metro magazine fall 2011

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THE LAND OF LAKES AND VOLCANOES PG. 10 ON EQUAL FOOTING PG. 20 IT’S ALL IN THE METRO STATE FAMILY PG. 14 FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE OF DENVER VOL. FaLL 2011 27

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Page 1: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

THE LAND OF LAKES AND VOLCANOES PG. 10

ON EQUAL FOOTING PG. 20

IT’S ALL IN THEMETrO STATE FAMILyPG. 14

FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE OF DENVER

VOL.FaLL 2011

27

Page 2: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

MetroWear Order Form

Credit card orders can be called in to 303-556-4286 or faxed to 303-556-8392. Include your card number and expiration date. Please reference code V27FALL2011.

FOr MAIL Orders: enclosed is my check payable to Auraria Campus Bookstore.

My mailing address

I can be reached at phone/e-mail

Questions? Call: 303-556-4286 Mail your order to: Auraria Campus BookstoreCampus Box T, P.O. Box 173361•denver, Co. 80217-3361

ITeM QTY TOTAL PrICeUNIT PrICesIZeCOLOr

Cost of Item(s) Ordered

Tax: • 7.72% for denver residents

• 3.9% for Metro area• 2.9% for the rest of Colorado

• No tax for out-of-state residents

Please add $7 shipping and handling per item.

TOTAL COsTPlease allow two to three weeks for delivery.

TM

www.aurariabooks.com

STUDENT &AUXILIARYSERVICES

The Alumni ColleCTion FAll 2011

LEFT TO RIGhT:Men’s hooded Full-Zip SweatshirtRedS, M, L, XL, $34.98

Women’s Long-SleeveT-shirt Grey S, M, L, XL $26.95

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Student models, left to right: John Paul MagnoJaimee RandoAlicia MedleyJeremy Rodriguez

MetroWear!

Page 3: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 1

///Contents

DEPARTMENTS

2 Letter from the President

3 Metrozoic Era

4 Newsworthy

24 Alumni Times

30 The Rowdy Report

32 Don’t Blink

Fall 2011 / Volume XXVII / Issue I

FAll 2011

20oN EquAl FooTiNg TheAccessCenterempowersstudentswithdisabilitieswithincredibletechnologyandalotofheart.

89 ANSwERS FormerNuggetBillHanzliktalksabouthislifeasaprofessionalathleteandhisroleasaMetroStatetrustee.

10ThE lAND oF lAkES AND volcANoESAnthropologistJulieReyessharestheexperienceshehadwithherstudentsandherdadinhisnativeNicaragua.

14iT’S All iN ThE METRo STATE FAMilyLegacyenrollments—parents,kids,siblingsandmore—areontheriseatMetroState.

Page 4: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

2 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2010

ExEcUTivE EDiToR Cathy Lucas

EDiToR Donna Fowler (’80)

ART DiREcToR/DEsigNERJulie Strasheim

gRAPhic DEsigNERRuth M’Gonigle

PhoTogRAPhERsDave NelighChris SchneiderJulie Strasheim

METRo MAgAZiNE EDiToRiAL BoARD Bridgette coble, Director of Career Services clay Daughtrey, Interim Assistant Dean of the School of BusinessJeffrey Forrest (’90), Professor and Chair of Aviation and Aerospace ScienceDonna Fowler (’80), Director of Internal CommunicationsMark Jastoroff Executive Director of the Alumni Associationcathy lucas, Associate Vice President of Communications and Advancementlunden MacDonald, Assistant Professor of Spanish carmen Sanjurjo, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education Julie Strasheim, Art Director, Creative Services

©2011MetropolitanStateCollegeofDenver.MetroMagazineispublishedthreetimesayearbytheMetropolitanStateCollegeofDenverOfficeofCommunicationsandCommunityAffairsforalumniandfriendsoftheCollege.Allrightsreserved.

Address correspondence to:MetropolitanStateCollegeofDenverMetroMagazineOfficeofCommunicationsandCommunityAffairsCampusBox86,POBox173362Denver,CO80217-3362

Please send letters to the editor, editorials and inquiries to:DonnaFowler,editor,[email protected].

E-mailalumniaddresschangesandClassActssubmissionsto:[email protected].

The opinions expressed in Metro Magazine do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions of Metropolitan State College of Denver nor imply endorsement by its officers or by the College’s alumni association.

Nondiscrimination PolicyMetropolitanStateCollegeofDenverdoesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofrace,color,creed,nationalorigin,sex,age,sexualorientationordisabilityinadmissionsoraccessto,ortreatmentoremploymentin,itseducationalprogramsoractivities.

Metro Magazine is printed on recycled paper.

Jessica Taves Mark Woolcott

MetroVision///Letter from the President

2 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

Dear Alumni and Friends,

The2011fallsemestergotofftoagreatstart,with115studentsenrolledinthefirstyearofourMaster’sinSocialWorkProgram.Thisbringsthetotalnumberofgraduatestudentsto250—afivefoldincreaseoverlastfallwhenourmaster’sinprofessionalaccountancyandteachereducationwerelaunched. Thegrowingsuccess

ofourgraduateprograms—whicharegeneratingrevenuefortheCollegeratherthanaddingtoourcosts—isoneindicatorthat,despiteagrimoutlookforstatefundingofhighereducation,ourinstitutionisthriving.AnotheristheincredibleaccomplishmentoftheMetroStatePrecisionFlightTeamandtheAviationandAerospaceScienceDepartment.TheyhavewontheprestigiousLoeningTrophy,thehighestnationalhonoraccordedtoacollegiateaviationprogram. Withthesupportofa$1milliongiftfromalocalphilanthropist—thelargestprivategiftinourhistory—wewillestablishtheOneWorld,OneWaterCenterforUrbanWaterEducationandStewardshipatMetroState.Settoopennextfall,thecenterwillofferaninterdisciplinarywaterstudiesminor,aswellasrelatedco-curricularactivitiesonurbanwaterissues. We’llalsobeestablishingaregionalEquityAssistanceCenter(EAC),thankstoatwo-yeargrantofmorethan$2million

fromtheU.S.DepartmentofEducation.TheMetroStateEACwillfocusonhelpingpublicschooldistrictswithissuessuchasschoolsafety,racialandsexualharassment,bullyingandthepromotionofscience,technology,engineeringandmathematics(STEM)education. Whileweareprogressingonnewinitiatives,weareretainingourfocusonmanyofourcoreofferingsandservingourevolvingstudentbody,32percentofwhomarenowstudentsofcolor,upfrom28percentlastyear.WearerevampingandreinvigoratingourHonorsProgram,growingourTeachingwithPrimarySourcesprogram,andseeingrecordenrollmentinourservice-learningAmericorpsprograms,tonamejustafewsuccesses. Meanwhile,theconstructionofourStudentSuccessBuilding(SSB)andHotelandHospitalityLearningCenter(HLC)continuesontimeandonbudget.IfyouhaveachancetoheadintodowntownalongAurariaParkway,youcan’tmissthetwo,bothopeningnextyearandfundedentirelywithouttaxpayerdollars Ilookforwardtoreportingtoyoumanymoremilestonesofprogressonourpathtopreeminence.Meanwhile,pleasekeepintouch.

Sincerely,

StephenM.Jordan,Ph.D.President,MetroState

Voices///Letters to the Editor

Editor:

Myson,Patrick,isthefifthperson,acrossthreegenerations,ofhisfamilytohaveenrolledinMetroState.Hecompletedhisfirstsemester,spring2011,withallfourA’s!Hefoundtheclassroomworkinterestingandeasy,butsomewhatrigorous.Sohegothelpwheneverheneededit. Atage28,Patrickisolderthanmanyofhisclassmates.Thatisbecausehegotalatestart.HegotaGEDat16.Thenheledasomewhatvagabondexistenceforabout10years,hitchhikingalloverthewesternU.S.Then,inthefallof2010,hecalledandsaidhewasreadytocomehometoColoradoandenrollinschool.Hewasreadytomakesomepositivechanges!Idon’tthinkthathehasdeclaredamajoryet,butIknowheisveryinterestedingoingintosocialworkto

becomeayouthcounselor.HeenrolledinMetroStatewiththatthoughtinmind.

We’reallveryproudofhim!

CherylMurphy(‘96)

Editor’s Note: Read about more Metro State families on p. 14.

Editor:

ThankyouforprintingtheexcellentletterfromBarbaraFox(Summer2011,p.2,regardingillegalimmigration).Sheissoright.

RichardHoos(’72)

Page 5: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 3

MetroState’spast,presentandfuture///MetrozoicEra

It was one of those rare rainy, overcast days in Colorado—a perfect day for decluttering. As I sat sorting through a dusty box of memorabilia, up popped a dog-eared script of “The Shadow Box” by Michael Cristofer.

Leafing through those worn and highlighted pages transported me back 24 years to my freshman year at Metro State. I remember reading an audition notice for the MSC Players’ production of Cristofer’s Tony award-winning play. With almost no acting background to speak of, it was a crazy idea to audition. Yet I did, and somehow I ended up with my first-ever lead role.

Before 1987, although a few theatre classes existed under the Department of Speech Communication, there was no theatre major or department. The scrappy and determined MSC Players, a student club, represented Metro State theatre as an extracurricular activity, along with various instructors

and others from the outside community who volunteered their time to produce, direct and oversee the process. We held club meetings in a Lilliputian-sized room in the Arts Building and performed in Arts 271, the black box theatre still used today for classes and student productions.

The same year I landed my first stage major role, Marilyn “Cookie” Hetzel, landed her role as theatre faculty member. With Hetzel at the helm, Metro State theatre began its arduous, yet grand evolution from student club to full-fledged Theatre Department, with Hetzel as its chair. Since 2003, the department has offered a bachelor of arts in theatre and a bachelor of fine arts with two concentrations—one in music theatre and one in applied theatre technology and design, as well as a minor in theatre.

With my degree in English and journalism, I went on to become a professional writer and editor, yet I never lost my love of theatre. As a local community actress, director and

producer, I simply can’t imagine my life without it. •

The grand evolution of Metro State theatre

BY VoNALDA UTTERBACk (’92)

Metro State Theatre Through the yearsn late 1960s -2010 – close to 200 plays produced, including student directing projects.

n April 1967 – “Viet Rock: A Folk War Movie” is performed.

n April 1989 – Professor Marilyn Hetzel directs her first musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The play’s writer/composer Clark Gesner attends, deeming it, says Hetzel, “one of the best performances he’s ever seen.”

n 2000 – The kenneth kendall king Academic and Performing Arts Center opens, giving Metro State theatre access to a technologically advanced black box theater, production studio and a 300-seat shared courtyard theatre.

n 2003 – Three theatre majors debut under the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences.

n 2009 – The Theatre Program becomes a full-fledged academic department and joins in a partnership with kaiser Permanente that offers a highly prized paid internship in which students perform in a professional educational theatre touring company.

n 2011 – Audiences can look forward to seeing “Tartuffe,” “Working,” “Rhinoceros” and “Sweeney Todd.”

(l to r) Vonalda Utterback (’92) performs for the Theatre Company of Lafayette (Colo). Marilyn Hetzel has shepherded the Theatre Program

since 1987. Students in the coveted Kaiser Permanente touring company. 2008 musicals: “A Chorus Line” and “The Wizard of Oz” (Dorothy and

the poppies).

Page 6: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Enrollment up among master’s candidates and students of color

EnrollmentinMetroState’s

master’sprogramsisupfivefoldthis

fall,from50studentslastyearto

250now.

Partoftheincreasecomesfrom

thelaunchthisAugustoftheMasterof

SocialWorkProgram,whichadded

115graduatestudentstothetotal.

Enrollmentintheprofessional

accountancyprogramtripled(from

16to57)andtheteachereducation

programmorethandoubled(from

34to78).

Alsoontheincreaseisthe

enrollmentofundergraduatestudents

ofcolor,whichnowstandsat31.6

percentofthestudentbody,upfrom

28.4percentlastfall.AndtheCollege

continuestoserveoneofitscore

constituencies,withalmostone-third

ofthestudentbodybeingfirst-

generation-to-collegestudents.

Meanwhile,theslightdropof0.7

percentinoverallenrollmentto23,828

studentsalignswiththeCollege’s

strategytoholditsnumberssteady

untilmoreclassroomspacebecomes

availablewhentheStudentSuccess

BuildingandtheHotelandHospitality

LearningCenteropennextyear.(Visit

www.mscd.edu/metrostaterising

forconstructionupdates). •

Newsworthy/// CollegeNews

wow! $1 million donation funds center for urban water education Metro state has secured a $1 million donation—the largest private donation in the college’s history—to establish the one World, one Water center for Urban Water Education and stewardship (oWoW center). “in Denver’s urban environment, water stewardship and sustainability are especially important and relevant topics,” says President stephen Jordan. “our donor’s generosity is a testament to the college’s ability to address these issues from its unique vantage point as an urban land-grant institution.” starting next fall, the oWoW center will offer an interdisciplinary minor in water studies that addresses the growing demand for water and the need for greater public education about this vital resource. The center will also hold public education seminars and water stewardship activities on campus and in the community. The center will work with a high-level community advisory group to ensure direct relevance of the program to statewide water needs and interests. The $1 million donation, which came from a local donor who wishes to remain anonymous, will seed the five-year pilot project. The college will also contribute funds to the oWoW center to lay the foundation for its long-term sustainability. •4 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

Page 7: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 5

Flight team wins national trophy MetroState’sDepartmentofAviationandAerospaceScience

hasbeenawardedtheLoeningTrophy,whichrecognizesthemost

outstandingall-aroundcollegiateaviationprograminthecountry.Itis

theoldestandmostprestigiouscollegiateaviationawardinthenation,

presentedannuallybytheNationalIntercollegiateFlyingAssociation

(NIFA)Foundation.

TheCollege’sPrecisionFlightTeamwonthetrophyatthe2011

SAFECON(SafetyandFlightEvaluationConference)competition

hostedbyOhioStateUniversityinMay.Theawardrepresents

excellenceinaeronauticalskillsandsetsthecurrentbenchmarkfor

anoveralloutstandingcollegiateaviationprogram.Keygrading

elementsoftheawardincludeacademics,communityinvolvement,

aviationskills,safetyandanabilitytoadvancetheprofession.

“Ourstudentshaveconsistentlybeenraisingthebarat

competitionsinrecentyears,bothregionallyandnationally,”says

JeffForrest,MetroStateprofessorandchairofaviationandaerospace

science.“I’msoproudofthemandourfacultywhoinspirethemto

performatsuchahighlevelofprofessionalism.”

Theperpetualtrophyismadeofpuresilver,designedby

Tiffany&Co.anddatesbackto1929.Itisnamedafteraviation

pioneerandinventorGroverLoening.•

New Equity Assistance center to help school districts throughout region MetroStateissettoestablisha

centerthathelpspublicschooldistricts

dealwithequityandcivilrightsissues,

thankstoamultiyear,multimilliondollar

U.S.DepartmentofEducationgrant.

AwardedbytheDOE’sEquity

AssistanceCentersProgram,thegrant

isanticipatedtototalmorethan$2

millionoverthreeyears.TheCollege

hasreceivedaninitialamountof

$681,931forthefirstyear.

“Meetingtheevolvingneeds

ofourschoolpopulationsrequires

specializedtrainingaroundissuesof

diversity,racial,sexandnationalorigin

discrimination,”saysPercyA.MorehouseJr.,

executivedirectorofequalopportunity/

assistanttothepresidentandthe

principalinvestigatoronthegrant.

ThenewMetroStateEquity

AssistanceCenter(EAC)willoffer

technicalassistanceandtrainingtopublic

schooldistricts,attherequestofschool

boards,indesegregationandequity

issues.Thecenterwillfocusonimproving

schoolsafety;decreasingtheincidence

ofracialandsexualharassmentand

bullying;andpromotingscience,

technology,engineeringand

mathematics(STEM)educationto

underrepresentedpopulations.

TheMetroStateEAC,one

ofonly10inthecountry,willserve

DOE’sRegion8,whichincludes

Colorado,Montana,North

Dakota,SouthDakota,

UtahandWyoming.•

Page 8: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Newsworthy/// CollegeNews

6 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

METRo STATE NEighBoRhooD coNTiNuES To gRow The land south of West colfax Avenue and west of Rio court near the Auraria campus is vacant now, with little more than chest-high weeds and aging utility poles. But by next year, Metro state will begin a makeover of the site, eventually turning this overgrown patch into a multimillion-dollar athletic facility, with tennis courts and fields for baseball, soccer and more. Metro state, the Auraria higher Education center, community college of Denver and the University of colorado Denver bought the 13.5 acres in 2008 for $16.5 million. in september, the Metro state Board of Trustees approved a deal that gives the college a greater stake in the land and paves the way for phased development of the property. Metro state will take over ccD’s and UcD’s obligations and gain 50 percent ownership. in return, the college will get

first priority use of the land, naming rights to facilities it builds there, and right of first refusal if Auraria wants to bow out. six tennis courts will be built by fall 2012. A timeline for two additional courts, baseball and soccer/recreation is being developed. softball will take over the current baseball field when it moves to the new property and there will be room for club and intramural sports. The college will be seeking private donations to help fund its plans for the land. The acquisition continues the building of the Metro state Neighborhood on the Auraria campus, which has begun with the construction of the student success Building, scheduled to open in spring 2012, followed by the hotel and hospitality center in fall 2012.•

The soccer and baseball fields, along with the tennis courts, that now flank Auraria Parkway will be moved to the land atthe southwestern edge of the Auraria Campus.

Page 9: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

#5.

METRo STATE NEighBoRhooD coNTiNuES To gRow

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 7

Trips to Ethiopia yield more partnership opportunities

TwoMetroStatedelegationstraveledtoEthiopiathissummer,underthe

MetroState-AksumUniversity(AkU)partnership.

TheCollegereceiveda$272,425U.S.

DepartmentofStategrantlastsummer

tosolidifythepartnership.Since

thepartnershipwasestablishedin2009,

theCollegehascollectedseventons

ofbooksforAkU,hostedtheMayor

ofAxumandparticipatedinfundraising

activitiestohelpbuildanewelementary

schoolinAdowa,Ethiopia.

InJune,InternationalStudiesDirector

AliThobaniledagroupoffivefacultyandstaff,

wholaidthegroundworkforastudy-abroad

opportunityfor15MetroStatestudentsatAkU

nextsummer.PresidentStephenJordanleda

seconddelegationinJuly,whichparticipatedin

theribbon-cuttingceremonyforthenewelementary

schoolandexploredadditionalopportunitiesunder

thepartnership.JordanalsodeliveredAkU’s

commencementaddress.•

Metro State students are “stars” to neighborhood kids

FourMetroStatestudentshelped

brightenthesummerforkidsintheLa

Alma/LincolnParkneighborhood,as

partofMetroState’sJourneyThrough

OurHeritage(JTOH)program.The

studentsdevelopedandimplemented

asix-weeksummerprogramatLaAlma

RecreationCenterfor25children,

ages5-11.

JTOHisaMetroStateprogramthat

partnersMetroStatestudentswithlocal

highschoolstudentsandengagesthem

inayear-longprogramthat

enhancestheircurrentpublicschool

curriculum.Itissponsoredbythe

Chicana/oStudiesDepartmentand

supportedbytheAfrican/African

AmericanStudiesDepartment.

“Ifitwerenotforprogramslike

these,thesekidswouldn’thave

achance,”saidMarineSgt.Dean

Sanchez(‘07,criminaljustice

andcriminology),whohas

beenvisitingthecenterregularly

sincehewasachild.“Iwouldn’t

havehadachance.”

MarketingmajorJay

Jaramillo,oneoftheMetro

Stateparticipants,saidthe

childrenwould“seestarsin

theireyeswhenwe(college

students)visited.Welet

themknowthatwegoto

collegejustdownthestreet

andthattheycandothe

same”whentheygraduate

fromhighschool.•

President Stephen Jordan delivered the address at Aksum University’s commencement in July and participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new elementary school in Adowa.

Page 10: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

8 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

Anyone who has lived in Colorado for awhile—

particularly those who are basketball fans—

recognizes the name Bill Hanzlik. After the

Seattle Supersonics traded him in 1982,

he played for the Denver Nuggets

for 11 years. The 6-foot

7-inch forward helped the

Nuggets reach the NBA

Playoffs eight times, and was

the Nuggets head coach in 1997-98.

In recognition of his athletic achievements,

Hanzlik was inducted into the Colorado

Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

But Hanzlik did much more for Denver than

play professional basketball. In 1986, the

Notre Dame graduate founded the Gold

Crown Foundation, dedicated to improving

the lives of Colorado’s children through

athletics and education. He also served on

the governing boards of several colleges

in Colorado. In January 2009, Hanzlik

was appointed to Metro State’s Board

of Trustees by then-Gov. Bill Ritter.

9 Answers [By Joan McDermott]

Page 11: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 9

“I consider undocumented students secular saints. I consider them the ultimate middle finger to all those bigots and no nothings who say, ‘Why can’t immigrants assimilate? Why can’t they go to college?’”

what do you think is the solution to the higher

education funding crisis in colorado, particularly in regards to its effect on Metro State?

I’mnotsureIhaveananswerforthatone.ThethingIseeisthevalueoftheinstitutiontothestate.You’reeducatingmorepeopleforlessrevenuethanjustaboutanyinstitutioninColorado.Thereisnomoreroomtocut.HigheredhasneverbeenfundedverywellbythestateofColorado.We’verankedanywherefrom45thto50thnationally,dependingonwhichsurvey,overtheyears.Thetuitionincreaseshavealreadycome,andIthinkthey’reheretostay.It’sgoingtogofrommorestatefundingtoindividualfunding.

you were a member of the Board of State colleges, which

governed Metro State along with three rural institutions, before you were appointed to our board. So you’ve been involved with the college for years. what do you see as the biggest change over the last decade?

Substantialgrowth.AtMetroStatemorethananywhere.Imean,theoldruleofthumbbackthenwaswe’llfundyoumore,togetkidsgoingtocollege.Sothat’swhathappened.Thecollegesworkedhardonit,andmorekidswenttocollege.Butnowyou’reeducatingmorewithlessrevenuebecauseofthebudgetcuts.Youknow,MetroStatedoeshavesomeuniqueadvantagesbeinginalargecity,analumnibasethatstaysinColorado,andthefoundationisthebestfoundationI’vebeenaround.

you’re the liaison right, with Metro State’s

foundation board? Yes,betweenthetrusteesandthefoundationboard.Theabilityofthefoundationtodomorethingsisreallygood.Anditshowsinsomeoftheuniquethingsthefoundationisdoing—theHotelandHospitalityLearning

how many years were you a professional athlete?

Elevenundercontract.TenIactuallyplayed.(The11thyearIgothurtthefirstdayoftrainingcamp.)

what do you consider your greatest moment as a

professional athlete?

Ihadonegame-winningshot.Thatwasinaplayoffgame,withtheNuggetsvs.theDallasMavericksinDallas.

how do you use your experience as a coach

to help guide the college as a trustee? I’mbigonteamwork.What’sneataboutthetrustees,theyallhaveareasofexpertise,andusethemtostrengthentheteam.Soyoulistentodifferenttrusteeswhenitcomestodifferentassessmentsofsituations,whetherit’slegislative,bondfinancing,academicaffairs,budgets,finance…Theteamworkisreallyfuntowatchinteract.

what have you learned about Metro State and its students

that you didn’t know before joining the board of trustees?

ThequalityofeducationatMetroStateissogood.I’mastoundedathowgoodtheprofessorsareandhowthewholeorganizationrunswithsuchalimitedbudget.

As a trustee you’re in support of changing our name to

include the word university. can you tell me why?

Ialwayslookatwhatisbestforthestudent.Having“university”inthenametakesawayanythoughtthatsometimescompaniesorindividualshavethatMetroisacommunitycollege.

Center,forexample,ishuge(www.mscd.edu/metrostaterising).It’sawaytobuildabuildingwithnostatedollars,nofederaldollars.We’vegotthechancetogeneraterevenue.Alittledropinthebucket,butstill,it’simpactful.Andthelocationisawesome.

Tell me about your gold crown Foundation, and

why you started it?

Wewerelookingtofillavoid.Therewasn’tareallygoodbasketballcampforgirls.We—mypartnerRayBakerandI—startedasaone-weeknonprofitgirlscampatMetroState.Ithinkthefirstyearwehadabout150girlsandwegavescholarshipstoabout50ofthem.Thatwasin1986.Wepaidthecoachesandthendonatedtheresttocharity.Sowedidthatforacoupleofyears,andthenwekindofthought,youknowratherthangivethismoneyaway,wethinkifwerollitbackin,wecandomorethings.Andthat’swhathappened.Wehadothercamps,leagues,programsandsoGoldCrowngrew.Nowweoperatebasketball,volleyball,golf—andthenationalwheelchairbasketballchampionshipsfortheSpecialOlympics.Weprovideabout35,000opportunities,meaningonekidinoneprogram,probably15,000to18,000uniqueindividuals.We’rebigbelieversthatyoucanteachalotoflifeskillsthroughsport:teamwork,character,commitment,responsibility—allthosethingsthatcanhelpkids.•

Joan McDermott has been director of athletics

at Metro State for 13 years. Under her tenure,

the Roadrunners have garnered six national

Division II championships.

[By Joan McDermott]

Page 12: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

10Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

The land of lakes andvolcanoes

[By Julie A. Reyes, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anthropology]

Page 13: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Clockwise: Vendors line the streets of Sebaco, a crossroads between Matagalpa and Managua. (l to r) Students Anne Latimer, Savannah Yapuncich and Natalya Hoff, Julie Reyes and her father Eddy at Casa Materna with a young mother who had just arrived from the hospital. Lake Nicaragua and the Mombacho volcano.

Julie A. Reyes led a study-abroad course this summer to Nicaragua, the country of her father’s birth and a region in which she had conducted countless hours of field work. Accompanying the group was the assistant professor of anthropology’s father, a 1997 Metro State teacher licensure graduate.

IfellinlovewithNicaragua,myfather’shomeland,onmyfirstvisitwithmyfamilyin1972,justmonthsbeforeamassiveearthquakedecimatedthecapitalcity,Managua.Manydecadeslater,myfirststudy-abroadexperienceasanundergraduatestudenttookplacethere,wheremydreamofbecomingananthropologistbegantogerminate,muchliketherichfoliagethatcontributestothedensecloudforestscoveringthecountry’snumerousvolcanoes.

AfterconductingresearchinNicaraguathroughthe1990s,Ihadanotherdream:toonedaytravelwithmyfatherbacktothecountryofhisbirth,toremindhimthateventhroughrevolutions,economicembargosandthefactthatitisthesecond-poorestnationintheWestern

Hemisphere,Nicaraguawillalwaysbeapartofwhoweare.In2007,thatdreambecamearealitywhenItraveledwithmyfathertoNicaragua.IwatchedinaweasDadtouchedthegroundonwhichhehadplayedasayoungboyforthefirsttimein35years.

Thissummer,anotherdream—21yearsinthemaking—cametrue.Itooksevenenthusiasticstudentsonaservice-learning,

study-abroadcoursetoNicaragua.Mydad,EddyReyes,accompaniedmystudentsandmeonthe14-daycoursecalledNicaragua:LandofLakesandVolcanoes,afittingtitleforacountry

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 201111

continuedonpage12

“It was a breathtaking, life-changing experience and I will remember it

for my entire life.” –student Allison Clark

The land of lakes andvolcanoes

[By Julie A. Reyes, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anthropology]

Page 14: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

12 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

knownforitsnumerouslakes,lagoonsandvolcanoes,whichnumbermorethan50.

Myobjectiveforthiscoursewastoprovidestudentsanopportunitytoapplyanthropologicalprinciplespreviouslylearnedintheclassroomtoacross-culturalunderstandingofNicaragua.Studentsexploredtheconnectionsbetweenhistory,politics,economics,foreignaid,tourismandecologytofurtherenrichtheirhistoricalandculturalperspectives.Additionally,Idesignedthecoursetoexpandthelearningprocessthroughservicelearningandexperientialeducation.

Mombacho, las isletas and the guardabarrancoThemajorityofthecoursetookplaceinGranadaandMatagalpa.Weekone,inGranada,comprisedseveralexcursionsdesignedtochallengethestudentsphysically,mentallyandsocially.ItwasinGranadathatthestudentsexperiencedthelandoflakesandvolcanoesfirsthand,wherewehikedthenearbyMombachovolcano.

Wefollowedthatexcursionwithanexhilaratingziplineridethroughthecanopyon2,000feetofcablestretchingbetween17platformssituatedfrom10feetto100feetabovetheforestfloor.

EveryonemarveledatthebreathtakingviewsofMombachoandthecoastofLakeNicaragua.Laterintheweek,wekayakedthroughthelittleislands(LasIsletas)inLakeNicaraguacreatedbyMombacho,whilethestudentsobservedtheirfirstcolorfulguardabarranco,thenationalbird.

Lectures,readingsandjournalwritingroundedouteachday.Oneafternoon,IinstructedthestudentstoconductfieldworkbyheadingoutinthestreetsofGranada,observingapublicculturalphenomenonandlatersharingtheirwrittenreflectionsabouthowthatexperienceprovidedadifferentperspectiveofNicaraguathanfromtherequiredreadingsalone.

Sevendayslater,weheadedtoMatagalpa,locatedinthecentralmountainsofNicaragua.There,thestudentsworkedandinteractedwithapproximately20youngmothersfromCasaMaterna,anongovernmentalorganizationthatseekstoreducematernalandinfantdeathratesintheMatagalparegionbyprovidingpre-natalandpost-natalcareandeducationformotherswithhigh-riskpregnaciesfromruralareas.

“Every day of the trip was filled to the brim with experiences and discussions

the challenged my mind and heart.”

–student Anne Latimer

Page 15: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Four generations at Selva NegraThemostmeaningfulservicelearning,however,tookplaceatSelvaNegra,acoffeeplantationnestledamongmountainousvirgincloudforests,wheretroopsofhowlermonkeys,bellowingtheirdeepcallsaboveourheads,liveamongmorethan200speciesofbirds,manyendemictoNicaragua.SelvaNegraisanorganiccoffeefarmthatemploys250fulltimeworkersandprovideshousing,threemealsaday,ahealthclinicandaschoolforchildrengradesK-6.Manyoftheworkersandtheirfamiliesstayonatthefarmlongaftertheirschooling,asisevidencedbyfourgenerationslivingandworkingtheretoday.

IfirstvisitedSelvaNegraintheearly1990s,whereImettheownersofthefarm,EddyandMausyKuhl,withwhomIhavemaintainedacloserelationshipeversince.TheKuhlshadtoldmethattheworkersinthevegetablegardenswantedtoknowmoreabouturbanfarmingtechniqueslikeshallowpoolgardening,basicwickgardeningandwadingpoolgardening.Eachofthesemethodsareinexpensive,requirenoenergyormovingparts,instrumentsoranalysis,andaremadefromlocalmaterials,recycledifpossible.Mystudents’well-researchedpresentationtotheworkersaboutthesetechniqueswassincerelyappreciatedandpromptedavigorousandfruitfuldiscussion.

Asmuchasmystudents,myfatherandIenjoyedthetripthusfar,ourtimespentwiththegardenersandfamilieswasthemostrewardingofall.Weworkedsidebysidetoplanttomatoes,peppersandgreenbeansintheexhilaratingtropicalrainfall,listeningtothesounds

ofchildrenplayingandlaughing,ourhandsfullofmoist,richandfertilesoil.Itwasaprivilegeformystudentsand

metobewelcomedintotheworkers’homes,andwalkthroughtheirgardens,experiencingtheirdailyactivities.EddyandMausyalsohadaskedthatwebringusedclothingandsuppliesfortheschoolchildren.So,severalweeksbeforeourdeparture,myfather(ateacherintheDenverPublicSchools)requesteddonationsofchildren’sSpanishbooksandclothing,whichamountedto11stuffedsuitcasesthateachofuscheckedanddeliveredtoSelvaNegra.Aswedeliveredthebookstotheschoolonechillymorning,weweretoldthattherewasnolibraryintheschool,andthesebookswouldbethefirsttoestablishachildren’slibrary.Mystudentsandfamilyweresincerelymovedbythisaspectofservicelearning,realizingthatthissimpleactofgivingwouldbeacontinuoussourceofjoyandknowledgeforthechildrenformanyyears.

AswewereleavingSelvaNegra,EddyKuhlcamewithbouquetsofbeautifulflowersforallofus,courtesyoftheworkers’gardens.Withsincereappreciation,hesaidthatsincetheyhadpurchasedthecoffeefarmin1975,wewerethefirstinternationalgroupthatcametoworkwiththeworkers,notforthem.Icouldnotaskforamoreappropriatevalidationforthecourse.•

“You came to Nicaraguafor discovery, adventure

and learning. You are leaving with a fire

in your belly that will guide you in your search to fulfill

what is needed and wanted in our world.

Keep the fire alive and tattoo in your souls the noblest of virtues:

to better the human condition.”

–Eddy Reyes (’97)

Clockwise: Eddy Reyes and student Shawn Griffin kayak on Lake Nicaragua. Selva Negra owners Eddy and Mausy Kuhl provide a K-6 school for the children of their employees. Four generations live and work at the coffee farm. Students Shawn Griffin (in cap) and Allison Clark (red coat) teach an urban farming technique.

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 13

Page 16: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

14 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

iT’S All iN ThE

Since Strickland siblings Col. Laura Richardson (’86), Dr. Janis Coffin (’94) and Darwin Strickland (’95 and ’96), shown above in 2007, graduated, the trend of family members attending Metro State—called legacy enrollments—has grown dramatically.

Col. Richardson, now commander of Ft. Hood and nominated for promotion

to Brigadier General, credits her father with encouraging his children to attend Metro State. “He never dictated where

we should go, but knew that Metro State had smaller class sizes and that you got

to know your professors one-on-one.”

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Metro State Family

Page 17: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 15

continuedonpage16

OnJuly21,whenCol.LauraRichardson(’86)acceptedcommandoftheU.S.ArmyOperationalTestCommandatFt.Hood,shebecamethefirstwomanintheArmy’shistorytodoso.

Col.Richardsonisaccustomedtofirsts.ShewasthefirstwomantocommandFt.Meyer(nowJointBaseMeyer-HendersonHall);Lauraandherhusband,nowBrigadierGeneralJimRichardson,werethefirstmarriedcoupletocommandbattalionsatthesametimeinthesamedivisionduringtheUnitedStates’initialinvasioninIraq;andshewasthefirstofthreesiblingstograduatefromMetroState.(Afourthsibling,Elaine,didnotattendtheCollege.)

Richardson,who’sbeennominatedforpromotiontoBrigadierGeneralherself(hernominationawaitsU.S.Senateapproval),hersisterJanisCoffin,M.D.(’94)andbrotherDarwinStrickland(’95and’96),areamongaburgeoningnumberofalumniwhohavemadeMetroStateafamilyaffair.

“MydadwasabigsupporterofMetroState,”Richardsonexplainsofhersiblings’decisiontoattend.“Heneverdictatedwhereweshouldgo,butheknewthatMetroStatehadsmallerclasssizesandthatyougottoknowyourprofessorsone-on-one.JanisandDarwinwentforthesamereasonIdid,theROTCprogramsarewonderful,therearetonsofclassestochoosefromandyou’reindowntownDenveronthisbeautifulcampus.”

Family mattersPushingtowardits50thanniversary,MetroStateisnowofanagewherelegacystatusisstartingtomatter.In“college-speak”alegacyisaprospectivestudentorcurrentstudentwithafamilymemberwhoattendsorgraduatedfromthesamecollege.Traditionallycollegesanduniversities(evenfraternitiesandsororities)favoredlegaciesforadmission.Thereasonsrangefromassumingfamilymemberssharecharacteristics,whichmakethemgoodinstitutionalfits,tocultivatingdonationsfromwealthyalumniparentsbyadmittingoffspring.

ArecentstudybyaresearcheratHarvardUniversitydemonstratedthatlegacypreferenceshaven’tdisappearedwithfreshmanbeanies.Harvarddoctoralstudent,MichaelHurwitz,showedthatat30highlyselectivecolleges,legacy

statusconferreda23.3percentage-pointadmissionadvantage.RichardD.Kahlenberg,aseniorfellowattheCenturyFoundationandauthorofthebook,“AffirmativeActionfortheRich:LegacyPreferencesinCollegeAdmissions,”hasderidedthepractice,whichfavorsstudentsfromfamilieswithstrongeducationaloraffluentbackgroundsas“fundamentallyunfair.”

ThoughMetroState’smodifiedopen-enrollmentpolicy(legacystatushasabsolutelynobearingongettingintoMetroState)makesitaprofoundlydifferentcollegefromeliteindependents—theHarvardsandPrincetonsoftheworld—theCollegenonethelesstrackslegacyrelationshipsonstudents’applicationsforadmission.Theapplicationasks:“ListanyfamilywhohasattendedMetroState,nameandrelationship.”

Itturnsout,mostapplicantsdon’tanswerthequestion,saysOfficeofInstitutionalResearchDirectorEllenBoswell(’77),butthenumbersarestillilluminating.Infall2000MetroStatehad826studentswhoprovidedlegacyinformationor4.67percentofthestudentbody.Fall2010saw1,951studentsor8.15percentindicatetheir

iT’S All iN ThE

Metro State Family

“we have parents

going to school with

their kids

at the same time

and graduating at

the same time.”‑Alumni Association

Executive Director Mark Jastorff

BYLESLIEPETROVSKI[]

Page 18: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Professor Peggy O’Neill‑Jones (far right), while not a Metro State graduate herself, is responsible for her two daughters, a sister,a son in‑law and a step grandson choosing Metro State. (l to r) Kerry Jones (’02), Anne O’Neill (’07), Jack Wagy, Kelly Jones‑Wagy (’05). Not shown: grandson Keith Jones.

16 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

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ProgramhousedattheCollege.“Mygirlscouldhavegoneanywhere,buttheychoseMetroState.”

Educating colorado familiesBecauseoftheCollege’saccommodatingadmissionpoliciesanddiversityacrossage,ethnicityandsocio-economics,atMetroStatetheword“legacy”connotessomethingmoreegalitarianandmeritocraticthanitmightataschoolwithdifferentdemographics.Insteadofperpetuatingtheprivilegesoftherichandhautebourgeoisie,MetroStateispromotingalegacyofsocialmobilitythatlooksalotliketheAmericandream.

WhenRoyAlexander(’74,accounting)immigratedtotheUnitedStatesfromGrenada,helivedwithhisgreatauntinNortheastDenverforninemonthswhileplanninghisnextmove.Anxiousforahighereducationandlackingacar,hetooktheadviceofacousinandenrolledatMetroState.

“Icouldgettherebypublictransportation,itwasaffordableandgoodquality,”Alexandersays,“andthat’sallittookformetoendupthere.”Likemanyofhisclassmates,Alexanderbalancedworkwithhispursuitofanaccountingdegree.Helandedhisfirstpost-collegejobatthen-BigEightaccountingfirmToucheRoss(nowDeloitteToucheTohmatsuLimited),afteroneofhisprofessors,RussellBean,chidedhimfornotattendingtheon-campusrecruitingsessions.

“Hesaid,‘CometomyofficeandI’llgiveyoubusinesscardsforafewofthebigCPAfirms.Justcallthemanddon’tbeafraidtousemyname.’

“Ididcallandinterviewedwiththreeofthemandgotthreeoffers.IfDr.Bean

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 17

continuedonpage18

(l to r) Roy Alexander (‘74) and his son Ian, who’s studying electrical engineering technology, aren’t the only family members with Metro State ties. Two of Roy’s siblings as well as his mother in-law earned their degrees here.

legacystatus.Eitherstudentsaremorewillingtosharetheirfamilyconnectionsonadmissionapplications,ortherearemorelegaciesgoingtoMetroState.

ThattherearemorestudentswithMetroStatehistoriesmakesperfectsense:Withthegoldenanniversarylooming,MetroStatehasenoughyearsbehindittohavematriculatedseveralgenerationsofColoradans—Boomers,XersandMillennials,nottomentionnontraditionalstudentsharkeningbacktotheGreatestorSilentGenerations.It’snotunthinkablethatsomeoftoday’sstudentshavereceivedRowdynudgesfromenthusiasticalumnigrandparents.

“Anecdotally,overtheyearsworkingwithstudents,Ihaveencounteredquiteafewwhotellme,forinstance,thattheirmom,dad,brother,sister,etc.,alsoattendsorattendedhere,”saysDirectorofAdmissionsandOutreachVaughnToland.“Thisgavemetheimpressionthatit’sfairlycommonforfamilymemberstoattendhereaswell.”

AstheCollegelookstopositionitselfforthenearfutureandfurtherrefineits

brand,itshistorycanplayarole.Whenmultiplesiblingsormulti-generationsfromthesamefamilyselectMetroState,itsendsapowerfulmessage:SuddenlyMetroStateisn’tjustacollegeofopportunity,it’sacollegeofchoice.

“TwoofmydaughterswenttoMetroState,”saysPeggyO’Neill-Jones,professoroftechnicalcommunicationandmediaproductionwhodirectstheLibraryofCongressTeachingwithPrimarySourcesWesternRegion

“My dad went here,

my grandma went here,

my aunt and uncles.

i used to come to

Metro State basketball

games with my dad.”‑student Ian Alexander

Page 20: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

“Thefamilylegacyhereisbig,”Ianexplainsofhisdecisiontotransfer.“Mydadwenthere,mygrandmawenthere,myauntanduncles.IusedtocometoMetroStatebasketballgameswithmydad.Iwashomesick.IhaveseveralfriendshereatMetroStateandIwantedtobeatschoolwithpeopleIknew.”

TheSalazarfamily,too,hasastronglegacyatMetroState.Asayoungwoman,HopeHernandez-Salazar(’78,educationandSpanish),thewifeofU.S.SecretaryoftheInteriorKenSalazar,aspiredtobethefirstpersonfromherfamilytograduatefromcollege.Thoughhermomsupported

18 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

hadn’tseenpotentialinme,hewouldn’thavegivenmethosecards.WheneverIspeak—andIrecentlywasthekeynotespeakerattheMetroStatescholarshipawardsdinner—Itrytomentionhim.”

TodayAlexanderisaheavilyinvolvedcommunityleaderandtheformerchiefexecutiveofficerandexecutivedirectoroftheColoradoHousingandFinanceAuthority—aswellasthefatherofcurrentMetroStatesenior,IanAlexander,anelectricalengineeringtechnologymajorwhotransferredtotheCollegeafterayearatNorthCarolinaAgriculturalandTechnicalStateUniversityinGreensboro.

InadditiontoIan,twoofAlexander’ssiblings,ClaudiaAlexanderSamuel(’90)andIvorAlexander(’90)oftheDenver-basedengineeringfirm,Samuel

Engineering,graduatedfromMetroState,asdidhismother-in-law,ArceniaDavis(’76).Otherrelatives,includingAlexander’swifeSheryl,havetakenclassesattheCollege.

A strong legacy: Hope Hernandez-Salazar (’78) and her daughter Andrea are just two of several Salazar family members who have graduated from or are attending Metro State.

“My experience there gave me the ability to

recommend Metro State to other family members who changed their lives, my sister, nephew and

now my daughter, all of them might not

have completed or continued their educations

without Metro State.”‑Hope Hernandez‑Salazar (’78)

Page 21: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

themthingstodoandtheycantelluswhattheywanttosee.”

AnneO’Neillisacaseinpoint.AmemberoftheMetroStateAlumniAssociation,O’Neillisteachinginhospitality,tourismandeventsmanagementthisfallasanaffiliateprofessor.“Idon’twanttounderstatethis,butMetroStatechangedmylife,”shesays.“I’vetriedreallyhardtogiveback.Theygavemeaneducationwhenmywindowofopportunityhadclosedonmanythings.Theteachersandstaffandinstitutiongavemealegup.And,mysister,she’smybiggestsupporter.”

Birds of a featherTheOfficeofAlumniRelationsisintheprocessoflaunchingaBirdsofaFeatherLegacyProgramtocollectbetterdataonlegaciesaswellascelebratetheCollege’suniquelegacytradition.“Wehaveparentsgoingtoschoolwiththeirkidsatthesametimeandgraduatingatthesametime,”hesays,“andwewanttocelebratethat.”

AlumniRelationswillbeinstitutingaFamilyoftheYearrecognitionprogramandareconsideringwaystohonorlegacyenrollmentsatFreshmanOrientationandotherevents.

Thealumniboardby-lawsdefineanalumasanyonewhohastakenaclassatMetroState.“OneoutofeveryfourcitizensinColoradohashadaclassatMetroState,”Jastorffsays.That’sagiganticwebandweneedtocapitalizeonthat.”•

Editor’s note: Have a legacy story of your own? Share it atwww.mscd.edu/alumni/birdsofafeather.

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 19

herdecision,herfathertookthetraditionalposition,“You’rejustagirl.Whydoyouneedacollegedegree?”

SinceSalazar’sgraduation,hersisterSuzanneYamashita(‘94)andnephewGabrielSalazar(‘03)havegraduatedfromtheCollege,andheryoungestdaughter,Andrea,iswellintoherhospitality,tourismandeventsmanagementstudies.

“Itwasclosetohomeandconvenient.MyfirstsemesterthereIwaspregnantwithmydaughter,”Andreaexplains.“IdecidedtocontinuebecauseIdidsowellandIlikedthecampusandthepeopleandtherearesomanychoices;youcandoanythingyouwantatMetroState.”

“Myexperiencethere,”Salazarsays,“gavemetheabilitytorecommendMetroStatetootherfamilymemberswhochangedtheirlives,mysister,nephewandnowmydaughter,allofthemmightnothavecompletedorcontinuedtheireducationswithoutMetroState.”

The ties that bindWhenAnneO’NeillacceptedherdiplomafromhersisterPeggyO’Neill-Jonesinspring2007therewereprobablyfewdryeyesonthedais.

“Thatwasprobablyoneoftheproudestmomentsofmylife,”shesays.“Wehada$20betonwhowasgoingtostartcryingfirst.Itwaswayfunandwayspecial.”

O’Neillhadspent21yearsworkinginmyriadhigh-levelpositionsrangingfromoilaccountingtoowningherownbusinesstosalesandmarketing,andwhatshelikedmostaboutthesepositionswasplanningevents.Presentedwithachancetoreinventherlife(“that’sLatinfor,Igotadivorce,”shesays),O’Neill,sittinginhersister’sMetroStateoffice,decidedtogetahospitality,tourismandeventsmanagementdegree,adegreeshe

hassinceleveragedintoacareerasanaccountmanageratTheMeetingEdge.(Readthisissue’sAskanAlumbyAnneO’Neillonp.25.)

“We’repracticallytheMetroStatefamily,”shejokes.HernieceandO’Neill-Jones’daughter,KerryJones(’02),whowentontogetamaster’sinmechanicalengineeringfromtheColoradoSchoolofMinesandnowisaqualityassuranceengineerforBelleBonfilsMemorialBloodBank,helpedO’NeillgetthroughmathatMetroState.KellyJones-Wagy(’05),O’Neill-Jones’seconddaughter,earnedadegreeineducationandhistoryandcurrentlyteachessocialstudiesatOverlandHigh

School.Nowherhusband,JackWagy,aftertwotoursinIraq,isaMetroStateaccountingmajor.O’Neill-Jones’stepgrandson,Keith,isalsoattendingMetroState.

MarkJastorff,MetroState’sexecutivedirectorofthealumniassociation,isinterestedinlegacystoriesliketheO’NeillsandtheJoneses,becausenotonlydotheyshapetheCollege’snarrative,theyalsorepresentalumnitiesthatarepotentiallytighterthanthoseofone-offgrads.

“Legacieshavedifferentlevelsofloyaltiesinfundraising,legislativeadvocacyandrecruitment,”Jastorffsays.“ThereisamuchstrongersenseofloyaltynotjustbecauseofwhattheCollegedidforyou,butbecauseofwhatitdidforyourmomoryourbrother.Ifwecanidentifythosefolks,wecangive

“we’re practically the Metro State family.”

‑Anne O’Neill (’07)

Page 22: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

on equal footing By JULiE LANcAsTER

20 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

Metro State’s Access center

doesn’t just provide assistance

to students with disabilities, it

empowers them.

Page 23: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

on equal footing By JULiE LANcAsTER

WhenWayneMarshall(’07,humanservices)attendedcollegeforthefirsttime,hewasfullysighted.Afterearninganassociate’sdegreeincommunicationsatSt.LouisCommunityCollege,heworkedforthephonecompanyforafewyears.

Buthisvisionwasdeterioratingduetothegeneticconditionretinitispigmentosa,andherealizedheneededtochangecareers.BythetimeheenrolledatMetroStatein2005,hewasconsideredlegallyblind.

“IknewthatIneededsomehelpfiguringthisout,”hesays.MetroState’sAccessCenterforDisabilityAccommodationsandAdaptiveTechnologyequippedMarshallwithscreen-reading(text-to-speech)technologytoaccessinstructionalmaterialsandtestingaccommodations(areader/scribetoreadhimthetestquestionsandwritehisanswers).

“TheAccessCenterwasveryresourcefulinhelpingme,”hesays.“Igainedalotofvaluableexperiencethatassistedmenotonlywithmyeducationbutalsoinmyprofessionalcareer.”

TodayMarshallisacasemanagerandseniorservicesfacilitatorattheColoradoCenterfortheBlind.

Follow the yellow tileLocatedintheAurariaLibraryatthefarendofayellowrubbertilepathwaythatstartsnearthelibraryentrance—avisualguideandatactileoneforthoseusingcanes—theAccessCenterisasmalldepartmentwhoseworkpermeatesthecampusandhasrepercussionsfarbeyond.

TousetheAccessCenter’sservices,studentsmustidentifythemselvesashavingadisabilityasoutlinedintheADA(AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct).SinceADAprovisionsaredifferentfromthosethatgovernK-12schools,thecenterhelpshighschoolstudentsmakethetransitionthroughitsannualSTEPevent,inwhichstudentsvisitcampustolearnaboutadaptivetechnology.Thecenteralsopresentsa10-weekadaptivetechnologyclassforhighschoolers.

LedbyDirectorGregSullivan,thestaffincludessevenemployeespluspart-timereader/scribes,studentworkersandstudentinterns.Thisteamworkswithsome1,300MetroStatestudentswithdisabilitieseachsemester—apopulationthatisshifting,accordingtoGregRoot,AccessCenterassistantdirector.

“Today85to90percentofthestudentsweservehavehiddendisabilities,and

mayhavedifficultywithreading,writingandtakingtests,”saysRoot.“Andit’snotjustlearningdisabilitiesandADHD(attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder);thereisagrowingsegmentofmentalillnessessuchasTBI(traumaticbraininjury)andPTSD(post-traumaticstressdisorder),especiallywithourreturningvets.”

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 21

continuedonpage22

Wayne Marshall (’07) credits the Access Center with his career at

the Colorado Center for the Blind.

Assistant Director Greg Root says there’s a growing population of veterans with

traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Page 24: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

“Intheoldendaysyouwerelimitedtohard-copyBrailledocumentsthatwerelargeandcumbersometocarryaround,”saysJenniferMaxwell,ajuniorcomputersciencemajor.Shehascerebralpalsyandblindnessandusesapowerchair.Shehasbeenusingaccommodationsherwholelife.

Adaptivetechnology“reallyprovidesanequalfootingintermsofmyacademicsuccess,”Maxwellsays.AnAccessCenterintern,shehopestoworkintheareaofadaptivetechnologyandhighereducation.

“IhaveattendedotherschoolsandMetroStateisexceptionallyefficientandwellstructuredasfarasgettingmetheaccommodations,teachingmeaboutwhattoolsImaynotbeusingbutcouldbeusing,andempoweringmetomanageitmyself,”shesays.•

academicstandards.It’stheclassroomequivalenttothearchitecturalprinciplesthatledtocurbcutsandramps.TheAccessCenteroffersextensiveUDLresourcesandtrainingforfaculty.

“Weshowthem,forexample,”Ozisays,“thatmakingaPowerPointfileaccessibletakesfivemoreminutesatthebeginning,whereasmodifyingafileafterthefactcantakeoneandahalfhours.”

Oziandhisteamworkwithapproximately700print-disabledstudentspersemester.Theycut,scanandedittextbooksintoalternativeformatsanddotheirbesttotackleinaccessiblehandouts,PowerPoints,PDFsandlibrarye-reserves.Gradually,moreandmorefacultymembersarelearninghowtoprovideaccessibledocumentsfromtheget-go,Oziadds.

Besidesmagnificationandread-aloudtechnology,thecenterprovidesstate-of-the-artsoftwarethathighlightsandpronounceswordsonscreenoneatatimeandconvertstexttoaudiofiles.Anothertechnologyproducestextfromastudent’sdictation,anda“smartpen”recordslecturesandturnshandwrittennotesintoaudiofiles.

AccordingtoadaptivetechnologyspecialistSelimOzi,MetroStateisthe“know-how”schoolinColoradoandtheentireRockyMountainareaforaccessibility.“TheAccessCenterprovidesassistivetechnologytrainingtotheRockyMountainStatesDisabilityServicesConsortium,DenverPublicSchools,UniversityofColoradoDenverandCommunityCollegeofDenver.Wealsoprovidecomputeraccesstoallstudentsoncampus,notjusttheMetrostudents.Wereallyareontopofthis.”

Inadditiontothetechnologyavailableatthecenteritself,thestaffhasinstalledassistivetechnologyon400studentlaptopsandinall12oftheCollege’scomputerlabs.

Inspring2012,thecenterwilllaunchMetroState’sown“virtualdesktop”forstudentswithdisabilities—acapabilitycurrentlyofferedonlybysuchlargeuniversitiesasStanford,HarvardandMIT.Itwillenablestudentstologonandaccessassistivetechnologyfromanywhereintheworld.

RootcreditstheCollege’scommitmenttoaccessibilityasaprimaryreasonforMetroState’sprominenceinthisarea.“Wegetagreatdealofsupportfromthisinstitution,”hesays,“andthatisreflectedinwhatstudentshaveavailabletothem.”

Anotherreason,accordingtoRoot,isthatmostschoolsdon’thaveanITprofessionallikeOziworkingasanadaptivetechnologyspecialist.Oziisquicktoaddthatthecenter’sdedicatedstudentworkershelphimstayabreastofthelatesttechnology.

universal Design for learningWithcoursematerialoftenpresentedinrelativelyinaccessibleformats—didyouknowPDFsareinaccessibletoscreen-readingsoftware?—thecenter’snewestpassioniseducatingfacultyinUniversalDesignforLearning(UDL).

UDLisasetofinclusiveinstructionalstrategiestobenefitabroadrangeoflearners,includingstudentswithdisabilities,withoutcompromising

Jennifer Maxwell: Adaptive technology provides an equal footing for

her academic success.

With the help of adaptive technology specialist Selim Ozi, the Access Center

provides training to other institutions and school districts.

22 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

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“Receiving the scholarship was my ‘light bulb’ that i’m doing the right thing and i’m on the right path.” – Lesley Williams Criminal justice and criminology major Recipient, Pre‑Law Endowed Scholarship, funded by Rob (’97) and Lee Ann Morrill

Thanks to the generosity of Metro State supporters like the Morrills, Lesley Williams, a 36-year-old single mother, and other students are able to continue their education at Metro State.

Please visit www.mscd.edu/giving/donors to see the complete list of individuals, corporations and foundations who make up our Donor Honor Roll for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 23

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24 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

hasanumberofchoicesforalumnivolunteeringathisvariousalmamaters,yethechoseMetroState.“WhenIlearnedabouttheopeningonMetroState’salumniboard,IembracedthechancetobeanactivepartoftheMetroStatealumnicommunity.Iseebothmyteachingandmyboardmembershipasanimportantopportunitytoserveandgiveback.”

Recentlybestowedthe2011AlumniRecognitionMakingaDifferenceawardforhiscontributionstothecommunity,hon. chris Melonakis (’74,economics)isalsodelightedtojointheboard.“I’mreachingtheendofmycareerandwelcomethechancetogivebacktomycollegewhileIstillhavetheenergyandresourcestodoso,”saysMelonakis.AsanAdamsCountydistrictjudge(inthe17thJudicialDistrict)since1998,Melonakisisnostrangertopublicservice.HelpingtoformtheIntegratedFamilyDrugCourttocombatdrugaddictionamongmothersofyoungchildrenisbutoneofhismanypastprojects.Inturninghistimeandattentiontotheboard,hefeelsitis“vitalthatthealumniboardworkstoinsurethattheCollegemaintainscontinuityinouridentityasanurbanschoolwitharichheritageofprovidinganopportunitytopeoplewhomightotherwisehavelittleornochanceforacollegeeducation.”

Joseph Sanchez (’06,mechanicalengineeringtechnology),amechanicalengineerwithNorthropGrummanCorp.inAuroraishappytostrengthenhisconnectiontoMetroStatethroughserviceonthealumniboard.Sanchezhasahistoryofinvolvementinco-curricularprogramsandactivismasastudent,sohisappointmentasanalumniboardmemberseemsanaturalfit.“In2006IwassurprisedandhonoredtoreceivetheStephanM.HayLeadershipAward,giventotheoutstandingstudentwhocreatesmeaningfulchangesinthelivesofotherstudentsattheCollege,”hesays.“IwillhelponthealumniboardwhereverIamneeded,butIwouldliketobeinvolvedinreachingouttorecentalumni,aswellaspromotingtheassociationtonewgraduates,andfindingadditionalwaystohelpalumniaftergraduation.”

Michael Miera (’80,bilingualstudies)washonoredasMetroState’sDistinguishedAlumnusfor2011.MierahasstrongtiestotheCollege,havingworkedinMetroState’sOfficeofAdmissionsfor20years.CurrentlyCityandCountyofDenvercommunitydevelopmentrepresentativefortheOfficeofEconomicDevelopment,heismostproudof10yearsagohelpingfoundtheLaRazaYouthLeadershipConferenceProgram,whichpresentsanannualconferenceandfive-monthleadershiptrainingforLatino/ayouth.“IwasmotivatedtoserveonthealumniboardafterIreceivedtheDistinguishedAlumniAward,”saysMiera.“MetroStatehashadaverypositiveimpactonmylife.Iwanttogivesomethingbacktothecollege.” •

Morethan50alumniandfriendsgatheredonAuraria’sNinth

StreetHistoricParkonSept.9forthe2011MetropolitanStateCollegeofDenverAlumniAssociationannualmeeting.Theyfoundgoodconversation,goodfoodandgoodcompany—alongwithabackdropofbeautifulfall-likeweather,andtheseventhannualDenverFoodandWineClassic.

TheexecutivedirectoroftheAlumniAssociation,MarkJastorff,welcomedattendeesandspokeaboutnewinitiatives,includinganewstudentalumniassociationandacampusemployee-alumnigroup.FollowingremarksbyMetroStatePresidentStephenJordanandAlumniAssociationPresidentJimGarrison,alumnivotedinfournewboardmembers.

Makingthetransitionfromalumnifacultyrepresentativetoafullappointmenttotheboard,Antonio (Tony) ledesma, Ph.D.(’72,English),longtimeassociateprofessorofhumanservicesforMetroState,holdsanumberofoutstandingfacultyandserviceawards.Withtwomaster’sdegrees,oneinsocialworkandoneincounselingpsychologyandaPh.D.inhumancommunicationfromtheUniversityofDenver,Ledesma

Board adds four top-notch alumni ByVonaldaUtterback(’92)

AlumniTimes///AlumniNewsandEvents

New board members (l to r): Hon. Chris Melonakis (’74), Antonio Ledesma (’72), Joseph Sanchez (’06) and Michael Miera (’80).

Page 27: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

hARD To BEliEvE, Thanksgivingwillsoonbehere,thenfullswingintotheholidays—thatmeansholidayparties,receptionsandagoodtimetonetworkandmeetnewpeople.Associations,charities,colleagues,customersandvendorswillbeinvitingyoutotheirholidaysoirée.Whetheryouownabusiness,workforabusiness,haveajoborarelookingforajob,holidaypartiesarealwaysagreattimetonetworkandmarketyourself.Youneverknowwhenyouwillmeetyournextemployeroremployee,vendororcustomer.Beprepared.Ifyouareacceptinganinvitationfromacompanyorassociationholidayparty,expectnametags.Nametagsareusefultoremembernamesandfindsomecommonground.Nametagsarewornashighaspossibleontherightshoulder,makingiteasytoreadwhenshakinghands.Whenyoushakehands,youreyesgototheright.Keepthisinmindwhenchoosingyouroutfit.Bewaryofdrinkingalcohol,manyacareerorfuturecareerhavebeenderailedbyonetoomany.Acocktail(besidesbeingdelicious)isagoodprop,somethingtodowithyourhands.Itisagoodicebreaker,tostartaconversationorgetsomeone’sattention.Forexample,“Iwasjustgoingtogetadrink,wouldyouliketojoinme?”Ifthisisanestablishedrelationship,youcanalwayssay:“CanIgetyouadrink?”Again,moderationinallthings,orderatalldrinkwithice,itwilllastlonger,oralternatewithnonalcoholicdrinks.Apartyisnotthetimetohandoutbusinesscardstoeveryone,buthaveafewwithyoujustincase.Alwayshaveyourelevatorspeech.Someoneisboundtoaskwhatyoudoforaliving—bereadytotellthemin30secondsyourmajorareas,expertiseorsellingpoints.Ialwayshavetroublewiththis;Iamameetingandassociationmanager.Iusuallyfollowminewith,“Ididnotknowajoblikethatexisted!”Wealllaugh,butatleastIgottheconversationstarted.Networkingisatwo-wayconversation.Startbyaskingthemwhattheydo.Peopleusuallywanttotalkaboutthemselves.Thisgivesyouagoodideaofwhatisimportanttothemandgivesyoucommongroundtostartaconversationthatleadstoarelationship.Mostofallbeyourselfandbesincere.Keepmoving;ifaconversationhasdrawntoanaturalconclusion,bepolite,excuseyourselfandmoveon.Follow-up.Nojobisfinisheduntilthepaperworkiscompleted.Ifyoufoundsomeoneinteresting,agoodcontactoryouhadsomethingincommon,sendanoteoranemail.Yes,emailsareacceptablenow.Itshouldbeshort,sweetandtothepoint.Forexample,“Itwassonicetomeetyouatthecompanyholidayparty;Ilovedyourstoryaboutyourchildren.Let’sstayintouch.Iwillcallyounextweekforcoffee.”Finally,besureandfollowthrough.•An account manager at The Meeting Edge®, Anne O’Neill (’97, hospitality management and event planning) has more than 20 years of diverse business experience. She is also an affiliate faculty member in Metro State’s Hospitality, Tourism and Events Department and has served on the alumni association board since 2010. Read about her and her family of Metro State students and grads in “A Metro State family affair,” p. 14.

ASk AN ALUM MAkE holiDAy PARTiES woRk FoR you By Anne O’Neill

Board adds four top-notch alumni ByVonaldaUtterback(’92)

Donate your Metro State memorabilia!

Do you have Metro State

memorabilia that you’d be willing to part with?

Searchyourclosets,attic,chests,dungeons—whereveryoustoreyouroldcollegestuff—andsendittousfor

safekeeping.Beitoldyearbooks,campusnewspapers,lettersweatersorjackets,t-shirts,pins,hats,anythinghavingtodowithMetroStateatanystageinitshistory,we’reinterested.

IfyouliveintheDenverarea,justcalltheAlumniOfficeat303-556-8320andwewillarrangetopickitup.Ifyouliveoutofthearea,popitinthemailto:

METRoPoliTAN STATE collEgE oF DENvERAlumni Relations campus Box 11 Po Box 173362 Denver, co 80217-3362

Whatever you do, don’t throw your Metro State memorabilia away; donate it to us!

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 25

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26 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

lindseyDayisgoingtostartoffwithasecret:Ifshewasn’tdoing

hercurrentjob(asthenewassistantdirectorforalumnicareerservicesintheMetroStateAlumniAssociation)she’deitherbeayogainstructororaweddingsinger.

“Iguessthat’snotasecretanymore,”Daysayswithasmile.

Eventhoughshe’sincareerservices,sheadmitschoosingherowncareerwastough.

“AsachildIwasalwayscurious;Ihadmyhandsinallkindsofactivities,andasIgrewolderIgotstressedaboutchoosingone,singularcareerpath.Thereweresomanyexcitingoptions;choosingonefeltlikeIwasclosingthedooronsomanyothers.”

Maybegoingthroughthatangstwasgoodtrainingforcareerserviceswork.Regardless,shesaysshe’salwaysbeeninterestedineducation,butneverwantedtobeateacher,sohighereducationfitperfectly.

“I’vebeenveryfortunatetofindcareerservices,”shesays.“Myjobistolearnaboutdifferentcareerpathsandhelpstudentsandalumnifindacareerthat’srightforthem.EventhoughIultimatelycommittedtoonefield,I’vefoundacareerthatvaluesmycuriosityanddiverseinterests.”

Day,whohailsfromGainesville,Fla.,firstbecameinterestedinhighereducationadministrationasanundergraduateatBostonCollege

whereshe’dgivecampustourstoprospectivestudents,whicheventuallyledhertoherfirstjobasagraduateadmissionscounselor.

Thatjob,sheexplains,wasanaturaltransitiontocareerservices.“Ibegantounderstandboththerecruiter’sperspectiveandthecommonmistakesstudentsmakeontheirapplications.”

DayendedupattheUniversityofGeorgiawheresheearnedamaster’sincollegestudentaffairsadministration.DuringherstudiesthereshelandedaninternshipinMetroState’sNewStudentOrientationOfficelastsummer.

“IfellinlovewithDenverandwasthrilledbythechancetocomeback.Tome,Denveristheperfectcitywithallthebeauty,seasonsandcultureofthenortheastforafractionoftheprice.”

Inhernewposition,DaysaysshewantstoprovideprofessionalgrowthopportunitiesspecificallygearedforMetroStatealumnithatmightincludeeducationalpiecessuchascareertopicwebinarsornetworkingopportunities.

Sheaddsthatsofarshe’slearnedMetroStatealumniwantdifferentcareerdevelopmentresourcesthantraditionalundergraduatestudents.

“Resourceslikeinformationonchangingcareers,layoffsorre-enteringtheworkforce,butI’mwaitinguntilIhearmorefromalumsbeforeIstartanythingspecific.I’mheretoservethem,soIamhappytotaketheseprogramsinwhateverdirectionstheyseefit.”•

custom career services for Metro State alumni is Day’s goal

BY DoUG McPHERSoN

AlumniTimes///AlumniNewsandEvents

Help your alumni

association move one step closer

to paperless communication.

Simply go to www.mscd.edu/alumni and update your profile with your email address.

And please also share what you’ve been doing since graduation while

you’re there. We promise to only use

your information for Metro State purposes such as newsletters

or evites.

45

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METRo STATE AluMNi ASSociATioN 2011-12 BoARD oF DiREcToRS

PREsiDENT JimGarrison(’80,Economics)

vicE PREsiDENT CassandraJohnson(’04,Management)

sEcRETARy VictoriaHannu(’84,ComputerandManagementScience)

TREAsURER JudyGeorge

(’01,BusinessManagement)

PAsT PREsiDENT AND BoARD oF TRUsTEEs REPREsENTATivE EricPeterson(’99,Marketing)

FoUNDATioN BoARD REPREsENTATivERobMorrill(’97,PoliticalScience)

ScottApplegate(’96,Finance)///PiperBillups,

(’99,Marketing)///MarisolEnriquez(’99,

Hospitality,MeetingandTravelAdministration)///

DanyetteHardin(’07,Management)///Antonio

Ledesma,Ph.D.(’72,English)///BradMcQueen

(’95,Accounting)///Hon.ChrisMelonakis(’74,

Economics)///MichaelMiera(’80,BilingualStudies)

///RCMontoya(’93,TechnicalCommunication)///

ChuckMoss(’88,Finance)///AnneO’Neill(’07,

Hospitality,TourismandEventsManagement)///

WendyPetersen(’89,Hospitality,MeetingandTravel

Administration)///RonRamirez(’94,Hospitality,

MeetingandTravelAdministration)///Joseph

Sanchez(’06,MechanicalEngineeringTechnology)

///JudyShafer(’95/97,English)///JohnSilva,(’91,

Finance)///Sterling“Noah”Steingraeber(’08,

Marketing)///MetzaTempleton,(’07,Management)

ClassifiedStaffRepresentative///AerospaceScience

ChairJeffreyForrest,Ph.D.(‘91,AerospaceScience)

FacultyRepresentative///SGAPresidentJessie

Altum,StudentRepresentative.•

youR METRo STATE AluMNi RElATioNS STAFF:

Mark Jastorff

DirectorofAlumniRelationsandExecutiveDirectoroftheAlumniAssociation303-352-7207mjastorf@mscd.edu

Meghan hartvigson (’10)

[email protected]

Janell Lindsey

DirectorofSpecialInitiativesforAlumniRelationsandEnrollmentServices303-556-6344lindseja@mscd.edu

gini Mennenga

[email protected]

MAiLiNg ADDREss: office of Alumni Relations • campus Box 11 • P.o. Box 173362 • Denver, co 80217-3362

cAMPUs LocATioN: 1059 Ninth street Park • Phone: 303.556.8320

visiT Us oN ThE WEB: www.mscd.edu/alumni

oFFiciAl collEgE RiNg collEcTioN The official Metro state ring collection, designed for and by alumni, is a unique and lasting symbol of your lifelong connection to your alma mater. Part of the

proceeds from ring sales benefit Metro state Alumni Association programs and student scholarships.

if you would like to book a consultation, contact shelley Mcclellan from Jostens at 303-921-6662.•

Lindsey Day

AssistantDirectorforAlumniCareerServices303-556-6934lday8@mscd.edu

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28 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

class Acts highlights the latest news from Metro state alumni. To submit your information for publication, go to www.mscd.edu/alumni and click on Update your info.

cLAss AcTs

Jesus John hernandez (’71, aerospace)isarealestatebrokerandownerofJohnHernandezRealty

inDenver.

Dan hopper (’75, education)hasbeenarealestatebrokersince1985,workingwithRemaxAlliancein

Westminster,Colo.

Ray Pezolt(’70, aerospace)isdirectorofoperationsforPinkertonInvestigationsinAurora,responsiblefor

investigationsinColorado,Montana,NewMexicoandWyoming.

Jesse J. Taylor Jr.(’79, accounting)isanaccountantandownerofTaylorTaxServiceinLakewood.Taylor

soldthetaxportionofhisbusinessin2010andstillprovidesaccounting,salestaxpreparationand

payrollservices.

Erin chalmers(’98, journalism),isdirectorofalumnirelationsandannualgivingatArmstrongAtlanticState

UniversityinSavannah,Ga.Sheholdsamaster’sofprofessionalstudiesfromtheUniversityofDenver.

John gaskell (’98, biology)isascienceteacherfortheSingaporeAmericanSchoolinSingapore.

Bridgette Everhart hardin Ph.D. ( ’92, speech/psychology)isassistantprovostforcontinuousimprovementatTexas

A&MUniversity-CorpusChristi.

claire huckfeldt (’93, computer management systems)livesinDenverandhasworkedasananalystandprogrammerfor

federal,stateandlocalgovernmentsinColorado,andforLockheedMartin.

UsAF Maj. gregg W. Jerome(‘99, management)iscommanderofthePresidentialLogisticsSquadron(AirForce

One)atAndrewsAirForceBase,Md.

geraldine Madrid-Davis(’92, anthropology)isthedirectoroffinancialsecurityandconsumeraffairsfortheAARP

inWashingtonD.C.

chanda Turnbull(’96, psychology)isanassociatehumanresourcesprofessionalfortheCityandCountyof

Denver/CivilServiceCommission.Sheholdsmaster’sdegreesincounselingpsychologyandindustrial/

organizationalpsychology.

claude J. christensen(’80, land use)ismayorofSadieville,Ky.

Kevin N. Pyle(’85, electrical engineering technology)isasystemsengineeringseniormanagerforLockheedMartin

SpaceSystemsinDenver.Pyleholdsamaster’sinsystemsmanagementfromtheUniversityofSouthern

CaliforniaandadoctorateinengineeringfromtheUniversityofDenver,whereheisalsoanadjunct

professorinspacesystemsengineering.

William J. slater (’88, hospitality, meeting and travel administration)istheownerofMillie’sRestaurant&ShoppingVillage

inDelavan,Wis.

cathy s. Wright(’89, accounting)isthedirectorofcontrolandemergingriskforthefinancialservicescompany

CitiinO’Fallon,Mo.WrightpassedtheCPAexaminJuly1989andreceivedhercertificatein1990.

Russell Agnew(’05, human performance and sport)isasenioradvisor/brokerwithPinnacleRealEstateAdvisors

inDenver.

gayle (huston) Bashor(’08, criminal justice)isanexecutiveliaisonwiththeStateofColoradoandispursuinga

master’sofscienceinlegaladministrationattheUniversityofDenver,SturmCollegeofLaw.

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cLAss AcTs

Franky “Frank” Anderson(’11, English)ispursuinghismaster’sdegreeinsociologyatSanDiegoState

University.

Alex Englander(’10, biology/chemistry)isaprofessionalresearchassistantattheUniversityofColoradoAnschutz

MedicalCampus.

Anthony Jammal James(’11, management)isastudentatRegisUniversityinDenver.

Joe osborne(’11, criminal justice)isacampussafetyofficeratColoradoChristianUniversity

inLakewood.

Joe Fields(’07, mechanical engineering technology)isamechanicalengineerwiththeRMHGroup,Inc.,aconsulting

engineeringfirminLakewood,Colo.Fieldsworkedonthedesignoftheheating,ventilationandair

conditioningsystemsforMetroState’sStudentSuccessBuilding.

Lee M. gaines(’01, history)ispursuingagraduatedegreeinhistoryattheUniversityof

ColoradoDenver.

Kristin hanson(’08, history)isattendingtheSturmCollegeofLawattheUniversityofDenver.

U.s. Army staff sgt. Adam Lee (’02, criminal justice)isbasedinFortBelvoir,Va.andconductsfelony

investigationsandprovidesprotectivesecurityservicesforthesecretaryofdefenseandthejointchiefsof

staff.HewasdeployedtoIraqin2005.In2008,hebecameafederalagent.He’scurrentlyservingatourin

SouthKorea.

vanesa Lopez(’06, modern languages)isaSpanishteacherandtranslatorfortheAdams12SchoolDistrict

inThornton,Colo.andisplanningtopursueamaster’sdegreeininternationalaffairsattheUniversity

ofDenver.

Teresita Mccarthy(’07, behavioral science)isamaster’scandidateinSanJoseStateUniversity’sSchoolofLibrary

andInformationScience.

Nicholas Miller (’06, criminal justice)startedtheColoradoRushRugbyFootballClubin2010.

Lauren Royall(’04, English)isafederalpolicedispatcherfortheFederalProtectiveService,thelaw

enforcementbranchoftheDepartmentofHomelandSecurity.Sheassistsfederalpoliceofficers,dispatches

policeandlocalemergencyservices,andaidsofficersintheirduties.ShelivesinBrighton,Colo.

Zeru A. Tige(’09, management)isanaccesscontrollerforG4S,aninternationalsecuritycompanywithanoffice

inDenver.

Kathleen L. Turner (’03, biology)isafreelancewriterandownerofwww.whitespace-llc.cominTampa,Fla.

SH

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cuRl uP wiTh A gooD Book iN NEBRASkA

if traveling to central Nebraska is in your future, you may need a place to rest your weary head. if so, The Printed Page B & B, sharon Loy’s bed and breakfast in Ravenna, could be just your ticket.

Loy (’99, individualized degree), a divorced mom of three and grandmother of four, knows the area well, having lived near Ravenna while raising her family. she purchased the historic 1907 building in 2009 after staying there during an annual reunion with friends.

Although neither her Metro state degree nor her work experience—15 years with the Boulder clerk and Recorder’s office and stints working with two study-abroad programs, including Metro state’s—included hospitality experience, “i just fell in love with the house,” says the colorado native. “it was for sale, and it was a great price when compared to colorado real estate.”

Two years later, Loy, 68, finds it challenging to host and maintain a historic home on her own. “There are so many things to do!” yet she clearly enjoys the travelers who stay at her victorian six-bedroom inn, many of whom return for their own family reunions, or come to view the area’s breathtaking sandhill crane migration.

Loy renovated the home, formerly Aunt Betty’s Bed and Breakfast, and renamed it The Printed Page. “it’s named after a favorite bookstore of mine in Boulder,” explains Loy, a confirmed bibliophile. “come here, forget all your troubles, curl up with a good book, and relax.”

–vonalda Utterback (’92)

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 29

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ExcEEDiNg expectations ByDougMcPherson

TheRowdyReport///RoadrunnerSports

30Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

Lookingbacknearly10yearsto2002,thewaysomeplayersandthecoachrememberit,MetroState’sbasketballteamwasanunlikelycandidatetohoisttheNCAAnationalchampionshiptrophy.

“Itwasateamthatcamethroughalotofselfdoubttovieforthetitle,”saysMikeDunlap,theteam’sheadcoachatthetime.“Weknewitwasgoingtobedifficulttomarchthroughthetournamentandwinit.WeweretheunderdogonnationalTVagainstateam(KentuckyWesleyan)thathadastrongtraditionofwinning.”

Oneoftheteam’sstars,PatrickMutombo,agrees,“Nobodyexpectedustowin.”

Evenonthedayofthegame,thequestionmarksstillhovered.“Thepre-gamewarmupwasadisaster—possiblytheworstpre-gameshootaroundinmytwoyearsatMetroState,”

saysJoeKelly,ateammember.“Weweretight…wecouldn’thitthebroadsideofabarn.”

Andtheninthelockerroomminutesbeforetheopeningjumpball,nerveswerepalpable.“Itwasadoublewhammyforthenervoussystem:anationalchampionshiponthelineandthefirstnationallytelevisedgameformanyofus,”Kellysays.

Infact,theyweresonervousthatDunlapditchedtheusualpre-gametalkinfavorofsomesimpleandfunexercisestoreleasethetension.

AddtothenervesthefactthattheteamhadstumbledleadinguptotheNCAAtournamentandlostintheRockyMountainAthleticConferencetournament.

Butasitturnsout,thatlosswasablessingindisguise.“Winningsometimescoversthingsupandlosingsometimesrevealsweaknesses,”Dunlapsays.“Thatwasthecaseinthisinstance.Wemetseveraltimesanduncovered

The 2001-02 men’s basketball team celebrates its 80-72 win over Kentucky Wesleyan to take the NCAA championshiop.

Former Head Coach Mike Dunlap

Page 33: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011 31

AURARIACAMPUSBOOKSTOREBRAUN’SBARANDGRILL

CLICK’SCOPYCENTER

COACHAMERICAHILTONGARDENINN

HOTELVQ@MILEHIGHSTUDENT&AUXILIARYSERVICES

BOULDERRUNNINGCOMPANY

INNATAURARIA

PHILLFOSTER&COMPANY

SPORTLINE

THEUPSSTORE

METROSTATEATHLETICSCORPORATESPONSORS

Arcese(vicepresidentofadministrationfrom1989to2002,alsoinductedintotheHallofFameinAugust)andJoanMcDermott(MetroState’sathleticdirector)werebothincrediblygreat.Therewasgreatleadershiptomakethegroundfertileforachampionship.”

Asforwhatthatseasonmeansinretrospect,Dunlapsaysthis:“Ibelievewhat’simportantaboutthewin…isthatthelightshinedontheCollege.ThewinwasagatewaytoothersunderstandingthegreatthingsthatweregoingonatMetroState,thatwedrewattentiontoafinecollege.”

Still,playerstookhomepersonalandlifelessons,too.Mutombowasone.“IwastoldearlyonthatIshouldn’tplaybasketballordreamaboutbeingsuccessfulplayingthegame.ItconfirmswhatI’vealwaysbelieved:there’sastoryinsideeachoneofuswaitingtobetold.Thosewhosucceedaretheoneswhodon’tallowotherpeopletostopthemfromwritingtheirstory.”•

sometrustandcommunicationsissuesthathelpedusperformthewayweneededtoperform.”

Andperformtheydid,crankingoutsixconsecutivewinsandtakingoutKentuckyWesleyan80-72tocapturethetitleonMarch23,2002inEvansville,Ind.

ThatperformanceledtotheinductionoftheteamandDunlapintoMetroState’sSportsHallofFameinAugust.

“Thewinwasatributetothebasecharacteroftheteammembers,”Dunlapsays.“Theyhadasteelcharacterandtheyweren’teasilyintimatedbyanyotherteam.Theywereresilient.”

Butitwasn’tjusttheteamoritsresiliencethatmadetheseasonasuccess.Dunlapandhisplayersarequicktosharethespoilswiththoseoutsidethelimelight.

“Thepresidentatthetime,Dr.(Sheila)Kaplan,increasedthebudgetsothemoneywasthere,”Dunlapsays.“Joe

into the hallMetro state’s sports hall of Fame grew by 17 people in August. inducted were:

The 2001-02 men’s basketball team –Itbroughthometheschool’ssecondnationalchampionshipin2002.Memberswere:LeeBethea,MikeBuggs,ChrisFord,DanielGeorge,JoeKelly,LukeKendall,PatrickMutombo,RyonNickle,BenOrtner,ClaytonSmith,LesterStrong,O.J.ThomasandMarkWorthington.

Mike Dunlap–Men’sheadbasketballcoachfrom1997to2006,whoguidedMetroStatetotwonationalchampionships,fourRMACregularseasonchampionships,sixRMACtournamentchampionshipsandnineNCAAtournamentappearancesinnineseasons.

Stephanie Allen–Women’sbasketballplayerfrom1996to2000andtheschool’sall-timeleadingscorerwith1,732points.Shealsoholdscareerrecordsforfieldgoalsmade(553),fieldgoalsattempted(1,453),three-pointfieldgoalsmade(248),three-pointfieldgoalsattempted(674)andassists(393).

Natasha Molock–Women’sbasketballplayerfrom2001-2005whoholdstheschool’srecordforsteals(455),over200morethanthesecondplacetotal.Sherankssecondinassistswith367andthirdinpointswith1,301.

Joseph Arcese–Vicepresidentofadministrationfrom1989to2002,creditedfororchestratingthehiringofchampionship-calibercoachesduringhistenureandprovidingtheimpetusforMetroStatetobecomeanationalcontenderinseveralsports.

Page 34: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

Don’tBlink///ALastLook

ETA for the SSB and hlc... Construction of Metro State’s Student Success Building (SSB),

above, and Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center (HLC), right,

is on time and on budget. The SSB will open this coming

March and the HLC in early fall of 2012. •

32 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2011

Page 35: Metro Magazine Fall 2011

No Business Degree? No Problem.The Metro State/FHSU partnership offers you a seamless transition into the MBA progam. Begin your MBA while completing the business foundation courses. You do not have to wait!

• • •

Fast Track Admissions Requirements• A bachelor’s degree in Business from Metro State College• Completion of all required admission materials• Score a 990 or above with the MBA admissions formula:

200 x undergraduate G.P.A + Official GMAT score = 990 or above

An MBA for Metro Take the next step

StateGrads

Market Competitive Tuition*

Convenient, Flexible, OnlineLearn on your schedule, not ours. Choose to study online, or on the Fort Hays State campus in Hays, Kansas. Full-time or part-time... again, your choice! Same great program, same great faculty teaching relevant, up-to-date courses using the latest in user-friendly course delivery methods.

Your Program... Your Specialty.One size does not fit all. That was true when you were a student at Metro State, and it’s true of MBA programs. Choose a concentrationthat will help you achieve your professional goals.

• Finance

• General MBA Studies

• Health and Human Performance/ Sports Management

• Health Care Management

• Human Resource Management

• Information Assurance

• International Business

• Leadership Studies

• Management Information Systems

• Tourism and Hospitality Management

* Total estimated program tuition; current as of Fall 2011** Based on CO in-state residency; non-resident est. tuition $47,188

C

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CM

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Orig MBA_forMetro_10_19_11.pdf 1 10/19/11 11:16 AM

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METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE OF DENVER

CAMPUS BOX 14

P.O. BOX 173362

DENVER, CO 80217-3362

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit 2965

Denver, Colo.

Metro State–Colorado’s college of choice

Tell your friends and family about our academic excellence and affordable cost. Or, if you have career development needs choose from our bachelor’s, master’s and certificate programs.

One-fifth Of undergraduate Coloradans

choose Metro state

www.mscd.edu