FALL 2014

WESTERN STATE COLORADO UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE

ElevatingWestern

WESTERN’S IMPRESSIVE NEW FIELD HOUSE, P.24

ALUMNUS ELEVATES WESTERN – PAGE 5QUIGLEY HALL RENOVATION – PAGE 8STUDENTS RUN FOR THE RED – PAGE 23

FALL | 20142

When I accepted the position of president at Western State Colorado University, I knew I was coming to a special place. But I had no idea just how powerful a story this great university has to tell. I’ve spent these past few months learning that story, and I am now convinced that if we do a better job of sharing it with the world, we’ll grow and strengthen our great university. Our new Western experience will harken back to the days when our enrollment peaked. So many Mountaineers embody the spirit of this great university. Paul Rady, a 1978 graduate, came to Western with a low high school grade-point average and a desire to experience the West. At Western, he discovered a love for geology and transformed his life. Paul is now chairman and CEO of Antero Resources and just donated $2.5 million to Western’s Petroleum Geology program. Then there’s 1996 graduate Elva Dryer. Elva studied business at Western, and stood out as an elite runner on the Mountaineer track and cross country team. She was motivated by the infectious, pioneering spirit she found at Western and, despite incredible odds, set her sights on becoming an Olympian. Elva went to the Olympics not once, but twice, and is still competing today. She attributes much of her success to her time here in Gunnison. Bridget Schafer, a freshman Soccer athlete from Golden, could have gone to college virtually anywhere. She was recruited by the highly competitive Colorado School of Mines, but chose Western’s Professional Land & Resource Management program over engineering programs at Mines because of Western’s one of a kind academic experience. All of these people have succeeded thanks to the pioneering spirit and zeal for learning ingrained at Western. That experience is very much alive today as I walk around campus. This university has experienced an incredible transformation over the past several years. With new facilities such as the bustling University Center and the Mountaineer Field House, which boasts a huge, custom rock climbing wall and state-of-the-art High Altitude Performance Lab, where students conduct important research on human physiology, today’s Mountaineers live and learn in a truly modern environment. Western’s small classes, with an average of just 17 students, and great professors deliver an intimate, handcrafted education at a value you won’t find at other universities. Our Petroleum Geology graduates find starting salaries that average $96,000 per year. Our new School of Business builds on a traditional Western strength. Our impressive Environment & Sustainability program forms the foundation for our new Master in Environment Management degrees, which will grow leaders and forward-looking projects across the Western Slope – and the world. In short, we offer boundless opportunities for students to discover academic passions at Western that will propel them into

From the President

lifetimes of success. This unparalleled student experience is the essence of the Western Story: a top-notch education, at the best value in the west, deep in the heart of the most spectacular part of the Rocky Mountains. That’s Western. That’s why we all love it here. And that’s why I’m so passionate about helping Western grow and succeed. As you read through the pages of Westerner, consider how your Western Story helped you grow. How did it change your life? I encourage you to share your story with someone else who can influence a high school student to discover this great university. We are all Mountaineers here at Western, and we all can help our university Western Up and grow.

Thanks for reading. Go Mountaineers!

Dr. Greg SalsburyPresident, Western State Colorado University

ElevatingWestern

WESTERNER 3

FALL 2014, VOLUME 13, NO. 1The Westerner is published twice each year for alumni and friends of Western by Western State Colorado University, 600 N. Adams, Gunnison, CO 81231.

READERS MAY SUBMIT NEWS ITEMS TO:

TONYA VAN HEEDirector of Alumni Relationstvanhee@western.edu970.943.2493

DR. GREG SALSBURYPresidentgsalsbury@western.edu970.943.2114

BRIAN BARKERDirector of University Communicationsbbarker@western.edu970.943.3038

TOM BURGGRAFExecutive Director, Western State Foundationtburggraf@western.edu970.641.2237

GARRETT FINKEDirector of Sports Informationgfinke@western.edu970.943.2831

CRESTED BUTTE PUBLISHING & CREATIVELayout, Design and Printing

ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORSBruce Bartleson (Emeritus Faculty)Corbin Bennetts (Student Rep)Laurel (Butcher) Becker (’07)Shannon Bounds (’92)Ann (Clements) Eckman (‘89)Howard Fishman (’69)Paul Giberson (’01)Sarah Kem (Student Rep)Karen McCrary (’70, ’71)Vicki (Figgie) Wheeler (’86)

In This Issue

Photos taken by: Greg Smith, Enrollment Communications Strategist, Jesse Cruz, Alumni Outreach Associate, Coleman Becker and John McKeith. Cover photo of Western’s new field house by Greg Smith.

Stories in this issue of the Westerner were written by Brian Barker, Director of University Communications and Greg Smith, Enrollment Communications Strategist, Western State Colorado University. Submissions also by Garrett Finke, Sports Information Director, Paul Giberson and Tonya Van Hee.

2 A Message from the President5 Cover Stories14 Campus News/Foundation28 Athletics31 News from the Alumni Association32 Class Notes

p.6

p.18

p.27

FALL | 20144

Hello Alumni and Friends-- My name is Paul Giberson and I am a 2001 Western alumnus. I also serve as the President of the Alumni Board of Directors and work in the Admissions Office at Western. I am also a Western recruiter and believe with my whole heart that each one of us as alumni are recruiters. That’s right, everyone is a Western recruiter, even you! We often hear from alumni about

a desire to help out and give back to Western. Many of you already contribute in amazing ways through financial contributions, employment opportunities, and internships, just to name a few. We know you also share your Western story and experience with friends and neighbors. As alumni, you continue to be ambassadors of Western wherever you go. At work, in the community, through volunteer opportunities, or simply at social gatherings, you are representatives of our institution and you play a crucial role in promoting the institution and the Western story. So what I am saying is we can’t do what we do without you! High school seniors are making college decisions right now. You can help them and Western. You know Western State Colorado University leads a wide range of students to adventures that will define their futures. We know your experience was amazing and we encourage you to share stories about your time at Western, and remember we are working to create new Western stories for our future students. As you can see in the list to the right, we are still the Western you knew and loved, we just have some new things to brag about. We encourage you to share Western’s story with a young person contemplating life’s next steps. If you know a student you’d like to see attending Western, log onto westernalum.org to refer a student. If you have questions or want to find out more, email your alumni association at alumni@western.edu. We are all recruiters so please help us spread the new Western story!

A Note from thePresident of the Alumni Association

HERE’S WHAT’S NEW• Forbes magazine ranked Western as one of the Top 100 in

the West in their “America’s Top Colleges” rankings. That is an increase of 98 places over the past year!

• Enrollment continues to increase and our first to second year retention rate is higher than 70%... the highest on record for Western!

• Even with growth, we have kept our small class sizes averaging just 17 students.

• Western still boasts the outstanding academic programs you remember and we recently added petroleum geology, one of only 10 such programs in the country, as well as professional land and resource management, one of only eight such programs in the nation. In addition, graduate programs have returned to Western with options in education, creative writing, environmental management, and, new for 2015, a master’s program in High Altitude Exercise Physiology.

• Our faculty is still top notch with over 87% holding terminal degrees in their field. Do you remember your favorite faculty members? I’m sure you do!

• Student athletes continue to dominate in their sports with 118 making RMAC All-Conference teams. In addition, we added alpine ski racing to the Mountain Sports Program this winter!

• Moreover, we are still affordable. With the second lowest tuition rates for four-year colleges in Colorado, in-state students pay approximately $5,539 per year and out-of-state students pay approximately $15,984.

WESTERNER 5

ElevatingWestern

Western State Colorado University graduate Paul Rady has donated his second gift of more than $1 million to Western’s Petroleum Geology program, bringing Mr. Rady’s total donations to $2.5 million. Mr. Rady, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Denver-based energy company Antero Resources, graduated from Western in 1978 with a degree in Geology. He has had a long and successful career in the energy industry. “This major gift is a game changer for Western’s Petroleum Geology offerings. It allows us to elevate what was already one of the best programs of its kind in the country,” says Western State Colorado University President Dr. Greg Salsbury. “Mr. Rady’s generosity will help generations of future Mountaineers begin great careers, and we couldn’t be more grateful.” The average annual salary of a recent graduate working as a petroleum geologist is $96,000 per year, according to the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Western’s Moncrief Petroleum Geology Program is designed for geoscientists pursuing careers in the oil and gas industry, as well as careers in resource assessment and energy policy. Mr. Rady’s charter gift of $1 million helped launch the program in 2002. Mr. Rady began his career working for Amoco in Denver, before moving on to eventually become CEO of Barrett Resources, then chairman and CEO of Pennaco Energy. Mr. Rady then co-founded his current company, Antero Resources. “Western State Colorado University’s Petroleum Geology

program is outstanding, and my experience at Western gave me a great start,” Mr. Rady says. “Giving back to Western has been one of the greatest joys of my life. With this gift, Western will be able to grow its cutting-edge Petroleum Geology offerings and launch many more careers in an industry that is hiring large numbers of highly paid geoscientists.” Dr. Jim Coogan, Western’s first Rady Chair of Petroleum Geology, says “Everyone present at the birth of the Petroleum Geology program can only marvel how Paul has anticipated the growth in industry careers and innovation over the past decade. The program has grown tremendously since then, so Paul’s latest gift comes at an ideal time for the program and the University.” Western’s Petroleum Geology faculty and students work and learn in Hurst Hall, one of the most technologically sophisticated science buildings in Colorado. The indoor and outdoor Petroleum Geology labs are equipped with the state-of-the-art instruments, software and data sets. During their time at Western, Petroleum Geology students learn in small classes, taught by professors with top-notch experience. Students spend significant time researching in the field and developing professional contacts within the energy industry. Nearly all of Western’s Petroleum Geology graduates are offered either employment in the industry after graduation or are accepted into graduate programs.

PAUL RADY GIVES BACK TO HIS ALMA MATER IN A BIG WAY

FALL | 20146

While a student at Western, Jermaine Rodney offered frontline support for Western’s Information Technology department and became well-known among students, faculty and staff. There were cheers from many when he graduated May 10 with degrees in Business Administration and Computer Information Science, having earned and paid his way through Western as an international student from Jamaica. Known for his broad smile and lilting Caribbean accent, Rodney has ingratiated himself across the university campus. It’s no wonder that business partners suggested he name his young company “Mr. Nice Guy Coffee.” But the history behind that smile and his accomplishments amassed in just 25 years would impress the most diligent and ambitious among us. “I’ve traveled a long way. That’s all I can say,” Rodney admits. “I was a poor, Jamaican guy, traveling a long way to school. But I was always a businessman. I would sell rides on my bike. I would sell my lunch. I was always interested in business from the get go.” Rodney grew up on his family’s farm, a total of about 80 cultivated and 40 uncultivated acres, considered large by island standards. Its various parcels rise from about 3,700 feet to more than 5,000 feet in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains, thought to be among the world’s finest coffee-growing regions. “My childhood experience was different,” he recalls. “I had animals. We had to fetch water. We didn’t have a gas stove. We had to use wood. So I had to fetch wood. All said, I had to walk more than five miles round trip to high school.” At that school, Rodney’s enthusiasm for biology, mathematics and English found support from a teacher who

overturned another’s recommendation against his taking the crucial Caribbean Examinations Council tests that were his route to college. He passed those tests and was admitted to Excelsior Community College in Kingston, Jamaica, where he would eventually earn an associate degree in Management Information Systems. “The funny thing is that I wasn’t introduced to computers until I was 16,” recalls a man whom others now depend on to solve technical problems. “I had a project that required a computer’s assistance. I went to the school library and couldn’t turn it on. Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word seemed pretty basic, but I couldn’t wrap my mind around that. I’ve traveled a long way.” His guidance counselor at Excelsior, to whom Rodney brought a basket of farm produce every week, apparently recognized his unique blend of ambition and grace. She knew he could succeed in the competitive world of Jamaican’s northern, mainland neighbor. She pressed him repeatedly to contact Harmel’s Guest Ranch, which is in Taylor Canyon, a dozen or so miles north of Western and Gunnison. Finally, after protesting for four months, saying he had to help his family on the farm, he placed a call to Amie Anderson at the ranch. “She knew me when I called,” Rodney says. “Almost immediately, she said, ‘You’ve got the job. When can you make it out here?’” For four summers, Rodney traveled to the Gunnison Valley, returning to Excelsior each fall to continue his studies. He began working as a housekeeper, was asked to cover a shift in the dining room and impressed the owner with his waiting

WESTERN’S MR. NICE GUY HAS ‘TRAVELED A LONG WAY’

ElevatingWestern

WESTERNER 7

skills immediately. The following summer, he was named head housekeeper. In subsequent years, he became host of the dining room. He talks of helping the chefs prepare special meals, and those who know him at Western share tales of fabulous Jamaican meals he has shared with them. He learned of Western during his trips to purchase local groceries and from a trip with ranch staff to see “Despicable Me” at the Ruby Cinemas in Western’s University Center. After he graduated from Excelsior, Rodney applied to Western, obtained a student visa, was able to transfer many of his credits from the Jamaican school and enrolled as a student in January 2012. He says the roots of Mr. Nice Guy Coffee and its corporate parent, Roastafari Holdings Ltd., grew from his first experiences in the U.S. in 2009. Rodney quickly realized what Americans paid for their eye-opening sips was far more than his family and other Jamaican farmers earned.

AN ENTREPRENEUR WAS BORNNow several Colorado cafes and bistros serve MNG coffee. It’s available online from mngcoffee.com, where you’ll find background on the company, its coffees and the people who grow them. The company hopes by late summer to open a coffee shop near the gondola in Breckenridge. And every bag of roasted beans includes a QR code that leads to an online video about a farmer that supplies the green beans MNG has custom roasted at a mile-high facility in Denver. Part of the company pitch is that higher-altitude roasting produces higher-quality coffees.

Besides premium Jamaican Blue Mountain beans – so named because when they are “green,” they are actually rather blue – MNG also sells KB CO-branded beans from farmers in the mountains of Kenya. This allows Rodney and his company to offer a more affordable, more obtainable – yet still highly prized – coffee for the market, while also helping struggling farmers on another continent. Rodney learned of these beans and those who grow them from the roaster in Denver. Five percent of MNG sales go into a scholarship fund for the farmers’ children and a retirement fund for the farmers. MNG also partners with Denver-based Optimus Youth to help the wider communities where its coffees grow. While still a new effort, they have helped build an orphanage and school in Kenya, an orphanage in Mozambique and a breakfast program for children who attend school in Richmond Gap, Jamaica. MNG’s website states, “By allowing the coffee farmers a tangible stake in our success, there is no doubt that the quality of our coffee, as well as the lives of those who grow it, will continue to thrive. It’s only good business if we all succeed. Our customers receive a rare and exotic coffee, and our farmers are properly rewarded for their hard work. Drink a cup, smile mon!” Now that he’s graduated, Rodney says he loves it here and wants to stay in the U.S. to continue his venture, – and adventures – and currently works full time at Western’s Information Technology Department as an IT Tech Intern. Asked how he feels about all this, Rodney leans back in his chair, his trademark smile filling his face, and says it again: “I’ve traveled a long way.”

FALL | 20148

The Western campus celebrated in September when the Capital Development Committee allocated $25.8 million from the state of Colorado’s General Fund surplus to renovate Quigley Hall. The teaching and sharing of artistic and musical techniques and creations at Western has a storied past and dynamic present. And much of that experience has transpired in the beloved building that fronts the east side of campus. Meticulously maintained and regularly adapted to new uses, Quigley Hall has hosted foundational experiences for thousands of creative careers. Its large studios and assorted practice spaces have enabled countless students to explore and polish their talents. Its gallery and recital hall have displayed talent for the campus, the Gunnison Valley and the world to appreciate. But all is not well in Quigley. Old systems and construction techniques, dating to the building’s debut in 1967, are wearing out. A couple significant cracks split both ends of the building. There have been roof and plumbing leaks. Many of the spaces don’t integrate well for programs that cherish their social and academic exchanges. Dr. Heather Orr, Art department chair, says she and other art and music faculty are excited about the possibilities for a renovated Quigley. Building updates and repairs are important, she says, but so are changes that would better utilize space, and better accommodate new pedagogies and technologies, along with the techniques they enable. “We have older spaces that could be much more usable. And there are new technologies in all areas,” she explains. “Besides the obvious changes in the digital areas of art and music, sculpture and several other areas are evolving

particularly quickly, moving toward multimedia creations that use a variety of technologies in complex installations.” This creates the need for more clean spaces, near to – but separate from –classic studios, where artists get their hands and surrounding areas dirty. “Art at Western is best known for our classic or traditional program that emphasizes solid skills in design and figure rendering, as well as the classic two- and three-dimensional disciplines,” Orr explains. “Renovation would support our strengths and enable us to evolve the program sustainably. “But we are also hoping these funds will help equip us for the future,” she says, talking of new digital print labs, better support for digital photography and graphic design, and expanding into more web and cross-disciplinary approaches that incorporate design as a central feature. Western has also just announced a new master in art professional degree program in Gallery Management and Exhibits Specialization. Orr says she hopes the final design will incorporate an expanded teaching and learning gallery space, comprising three suites – one for rotating exhibits from Western’s permanent collections, another for student and visiting-artist shows, and a third space for building, framing, archiving and organizing exhibits. She also hopes the architects can give the gallery a front-door presence. A new lecture hall, she says, would best incorporate technology and be arranged for better interaction between instructors and students. Space for it would come from making better use of existing square footage. In addition, the building has a decidedly linear flow the Art faculty hope can be reconfigured to create more interactive

QUIGLEY HALL RENOVATION

ElevatingWestern

WESTERNER 9

WESTERNALUM.ORG

Have you been on the Alumni website lately?Here’s what you can find on our website…

• Ever wonder how many other alumni live in your state? Your county? We have an interactive map that will tell you that and more!

• Questions about the Legacy Program for children and grandchildren of alumni?

• Need a new alumni email? • Want to find out how to get your new Western

license plate?• Would you like to refer a student to Western?• How about recommend a new student for a

scholarship?

spaces. Long, narrow faculty offices were intended as private studios for instructors, but the extra space is seldom used that way. Giving up the underused space will allow the building to retain, possibly expand its distinctively spacious, dedicated studios, while adding more features. Key among those is a new second floor for Quigley’s east wing. It would create a more consistent, more easily maintained roofline, along with more space. Another is a hub-like space that would be part student lounge, part computer lab and part library. Faculty members, she says, have materials they would like to make available to students but no secure way to easily share them. Such a space would enable that. But more importantly, Orr says, it would be a place to “crash and think, commune and collaborate. … We have convocations every month that our students love. They enjoy coming together, with freshmen finding their places with seniors in an artistic community. But then we scatter to the wind. “We want a place where all can gather informally and more regularly.” Most importantly, she says, the renovation will help Western grow its arts programs and continue its role as a “hub for the Western slope arts.” “In terms of recruiting,” Orr says, “there’s nothing like a shiny, new building, with lots of new technology and large studio spaces, freshly equipped and flexible.” Western President Greg Salsbury struck a similar chord when talking about the renovation in September. “This,” he said, “is a much-needed upgrade for one of our busiest buildings on campus and will help us continue to offer an outstanding liberal arts education to Mountaineers for years to come.”

You can get answers to all of these questions and much more on the Alumni website. Log on and join your alumni online community today!

FALL | 201410

by Will Shoemaker - Gunnison Country Times Editor As a practical matter, it would make sense that a goal of growing an institution’s enrollment would start by raising the visibility of the most popular major nationwide. That was the logic behind a decision last year on the part of Western State Colorado University leaders. Beginning in 2014-15, the previous Business, Accounting and Economics Department at Western is no more. It’s now the School of Business. While administrators admit that the most recognizable change at first will be merely that of name, they say the establishment of a school devoted to business should pave the way for giving, partnerships and career placement not previously afforded. As part of the initiative, a dean has been hired. Peter Sherman has been on board since Aug. 1. He previously served as dean of the Schroeder School of Business at the University of Evansville — a private liberal arts college that he views, in many ways, as similar to Western. Sherman said his new role will primarily be as the “external face” of the school — and growing enrollment is a top priority. He noted that students within the former business department account for the largest block on campus, with approximately 430. Preliminarily, he hopes to see that grow by about 80 students over the next five years. William Niemi, interim vice president for Academic Affairs,

said that establishing a School of Business at Western is not a new concept. It was actually contained in the university’s 2004 strategic plan. Niemi said when he became vice president in mid-2012, administrators identified enrollment growth as a top priority and recognized the greatest opportunity to make that happen within the realm of business. That analysis led to discussions last year among the Board of Trustees and department leaders, at which time the decision was made to pull the trigger on establishing the school, Niemi said. “It’s the most popular major nationwide and we believe there’s the capacity in the marketplace and at Western to increase enrollment in business,” he said.

INITIATIVES ALREADY BEING EYEDOther majors within the previous business department —accounting and economics— now fall under the banner of the School of Business. While he’s only been on the job a few weeks, Sherman said he already has ideas for ways to raise the visibility of the new school — and Western as a whole. He recognizes that there’s been ample innovation surrounding the former department — exemplified by such initiatives as ICE and the Public Lands Resource Management program. “I want to look across campus to see if there are ways we

WESTERN LAUNCHES SCHOOL OF BUSINESSHIRES DEAN, SETS SIGHTS ON ENROLLMENT GROWTH

ElevatingWestern

WESTERNER 11

Peter Sherman, the new dean of the School of Business at Western

can partner,” Sherman said, offering examples of art students who could benefit from business skills, or business classes for exercise and sport science majors. Boosting scholarships, internships, international programs and possible tweaks to curriculum are also on Sherman’s radar. Concerning the latter, he recognizes that changes will be largely dependent upon direction from faculty. Still, he noted one area of study that may beg for a fresh look — marketing. “It changes so quickly. Students need creativity, innovation, graphic design and social media,” he said. “Employers expect that when they come out. Maybe an examination of whether the curriculum we currently have is what the industry wants.”

Sherman noted that at the University of Evansville, two faculty members were brought on board to work in career services within business school, resulting in a higher placement rate and salaries for graduates. He said such an addition at Western would likely require raising money. Sherman noted that the majority of students at Western are from the Front Range area — where he believes, for example, summer internships could be bolstered. “Your chances of getting a job go up dramatically,” he said, adding that he plans to work with the local hospitality and tourism industry as well. “The direction I’d want to go there is making sure that the internships they’re doing are leading to upper management positions and not the front-end things.”

‘ABILITY TO INCREASE RESOURCES’Much of Sherman’s time will be spent “in” the business community, he said. Former department Chair Kevin Nelson will now serve as associate dean with a focus on internal matters while continuing to teach. He said this also will allow time for Sherman to focus on fundraising, which department chairs have little time to do. “Through fundraising we hope to have more scholarships for students. We’ll examine different majors and look at the possibility of a master’s program,” Nelson explained. “Hopefully, we’ll see a few more students around Borick, which will mean more stability for the business school and Western in general.” Sherman taught within and led the Schroeder School of Business for 11 years. Previously, he’s worked in the securities and investment industries before seeking a doctorate degree from the University of Nebraska. The draw to academia was instilled, in part, by his father, who was a finance professor at Creighton University in Nebraska. “I had seen the enjoyment that he got out of it,” Sherman explained. “Honestly, probably the biggest thing was wanting to give back more of my life. Sherman said his wife and three children, ages of 11 to 14, are settling into their new home in the valley.

FALL | 201412

Western State Colorado University’s new Master in Environmental Management (MEM) program has established two important partnerships. The first with the Peace Corps and the second with AmeriCorps VISTA. According to Dr. John Hausdoerffer, director of the MEM program and a professor of both Philosophy and Environment & Sustainability, these partnerships allow students to volunteer with these organizations while working towards their master’s at Western.

PEACE CORPS PARTNERSHIPTypically, students first apply to Western’s MEM program. Once accepted, they then apply to the Peace Corps, which is a U.S. State Department program aimed at enhancing education, health, agriculture and sustainable environmental practices in developing countries around the world. Since the Peace Corps application process can take up to a year, the MEM students spend the intervening months completing coursework either on the Western campus or in their home communities. Students in both MEM tracks – Resilient & Sustainable Communities and Integrated Land Management – qualify for Peace Corps assignments, which include three months of training and two years of work in a developing country. Peace Corps volunteers receive a variety of benefits, including living and travel expenses, vacation time, financial support for small projects, a stipend and a “readjustment” payment of more than $7,000 following their two-year assignments. Masters International students generally complete their master’s projects while on their assignments, sharing their knowledge and experience from their time in Gunnison with their host countries. Students can also complete coursework after returning from a Peace Corps stint. And students who choose MEM’s distance-learning option can also participate in Master’s International

WESTERN’S NEW MASTER IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM GAINS TWO IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS

AMERICORPS VISTA PARTNERSHIPStudents can complete the MEM program from a VISTA appointment anywhere and use their AmeriCorps work as the basis for their second-year master’s project. AmeriCorps VISTA members commit to one-year, full-time missions to serve on specific projects, or to support nonprofit organizations or public agencies, aimed at fighting illiteracy, improving health services, fostering economic development and otherwise assisting low-income communities. After completing a term of service, members can choose to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,500 or a post-service stipend. Western’s MEM is committed to matching a limited number of those awards for highly qualified applicants. As VISTA members, they live and serve in some of America’s poorest areas. Rather than providing direct services, such as tutoring children or reinforcing stream banks, they focus on building the organizational, administrative and financial capacities of the organizations where they work. Western MEM has signed agreements with two specific AmeriCorps efforts: the Western Hardrock Watershed Team, which focuses on remediating streams and rivers damaged by traditional mining methods and combatting associated poverty in several Colorado and New Mexico communities; and the Appalachian Coal Country Team, which focuses on similar issues in parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Western MEM is only the second program in the United States to sign such an agreement with VISTA AmeriCorps. “This will certainly help our students,” Hausdoerffer says. “But it will also help communities that need serious assistance and spread the knowledge we are building here at Western. For more information about the MEM program and its partnerships, please contact Dr. John Hausdoerffer at jhausdoerffer@western.edu or 970.943.3450.

ElevatingWestern

WESTERNER 13

Western State Colorado University will offer a Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science with a focus in High Altitude Exercise Physiology beginning Fall 2015. The new residential graduate program is Western’s latest addition to a rapidly growing array of graduate programs at the university and is Western’s first Master of Science offering. The program is designed to examine and research how the human body functions in a high-elevation environment. Students will conduct research on people using Western’s new High Altitude Performance Laboratory and the surrounding mountains. Western president Dr. Greg Salsbury says the new graduate program brings together much of what is great about a Western education. “This exciting, new program takes advantage of Western’s state-of-the-art facilities, high-elevation location and tradition of launching successful careers in exercise physiology,” he says. “Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to conduct research side by side with some of the best professors in the field.” The High Altitude Exercise Physiology program will be a full-residency program, following the traditional fall- and spring-semester academic calendar. During the first three semesters of the program, students will spend their time in the classroom, lab and field. During their last semester, students will spend the majority of their time conducting research. Exercise & Sport Science professor Dr. Kathleen Kinkema

WESTERN LAUNCHES NEW MASTER OF SCIENCE FOCUSED ON HIGH ALTITUDE EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY

says no other program in the country offers such a specialized combination of facilities and access to high-elevation terrain. “Our students will not only be able to study the effects of elevation on people in the Mountaineer Field House and High Altitude Performance Lab, but they’ll also be able to trek up into the nearby 13,000- and 14,000-foot peaks that surround the Gunnison Valley.” Students in the program will work with a variety of elite athletes, recreational athletes, general exercisers and clinical populations (such as people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, obesity, and/or cognitive and physical disabilities) under various conditions. To complete the program, students must complete a total of 36 credits (including six thesis credits). Classes will include a common-core curriculum, as well as elective courses. Students will be expected to complete coursework by the end of the fall semester of their second year. Their theses should be completed and defended by the end of the second semester of their second year. They will complete most coursework during the traditional academic year. The summers between their first and second years offer opportunities to complete practicum, internships, independent study projects, pilot studies or research for their thesis proposals. “This is yet another educational experience Western offers and no other university can match,” Salsbury says. To learn more, please visit western.edu/haep.

Western will offer a Master of Science in Exercise & Sport Science with a focus in High Altitude Exercise

Physiology beginning Fall 2015. The new residential graduate program is Western’s latest addition to a rapidly

growing array of graduate programs at the university and is Western’s first master of science offering.

The program aims to examine and research how the human body functions in a high-elevation environment.

Students will conduct research on people using Western’s new High Altitude Performance Laboratory and the

surrounding mountains. Western president Dr. Greg Salsbury says the new graduate program brings together much of what is great about a

Western education.

“This exciting, new program takes advantage of Western’s state-of-the-art facilities, high-elevation location and

tradition of launching successful careers in exercise physiology,” he says. “Furthermore, students will have the

opportunity to conduct research side by side with some of the best professors in the field.”

The High Altitude Exercise Physiology program will be a full-residency program, following the traditional fall- and

spring-semester academic calendar. During the first three semesters of the program, students will spend their time in

the classroom, lab and field. During their last semester, students will spend the majority of their time conducting

research.

Exercise & Sport Science professor and Recreation, Exercise and Sport Science Department Chair Dr. Kathleen

Kinkema says few other programs in the country offer such a specialized combination of curriculum, laboratory

facilities, and access to environmental extremes, such as high elevation terrain, for research. “The new master’s program allows us to expand on a highly successful undergraduate program in exercise science,

providing enhanced educational opportunities for students interested in a wide range of careers focused on

promoting physical activity and enhancing performance among a wide range of individuals from elite athletes to

clinical populations. We are excited that the program is residential, providing lots of opportunity for undergraduate

and graduate students to work side-by-side. Our exercise physiology lab facilities for testing and research are

second to none at the undergraduate and master’s level and our location at an elevation “sweet spot” should appeal

to students interested in high altitude physiology research.”

Students in the program will work with a variety of elite athletes, recreational athletes, general exercisers and

clinical populations (such as people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, obesity, and/or

cognitive and physical disabilities) under various conditions.

To graduate from the program, students must complete a total of 36 credits (including six thesis credits). Classes will include a common-core curriculum, as well as elective courses. Students will be expected to complete

coursework by the end of the fall semester of their second years. Their theses should be completed and defended by

the end of the second semester of their second years. They will complete most coursework during the traditional

academic year. The summers between their first and second years offer opportunities to complete practica,

internships, independent study projects, pilot studies or research for their thesis proposals.

“This is yet another educational experience Western offers and no other university can match,” Salsbury says.

To learn more, please visit western.edu/haep.

FALL | 201414

Elevating the Campus

Western has made a major jump in the Forbes America’s Top Colleges Rankings, climbing 98 places in the magazine’s national rankings, and earning a spot in the Top 100 Colleges in the West for the second year in a row. The annual rankings include only the top 25 percent of America’s more than 2,000 four-year colleges and universities. With a rank of 92nd in the West and 496th in the U.S., Western is ranked ahead of the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado Mesa University, Fort Lewis College, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and Metropolitan State University of Denver. To view the list, visit Forbes.com/top-colleges. Western State Colorado University President Dr. Greg Salsbury says the improved ranking by Forbes captures the momentum underway at Western. “We are very proud of this ranking because it shows continued improvement in postgraduate success, student satisfaction, and more,” President Salsbury says. “Students who choose Western experience a fantastic education geared toward their future success.” Western State Colorado University boasts graduate success stories spanning the globe, with alumni working as CEOs of major corporations, neurosurgeons, airline pilots and owners of international travel destinations. Recent graduates have landed jobs with major national brands such as Red Bull, gone on to pharmacy and medical school, and launched many successful businesses, including an advertising agency and an eco-friendly resort in Costa Rica. The Forbes rankings are based on five general categories: postgraduate success, which evaluates alumni pay and prominence; student satisfaction, which includes professor evaluations and freshman-to-sophomore-year retention rates; debt, which penalizes schools for high student debt loads and default rates; four-year graduation rate; and academic success, which rewards schools whose students win prestigious scholarships and

WESTERN IMPROVES RANKING IN FORBES TOP 100 IN THE WEST LIST

fellowships such as the Rhodes, the Marshall and the Fulbright or go on to earn a PhD. Western has recently been ranked on other top-colleges lists, including Business Insider’s America’s Smartest Colleges, Washington Monthly’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges, G.I. Jobs magazine’s Military Friendly Schools, Outside magazine’s Top 25 Colleges for Outside Readers, ESPN’s Top 10 Best Colleges in the U.S. for Skiers, and Mountain Bike Action magazine’s Top 10 Colleges for Mountain Bikers.

Western State Colorado University’s enrollment has grown for the third year in a row. Western’s fall enrollment stands at 2,543 students, 14 percent more than three years ago. Enrollment growth isn’t the only positive indicator for the university this year. The percentage of students who remained at Western between their freshman and sophomore years is more than 70 percent, the highest in university history and one of the highest among peer institutions in Colorado. Western’s incoming freshman class is also the most ethnically diverse in history, at 25 percent. Western President Dr. Greg Salsbury says the university remains focused on growth. “Every year, more students across the country get the message that Western offers an outstanding education they won’t find anywhere else,” Salsbury says. “From our growing portfolio of graduate programs to undergraduate offerings such as Petroleum Geology, which boasts an average starting salary for graduates of $96,000 per year, we believe Western will continue to carve out a niche in higher education and offer an experience unlike any other college.” Western has added several new programs that have contributed to growth, including a Master in Environmental Management, which more than doubled enrollment expectations. The university has also its focused on programs that keep students coming back to Western until they graduate. Western’s First-Year Experience and SophoMORE-Year Experience programs create close bonds among students and the greater

WESTERN GROWS ENROLLMENT FOR 2014

continued on page 16

WESTERNER 15

To Western Up and make a donation, call 970-641-2237 or go to westernup.org

“I have experienced things that have pushed me out of my comfort zone and I’ve loved every moment of it.”

Jade McIntoshMajoring in Psychology and Sociology

My initial reason for considering Western was to play basketball at the college level. But after visiting Gunnison, I thought the small campus community was almost just as good a reason to choose Western.

Western provides you the opportunity to be yourself. The faculty, staff, and other students are always pushing you to be better, whether that’s in the classroom or in your personal life.

I’m surprised by the person I’ve grown into while at Western. I’m more outgoing, well rounded, and thoughtful than I’ve ever been and that’s because of Western.

Two important lessons I’ve learned here: Work hard and don’t judge—it’s a person’s character that’s more important than anything.

Help support Jade and students like her.

FALL | 201416

RESORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TEAMS WITH CRESTED BUTTE Western State Colorado University’s unique emphasis in Resort Management, which builds leaders for the hospitality industry, is embarking on a new approach: offering courses at one of the world’s top mountain retreats, Crested Butte Mountain Resort. The program is set to begin in January with six students studying and interning at CBMR’s Grand Lodge and the Lodge at Mountain Square, just steps from the high-speed chairlifts that serve some of North America’s most interesting ski and snowboarding terrain. The students, all upper-classmen, will work daily at the resort, where they will also be learning and earning credits toward graduation. “We’ve designed this program as a full-immersion semester for upper-level students,” explains Dr. Michael Vieregge, professor of Resort Management. “Our faculty will teach around their paid internships, providing academic background for their work experience.” The Resort Management emphasis in Western’s new School of Business will offer four courses in the program’s

Western community. As enrollment grows, Western students also graduate with the second lowest average student loan debt and the highest graduation rate among peer institutions in Colorado. “Parents and students are more skeptical than ever about the investment they’re making in college, and Western delivers an educational value that’s unparalleled in our state,” President Salsbury says. “Students want to graduate and be employable, well-educated, and not in student loan debt for the rest of their lives. That’s something that we do very well here at Western.” Western’s Fall 2014 enrollment of 2,543 is up from last year’s number of 2,404. Students at the university are also more diverse than ever. The number of students who identify as non-white has increased 52.9 percent during the past five years. The gender balance at Western has also improved dramatically. The Fall 2014 student body is 45 percent female, up from 43 percent last year. “This is an exciting time to be a Mountaineer,” Dr. Salsbury says. “The Western Nation is growing, and the future is bright.”

first semester: Lodging Operations, Hospitality Operations Management, Independent Studies in Slope and Rope Management and Internship. All are three-credit courses, with the Internship course offering the option of three additional, general-upper-division credits. “The course in Lodging Management will be a blended course, including both classes and some internship experience,” Vieregge explains, adding that “the courses will include both traditional and blended delivery.” More importantly, he says, CBMR will provide a classroom for this first semester of the program, allowing students to ride a free bus to the resort from Western’s campus in Gunnison in the morning and return in the evening – perhaps catching a few runs on the hill during winter months. Vieregge foresees a time when future students will also sleep at Mt. Crested Butte. Officials at the Elevation Resort and Spa Hotel have said they intend to join CBMR and Western in an official partnership, in which two-dozen or so students would live, work and learn at the mountain. Vieregge adds that the program is new and yet to take its final form. There is not yet an official partnership with the resort operators, nor any new funding to support it. For students already well on their way toward a Business degree with an emphasis in Resort Management, it’s also hard to juggle their schedules as they approach graduation. Incoming freshmen, he says will have this planned into their degree programs. Expansion of the program might also include exchange students from technical or other schools who have skills to offer – and polish – beyond those Western teaches. “We might have students from a culinary or mechanical program spend a semester at Crested Butte, both working and taking our courses,” Vieregge says. Regardless, he says, the idea for the program is a natural for Western’s Resort Management education. “Our students already want to spend as much time as they can at Crested Butte,” he explains. “The resorts need their help. Our students need to learn how resorts operate. “It’s not a shakeup cocktail of new things. The ingredients were already there.”

Elevating the Campus

WESTERNER 17

To Western Up and make a donation, call 970-641-2237 or go to westernup.org

“It’s hard not to be involved or feel like your part of something important at a school like this.”

Brendan DuttonMajoring in Recreation and Outdoor Education

and Environmental Studies

I was looking for a place that offered a good sense of community, and opportunities to have fun outside. When I visited Western the first time, I immediately knew it was the choice for me.

There aren’t many places where you can go mountain biking with your professors or have class outside at a place like Signal Peak.

You can walk across campus and it’ll take you 20 minutes because everyone knows you and wants to stop and talk.

One thing I’ll take with me from my time at Western is how to work alongside people. Working together and having clear communication is key to success in any circumstance.

Help support Brendan and students like him.

FALL | 201418

WESTERN SAYS GOODBYE TO BELOVED PROFESSOR “Music says what words can’t say. Music speaks to the heart, not the head.” ~ Dr. John Wacker The Western State Colorado University community is incredibly saddened by the tragic loss of Dr. John Wacker. John was a mentor, role model, and friend to students, faculty, and community members throughout the Gunnison Valley. He instilled a love of music and an ethic of hard work in students and friends alike. Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with his family. John began his musical journey at age seven in Cheyenne, Wyoming with piano lessons from Lucille Barnum, with whom he studied until graduation from Cheyenne Central High School in 1977. John began playing trumpet in 5th grade and played for the rest of his life. John attended the University of Wyoming for one year before transferring to the University of Northern Colorado where he graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. John’s teaching career began in Burns, WY, where he taught K-12 music, and was later recruited as band director for Central High School in Cheyenne. He rebuilt the music program into an award winning program, including state marching band championships. While at Central, John was also an assistant

director with the Wyoming All-State Band when they performed in two Rose Bowl parades and a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. John left public school music education to pursue and obtain a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wyoming. He then obtained a Master’s of Music Degree (2000) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he studied conducting with Dr. Jack Stamp and trumpet with Steven Dube and Dr. Calvin Weber. He also obtained a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas where he studied trumpet with Keith Johnson. While in Texas, he taught private lessons and conducted The Wind Ensemble at Texas Women’s University. Following graduation from North Texas, he became director of bands at Western State Colorado University in Gunnison, CO in 2005. In addition to teaching music, John’s greatest love was performing on trumpet. John was very active on an international level with trumpet performance and educational activities. He performed in the Colorado Rocky Mountain Region including the Greeley Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony and Wyoming Symphony. He was the founding member of Cheyenne Brass and a tenured member of the Cheyenne Symphony. He taught for a brief time at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne. John was active nationally as a trumpet soloist, pit orchestra member, adjudicator and master class clinician. He presented at the Wyoming and Colorado Music Educators Conferences, and was a member of the Music Educators National Conference and the International Trumpet Guild. John began several programs including the Western Chamber Institute, and the Boston Brass Music Camp in Gunnison, and was instrumental in the Western State Colorado Brass Band. He was active until his death with trumpet engagements in Texas, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska. John was quite simply a master teacher and master performer and touched too many souls to count. In addition to his Western family, John left behind his wife, Nancy, son, Brian (13) and his daughter, Elizabeth (11). Dr. John Peterson, a Computer Information Science Professor and Wacker’s friend, offered the following tribute: “John was everything that we faculty aspire to here at Western: a teacher, a mentor, a role model and a friend to every student in the music program. I had the unique experience of interacting with both as a colleague and a student. I returned to music after not having played for many years and he was patient and encouraging as I slowly relearned the instrument I had abandoned so many years ago. He was able to instill a love of music and an ethic of hard work in every member of the band. His humor, wisdom, life experiences, and knowledge made the band a special place. He frequently talked about his family and all of us in the band feel like members of it even if we haven’t met the kids, wife, brothers, and everyone else that he so frequently referred to.”

Elevating the Campus

WESTERNER 19

To Western Up and make a donation, call 970-641-2237 or go to westernup.org

“Professors are an incredible resource—in class and in life.”

Lindsay WeaverMajoring in Communications with a Business Minor

I chose Western because of the small class sizes, the beautiful mountain location, which provides tons of outdoor opportunities, and for the incredible Gunnison community.

The education you receive here is much more personalized. It’s much easier to get to know your professors and other students in your classes.

They genuinely care about you, and make themselves available to you. I still keep in contact with one of my professors from freshman year because I know she cares about my success.

One of the biggest lessons that I will take with me from Western is to get involved. You get out of any experience what you put in to it. And you are never too small or insignificant to make a difference.

Help support Lindsay and students like her.

FALL | 201420

By Kevin Noreen The student newspaper of Western State Colorado University, Top O’ the World, has long been a valuable periodical on campus and in the Gunnison Valley since it was established in 1921. Many of you as alumni will remember The Top, or perhaps even worked as a writer, reporter or editor of the student paper yourself. The Top has undergone many changes since its inception. Generations of editors have come and gone, each dedicating a year or two of their time at Western to helping tell the news—news about the students, news about the campus, and news about our special community tucked away in the Rocky Mountains. Western State has also undergone a lot of changes during this time in order to become the university we are today. You may be aware that there is no longer a specific journalism program at Western. This has left the student paper as a largely independent publication and has meant that some courses related to newspaper writing and reporting no longer exist here. The field of reporting has also changed drastically over the course of the last one hundred years, and the addition of visual, digital and technological mediums have created more and more complexity, but also more opportunities. In short, it is an interesting time to be involved in any form of media publication, regardless of how you feel about the changes. However, the importance of media and journalism in our society absolutely cannot be understated as it continues to be a powerful force that shapes the course of society and the world we all live in. When I took over as editor of The Top at the beginning of this Fall Semester, my goal was to establish some stability in the student paper and regain some credibility it seemed we had lost over the last several years. I wanted to bring a level of professionalism back to the Top O’ the World that I felt had been lacking recently, and I wanted people to take an interest in the paper again. I believe student journalism truly has the power to make a difference. So far this year, we have made a lot of changes to The Top, and we are making great strides in this direction. We redesigned our logo by accepting submissions from students.

The result you see here is more streamlined and appealing, while also giving us a sense of forward momentum. We are now also including color in each issue so as to be more aesthetically pleasing to our readers, and we have switched to a vertical front cover, which still reads as a traditional newspaper once it is unfolded and opened up. The students on staff have been working hard to increase the caliber and quality of reporting and writing, and I think this dedication has shown in just the first three issues. We have kept to a bi-monthly publication, and we have also increased our online presence through Facebook. At some point we plan to launch a website as well, where we will hopefully have the entire paper online. My hope is that this trend may continue with the paper after I graduate this coming May. I have a strong desire for the paper to continue to grow; yet it is paramount that any media stays current with the times. As part of that, we need to update some of our equipment and capabilities. We receive funding through Student Government Association, but there are other inevitable expenses that come up from time to time, such as our current need for a new printer. It would be wonderful to be able to set aside some money for photography equipment, computer programs and any other expenses we incur to supplement our yearly SGA funding. If you are interested in supporting the Top O’ the World, we are exploring the possibility of setting up a subscription for Western State Alumni. In exchange for a nominal fee for each semester, you would receive a hardcopy of each issue of the student paper in the mail. Your subscription would be earmarked for Top O’ the World expenses and would be a huge benefit to student journalism at your Alma Mater. Seeing current issues of the paper would allow you to keep up with what is going on around Western and would also help enable us at The Top to continue to improve the level of reporting we produce. If you are ever on campus, I invite you to stop by the office in room 103 of the University Center and say hello. You may also always send any correspondence to top@western.edu, or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wscutop.

Subscription InformationIf you are interested in subscribing to the Top O’ the World, please send an email to top@western.edu, or to Editor Kevin Noreen at kevin.noreen@western.edu.

STUDENT JOURNALISM AT WESTERN: TOP O’ THE WORLD CHANGES THINGS UP THIS YEAR

Elevating the Campus

WESTERNER 21

To Western Up and make a donation, call 970-641-2237 or go to westernup.org

“Thanks to the faculty-to-student ratio, academically, Western is hard to beat.”

Jacob LeggettMajoring in Business and Accounting

I chose to attend Western for the football program, and for the small school experience in a town like Gunnison that has amazing natural surroundings.

Rarely do I have trouble contacting or meeting with any of my professors when I need assistance or one-on-one time.

My advisor has been amazing through the transfer process, originally, and for helping me get a schedule that fits my needs each semester. She seems to take an interest in me and really cares that my needs are being met.

When I graduate I’ll remember all those who helped me make progress towards my goals, and those who take pride in doing their jobs well. And I’ll try to be the same way in my own career.

Help support Jacob and students like him.

FALL | 201422

wscubookstore.western.edu1-800-321-0673Open: Monday - Friday 7:45 to 5:00After every home football game till 5.

This Bookstore is owned and operated by Western State Colorado University and 100% of the revenue generated is re-invested into Western!

THE WESTERN BOOKSTORE

WESTERNER 23

To Western Up and make a donation, call 970-641-2237 or go to westernup.org

On August 20th Western welcomed the USA Pro Cycling Challenge to Gunnison with the Running of the Red!

Showcasing Western to the world is one of our favorite things to do, and the British Broadcasting Company agreed that day by calling it one of their top pictures of the day.

This is the kind of full–throttle enthusiasm and energy at Western that is our inspiration to continue to push Western to even greater heights.

If it has been a while since you have thought about supporting Western, it is time to think again.

1ST ANNUAL 2014

WISH YOU WERE A STUDENT AGAIN?

Watch the video at westernup.org

FALL | 201424

Elevating Student Life

The Mountaineer field house has elevated student life/activities on campus. Students can now run indoors, play basketball, soccer, pickle ball, tennis, and golf as well as practice in the batting cage and even jump into the trampoline foam pit on those cold Gunnison winter nights. With our new fieldhouse, the possibilities are endless.

WESTERNER 25

FALL | 201426

Elevating Campus Signage

Students can’t say they were late to class because they were lost on campus! Western has elevated its brand giving each building a fresh new look with new signage made using recycled materials.

WESTERNER 27

Elevating Homecoming 2014

FALL | 201428

Western State Colorado University Athletics recently sat down with Director of Athletics, Jason Carmichael for a quick question and answer on his first few weeks at the helm. Western Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Brad Baca announced the University’s new Director of Athletics as Jason Carmichael on Aug. 28. Carmichael had been Western’s Associate Athletic Director since early 2013. Prior to his move to Western, Carmichael spent four years at Mid-South Community College (MSCC) in West Memphis, Arkansas. Most recently he served as the Dean of Students and Athletic Director, overseeing all athletic operations, budget and personnel decisions.

Q: Having been the Associate Athletic Director at Western for a year, how has the transition been to the Director of Athletics role? It’s been challenging but simultaneously very rewarding. The “changing of hats” is an organic process that I work with each day as we look to see how best to align our staff’s responsibilities for the present and future. The transition was made much easier by having high quality staff members in place throughout the department.

Q: What excites you about the future of Western State as a whole and Western Athletics? I truly believe that there is a renewed sense of urgency amongst the faculty and staff here. Collectively there appears to be an active desire to see Western State elevated in terms of its positioning in the “higher education world.” In terms of athletics I am passionate about providing broad educational opportunities to student-athletes.

Elevating Athletics

Q & A WITH DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICSJASON CARMICHEAL

Of course that breadth of learning would include the traditional classroom experience but I am excited that we can offer an augmentation of that education through the experience that is intercollegiate athletics. I think as a department we are well positioned to fulfill that mission. Also I’m very excited because currently there seems to be a ground swell of enthusiasm from external constituents such as our former student-athletes and our donors. Most if not all of that enthusiasm is a result of having high quality student-athletes and exceptional staff members. I look forward to seeing how we can capitalize on that support.

Q: Having been in the head role for a few months now, what do you see as Western Athletics’ biggest challenges moving forward? In many ways our challenges are not any different than those of many small college athletic departments throughout the country. We tend to operate many of our sport programs at or below the average level of funding for the teams that we compete against routinely. This means we have to do more with less. Our coaches are well versed in this reality and don’t use it as an excuse. They continue to push for excellence however I think the reality is that we need to continue to pursue additional funding from our supporters. So I guess in a word the biggest challenge is and will continue to be fundraising.

Q: Coming from the coaching world to the administrative world, you have knowledge on what it takes to be a great coach. What can you tell us about the current coaching staff at Western? I’ve lauded praises on our staff in some of my earlier responses but for me, as a parent the greatest endorsement I can give is that I would be proud for my children to have the opportunity to compete for any of our current coaches. Of course they would have to have the ability and so on but if they in fact were a college level athlete I would be very pleased to see them be coached by any member of our staff.

Q: For those that don’t know already, you are active on Twitter (@WesternStateAD). You’ve picked up a lot of followers here already, but why is social media so important and, for that matter, why do you feel it is important for administrators and coaches to be involved in social media? I am fairly active on social media and I do strongly recommend it to our staff. Whether we like it or not it appears to be here to stay. I have some serious concerns about the byproducts of our society’s social media addiction but the reality is that our “customers” (current and former student-athletes; fans; donors; etc.) are engaged in increasingly more ways through social media. We have to be out there sharing the good news of Mountaineer Athletics and Western at large. Gone are the days when we can just say that it would be “neat” to have a social media account. Social media (in my opinion) has moved into the ranks of a “must.”

Q: What are some of your immediate goals and what do you hope to accomplish at Western? We are in the process of solidifying our staff and making sure everyone is comfortable in their new roles. For me having a productive and satisfied staff is step one towards accomplishing all of our goals. Not everyone

WESTERNER 29

Athletics

is going to be happy all the time and tough decisions have to be made but I think it’s important to make sure that on the whole our staff is bought in on where we are going. From there I hope to take a look at some of our special events such as our annual fundraisers and see where we can make some adjustments to hopefully continue to increase our participation.

Q: Western has finished in the top 25 of the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup in 18 of 19 years and consistently has student-athletes that rank in the top of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and NCAA. How much importance will you place on the Directors’ Cup metric and academics? The Learfield legacy we have here is very important to me but I do think that at times the reality of those rankings gets “lost in translation.” We had talked previously about having some references in key locations in our facilities so some of our patrons could see what that particular competition is about and I look forward to making that a reality. In terms of the blend of the importance of “on the field” excellence and academic success I hold to the belief that you can have both. The way I see it the priority of student-athletes should be the pursuit of a degree. It stands to reason that one thing that makes that pursuit more likely is if they are retained at Western. And to take that a step further in all of our sports it’s easier to be retained if you are experiencing success with your teammates. Athletics can be a great “carrot” for getting a student through a program of studies. I would argue that highly successful athletics on our level only help to increase the size of that “carrot.”

The 20th Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame Class was inducted on Oct. 10th at the hall of fame banquet in the new Mountaineer Field House. The class included brothers Ken and Kurt Clay, runners Hamish Smith and Alisha Williams, football and track and field athlete Aubrey Tate, legendary coach Duane Vandenbusche and Lifetime Athletic Achievement Award recipient Marv Allen. Western athletics is currently accepting nominations for the 21st Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame Class. To nominate a deserving alumnus, please visit GoMountaineers.com/halloffame.

2014 HALL OF FAME

Origins of men’s basketball at Western State Colorado University date back over 100 years to 1911. Since basketball started at Western, Mountaineer coaches and players have created a legacy that has stood the test of time. This winter, one of those former Mountaineer players will again be on Western’s sideline in Paul Wright Gym. However, this time it will be as the Mountaineers’ 27th Head Men’s Basketball Coach. 2001 graduate Bradd Schafer returns to Gunnison to lead the Mountaineer men’s basketball program back to glory.

SCHAFER NAMED MEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH

FALL | 201430

It’s a ritual that happens on nearly every college campus across the country. On homecoming weekend, alumni travel near and far to reunite and show support for the institution they represented as students. Western State Colorado University is no different. For the newly formed Mountaineer Football Alumni Association (MFAA), getting back to Western is important, but giving back is just as important. That is why the Friday before Western football defeated Adams State University 39-37 on homecoming, the MFAA pledged $50,000 towards scholarships to be used for Western football. “I am so proud and thankful to have such a great alumni base helping support the football program,” Western Head Football Coach Jas Bains said. “We look forward to working with the MFAA for a long time to come.” MFAA President Skip Pritchard played football at Western and was a graduate assistant for the football program from 1973-78. Pritchard earned a bachelor’s degree from Western in

MFAA PLEDGES $50,000 FOR FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIPS

industrial arts and a graduate degree in secondary education. “There are unique challenges that face Western football in a competitive conference,” Pritchard said. “However, Western is a unique place itself and the MFAA wants to do our part to help answer those challenges.” The MFAA officially began on March 1 of 2014 and has grown to over 160 members. In just seven months the organization has raised over $50,000 and is looking to raise even more before celebrating their first anniversary next spring. The MFAA’s mission is to be the guardian, steward and driving force that ensures perpetuity of the proud history, tradition and success of Mountaineer Football. Goals of the MFAA include assisting Mountaineer football student-athletes in four key areas: the classroom, the field of athletic competition, the value contributed to the overall mission and success of Western, and the value and contribution given to enrich the vitality and vibrancy of the Gunnison Community and Valley. While producing wins on the field is important, the MFAA wants to help support and continue a legacy of academics that the current football staff carries on today. “Jas Bains and this staff are doing something right,” Pritchard remarked. “The emphasis this staff puts on academics is the best I’ve seen at Western in my 40 years of involvement with the University.” While the MFAA wants to help all of Western, challenges still loom for the burgeoning organization. “The big challenge to the MFAA is growing our membership, which is our primary goal right now,” Pritchard commented. “As we grow our membership, we can play a larger role in raising money, which is supplemental to what the University commits to the football program.” With Western football having one of the best seasons in recent memory, now is a perfect time for football alums to join the MFAA and help support not only the football program but the entire University. “Whatever we can do to help and encourage the University’s overall goals is very important to us,” Pritchard said. “We want to make sure we play our part to help Western succeed.” For more information on the MFAA, please visit the organization’s website at MountaineerMadness.com.

Volleyball - Keven John - John comes to Western by way of Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. John had been the Badgers’ head coach for the past three seasons, finishing ranked nationally in the top 23 each of those years. At Snow, John totaled 11 all-conference athletes and won 13 matches over top-20 teams. Women’s Swimming and Diving – Geoff Hanson - Hanson previously coached at the University of Arizona for two years as the head assistant coach. Before Arizona, Hanson coached for 12 seasons at the University of Wisconsin in the assistant head coach capacity. Hanson was instrumental in leading the Badgers to its highest finish at the NCAA Championships along with mentoring the program’s first-ever individual national champion in 2011. Hanson’s primary duties at Wisconsin included working with distance and IM swimmers as well as being the director of Badger swim camps.

OTHER HEAD COACHING APPOINTMENTS…

Keven John, Western’s new head volleyball coach.

WESTERNER 31

Elevating Traditions

WHITEWASHING THE W – THEN AND NOWSome traditions at Western may change over time, but will never die. Whitewashing the W is a longstanding tradition at Western whose methods may have changed, but the spirit of the day never will. The W proudly overlooking the Gunnison valley is still the largest collegiate emblem in the world and measures 420 feet long with each leg measuring 16 feet wide.

FALL | 201432

1940s:Alice May (Tovey) Petersen (BA-1944) celebrated her 92nd birthday in February and has been married to her husband, Elwin, for 72 years!

1950s:CJ Miller (BA-1957) helped to maintain Gunnison’s Pioneer Museum and celebrated its’ 50th anniversary this year.

Bob Mears (BA-1959) recruited Denver Broncos Head Coach John Fox out of high school to play football in Southern California. At the time Bob was coaching at Southwest Community College in Southern California and recruited John to come play as a defensive back for his team. John played for Bob for two years before transferring to San Diego State to finish his eligibility.

1960s:Chris Jacobsen (BA-1969) flew his D-17 UAV and performed along with the War Birds at the Rocky Mountain Airshow in Greeley, CO on Friday Aug 22nd, 2014. Jacobsen is currently a licensed architect.

1970s:Pam (Tibbits) French (BA-1972) became the first female exalted ruler of the Gunnison Elks Lodge on March 30th, 2014. She has worked at Western for over 30 years, currently in the Small Business Development Center.

William “Bill” Campbell (BA-1979, MA-1980) was named to the 2014 National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame ballot on March 13th, 2013. Bill is also in the Western State Colorado University Hall of Fame.

Chuck Cliggett (BA-1973) won the District 7 spot, or district at large seat on the Gunnison County Electric Association board. He is currently seeking cleaner, renewable and more affordable electricity methods and while on the board he aims to “keep it simple.”

Dr. Richard Southall (BA-1979) returned to campus this year to give a talk as part of a Leadership Speaker Series on Leadership and Ethics in College Sports.

Diana “Didi” (Glauner) Herald (BA-1975) program and outreach manager at Delta County Libraries in Colorado, was awarded one of the most prestigious awards for a Librarian…the NoveList’s Margaret E. Monroe Award. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to adult library services. Her mission has been putting people together with the books that will make a difference in their lives through front line library service, mentoring and coaching, consulting, presenting workshops, and writing several books in the Genreflecting Readers’ Advisory Series published by Libraries Unlimited/ABC-Clio.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Oster (BA-1979), Ohio-based podiatrist and founder of Myfootshop.com, has launched an updated website that offers a unique online shopping experience. Customers can research symptoms that cause foot and ankle pain and explore potential solutions. The goal is to help people deal with foot and ankle pain in a safe and cost-efficient online environment.

Peter Dea (BA-1976) was inducted into the All American Wildcatters in 2014. Peter finished his ascent of all 54 Colorado 14ers, a quest begun at Western State. In last couple years Peter and wife, Cathy, have trekked into the Himalayas through Bhutan and camped out on Ice Floe edge off NE coast of Baffin Island for 9 days with polar bears and narwhals. They produced the movie “Horse Sense” and enjoy week-long horse rides in Colorado each summer.

George Harms (BA-1977) was named Hays Medical Center’s new Vice President/ CFO in Hays, KS.

Paula Frickey (BA-1979) became a commissioned officer after graduation in the U.S. Air Force and served in Oman during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990-1991 then later retired as a lieutenant colonel. On 9/11/01, while working at the American Red Cross’s National Headquarters in Washington DC, she was called to go to the burning Pentagon to assist the first responders. In 1995 Frickey established her own consulting company (PJF Consulting LLC) advising prospective government contractors on doing business with the Federal government.  She has worked for the U.S. House of Representatives’ Chief Administrative Officer, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Interior, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Ballistic Missile Organization. Paula is currently a Procurement Analyst at HQ Department of Energy.  In 2009, she re-connected with her high school crush, Steve Fillingham, and now lives on a horse farm in rural Loudoun County, Virginia.

1980s:Dana Byers (BA-1989) has returned to the Gunnison Valley after a several year hiatus traveling the globe, and has joined the Cornerstone Home Lending team writing mortgages. She helps many to realize their home and business dreams.

Ruth (Michel) Welch (BA-1986) was recently appointed as the Colorado Bureau of Land Management’s State Director. Welch graduated from Western with a degree in sociology and English literature. She has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado, earned in 2000. Her professional career began with the Office of Surface

Elevatingthe Alumni Association

FUTURE MOUNTAINEERS:Joel (BA-2002) and Lyndsey Ruehle (BA-2006) along with a proud sister, Sage, welcomed Knox August Ruehle into the world on April 29th, 2014. Also welcoming him were his grandparents, Nancy Ruehle (BA-1970) of Gunnison and Scott and Nancy Kenton (MA-1984) of Montrose.

Joe Laughlin (BA-2003) and Christina Buchanan are the proud parents of a baby boy, Kelly Reed Laughlin. Born on May 24th, 2014 at 5:49am, he weighed in at 7lbs., 9oz. and was 21in long.

Amanda Birdsong (BA-2006) and Wyatt Phipps of Gunnison welcomed Arlo Casper Phipps into the world. He was born June 23rd, 2014 at 8:46am. He weighed 7lbs., 1oz., and was 19.5in long.

Future Western State Alum, Ryder, has his application ready for the freshman class of 2032 says parents Kristin (Finley) (BA-2005) & Matt Wienold (BA-2007).

WESTERNER 33

Mining in 1989. She moved to the BLM in 1993, working in Wyoming, Virginia and Washington, D.C. She was made acting director of the BLM in Colorado in February 2014 and was sworn in as director on May 19. Among other issues Welch expects to tackle in balancing development and conservation, are gas and oil activities, grazing allotments, utility corridors, tourism, water and invasive weeds.

1990s:Elva (Martinez) Dryer (BA-1996) is back and competing at the USA Masters Marathon Championships after taking a four year break from running professionally.

Kirsten (Forkner) Sanders (BA-1994) won Gunnison’s Yard of The Week for her stunning work on her 1880’s stone house. She received a grant from the city to help clean up the yard after purchasing the home in 1997.

Jackie (Sulkowski) Burt (BS-1994), director and founder of the One Room School House (ORSCH) in Gunnison helped to purchase a new building at 200 N. Spruce to ensure the school has a permanent home and more than one room.

Kevin Mickelson (BA-1991) with teammate Craig Cooper, finished second in the Member-Member golf tournament at Dos Rios Golf Club this summer.

Rita Merrigan (BA-1995), an English Language Learner teacher at Gunnison Elementary School, travelled to China along with 30 award-winning educators this June as part of the National Education Association Foundation’s Global Learning Fellowship.

Caryn (Cairns) Moxey (BA-1998) was featured in the Casper Star Tribune as well as the Live Well Wyoming magazine for her “no pain, no pain” workout. Caryn’s workout is perfect for those new to exercise or who are returning the gym after an injury and emphasizes a no pain philosophy. Moxey earned her bachelor’s degree in recreation and kinesiology at Western. She has a certification as a personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise, among others.

Nathan Goodale (BA-1999) was awarded The Class of 1963 Excellence in Teaching Award at Hamilton College in NY. Goodale conducts research in the interior Northwest of North America, western coastal Ireland, and the Near East. Research emphases include modeling human behavior with quantitative methods, lithic technological organization, and evolutionary approaches to understanding variation in material culture as a byproduct of human behavior and knowledge transmission.

Boyd (BA-1995) and Sharalee (Conway) Pederson (BA-1996) are devoted Western accounting graduates who were ranked #1 in growth in Colorado by Transamerica Financial Advisors, and were on the cover of the World Financial Group’s magazine.

2000s:Scott Dahlberg (BA-2008) won the 2014 Bolder Boulder citizen’s race with a time of 30 minutes, 50 seconds. He is currently the Colorado State University Assistant Cross Country Coach.

Jonathan Bruno (BA-2000) was recognized as a Champion of Change by the White House for his work in protecting the Upper South Platte Watershed’s natural resources while embracing the communities’ values and

needs. He is currently working as the Chief Operating Officer at the Coalition for the Upper South Platte.Gwen Brown (BA-2002) returned to campus this year to give a talk as part of a Leadership Speaker Series. Gwen is the Executive Director of the Freedom Foundation and addressed the importance of taking action – no matter how scary – in leadership.

Caleb P. McCoy (BA-2006) published a book about his late mother, Kiara McCoy, titled Angel on Ice. She was a winning figure skater and also battled sarcoma.

Kelly McCormick (BA-2005) was selected as the Moffat County High School Principal.

Eric (BA-2009) and Ciera (Glenn) Freson (BA-2011) were married July 5, 2014. Eric and Ciera met as students at Western. Their relationship flourished when Eric co-founded the Big Mountain ski team and Ciera joined to take part.  They both enjoy skiing which is a strong reason both decided to attend Western. They plan on staying in the Gunnison valley as they love the small town and way of life.

2000s:Karen Ast (BA – 2009) and Aaron Ganss were married on October 4, 2014 in Salida, Colorado. The bride and groom celebrated their honeymoon by spending a week on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Karen and Aaron presently live in Cedar City, Utah where Aaron is employed at Atkin Molding Company and Karen works as Coordinator of Student Engagement and Orientation at Southern Utah University.

2010s:Zach (BA-2011) and Caitlyn (Harrington) Taylor (BA-2010) were wed on September 20, 2014 on a gorgeous day in Canon City, CO.

Donovan and Emily (Donahue) McMahill both graduates of the 2011 class came back to the valley this summer to get married on August 31, 2014. They took their vows up Ohio Creek on a beautiful summer day in the Gunnison Country.

Damon and Sarah (Herbert) Scott (BA-2011) walked down the aisle on October 18, 2014.

Kyle O’Brien (BA-2011) married Rebecca Stiehl on July 26, 2014 in Bend, OR. They recently started their own events business which helped the setup and tear down process go smoothly.

Kyle Jones’s (BA-2011) company, Cold Smoke Splitboards, received the 2015 Editor’s Choice Award in Backcountry Magazine for the Voodoo Splitboard. After a rigorous testing of 40 different boards this March in Crested Butte, the Voodoo was named the best board!

Jeff and Jesse (Moran) Quinlin both 2012 graduates, were married on June 14, 2014 up on Mt. Crested Butte.

Tyler Pennel (BA-2012) won his first ever marathon at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in St. Paul, MN with a time of 2:13:32.

Mike (BA-2012) and Erica (See) Ross (BA-2013) tied the knot this summer on June 14, 2014 in Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs.

FALL | 201434

In 1974, two alumni of Western started a tradition of a guy’s camping trip in Colorado. This tradition has continued every summer for 40 years. The name of this group is the Big Foot camping group. The group has grown to now include 10 Western alumni all of whom were apart of the Theta Chi fraternity while at Western. The picture above was taken this year (40th) and from left to right includes Fred Iozzo ‘72, Larry Fitzsimons ‘71, Greg Widmar ‘72, Bill Howard ‘73, Dave Inglis ‘74 and Doug Taylor ‘74 & ‘77. Other alumni that are part of group include Jim Inglis ‘72, Larry Holt ‘73, Gary Jesen ‘73 and Larry Foster ‘73. The wives all said we Big Footers would be in motor homes by now. However, we continue to use tents and usually jeep into our camp sites. Besides Colorado the group has been to Lake Powell 3 times and Rainey Lake in International Falls, Minn. The 40th was celebrated by camping near Pitkin, CO and finished with a raft trip down the Arkansas River.

Elevatingthe Alumni Association

WESTERNER 35

30’sBetty Jo (Knight) Schmidt (’39),June 25, 2014

40’sRichard “Dick” Lynn Gilbert (’41), April 3, 2014Eleanor Domenica (Pricco) Cramp (’41), May 28, 2014Nellie (Pagotto) Smith (’43), May 4, 2014Frances Marie (Weber) Pearsall (’46), April 17, 2014Dr. Lawrence Joseph Hendricks (’47), May 18, 2014Dr. Anton G. Pegis (’49), May 15, 2014

50’s Donald Earl Chambers (’50), August 6, 2014Clayton “Satch” Gray (’50), August 1, 2014William R. LeFevre (BA’51, MA’56), May 11, 2014Roy Gilbert Brubacher (’53), March 4, 2014George Edwin Brown (’56), March 1, 2014Philip Jordan Ruggles (’56), June 9, 2014Edna Florence (Hamaker) Soester (’57), March 13, 2014James Nelson Whitney (’58), June 1, 2014Roy Lee Albershardt (’58), July 1, 2014Pete Karl Pisciotta (’58), August 20, 2014Kenneth Theodore Ask (BA’58, MA ’59), September 20, 2014Harold Gayle Baker (’59), December 4, 2014Richard “Dick” D. Makings (BA ’57, MA ‘59), May 2, 2014

60’sBeverly Ruth (Berardi) Julius (’60), April 4, 2014

Frank Coleman Starnes (BA’61, MA’62), October 15, 2014Alan Shields Albert (’63), January 4, 2014Donald Marion Adair (BA’63, MA’68), May 24, 2014Miles Dow County (BA ’63, MA ‘66), April 23, 2014Raymond Victor Alexander (’64), September 11, 2014Robert Gunderson Biglow (’65), August 14, 2014Dustin “Dusty” Dunnel Maland (’66), July 15, 2014Roderick Gaines Taylor (’67), July 5, 2014Robert Seay Neville (MA’68), February 19, 2014Barbara Lynn Anshutz (’68), April 1, 2014Conrad Louis Miller (MA’68), August 30, 2014Luana Gail (Baer) Heikes (’69), May 27, 2014

70’sLarry John Renaud (’70), September 8, 2014John Alvan Gordon (’71), September 8, 2014Jaralyn “Jari” Beek (’72), September 7, 2013Howard Glenn Blunk (’72), November 5, 2013George Harvey Adams (’72), May 4, 2014Curtis Eugene Cichanowski (’72), August 9, 2014Willard Lorne Clapper (’73), October 16, 2014Steven Kyle Mitchell (’75), February 25, 2014Patrick Alexander Reilly (’75), April 28, 2014Michael Joseph Tesar (’77), June 23, 2014

80’sRobert “Bob” Charles Timmermann (’82), April 4, 2014

Lawrence “Larry” Charles Warren (MBA ’82), July 24, 2014David Joseph Gerk (’89), May 20, 2014

00’sMatthew Charles Van Eaton (’07), August 10, 2014

ATTENDEESJane Marie (Keeler) Austin, March 15, 2014Scott Russell Sparks, May 4, 2014Betty G. (Sherman) Gibbs, March 13,, 2014Zee Dee Kinkel, March 26, 2014Denny Stuart Barry, April 13, 2014Dennis P. Goeltl, April 25, 2014Kristin L. Neuberger, July 6, 2014Linda K. (Peterson) Bauer, June 29, 2014Judith Kathleen (Brown) Wilson, July 14, 2014Andrea Maree Santee, July 12, 2014Marilyn Kay (Nichols) McNamara, July 11, 2014Walter “Walt” David Hogge, July 18, 2014Gloria Dene Brown, July 30, 2014Orlando J. Arnone, July 23, 2014Nadine L. (Flowers) Jutten, August 19, 2014Susan Alice Schott, September 27, 2014Joyce Christine (Craft) Borgwardt, September 28, 2014Helen (Easterly) Winslow, July 18, 2014Victoria “Vicki” A. (Kuhn) Anderson, October 12, 2014Wendy Mae (Ohlman) Larsen, October 5, 2014

In Memorium

JANUARY 23, 2015Alumni gathering in Phoenix, AZFEBRUARY 13-15, 2015Alumni Ski WeekendMAY 8, 2015Alumni Awards for Excellence BanquetMAY 9, 2015Graduation

To find out more about these and other events, log onto www.westernalum.org/events.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!Look for the Western State Alumni Facebook page, “Like” us and stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest happenings at your alma mater.

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PA I DPermit No. 5

Gunnison, COAlumni Relations Office600 N. Adams Gunnison, CO 81231

DATES TO REMEMBER