepard, A96.
President/CEO Lynn Sutton, A88, has been with the credit union since 1984, then known as Pueblo Teachers’ Credit Union.
While attending CSU-Pueblo as a non-traditional student, Sutton learned to be flexible with two toddlers under the age of
four at home.
Controller Amy Galassini, A96, began at SunWest straight out of college and fondly remembers the entire college
experience of working on projects and socializing with other students.
Other alums at SunWest include Mortgage Specialist Shawna Rice, A97, IT Assistant Samuel Martinez, A05, and Courtney
DeWeese, A07, who took her accounting position right out of college. DeWeese remembers the difference that Professor
Christine Todd made to her time on campus, while Loan Administrator Jennifer Hof, A96, credits Jen Mullen for “seeing
potential in me that I didn’t and encouraging me to move toward that potential.”
Bank Alumni Leave A Legacy through University Involvement
While CSU-Pueblo alumni at Legacy Bank make up 13 percent of the staff, they are nearly
33 percent of the executive and senior management team. Vice President of Commercial
Lending Chad Heberly, A04, said that while the company doesn’t have an official policy about
hiring CSU-Pueblo alumni, they recognize the talent they receive from such hires.
Regional President Andrew Trainor, A80, helped develop the concept for expanding State
Bank of Wiley to create Legacy Bank that opened for business in April of 2004 in Pueblo. He
married fellow student Donna Brewer.
“Every day at Legacy Bank we get to see the fruits of our labor and how working together
with the communities we serve makes life better for everyone,” said Trainor, who serves on CSU-Pueblo’s President Leadership
Program board and has served on the Alumni Association and Foundation boards as well.
Current Alumni Board Member Heberly, who is married to fellow alumnus Laura (Stalford ’06), credits Dr. Kevin Duncan
with finally convincing him to seek a business degree.
Customer Services Representative Lavina Medina, A07, agrees with Trainer that she enjoys working with other proud CSU-
Pueblo grads. A first generation college graduate, Medina remembers her time at CSU-Pueblo fondly.
Vice President/Controller Vicki Smith, A91/99, enjoys the camaraderie of working with fellow alumni. “It’s great to work
with other people who, like myself, have pride in themselves and in their community, and who support local activities and
businesses.”
Compliance Officer Dianne VonHemel, A91/07, said her Master of Business Administration degree prepared her for the
intense research of her position and grasping the federal banking laws that she interprets to bank employees. She is married
to Jerold (A92).
“Being with alumni at the bank has been a bonus for me. We all talk about CSU-Pueblo; it’s a connection, like a family, “ she
said. “You’ve got a common background, and everyone shares pride in their alma mater.”
Legacy isn’t all talk about their pride in CSU-Pueblo. The bank was integral to securing financing for Crestone Hall, which
opened its doors this fall. When the Foundation Board sought funding for the construction of the first phase of the new
dormitories, Legacy Bank saw the urgency in the project and put together a competitive funding option that has since turned
into one of the bank’s most rewarding projects.
S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 9 7

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS
8 C O L O R A D O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y - P U E B L O

SPORTS CENTRAL
Five CSU-Pueblo Spring Teams to Nationals
CSU-Pueblo athletics programs
enjoyed unparalleled success in 2008-
09, as five athletics programs qualified
for national tournaments, a first in
school history -- women’s basketball
and softball, and men’s baseball,
tennis and golf each qualified for
regional tournaments, with three
teams earning at least one win in
national play.
The CSU-Pueblo softball team earned its first
national tournament win in program history when
it defeated Colorado School of Mines twice in the
Central Regional playoffs, ultimately finishing as the
regional runner-up. The CSU-Pueblo baseball team
finished third in its six-team region, earning wins over
Minnesota State-Mankato and Southwest Minnesota
State in the Central Regional Tournament. Finally,
the men’s tennis program defeated Mesa State in
the Central Regional Tournament before falling to
eventual regional champion Metro State.
The CSU-Pueblo baseball team earned its bid
to the regional tournament based on its win
in the RMAC Championship, its first RMAC title
since 2004. The CSU-Pueblo women’s basketball team, which lost in its regional
playoff game to Winona State, earned its third RMAC Championship in the past four
seasons, and received its highest-seed in the national playoffs in school history.
S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 9 9

RMAC Honors Former Athletes/Coach
Two former-student athletes, wrestler Chuck Pipher and
women’s tennis player Daniela Ivana, were named their
respective sport’s “Player of the Century” this year as the Rocky
Mountain Athletic Conference celebrated its centennial by
naming all-century teams in each of the sports it sponsors.
Pipher and Ivana headline a list that included 14 former
student-athletes and one coach, Bob Scott, who was named
the coach of the century for women’s tennis.
The ThunderWolves’ list of all-century teamers combined
for 19 all-American honors in their time at the University of
Southern Colorado and Colorado State University-Pueblo.
Robin Hayes, Women’s Soccer
Dan DeRose, Football
Herman Heard, Football
Cal Tatum, Men’s Basketball
Chuck Pipher, Wrestling
(player of the century)
Chris Currier, Wrestling
Sam Christensen, Baseball
Tony Wittmus, Baseball
Kerri Chase, Softball
Niki Toussaint-Whitaker, Softball
Jason Allen, Men’s Golf
Cary Brading, Men’s Tennis
Thomas Calhoun, Men’s Tennis
Daniela Ivana, Women’s Tennis
(player of the century)
Bob Scott, Women’s Tennis
(coach of the century)
SPORTS CENTRAL
SPORTS BRIEFS
Academic All-Americans. Two CSU-Pueblo student-athletes, men’s
soccer player Trevor Martinet and baseball player Jason Fobes,
received the highest academic honor for student-athletes in the
nation when both were named academic all-Americans by the
College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) and ESPN
The Magazine. Martinet, a 4.0 student, was one of the ThunderWolves’
top offensive players, finishing his career in 2008 ranked 10th on
the school’s all-time scoring list. A second-team all-RMAC selection
in 2008, he majors in business and was named the RMAC Men’s
Soccer Academic Player of the Year. He was a second-team academic
all-America selection. Fobes, who was named to three all-American
teams in 2009 in addition to his first-team academic all-American
nod, balanced a 3.89 grade point average and a .474 batting average,
the second-highest in CSU-Pueblo history and fifth highest in the
nation in 2009. Fobes was also named the RMAC Baseball Academic
Player of the Year this season. The ThunderWolves’ two academic
all-Americans in one calendar year marks the first time since 1983
that CSU-Pueblo athletics programs have produced two academic
all-Americans. Martinet and Fobes are the 19th and 20th academic
all-Americans in school history.
Inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame. The CSU-Pueblo Athletics Hall of
Fame enshrined an 11-member inaugural class on October 30 at the
Pueblo Union Depot. The inductees were honored at halftime of the
“Hall of Fame Game” Oct. 31 when the ThunderWolf football team
hosted Western New Mexico.
Joining charter inductees Harry Simmons (men’s basketball
coach and former athletic director) and Jessie Banks (former
women’s basketball and volleyball coach), are Nadia Fercha (women’s
basketball and women’s soccer), Cal Tatum (men’s basketball), Frank
Grant (football), Freda Hancock (women’s track), Pat Bekeza (baseball
and men’s basketball), Daniela Ivana (women’s tennis), John Martinez
(men’s track), Chuck Pipher (wrestling), James “Spank” Blasing (track
and field coach), Dale Rea (former administrator), and Robert H.
Rawlings (athletics contributor). Also joining the inducted individuals
are the 1960-61 men’s basketball team, which won the National
Junior College Athletic Association national championship, the only
national championship won by a CSU-Pueblo athletics program in
school history.
2009 Student Athlete Awards. The Athletics Department named its
2008-09 “athlete of the year” awards. The CSU-Pueblo Male Athlete
of the Year award was given to all-American football player Chase
Vaughn (Jr., Aurora, Colo.) with female honors shared between
women’s basketball standout Rachel Espinoza (So., Pueblo, Colo.)
and softball player Janine Tyler (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.). Rounding out the
award-winners were men’s soccer player Trevor Martinet (Sr., Pueblo,
Colo.), the recipient of the James “Spank” Blasing Award for top male
student-athlete, while women’s basketball standout Mary Rehfeld (Sr.,
Juneau, Alaska) won the Jessie Banks Award for top female studentathlete.
DeRose Receives Donor of the Year Award. The Officers and Executive
Committee of the National Association of Athletic Development
Directors (NAADD) selected Dan DeRose as their College Division
Donor of the Year award recipient for the 2008-09 year. Award
winners were recognized at NAADD’s 16th Annual Convention, June
18-21 at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla. An alumnus
and former athletic director, DeRose was selected for making possible
the reinstatement of football, wrestling, and women’s track & field
through his generous giving and leadership in establishing the
Friends of Football organization.
10 C O L O R A D O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y - P U E B L O

Katie Sell is National Judo Champ
CSU-Pueblo junior Kathleen Sell returned from the 2009
Collegiate National Judo Championships in California with
the top prize in her weight class (70g) and currently is the top
ranked athlete in the nation. In April, Sell won her first USA
Judo Senior National title. Sell moved to Colorado Springs
in 2008 to train at the USA Judo National Training Site at the
Olympic Training Center – a program, led by 1984 Olympic
medalist Eddie Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo.), that produced
three of the 10 members of the 2008 Olympic Team. The 2008
U.S. Olympic Team alternate now juggles her pursuit of the
2012 Olympic Team with her studies at CSU – Pueblo. Her
success qualified her to compete at the 2009 Senior World
Championships, Aug. 26-29 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where
she will fight against World and Olympic medalists.
SPORTS CENTRAL
Wrestling
attendance
Katie Sell at the 2008 Olympic Trials
versus Helen Delpopolo.
Photo Credit: Lou DiGesare / Real Judo Magazine.
The CSU-Pueblo wrestling program, undertaking
its first season of competition since 2001, shattered
school and RMAC wrestling attendance records in its
four home duals at Massari Arena last winter.
The ThunderWolves set a school attendance
record by averaging 1,280 fans per dual, the highwater
mark coming in the team’s opening home
dual vs. Mesa State, which drew more than 2,000
fans to Massari Arena.
The attendance record bested the previous
mark set in 1992, when then-University of Southern
Colorado averaged 1,057 fans per dual in a six-dual
home schedule. The attendance mark that season
is skewed, however, as a bulk of the fans that season
came for a dual vs. Division-I University of Iowa, at
which a school record 3,847 fans attended.
In 2009, CSU-Pueblo drew more than 1,000 fans
twice, only the second and third time in school
history a wrestling dual has drawn more than 1,000
fans. The ThunderWolves never drew less than 800
fans during 2009.
Pack Text Alerts. CSU-Pueblo sports fans can now
keep up to date with all the latest and breaking ThunderWolves sports
news through their cell phone with Pack Text Alerts. To subscribe to
Pack Text Alerts, simply text “Pack Alerts” to 719-778-2754, or go to
http://www.gothunderwolves.com/forms/packtext to signup.
S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 9 11

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
SCJC
PJC
SCSC
USC
CSU-Pueblo
We’re all connected
Do you know a graduate of SCJC,
PJC, SCSC, USC, or CSU-Pueblo who
has excelled in his or her personal or
professional life...friend or classmate
who deserves to be recognized for
his or her accomplishments? Call the
alumni office at 719-549-2858, or go
to www.alumni.colostate-pueblo.edu for
information on how to nominate a worthy
candidate for a 2010 Distinguished
Alumni Award.
1960s
PJC/SCSC
John Ferraro, A68, Kansas City, KS, is
professor and chairman for hearing and
speech at KU Medical Center, co-director
of the KU intercampus program in
communicative disorders and associate
dean for research at KU Medical Center. He
recently received honors from the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Rhonda (Susman) Sarris, A69, Denver,
works as a senior subcontracts manager
at Ball Aerospace and recently completed
a Master’s Certificate in Government
Contracting from George Washington
University’s School of Business.
1970s
SCSC/USC
Cal Tatum, FS, Pasadena, CA, was named
to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
All- Century Basketball Team.
Keith King, A70, serves as a Colorado
State Senator (R) for District 12.
Stephen Nawrocki, A71, Pueblo, is
director of the Pueblo Senior Resource
Development Agency (SRDA) and was
featured in the Pueblo Chieftain for his work
in social services.
Lester “Les” Moroye, A72, Aurora,
recently retired as the Dean of Business
and Professional Studies and Associate
Vice President of the Lowry Campus at the
Community College of Aurora.
Andy Ahroon, A73, Littleton, was named
2008 Realtor of the Year by the SMDRA
(South Metro Denver Realtors Association)
Andy is a realtor with Metro Brokers.
Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford, A74, Tucson,
AZ, has published her second book, Hip,
Hip, Hooray, It’s Monsoon Day!/¡Ajúa, ya llegó
el chubasco. It was recognized as a 2008
Americas Award Commended Title from
the Consortium of Latin American Studies,
received the highest recommendation from
AAAS Review Magazine, and named 2009
winner for the Children’s One Book Arizona
Award.
Robert Gentry, A74, Colorado Springs, has
been a claims manager at United Services
Automobile Association for 26 years. His
hobby is riding his Harley Davidson. He has
four grandchildren.
Steve Henson, A76, Pueblo, was elected
chairman of the Colorado Press Association’s
board of directors and served as the
Colorado Press Association president last
year.
Ken Lankford, FS, is the principal owner
of Lankford Wellin, LLC, a company that
purchased Westcliffe’s ReMax agency in
November, 2008.
Tim Halpin, FS, was named Penrose
Chamber of Commerce Penrose School
Employee of the Year. He is the maintenance
director for Re-2 School District.
Almabeth Kaess, A79, La Junta, will direct
the Foundation and Alumni operations for
Otero Junior College while continuing to
lead marketing efforts.
1980s
USC
Roxann (Davis) Rische, A80, Kearney,
Mo., and husband, David, have two sons,
Hunter (18) and Ryan (16). She has been the
manager of the IT department at AT&T for
22 years. She attributes “work study at USC
during my senior year” for helping her gain
the skills she now uses in the IT department
at AT&T.
Gerald “Joe” Montoya, DNP, RN, APRN-
BC, A83 BSN91, successfully defended his
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the
University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He is
the second DNP & first male Hispanic DNP
in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a
primary care family nurse practitioner with
the Charlottesville Wellness Center Family
Practice and a faculty member in the School
of Nursing Nurse Practitioner program at the
University of Virginia.
Mike Madrid, A83, was honored by his
employer of 25 years, El Pueblo Boys and
Girls Ranch, with a day named in his honor.
Michelle Morrissey, A88, Walsenburg,
returned to Colorado where she is working
for Spanish Peaks Mental Health Center
after receiving a Master of Science degree in
Counseling. She and her partner of 16 years
will be grandparents in October.
• F - Faculty • FS - Former Student • A - Alumnus
14 C O L O R A D O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y - P U E B L O

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Silverio Saldana, ‘A96
Latino Leader was Lifelong Learner
A native of Pueblo, Silverio Saldana, was the epitome of a life-long learner.
Saldana was 85 when he died last year after having lived in Alaska, Greenland, and
Italy serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. At the age of 14, he dropped
out of the eighth grade to earn money for his family working at a sugar beet farm. At
the age of 68, he went back to school, earned a degree in Spanish from CSU-Pueblo in
1996, and then went on to study at a university in La Mancha, Spain.
Daughter Cecilia Saldana of Pueblo remembers him constantly saying to her, “Get
an education. That is something you will always have that cannot be taken away from
you, and it will enable you to live a better life.”
He owned rental property and two liquor stores, Belmont Liquor and Dog Patch
Liquor, and gave back to the community as vice president of the Latino Chamber of
Commerce. He was named the Chamber’s 1985 Outstanding Member.
He is survived by two other daughters: Maria Saldana of Pueblo and Teresa Rodriguez
of Boulder; a son, Pedro Saldana of the Detroit area; six grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren.
Vance Almeida, FS, earned an associate’s
degree in food & beverage management and
is an area coach for five Colorado Springs
Taco Bell restaurants, where he helps to build
management teams.
1990s
USC
Judy Mattie-Brackel, FS, Crawford, CO,
was named as a 2009 Rising Star by the
Colorado Springs Business Journal. She is
executive vice president at Pikes Peak Cargo
Secure, Inc.
Chuck Pipher, A90, was named to the
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-
Century wrestling team and was selected as
the Most Valuable Player.
Stella Heffron, A91, Aurora, a former cross
country and track athlete, won the Pueblo
Chieftain’s Spring Runoff.
Dana Perino, A93, former White House
Press Secretary, joined Clinton administration
adviser Mark Penn at public-relations firm
Burson-Marsteller as a chief issues counselor.
Cheryl Gomez, A93, Ridgway, began
work as superintendent of Ridgway Schools
on July 7. She served as principal at Pueblo
School of Arts and Sciences from 2002-09.
She also is pursuing a doctoral degree from
Colorado State University-Fort Collins.
Linda McGowan, A95, Alamosa, has
opened RAVIN, an art gallery and artisan
workshop.
Dr. Brian Beitzel, A96, Otego, NY, received
the State University of New York (SUNY)
Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
this past May. He earned master’s (1999)
and Ph.D. (2004) degrees from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison and has been an
assistant professor in educational psychology
and counseling at SUNY Oneonta since 2004.
Ben Bruestle, A97, New Haven, Conn.,
earned a master’s degree from the Middle
Tennessee School of Anesthesia in Madison,
Tenn. , in December.
Gloria Gutierrez, A98, Pueblo, is Senator
Mark Udall’s regional representative for
Southern Colorado and the San Luis Valley at
his office in Pueblo.
Patricia (Timko) Schultehenrich, A98,
Centennial, is a financial analyst for Verizon.
She earned a master’s degree in computer
information systems from the University of
Phoenix in 2002.
Lee Anna (Vigil) Hageman, A99, Pueblo,
has been employed with Crossroads Turning
Points for six years. She and her husband,
Greg, A09, had a son, on August 16, 2008,
Simon Gregory Hageman. Their older son,
Oscar, is two.
David DeMaio, FS, Redlands, Calif., is the
fitness and sports director for The Boys &
Girls Clubs of Conejo & Las Virgenes.
2000s
USC/CSU-Pueblo
Louis M. Gonzales, A00, La Junta, is
a facility operations specialist for Otero
Junior College/Child Development Services
Head Start program. He has professional
certifications in Facility Management
Administrator, Facility Management
Professional, and Certified Facility Manager.
Nichole Eilefson, A00, St. Paul, MN,
is traffic manager at RPM Connect in
Minneapolis.
Michael Till, A00 MA, was appointed by
Florence-Penrose School Board as the new
director in Ward G.
Chris Currier, A01, Colorado Springs,
was named to the Rocky Mountain Athletic
Conference All-Century wrestling team.
Vanessa Trexel, A01, Pueblo West, is
president and CEO of Power Credit Union.
Deanna Cordo, A02, was named a 2009
Rising Star by the Colorado Springs Business
Journal. She is the community relationship
manager for the American Cancer Society.
Peggy Foley, A02, Ceder City, UT, the
former Pueblo County public trustee, has
joined CSU-Pueblo’s nursing department as
an advisor and counselor. She also will serve
on the Pueblo City Schools’ Health Academy
advisory committee.
Julie Strand, A02, has been named head
softball coach at Southern Utah University.
Casey Smalley, A02, has joined the tax
department of SSA P.C.
• F - Faculty • FS - Former Student • A - Alumnus
S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 9 15

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Kurt Snyder, ‘05
Gone Wild with Art
Kurt Snyder, A05, is making his own rules. After graduation, Snyder knew he
wanted to live in the mountains and avoid limits to his exploration time. Freelance
graphic design seemed the obvious choice for freedom of schedule and location,
and Wild Drawn Designs & Illustrations was born.
Snyder says that the name was inspired by how vital wilderness is to his
creative process. “Whether it’s with my camera or sketchbook, I’m always trying
to capture the invigorating impression that wild places leave on me in my art,” he
said.
The art program at CSU-Pueblo can be credited with making Snyder’s dream
a reality. “It gave me a diverse foundation in many disciplines. From illustration, photography and
mural work, to ceramics and even website design, the varied curriculum I enjoyed in Pueblo has enabled me to be a bit of a ‘jack
of all trades’.”
Two people on campus that made a real difference in his time here were Vicky and Richard Hansen. “They both fueled a
passion in me for ceramics, shaping raw materials, and creating art for the right reasons.” Liz Johnson also made a huge impact
on Snyder. “She taught me more profitable and applicable knowledge on photography, Photoshop, and web design than
possibly anyone ever has.”
You can view more designs by Snyder at www.drawnwild.net.
Andrew Tapia, A02, won the 2009 Pueblo
City Golf Championship and was a member
of the CSU-Pueblo men’s golf team, when he
won the title in 2000.
Anthony Sandstrom, A03, Pueblo,
sports information director at CSU-Pueblo,
was recognized as the 2009 Outstanding
Professional Employee at CSU-Pueblo.
Glenda Torres, A03, is a natural resource
specialist in fuels at the Royal Gorge Field
Office for the Bureau of Land Management.
Melissa Barela, A04, Rocky Ford, is a tutor
in the Education Assistance Center at Otero
Junior College.
Deborah Helton, A04, Colorado Springs,
was named a 2009 Rising Star by the
Colorado Springs Business Journal. She is a
supervisor at BiggsKofford P.C. (Certified
Public Accountants).
Wesley A. Kinney-Palser, A04, San
Antonio, TX, is training at Lackland Air Force
Base and now is an Air Force Airman.
Nick Alfonso, A05, Pueblo, was named
2008 Faculty Member of the Year at Pueblo
Community College, where he teaches
biology, physics, chemistry, and earth science.
Bryan Dewar, A05, Pueblo, completed a
master’s degree in education in 2007 and
teaches at Central High School.
Veronica Hughes, A05, Las Cruces, NM,
is a behavioral health nurse at Mesilla Valley
Hospital.
M’lissa Morgan, A05, received a federal
grant that will extend her work as an archive
technician with the CF&I Archives.
Andrea Jennings, A06, Pueblo, has been
an education/career coordinator for the
Boys and Girls Club in Pueblo, but is soon
relocating to San Diego, Calif., where her
future husband, CJ, will begin graduate
school. She and CJ welcomed their second
child, Curtis III, last October. He joins a big
sister, Zoey, 2. Andrea intends to pursue
a master’s degree in family counseling,
community counseling, or school counseling.
Mark Magnone, A06, Pueblo, is manager
of the northside branch of Wells Fargo Bank.
He is serving as the first alumni member
of the President’s Leadership Program
Community Advisory Board and was elected
secretary-treasurer for 2009-2010.
James Santistevan, A06, is enlisted in the
military and currently serving in Baghdad,
Iraq.
Dustin Trimble, A06, has been a guitarist
in the United States Air Force for the last two
and a half years. He returned from his first
deployment to the Middle East in December
and was able to spend the holidays with
his family. He recently received orders to
Germany.
Greg Wissinger, A06, Colorado Springs,
works for T. Rowe Price and is recently
engaged.
Chas Bailey, A07, Pueblo, is back home
after youth missionary work in Serbia. He
attended a conference in Spain from January
19-25 to meet with other STINTers from all
over Europe and some parts of Asia.
Crystal Fields-Gotaas, A07, Englewood,
teaches sixth grade and third grade
intervention at Eiber Elementary. Her
husband, Lars, is pursuing a master’s degree
in public administration.
Nicole (Nicki) L. Hart, A07, Pueblo, is a
marketing specialist for the Sangre de Cristo
Arts and Conference Center.
Tanisha Hinds, A07, Springfield, began
her third year teaching elementary school for
Springfield School District.
Rebecca (Johnson) Jenkins, A07,
Florence, teaches English at Florence High
School.
Kelli Magann, A07, Pueblo, is the crime
analyst for the Pueblo Police Department.
Alexis Ribberheim, A07, Colorado
Springs, is assigned to the 96th Sustainment
Brigade at Ft. Carson and serves in the U.S.
Army Reserve while awaiting deployment to
Iraq in September.
Marie Louise Rosetti, A07, Prineville, OR,
is a registered nurse.
Kristen Sherwood, A07, Pueblo, is a
warehouse supervisor and inventory control
coordinator for Rush Truck Center.
Joe Villalon, A07, Pueblo, started his
own business, Petite Noya Personal Chef &
Catering Services.
• F - Faculty • FS - Former Student • A - Alumnus
16 C O L O R A D O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y - P U E B L O

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Chris Christmas, ‘FS
From Engineering to International Entrepreneur
The career of luxury brand fashion designer Chris Christmas has shifted dramatically
from the pursuit of an engineering degree at then University of Southern Colorado to an
international entrepreneur and spokesman for foster care.
Christmas helped his parents raise foster kids at his home in NorthGlenn, where he was
exposed to children who had the emotional scars of molestation and abandonment by
parents who often were imprisoned. In 1986, Christmas met University of Colorado basketball
player Jeff Penix and gave up his pursuit of the engineering degree to become a business
partner designing sportswear. That decision has led to a wildly successful career as a designer
of apparel and jewelry.
Highlights of his design career include creation of soccer and basketball jerseys for the
1996 Summer Olympics, the 1991 Orange Bowl outfits for the CU Buffs, and a clothing
line called Gear 7, for which he was named Kmart’s designer of the year in 2005. He also
partnered with the NBA’s Shaquille O’Neal to start an Internet company selling customized
footwear and apparel.
In 2008, he was named national spokesperson for foster care by the National Foster Care
Month organization and also accepted the Chairman’s Award from the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce. A
married father of three children, he credits his wife of 15 years, Shawisha, for helping him keep his life in balance.
Ashleigh Ackerman, A08, Pueblo, is a
credit manager at the south side branch of
Wells Fargo Bank.
Jay-Michael Baker, A08, Colorado
Springs, has been a fellow at the John Jay
Institute for Faith, Society & Law for the past
semester. The program is a full academic and
professional fellowship, where he pursued an
interdisciplinary curriculum of philosophy,
theology, ethics, politics, jurisprudence,
history, art and architecture related to
the western tradition and the American
founding.
Kim Carr, A08, Davenport, IA, teaches
general music at Lincoln Academy of
Integrated Arts in the Davenport Community
School District. They accepted her proposal
to institute an African Drum and Dance class
and bought her authentic African drums
for her to teach the music of the SuSu Tribe
of Guinea, Africa. She also teaches private
music lessons out of her home and plays in a
saxophone quartet, Sax Therapy, made up of
women music educators.
Shanna Farmer, A08, Pueblo, began work
on her MBA through the CSU-Pueblo Hasan
School of Business.
Wayne Hoey, A08, Peyton, is the director
of bands at Jenkins Middle School in
Colorado Springs.
Sharon Johnson, A08, Pueblo, is assistant
director of admissions for the Pueblo campus
of Colorado Technical University.
Tracie Lynn McKnight, A08, McKinney,
TX, is an account director for G2 Promotional
Marketing.
Scott Morton, A08, Canon City, teaches
seventh grade reading at Fremont Middle
School.
RaeAnne Short, A08, Pueblo, directs
media relations for the Sangre de Cristo Arts
and Conference Center.
Jessica Viges, A08, Chicago, IL, is a
laboratory analyst at Downers Grove Sanitary
District.
Steven Willard, A08, Colorado Springs, is
an associate underwriter with United States
Automobile Association.
Jessica Willcox, A08, Pueblo, is an inside
sales representative at United Rentals, Inc. ,
Pueblo location.
Greg Foss, A09, Longmont, is a cyber
security analyst with the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory.
Jennifer Papik, A09, La Junta, is the
assistant softball coach at Otero Junior
College.
Latisha (Vigil) Quintana, A09, Colorado
Springs, is an advocate at TESSA (formerly
stood for trust, education, safety, support,
and action).
CSU-Pueblo Alumni Association
Board of Directors
2009-2010
Officers
Lisa Vigil ‘06 President
Rich Mestas ‘98 Vice-President
Charles Davis ‘87 Treasurer
Ken Crowell ‘91, ‘99 At Large Officer
Abbey Algiene-Esquibel ‘95, ‘02
Joanie Campbell Stephens ‘03
Matt Centner ‘02
Jessica Dillow ‘07
Mark Gazette ‘92
Chad Heberly ‘04
Richard Joyce ‘81
Bryan Sanchez ‘07
Keith Willschau ‘07
Michael Wilson ‘79
Chelsea Wright ‘06
Michelle Young ‘02
Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund
Tracy Samora ‘94
Faculty Representative
John Borton
• F - Faculty • FS - Former Student • A - Alumnus
S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 9 17

Threlkeld Winners: Where are they now?
2000 Threlkeld recipient Haley
Rich believes she has made more
impact since graduation than most
people make in a lifetime.
After graduating from the
University in 1999, Rich established
a nonprofit organization, Alliance
for Empowerment, that serves as an
umbrella organization for a variety of
youth initiatives, including Teen SERT.
In 2004, she founded Teen
SERT, a version of the Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT)
program. Teen SERT, Student Emergency
Response Training, teaches students to
handle the effects of natural and humancaused
disasters, the fundamentals of
disaster management, as well as how to be
prepared in such a way so as not to be reliant
on police and firefighters, and to prepare
their homes, so family and friends are safe.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Haley Rich Empowers Teens
While CERT units serve the community at large in emergency situations, such
as floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes, SERT teams serve the school grounds
and their primary responsibility is to serve their fellow students, faculty and
staff. As regional coordinator of the program, Rich works with Fremont and
Custer County’s Emergency Managers to promote the programs.
“The communications part of my Master of Business Administration was
the most important thing I did at CSU-Pueblo,” said Rich. “It taught me how
to network, and that has been crucial.” Rich gives Dr. Sue Hanks the credit for
teaching her how to communicate and network. “We’re still in touch, and in
fact, she is one of my references,” said Rich.
Being a Threlkeld recipient has made a huge difference for Rich. “It gives me credibility,”
Rich said. “When people look at my resume, it’s something they notice, and makes me stand
out.”
Named for the late Budge Threlkeld, a former administrator and professor, the award is presented to the top
graduating senior each year who demonstrates excellence in academic and co-curricular activities as well as in service to
the University and to the community. If you would like to help fund this prestigious award, visit the Foundations website
http://giving.colostate-pueblo.edu or call 719-549-2380.
MARRIAGES
Loydene Batterton, A07, and Justin
Dolezal, May 31, 2009
Sara Lile, A07, and Adam Gardner,
July 11, 2009
Marc Wolf, A05, and Megan Fitzpatrick,
July 12, 2008
ANNIVERSARIES
Vivian L. (Gramm) Moon, A74, and
Donald R. Moon, 35th Wedding Anniversary,
June 5, 2009.
FUTURE ALUMS
Lee Anna (Vigil) Hageman, A99, Pueblo,
and Greg Hageman, A09, baby boy, August
16, 2008.
Bobbie (Gonzales) Sheppard, A01, and
David Sheppard, A01, baby girl, June 3, 2009
Tanisha Hinds, A07, and her husband,
Phillip, baby boy, Nolan Dean, Sept. 2, 2009
Charnell and Brian Mayer, A01, baby girl,
June 2, 2009
Veronica (Maldonado) Hughes, A05, and
Jon Hughes, baby girl, Jaiden Hughes, March
21, 2008.
IN MEMORIAM
George V. Abbott, A74
Ernest Leroy Aragon, A75
William A. Baker, FS
E. Kay “Kay” Becher, A48
Laurie Lynn Biby, A92
Celestino Bobian Jr., FS
Conrad “Buck” Neil Buchanan, A64
Charles E. “Chuck” Brady, A42
Conrad N. “Buck” Buchanan, A71
Deborah A. Buffingtonv, A86
Myron R. Deboer, A65
John P. Dernovshekv, A56
Frank M. DeVries, A80
Lucille J. (Manbucca) Diodosio, A38
Sharon Ann Failing, A77
Glenn H. Freelove, A09
Frances Mae Golding, A72
Mary Elizabeth (Schuster) Golding, A73
Gary Lee Goodman, A92
Rick W. “Ricky” Greenhood, A96
Herman C. Grigsby, A79
Kathryn L. Hamilton, A71
Ronda Mae (Clevenger) Hilbert, A65
Estelle Marie Kase, A78
Katherine Keating, A42
Marie A. Vider-Langley, A84
Mary L. (Hood) Lavan, A68
Thomas A. Lynch, A70
Michael G. Mandarich, A71
John Mathis, A61
•F- Faculty • FS - Former Student • A - Alumnus
18 C O L O R A D O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y - P U E B L O
Patricia K. Nolan, A82
Carl E. Pachek, A48
Betty R. (Shumaker) Pannunzio, A70
Emil Milan Paripovich, A48
George Dewey Perry, A41
Edward L. “Ed” Peterlin, A54
Robert F. Proctor, A74
Eugene J. Pullara, A60
Milburn R. Raleigh, A41
Linda Frances (Mass) Rider, A69
Ronald J. Robinson, A68
Silverio “Sal” Saldana, A96
Jack Lee Sloniker, A57
Mary Ann (Norris) Stafford, A67
Frank Jesse Starginer, A72
James Louis “Jim” Sumpter, A70
William R. Supple, A40
Kenneth F. VanPelt, A76
Joan M. (Knuth) Vaught, A80
Marie A. (Ervin) Vider, A84
Dr. Dunstan J. Wack, FP
Lawrence David Walker, A50
Michael Lynn Warren, FS
Beverly Clark West, A74
Martha M. Whatley, A86
H. Eugene “Gene” Wilcoxson, A47
Frank Louis Zabukovic, A74
Aleta L. (Lawson) Zobeck, A62

GLOBAL REACH
The intensity of pursuing two master’s degrees at CSU-
Pueblo has resulted in a thriving international consulting
career for English-born Nigerian Songo Dede. Since being
the first student in the school’s history to earn both Master
of Business Administration and Master of Science in Systems
Engineering concurrently in 2006, Dede has excelled with CGN
& Associates, a business performance consulting company
headquartered in Chicago, Ill.
He confesses that the knowledge gained during his
engineering and business studies at CSU-Pueblo have
contributed to his success working primarily on quality
improvement projects with various Fortune 500 companies
in the United States, Mexico, England, and most currently,
Italy. He uses proven problem solving and waste elimination
techniques (Lean Production, Six Sigma, Statistical Process
Control, Failure Mode and Effect Analysis, and Advanced
Product Quality Planning) to solve manufacturing, supply
chain, and product development related issues in the work
place.
Songe was attracted to CSU-Pueblo by its location and
by the combination of academic offerings after earning his
bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2002 from
University of Science & Technology in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
He attributes the intensity of both courses of study, his
campus involvement with departments and organizations,
and the influence of faculty members like Mike Wakefield,
Hailu Regassa, Jane Fraser, Hussein Sarper, Neb Jaksic, and Sam
Ebersole for his successful consulting career, evidenced by
twice earning Employee of the Month honors in 2008.
While Songo thrives on his daily work of solving complex
and challenging problems that allow companies to be more
profitable, he admits that the perks of international travel
are not bad either! Besides Bologna where he resides, he’s
traversed Italy during his recent assignments, including trips
to the Vatican, Napoli, Pompei, Sicily, Lecce, Florence, Turin,
Brescia, and Milan.
S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 9 19

20 C O L O R A D O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y - P U E B L O

S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 9 21

In Memory
MONEY MATTERS
Marvin Carroll Knudson
(1908- 2009)
Former Pueblo Junior College and Southern Colorado State
College President (served from 1945-1964) Marvin Knudson died
from the effects of a stroke at Peoria, Arizona, on Aug. 1.
Armed with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from St. Olaf
College in 1931 and a master’s degree in education from the
University of Minnesota in 1933, Knudson taught and administered in secondary
schools and junior colleges throughout Minnesota from 1933-1945.
In 1945, he moved his wife, Margaret Elizabeth (Roberts) Knudson, and three sons
to Pueblo, Colorado, where he remained for nearly 20 years. He served as president
of Pueblo Junior College and led the transition as the school evolved to the four-year
Southern Colorado State College (now Colorado State University-Pueblo).
He later moved to Phoenix, Arizona, to lead the state’s junior college consortium,
where he established several new Arizona colleges and stimulated growth of the
state’s junior college system. In 1967, he took a post to lead YMCA-based Sinclair Junior
College in Dayton, Ohio, where in six years, he built a new campus and boosted student
enrollment from 400 to 12,000.
His wife preceded him in death in 1982. He later married Jane Cole Bronfenbrenner,
with whom he shared a zest for travel and community affairs for more than two
decades before her death in 2007. Knudson flew small planes until he was 80 and hiked
the Grand Canyon at least a half-dozen times, the last time at age 83!
Southern Colorado State College bestowed on him an honorary Doctor of Letters. He
served as President of the Pueblo Kiwanis Club in 1959, and also was a Mason, Shriner,
and elder in the Presbyterian Church USA. His will supported the Past President’s
scholarship established earlier by his sons through the Pueblo Community College
Foundation.
A memorial service was led by Rev. Luther Abrahamson at The Forum Chapel in
Peoria, Arizona on Aug. 3. Greetings to the family may be sent to: Doug and Judy
Knudson, 89 Fir Dr, South Fork, CO 81154-9504.
Roman Nava passed away July 9. He was employed in Financial Services from
August 2000 through July of 2006. Roman graduated from Centennial High School in
1994 and then USC in 1998 with an accounting degree. He loved spending time with his
family, cousins, nephews and nieces. He also loved to cook, watch the Denver Broncos,
drawing and playing sports.
Ed Peterlin, CPA, a former School of Business professor, passed away on April 16.
A 1946 Central graduate, he held a bachelor’s degree from CU-Boulder Business School
and a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, Certified Public
Accountant. He served the University as an accounting professor for more than three
decades from 1963 through 1995. He was a United States Army veteran.
Nancy Carol Weaver passed away May 24 after a 10-year battle with ovarian
cancer. She began work as a temporary classified employee for the Capital Campaign
office in 1985 and became a permanent classified employee in 1986. She transferred
to Continuing Education, where she remained until retirement in 1998. She was named
employee of the year in 1997 for her outstanding leadership and achievements. She
was a well-known animal photographer, and her photographs are exhibited even today
in top equine journals worldwide.
CSU-PUEBLO Foundation
Board of Trustees
Marvin Stein
President
Russell A. DeSalvo, III ‘91
Vice President
Ralph A. Williams, ‘61
Secretary
Victor Moss
Treasurer
Harvey M. Hilvitz, ‘53
Past President
Walter L. Bassett, Jr.
At-Large
Jeffrey E. Chostner
Rita Gersick
Greg Hahn, ‘73
Carole J. Lange
Joyce Lawrence
Jill Linck
Bob Leach
Susan McCarthy, FS
Gerry J. Montgomery
John J. Oechsle
Jane L. Rawlings
Gilbert A. Sanchez
Timothy Simmons, ‘69
James J. Wallace, ‘70
Ken W. West
David L. Williams, ‘71
Lisa Vigil, ‘06
FS - Former Student
Ex-Officio
Joseph Garcia
Trustees Emeriti
Walter L. Bassett, Sr.
Charles E. Brady - In Memoriam
Thomas V. Healy - In Memoriam
Richard A. Lawrence
John Occhiato
Ethelyn Potestio - In Memoriam
Robert H. Rawlings
Ben Weindling
Henry D. Williams
H. Eugene Wilcoxson, ‘47 - In Memoriam
Honorary
Seeme Hasan
Staff
DenaSue Potestio
Jenni Denton
Valerie Gallegos
Linda Hobgood
Todd Kelly
Shelly Moreschini
Julie Rodriguez
Tracy Samora
Executive Director
Manager of Gifts
and Records
Finance Manager
Administrative
Assistant
Athletics Development
Director, President’s
Leadership Program
Director of
Development
Director of Alumni
Relations and Annual Fund
22 C O L O R A D O S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y - P U E B L O

Foundation Welcomes Three Staff
The CSU-Pueblo
Foundation has filled three
positions dedicated to
alumni and development
operations. Puebloan Tracy
Samora has accepted
the position of Director
of Alumni Relations and
Annual Fund. Beginning
September 28, Samora
became responsible for
building relationships and
increasing alumni participation
by University’s 38,000+
ThunderWolf graduates and
former students. She will work
in collaboration with the
University’s development team
to actively manage a portfolio
of alumni volunteers and take
an active role in building pride
in the University, promoting the
value of being an alumnus/a,
and engaging current students
to prepare them for participation after
graduation. Pueblo native Julie C. Rodriguez
plans, implements and administers capital,
comprehensive, and mini-campaigns for
the University as well as administers the
private scholarship awarding and solicitation
process as the Foundation’s new director
of development. Jennifer Denton serves as
the initial steward for all charitable gifts, communicates with
donors and prospective donors, and coordinates donor honors
and events as Manager of Gifts and Records.
S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 9 23

Colorado State University-Pueblo
Alumni Association
2200 Bonforte Blvd.
Pueblo, CO 81001-4901
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PUEBLO, COLORADO
PERMIT NO. 25
Parents: If this address for your son or daughter
is not current, please notify the Alumni Office
at 719.549.2858 or email: alumni@colostate-pueblo.edu
website: www.alumni.colostate-pueblo.edu
University Calendar
Nov. 17 DSS: Actress Robin Givens, 7 p.m., Hoag Hall
23-27 Thanksgiving Break (Offices Closed, Nov. 26-27)
The CSU-Pueblo
ThunderWolves Marching
Band made its debut at
the Colorado State Fair
Parade on the morning
of Aug. 28. It quickly
made its way across town to the Neta and Eddie DeRose
ThunderBowl, where it performed at the first home football
game of the season. The same Friends of Football (FOF)
campaign that produced the stadium included the hiring of
Director of Bands Alan Mills and the start up costs for the
marching band program, including new instruments and
band uniforms.
Thank You FOF!
Dec. 2 Faculty/Staff Holiday Gathering
2 Alumni Board Meeting
7-11 Finals Week
23-Jan.3 Campus Closed for Holidays
Jan. 6 Alumni Board Meeting
11 Spring Classes Begin
20 DSS: Dolores Huerta, 8 a.m., Hoag Hall
27 DSS: Dinesh D’Souza, 7 p.m., Hoag Hall
27 Foundation Board Meeting
February 3 Alumni Board Meeting
10 DSS: Actor Danny Glover, 7 p.m., Hoag Hall
17 DSS: Nontombi Naomi Tutu, 7 p.m., Hoag Hall
18 DSS: Sarah Weddington, 7 p.m., Hoag Hall
March 3 Alumni Board Meeting
Mar.7-April 15 John Adams Unbound Exhibit, Hoag Hall Foyer
22-26 Spring Break
April 7 Alumni Board Meeting
14 DSS: Michael Eric Dyson, TBA, Hoag Hall
18 Spank Blasing Run/Walk/Spring Football Game
28 Foundation Board Meeting
May 1 Commencement, 10 a.m., State FairGrounds
22 President’s Scholarship Gala
DSS= Distinguished Speaker Series