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Walt Perls examines a student's advertising project

Beneath the picturesque Flatirons, another fall morning pretends to be summer, warming into one of those days in which it's hard to imagine being anywhere else but Boulder.

Sitting cross-legged on the lawn in front of Macky Auditorium is CU alumni Walt Perls teaching 20 students in his advanced advertising creative class how to develop a compelling print ad.

It has been more than three decades and countless ads since Perls' college days. As a Chicago copywriter and creative director for Kimberly-Clark and S.C. Johnson & Son, Perls built a prestigious career. He retired from the industry twice, and now he's back on campus teaching the next generation of ad professionals. He calls it semiretirement.

"It's payback time as far as I'm concerned," says Perls, who moved his family back to Boulder five years ago. "I really feel like I'm accomplishing something."

Perls teaches the advanced print and portfolio development courses at the School, and his business partner, Annette Osterlund, teaches art direction. Last summer they made another contribution: $4,000 for computer memory and software so computers in Macky can run the Photoshop design program.

"Annette and Walt knew that it takes more than talent and good instruction for students to create good portfolios," says Associate Professor Brett Robbs. "It also takes the right equipment and software. Their contribution will make it possible for students to execute their ideas in a way that will make them very competitive in the job market."

Osterlund says she became frustrated watching 20 students vie for time on one fully equipped computer. "It made it so much harder for students to do their work," she says.

"There are some incredibly hardworking teachers who are completely devoted to these students. Our goal is for the students to leave school and really be able to go out and get a good job," Osterlund says. "We get some really talented people, and they deserve the best."

"Walt and Annette have made a real difference in the creative program. They are remarkably giving and work with students outside of class and even on weekends to make sure the work is as strong as it can be," Robbs says.