Colorado State University-Pueblo MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2007

Mc Nelly Torres, ‘96
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Investigative Reporter Has Issues
Mc Nelly Torres has made a career of uncovering injustice, incompetence, and corruption as
a reporter for newspapers across the country since earning her bachelor’s degree from then
University of Southern Colorado in 1996.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she has traveled the world following her military husband,
David E. Torres, an army first sergeant who retired in 2005 after spending a one-year tour in
Iraq. They have two children, ages 18 and 14.
Torres currently covers consumer issues as a watchdog reporter for the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel. Previously, she wrote about the two million people in Miami-Dade County
and its massive $5.6 billion bureaucracy as a government reporter for the Sun-Sentinel. For
the San Antonio Express-News, she wrote about corruption in school construction, growth,
management, and public safety on the education beat for four politically contentious school
districts, including the largest inner city school system. While at the Morning News in South
Carolina, she garnered local and state awards for her investigative work on the loopholes with
the law and problems with the hog farm permit filing process. As a crime reporter in Oklahoma,
she wrote a three-part series illustrating the sheriff’s inability to solve homicides. The FBI has been
investigating the cases since her series was published six years ago.
Pueblo’s Hometown University Since 1933
Pauline Castillo, A03, is a nurse
practitioner for Southwest Family Care.
Kristina Faricy, A03, Tualatin, OR, is an
attorney.
Jayaprakash Gnanam, A03, Lakewood, is
a manufacturing engineer for Accellent Inc.
Emma Hopkins, A03, Pueblo, is the
commercial sponsorship coordinator for
Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs.
Scott Lewis, A03, Salt Lake City, UT, is a
claims representative for Allied Insurance.
Juan Morales, A03, Pueblo, published
his first book titled “Friday and the Year that
Followed.”
Brandie Wempe-Rick, A03, Manhattan,
KS, is pursuing a Ph.D. in adult education at
Kansas State University .
M.D. “Butch” Batchelder Jr., A04, Pueblo
West, is a student employment advisor for
Gorsich Advanced Technology Center at
Pueblo Community College.
Nick Bonham, A04, Pueblo, is a general
assignment reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain.
Julie Crain, A04, Pueblo West, is a realtor
for REMAX Pueblo West Inc.
Ryan Davis, A04, Pueblo, is a guest
services coordinator for Horn Creek
Conference Center in Westcliffe, CO.
Ryan Ito, A04, Pueblo, is the manager of
Pueblo Marketing for ENT.
Brian McCain, A04, Pueblo, is a
caseworker for Colorado Senator Wayne
Allard.
Melanie Rogers, A04, Pueblo, is a team
leader for Target.
Joan Shadinger, A04, Pueblo West, is
an artist and a personal art instructor who
was named artist of the month with her One
Woman Art Show through Vectra Bank’s
Artist of the Month.
David Spencer, 04, San Francisco, is a
parts and service analyst for Toyota Motor
Sales for the San Francisco Regional Office.
Felicia Beltran, A05, Pueblo, is a broker
associate for Keller Williams Performance
Realty.
Jessica Charles, A05, Phoenix, AZ, is an
Intensive Care Unit RN for the Mayo Clinic
Hospital.
Cara Dunsmoor, A05, Olathe, KS, is
the communications coordinator for USA
Athletics International Inc.
Brandi Halverson, A05, Avondale, is the
farm manager for Smiley Horse Farm.
Melissa Perea, A05, La Junta, is the head
softball coach for Otero Junior College.
Jeremiah Rash, A05, Pueblo, is the
project manager for Leverington and
Associates.
Pamla Sterner, A05, Pueblo, is a case
manger for Congressman John Salazar’s
Pueblo Office.
Lydia Hunter, A05, is pursuing a graduate
degree in library science at the University of
Denver.
Anny Flannery, A06, Colorado Springs,
is a Security Agent for the Hospital Shared
Services group.
LaTonya Reaves, A06, Colorado Springs,
is a workforce development advocate for
Youth Zone at Pikes Peak Workforce Center.
F - Faculty
FS - Former Student
A - Alumnus
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