Previous Winners of the George Norlin Award
2023: Janine Davidson (ArchEngr'88)
With every step of Janine Davidson’s combined 30 years of academic, civilian and military service, she has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and the betterment of society and her community — precisely what the prestigious George Norlin Award stands for.
During her rich career, Janine initially held many roles within the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), including deputy assistant secretary of defense for plans, where she oversaw the formulation and review of military war plans and global force posture policy. For her work, she was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. This award recognizes outstanding service of significance to the DOD, including personal sacrifice in the performance of that service and motivation by patriotism, good citizenship and a sense of public responsibility.
Her military service culminated as the 32nd Under Secretary of the U.S. Navy, as appointed by President Barack Obama. During that time, she planned the execution of a $900-billion, five-year budget, ensuring readiness, modernization and the health of 900,000 military and civilian personnel and their families.
Now, Janine serves as president of Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado’s third-largest public university. In this role, she’s described as “a fierce advocate for MSU Denver’s 17,000 students,” according to nominators Gardiner Porter and Laurie Porter (Bus’88).
During her time at MSU Denver, Janine has staunchly supported the DREAM Act and the university’s DACA students, as well as its minoritized, military and veteran students. She’s also an active steward of the processes that make our democratic society work, launching MSU Denver’s Institute for Public Service, which focuses on inspiring and preparing students for careers in government and the nonprofit sector.
“She has championed the role public universities play in ‘holding the line on the American dream,’” said the Porters.
In addition to her professional achievements, Janine serves on numerous national and Denver-area boards, including with the Chair Defense Policy, Foreign Affairs Policy, UMB Financial Corp, Colorado Concern, Downtown Denver Partnership and Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation.
As shared by her nominators, “Janine has demonstrated a long-lasting commitment to excellence in her professional career rising up to senior leadership positions within the U.S. Departments of Defense and Education.
“Her consistent devotion to the betterment of society and our community is articulated by her devotion to our country … but also from her more recent efforts to develop high-quality, career-oriented undergraduate and graduate academic programs at MSU that serve Colorado’s communities and power its economy.”
2022: Willie L. Hill, Jr. (MMusEdu’72; PhD’87; HonDocHum’02)
Willie L. Hill Jr.’s career has run the gamut — from sharing stages with musical icons like Dizzy Gillespie to advocating for arts to leading workshops for public school children. Through it all, Hill provided exceptional time and dedication to provide services for the communities with which he was associated.
A jazz saxophonist, Hill has appeared in concert with artists such as Liza Minelli, Johnny Mathis, Sammy Davis Jr., Lou Rawls and Lena Horne. With over 45 appearances as a guest soloist with iconic big bands and as guest conductor at over 35 venues, he continues to inspire the national jazz scene.
But it’s off the stage that Hill’s impact reaches even further.
Hill gave generously of his time throughout his career, first serving as a teacher with Denver Public Schools and later as a professor at the CU Boulder College of Music. As director of the CU Jazz Summer Camp, he inspired generations of young people in high school and college.
“I learned from and worked with Willie and saw his teaching powerfully reach generations of students,” said College of Music Dean Emeritus Daniel Sher. “I found him to be a consummate virtuoso on the saxophone, and his leadership was an inspiration to his colleagues.”
This was only the beginning of an impressive trajectory of impact. As president of the National Association for Music Educators, Hill led an organization of music educators and college student chapters — over 125,000 members. Similarly, as president of the International Association of Jazz Educators, he led 15,000 members from over 35 countries.
He has been inducted into the Colorado Music Educators Hall of Fame, Grambling State University Hall of Fame and National History Makers Organization, and he has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Benny Golson Jazz Master Award, Lawrence Berk Jazz Educator of the Year Award and DownBeat Magazine Achievement Award in Jazz Education. He is also a founder of the Rick Matterson/Clark Terry Telluride Jazz Academy and Mile High Jazz Camp in Boulder.
Most recently, Hill retired from his position as director of the Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts in 2019. In this role, he made a profound impact on communities by developing outreach initiatives to provide children with access, and also supported participation in music, dance, theater and the arts. Through his engaging personality, drive, energy and optimism, his participation made significant progress in the Fine Arts Center’s efforts to build community and develop the strategies and initiatives that break down cultural and societal barriers while promoting arts and culture.
Said Sher, “I heard from patrons and attendees of the events he performed in, planned or strategized that he was the kind of leader who always saw the best in people and always saw the glass as half full, no matter the challenge.”
2022: Kayce Casner Anderson (EPOBio’01)
Kayce Casner Anderson (EPOBio’01) had all the makings of a renowned ecologist.
After discovering an interest in honeybee research at CU Boulder, Anderson pursued the study of insect and animal species for more than a decade. She received her doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology at the highly selective University of California, Davis, and her research on butterflies in the Andes and California found an important correlation between declining butterfly populations and climate change.
“I have no doubt that the stage was set for Kayce to have a highly productive and important career as an academic scientist,” said Michael Breed, a CU Boulder professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology who taught Anderson.
But there was much more for Anderson to accomplish — this time with humans.
In 2014, Anderson founded For the Good, which seeks out and partners with remote and disadvantaged communities in Kenya to keep girls in school.
“Given a secondary education, girls earn higher incomes, have fewer and healthier children and are more likely to send their own children to school,” declares For the Good’s website.
As executive director of For the Good, Anderson uses her scientific past to drive evidence-based program approaches and evaluations. She helps open secondary schools in remote Kenyan villages; works with local political, religious and cultural leaders who can influence parents to send children to school; and targets families who may not have easy access to schooling.
“Kayce feels strongly that education is a right for all people and a leverage point to address many global challenges,” said Breed.
In addition to her work abroad, Anderson — a Glenwood Springs resident — is also director of the Casner Family Foundation, which provides support for first-generation and low-income students on Colorado’s western slope.
Anderson has said of her humanitarian work: “My leap from studying ecology and evolutionary biology to studying problems that keep youth out of school in Kenya might seem drastic, but it actually feels like I just changed systems as I have many times before — from research on honeybees as an undergraduate to butterfly species for my PhD to aquatic insect communities when working as a postdoc to human communities in Kenya. The driving questions in all cases have been infinitely interesting, and the process to understand them is the same.”
2021: Christine Marie Arguello (Edu’77)
When Christine Marie Arguello was a junior in high school, her classmates laughed at her aspirations to get a degree from Harvard Law School. But her English teacher, Mrs. Poplin, knew otherwise: She looked her in the eyes and said, “Chris, I know you can do it.”
The encouragement from Mrs. Poplin and others propelled Arguello to success. Her trailblazing career as a lawyer, judge, educator and public servant has consistently broken down barriers and inspired other underrepresented students to follow their dreams.
After attending CU for a bachelor’s degree in education, Arguello graduated from Harvard Law in 1980 — the first Latina from Colorado to graduate from the prestigious program. She went on to become a private practice lawyer, tenured professor at the University of Kansas School of Law and university counsel at CU Boulder. Since 2008, she has presided as a district court judge in the U.S. District Court for the State of Colorado.
“She has made a positive impact on a national scale through her service as a federal judge,” said Professor Joseph Polman from CU’s School of Education. “She has demonstrated a long-lasting commitment to excellence in her professional career and a devotion to the betterment of society and her community.”
Arguello has been lauded throughout her career with awards such as the 2013 Latina Trailblazer award from the Latinas First Foundation, induction into both the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame (2014) and the Colorado Latino Hall of Fame (2020), a 2020 Award of Merit from the Denver Bar Association and the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Center for Legal Inclusiveness.
Perhaps her most defining characteristic, though, is her generous spirit. In 2014, she founded a Colorado-based law school pipeline program, “Law School… Yes We Can (Sí Se Puede)” to mentor underrepresented students who, like her, dream of going to law school. Since 2014, the program has delivered over 350 workshops, mentored nearly 80 fellows and facilitated 25 internships. The program has a 95% college completion rate. Two students in her program have graduated from law school, and five others are currently in law school.
"As a federal judge, [Arguello] does not have to devote her energy to these causes, does not have to pause to encourage diverse young students to pursue their dreams, and does not have to work to make the legal system better, fairer and more equitable," said Patrick O'Rourke, former board chair of the Center for Legal Inclusiveness, as well as executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer at CU Boulder.
"But she does, and that says everything about her."
2021: Jim Gray (Advert’81)
A 12-time Emmy Award winner with a knack for thought-provoking interviews, sportscaster Jim Gray started his fabled career at CU Boulder in the 1970s. In the 40 years since he graduated with an advertising degree, Gray has given the American sports audience a front-row seat to many classic sports moments.
Always asking the tough but fair questions, Gray has used his skilled reporting to allow anyone to experience the magic, joy and heartbreak of professional athletes on and off the court, the field or the green.
“Jim Gray is a legendary figure in sports broadcasting,” said Lori Bergen, dean of the College of Media, Communication and Information. “He has been trusted by countless iconic athletes to tell their stories — of both triumph and disgrace — and Gray has had unprecedented access to the biggest names, events and moments in the last four decades of sports.”
Besides his numerous Emmy wins, Gray has earned some of the most prestigious honors in sports journalism. He was inducted into four Sports Halls of Fame, including the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and was honored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was also named Sports Reporter of the Year three times.
Currently, he works for Showtime, Fox and SiriusXM Radio. At Sirius, Gray is the host of a weekly show alongside broadcast partner Tom Brady, the most decorated quarterback in Super Bowl history.
Outside of his professional work, access to education is Gray’s most significant philanthropic priority. At CU Boulder, he and his wife, Frann, established an endowed scholarship in honor of his parents, Jerry and Lorna Gray, to benefit first-generation college students who graduate from Denver Public Schools. He participated in CMCI’s first media summit and held a public Zoom event for CU Boulder about his book, Talking to GOATs: The Moments You Remember and the Stories You Never Heard, a national bestseller published in fall 2020.
In addition to his scholarship support at CU, Jim and Frann are very active in numerous philanthropic endeavors, charities and events.
On and off screen, Gray has garnered a reputation for being an honest reporter and a trusted friend.
When asked if he had one word to describe Gray, the legendary Kobe Bryant responded, “Honest.”
“Jim interviewed me after my prolific fights. We were a sensational duo,” said acclaimed boxer Mike Tyson. “Out of the ring, Jim became my most trusted friend. He’s there no matter what and never afraid to give it to me straight. He’s always coming from a place of love and compassion. You know where you stand.”
2021: Tandean Rustandy (Fin’87)
Many young minds are attracted to CU Boulder for the beauty of the mountains. For Tandean Rustandy, his decision to become a Buff came down to being able to work his first semester of college washing dishes.
“I had to work right away to pay for my expenses, and I started my work-study job at the bottom — in the dining hall, washing dirty pots and pans,” said Rustandy. “I took it very seriously. Little by little, I was asked to take on more responsibility. I was asked to cook, I started working with the manager in the cafeteria and I also worked at the University Club.”
Rustandy’s family sacrificed greatly to send him to college, and he took his education and work in Colorado seriously. He was committed to expanding his knowledge and expertise so he could bring it back to his home country.
Despite his dedication to work, finances were tight. In his junior year, Rustandy’s parents sold their house to pay for his tuition. By senior year, with that money gone, Rustandy’s roommate lent him money to pay for part of his tuition.
“We are friends to this day,” said Rustandy. “I will never forget his kindness and generosity.”
Rustandy’s dedication and his family’s sacrifice paid off. After graduating from CU, he moved back to Indonesia and started his career in the lumber industry. In 1993 he transitioned to the ceramic tile business, developing an environmentally friendly business model that also supports local people through job placement and access to education and healthcare.
His ethical and green-focused business, PT Arwana Citramulia Tbk, now has five factories and employs 3,000 people. His lines of tile are developed specifically for low-income Indonesians; its affordability allows many families to enjoy tile flooring rather than dirt floors.
“Tandean has demonstrated exceptional devotion to the betterment of society, consistent integrity and has made a transformative impact on a national and global scale,” said Sharon Matusik, dean of the Leeds School of Business. “He credits CU Boulder for teaching him entrepreneurial thinking and the importance of creating economic and social value at the same time, through thoughtful business decisions.”
Rustandy has given over $10 million to CU Boulder, most notably in support of the Rustandy Building connecting the Leeds School of Business and College of Engineering and Applied Science. The building celebrates its ceremonial grand opening Nov. 7, 2021. He has also partnered with Leeds to support the highest caliber of faculty as well as global career treks to bring students to Indonesia to learn about international business.
“Being at CU laid the foundation for everything I would do,” he said.
Rustandy is unequivocal about the impact of his CU education and his commitment to paying it forward.
“He is a stellar role model for our students. Throughout his professional life, he has showcased how a business can be both profitable and community minded,” said Matusik. “His tenacity, commitment to his values and unwavering dedication to education can be seen in everything that he does.”
2020: Tom Garfinkel (Comm’91)
In the early ‘90s, Tom Garfinkel (Comm’91) found himself tending bar in Chicago as a young CU graduate. Within a couple years, he was managing the place, along with two other bars.
The experience, which included negotiating beer deals and running marketing campaigns, set the stage for his entire career.
Thirty years later, Tom serves as vice chairman, president and CEO of the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium and is considered a commanding voice in South Florida and the sports industry.
“Without any personal fanfare, Tom Garfinkel has transformed a 33-year-old football stadium into a modern, state-of-the-art, year-round sports and entertainment facility,” said Dick Anderson, former Buffs and Dolphins football legend.
Spearheaded by Tom, the Dolphins have not only renovated their stadium and increased attendance — in addition to hosting the 2020 Super Bowl — but also have expanded their charitable efforts and community outreach.
“Seizing on the opportunity to educate and unify the culturally diverse South Florida community, Tom created the Football Unites program,” said Florida Senator Marco Rubio. “With more than 61 community partners, Football Unites has successfully linked organizations together, reaching and educating countless constituents.”
Football Unites, started in 2018, has several initiatives, such as “Ride Along,” which connects the Dolphins, local law enforcement and youth organizations to encourage dialog and understanding.
“We want to change how people look at and interact with each other,” Tom told CBSN Miami. “We can hopefully help heal what is, in a lot of ways, a very polarized nation.”
As a board member for the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, Tom helped the Dolphins raise over $6 million for Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2020, the largest such fundraiser of any NFL team.
Tom also led an initiative to be the first stadium to eliminate 99% of single-use plastics and became the first stadium in sports to achieve GBAC-Star certification during the pandemic, which is an objective third-party expert standard for cleanliness.
Before his role in Miami, Tom — who has an MBA from the University of Michigan — served as president and CEO of the San Diego Padres, COO of the Arizona Diamondbacks and executive vice president of Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR team. He also worked in sales and marketing at both Miller Brewing and Texaco Inc.
And finally, Tom’s love for sports is what drives much of his work. He met his wife, Allison, at the 1998 Miami Grand Prix and played high school football and basketball.
The father of three sons told the Coloradan alumni magazine last year, “Sports, and especially football, invokes the human spirit to inspire and motivate and educate us about ourselves, both the good and the bad.”
2020: Kris D. Gutiérrez (PhDEd’87)
Imagine a classroom where students teach as much as they learn. Where the students are as diverse as the teaching methods. Where every voice matters.
Kris Gutiérrez (PhDEd’87) is creating those classrooms.
Kris is an internationally recognized researcher, advisor, teacher and mentor in the education field. A prolific writer, she has long championed equity in schools. In particular, she has helped transform education for marginalized groups, including immigrant and migrant communities.
In developing her concept of “third space,” Kris recognized that both teachers and students can bring expertise to the classroom based on their unique experiences. She has also studied how learning environments can be better organized to reflect and respond to non-Western cultures.
“She is a genius at bridging contexts — not just bridging between academic and real-world contexts, but within academia bridging among divergent approaches,” said Barbara Rogoff, a distinguished professor of psychology at UC Santa Cruz.
As a public scholar, Kris is generous with her time. She was a member of President Barack Obama’s Education Policy Transition Team in 2008–09 and was also appointed by President Obama to the National Board for the Institute of Education Sciences.
She has served as president of the American Educational Research Association, the largest educational research organization in the world, and remains active as a keynote speaker, committee member and foundation advisor.
But Kris’ most direct, personal impact comes from her teaching and mentoring.
“Her courses are legendary for their rigor, playfulness and innovation,” wrote Arturo Cortez and José Ramón Lizárraga, assistant professors in CU’s School of Education.
Michael Cole, professor emeritus at UC San Diego, remembered co-teaching courses with Kris using online technology to increase the diversity of participants. “She is a remarkably accomplished scholar who has a great impact on contemporary education, particularly the education of Latinx children, youth and young adults,” he said.
Kris has mentored many doctoral students who have gone on to be leaders in the education field. She is committed not only to passing on her own knowledge and expertise, but to being an ally to underserved students.
“She has charted a path for scholars like us (queer, Latinx, first-generation college [students], as well as high school graduates) to have a place in the academy,” wrote Arturo and José, “and to continue the important work of imagining, designing and creating a new equitable and just world.”
After earning her doctorate from CU Boulder and serving as the inaugural Provost’s Chair in the School of Education, Kris is now the Carol Liu Chair in Educational Policy and a faculty member in the Learning Sciences and Human Development department at UC Berkeley, as well as a former professor at UCLA. Recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences — whose members have included Albert Einstein, Joan Baez and a member of the National Academy of Education — Kris continues to transform the educational system and inspire new scholars and teachers.
“Along with her indefatigable work ethic, her brilliant intellect and her inspiring leadership,” said Joseph L. Polman, associate dean for research at the School of Education, “Dr. Gutiérrez is a person of deep warmth and caring who maintains fierce attention to equity and transformational change.”
2020: Nikhil Mankekar (Fin’01)
The human life — any life — is of utmost importance to Nikhil Mankekar (Fin’01).
With a focus on diversity, inclusion, gender equity, housing protections, fair wages, preventing hate crimes and more, Nikhil has been a compassionate champion for women, black, Indigenous and people of color, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, the homeless population and under-resourced and under-served communities in Boulder and greater Colorado.
In short, Nikhil cares deeply about building a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community.
“He is a strong force in improving Boulder city and county, and Colorado, and brings innovation to social justice work and policy,” said Joanne Belknap, a tenured CU Boulder ethnic studies professor.
A Boulder native with a career spent in financial consulting, venture capital and social entrepreneurship, Nikhil’s confident leadership as a member and chairman of the City of Boulder’s Human Relations Commission for more than six years has led to several monumental changes in Boulder law and social policy. In 2019, he led the effort to add innovative updates to Boulder’s hate crime ordinance, including enhanced prosecutorial ability, protections for religious expression and new ways to offer support for hate crime victims. He created trainings and resources on the new law, and all were introduced to the entire Boulder Police Department.
“Nikhil has been an outstanding partner, ally and leader in the fight against hate,” said Michael T. Dougherty, the elected Boulder County District Attorney.
As the first Indian and Sikh-American appointed to a city board in Boulder, he spearheaded new housing and mobile home protections, added gender inclusive language and protections to the city’s human rights ordinance and fought the criminalization of homelessness in Boulder with compassionate, creative and effective solutions. He co-founded and was instrumental in the creation and planning of Boulder’s Indigenous Peoples Day, making the city the 14th in the nation to do so. He also worked directly with Boulder’s mayor and city council on many other civil and human rights policies.
“Nikhil did an extraordinary job as a human relations commissioner where he achieved a long list of accomplishments and became known for his perseverance in advocating for human rights and working on behalf of marginalized and voiceless populations,” said Boulder’s former mayor, Suzanne Jones. “He deserves our appreciation for his dedication to the community and the advancement of human rights. I have greatly valued working with him.”
In 2017, the United Nations Association awarded Nikhil the International Human Rights Award for his work. He said upon receiving the award, “The reason I’ve stayed and lived in Boulder, even despite discrimination that I’ve experienced, is to do what I’m doing now and to make it a better place for everyone.”
Nikhil is also a musician, artist, educator, and facilitator. He is the producer and host of his own radio talk show and podcast, and has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, helping educate and raise cultural awareness in the community. He also serves on the board of directors for a variety of local nonprofit organizations serving the arts, equity, education and economic development.
CU Boulder also benefits from his compassion and grit. Nikhil graduated with a 4.0 GPA and received the Chancellor’s Recognition Award. The 2001 CU Boulder valedictorian and Outstanding Graduate of the Leeds School of Business is a regular moderator and panelist for the annual Conference on World Affairs and has served as a mentor for CU students.
Said Edie Hooton, a Colorado state representative, “Nikhil’s continued dedication, willingness to volunteer and his track record of initiating substantive change in policy make him an effective leader and advocate for social justice in our community.”
With Nikhil, Boulder is in good hands.
2019: Jacalyn Colt (MEdu'76; EdD'89; EdS'95)
Educator. Researcher. Mentor. Leader. There are many ways to describe Jackie Colt. The most important might be this: Change-maker.
Jackie dedicated her 40-year career in public education to improving literacy and the student experience, as a district literacy coordinator, CU instructor and chair of CU’s School of Education Advisory Board.
Perhaps her most significant contribution began in Longmont’s St. Vrain Valley School District, where she directed the Right Start Reading Project. In addition to pulling struggling readers out of class, the program integrated remedial reading instruction into elementary classrooms. This unprecedented approach was especially helpful for special education and bilingual students.
“The Right Start Reading Project created a culture shift in the school,” a peer said. “Everyone became a teacher of reading.”
District-wide literacy levels improved dramatically, and the project model was later implemented around the country. “Her efforts and results were monumental — all because she not only believed all students could learn, but developed a program that proved it,” another peer said.
As a clinical professor at CU, Jackie married research and teaching, using the fruit of her research to reform the way future teachers learn reading instruction.
“Researchers often have difficulty making their work accessible to practitioners,” said one scholar, “but with Jackie on the team, we were able to bridge that gap for the benefit of teachers, administrators and students.”
Now retired, Jackie continues to support literacy for adults as a volunteer. She also contributes to a CU scholarship supporting educators who teach in high-poverty schools. Thousands of students continue to benefit from her life’s work.
2019: Safwan Shah (PhDAeroEngr'94)
Sometimes, all you need to solve a tough problem is a rocket scientist with a good golf game. Fortunately, at least one exists: Safwan Shah studied both electrical and aerospace engineering at CU Boulder before establishing himself as a Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur in financial technologies, or FinTech.
Along the way, he designed experiments for the US space program and researched artificial neural networks and AI.
Today Safwan is CEO and founder of PayActiv, which helps workers gain instant and timely access to earned wages, alleviating financial stress between pay periods and allowing them to avoid punitive fees of pawn shops and predatory lenders. Walmart, ADP, Visa, Uber and many others partner with PayActiv.
Earlier, Safwan cofounded Infonox, which produced payments technology widely used in the casino industry and also developed the first biometric ATM.
Born in Pakistan and now a California resident, Safwan met his wife, Ginni Dhindsa, in Boulder. He is an intimidatingly good golfer with a voracious appetite for new knowledge, a friend said.
Safwan has taught at Cal-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and UC Santa Cruz’s Baskin School of Engineering, and advised CU Boulder on innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives.
“Safwan is a perpetual learner, reading everything he can get his hands on, absorbing, analyzing, critiquing and challenging ideas often taken for granted,” a friend said. “He challenges the status quo constantly and has the unique ability to apply knowledge from the multitude of physical and social sciences to finding solutions that could have a meaningful impact on society.
“His passion for learning is only matched with his love for sharing his knowledge.”
2018: Olester Benson Jr. (Chem'81; PhD'88)
In the early 1980s, Olester Benson was an active-duty U.S. Army Pharmacy Specialist assigned to the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora. A husband and father, he studied at night for a bachelor’s degree at CU Denver. There a professor noticed Olester’s talent for chemistry and urged him to pursue graduate work — then personally drove him to Boulder to introduce him to future mentors here. By 1988, Olester was a CU Boulder PhD and on course for a remarkable life in science. In the 29 years since, he’s distinguished himself at Minnesota-based 3M Corp., which ranks him among its top researchers for his combination of scientific prowess, ability to apply science to real life and commitment to mentoring. A corporate scientist there — 3M’s highest rank — Olester has developed manufacturing technologies enabling more than 300 products with applications in medicine, renewable energy, aerospace, traffic safety, semiconductors and electronic displays. He’s earned more than 70 patents. Others are pending. Grateful for his own mentors, Olester has prioritized mentorship and service to the benefit of aspiring young scientists around the country. At CU Boulder, he served on the graduate school advisory council for a decade. He’s recruited our graduate students for positions at 3M. And he made a gift that helped endow a graduate fellowship in organic chemistry. In 2017, the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers recognized him with its top award. Part way through graduate school, Olester switched from active to reserve status in the Army. The PhD retired as a master sergeant in 1997.
2018: Herb Ilisaurri Schroeder (PhDCivEngr'91)
Herb IIisaurri Schroeder went to Alaska in the 1970s to work on a construction project. He didn’t have a college education, but he dreamed of becoming an engineer. Those early experiences inspired a lifelong mission to prove that the most important factor for success in science and engineering is not test scores, but curiosity about the world and delight in solving problems. Today Herb, who ultimately earned a PhD in civil engineering from CU Boulder, is vice provost for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The program, which he founded, works to eliminate biases against Alaska Native students while empowering them to succeed in STEM disciplines. “While Herb is both a gifted engineer and a great teacher,” a colleague said, “his true genius is in seeing potential in young people and giving them the tools they need to realize their dreams.” The program has changed the lives of many thousands of students with 2,500 students currently enrolled from middle school to the university level. 800 Natives have graduated with STEM BS degrees from the University of Alaska since its inception in 1995. “Herb is a shining light among non-Native Alaskans in actively working to right historical wrongs and support Alaska Natives in creating a positive future for our state,” said an Alaska Native and colleague. Herb has received dozens of national awards, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring from President George W. Bush. More impressive still, another colleague writes, is the honor the Alaskan Native students and their families have bestowed on him: The name “Ilisaurri.” It means “teacher.”
2018: Lorenzo A. Trujillo (Span'72; MDance'74; Law'93)
Lorenzo Trujillo has had three outstanding careers — in education, law and music — and at times he’s even managed to blend them. “The rarity of Lorenzo’s range of talent and enterprise is…striking,” said a peer. Currently Lorenzo is an affiliate professor of music at Metropolitan State University in Denver. He began the CU portion of his fruitful journey majoring in Spanish and then completing a master’s degree in dance. Soon after graduation, he began teaching Folklórico classes – Mexican folk dance – as faculty in the dance department offering courses and performing with students across Colorado and Wyoming under the banner of the University of Colorado Ballet Folklórico. Then he earned a doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco and embarked on a career in education administration. As executive director for humanities for Jefferson County Public Schools for eight years, he fostered interest among students in the arts, languages and social studies. Over a period of eight years in Adams County Schools as a district administrator, legal counsel and principal at Lester Arnold Alternative High School, he increased graduation and attendance rates. At age 39, he came back to CU — as a law student. An attorney for more than two decades, Lorenzo prioritized underrepresented populations in private practice and at CU Boulder, where he served as a law school assistant dean. He co-founded the four-year mentoring program, “Law School…Yes We Can,” for underrepresented undergraduates interested in law. Lorenzo’s passion is the well-being of family and community as developed through education, access to justice and the joy of life through music and dance. A versatile violinist who plays in various styles, including classical and mariachi, Lorenzo now directs Metro’s mariachi ensemble.
2017: George "Geoie" S. Writer Jr. (Fin'57)
George “Geoie” Writer is a legend in the Colorado building industry. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy, Geoie Writer returned to Denver and founded The Writer Corporation, a home building company, in 1965. Mr. Writer’s vision was to build communities, not just homes, which included open space parks, school sites, walking paths and recreational centers with pools and tennis courts. He’s built more than 12,000 homes in communities across the Front Range including Willow Creek, The Dam, The Knolls, South Park, Devil’s Thumb and The Peninsula. Mr. Writer is passionate about design with an enduring impact, and all of his communities – including those that are 50 years old – are still thriving and evolving.
Mr. Writer built the iconic Writer Square in downtown Denver, named the 1980s top architectural and functional urban development by the Colorado Design Council, and received their 25-year award for architectural design of enduring significance.
In 1978 he was the youngest recipient to be named National Builder of the Year by Professional Builder magazine. The magazine’s editor described him as someone who was “furthering the professionalism of the building business in America.” His accolades continued with Man of the Year awards from both the Colorado and Denver Housing Industry.
Mr. Writer, who has five children, eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren, retired in 2004, but remains dedicated to improving others’ lives. Mr. Writer continues to inspire the next generation through his engagement with the CU Leeds Center for Education on Social Responsibility (CESR). In the words of a CESR leader: “Geoie has clearly cultivated habits of community service that drive him to serve the common good of society and his community.”
2017: Yusur Wajih Al-Madani (MEngl'77; PhD'82)
For more than three decades, professor Yusur Wajih Al-Madani of Kuwait University has made extraordinary progress for students in her country. But first, she gleaned inspiration in Boulder. Yusur came to CU in the late 1970s and was the first Kuwaiti to earn a PhD in English literature with an American emphasis. She demonstrated great ability in deciphering complex texts and an eloquent writing style, despite her non-native language.
Said a friend from CU: “As a professor of literature I am totally awed by Yusur’s intellectual and scholarly development in a range of literatures and cultures that would seem to have taken several lifetimes to master.”
Yusur returned to Kuwait to create more opportunities for students to study foreign literatures and cultures. She also wanted students to express themselves in the arts, including music, filming and acting.
She delivered on her vision as Head of the English Language and Literature Department by establishing in 2003 the English Day, an outlet for creativity for students which has become a standing tradition since then.
As Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Kuwait University, she developed and gained accreditation for the university’s College of Arts. From there, she also chaired the now thriving French Department.
She also chaired the college’s now-thriving French department until February 2017. In 2009, Yusur was awarded the Palm Academic Award by the French Ambassador on behalf of the French Republic for her efforts in launching the department, the first in the Gulf area.
Said a colleague: “Yusur makes everyone around her — undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and administrators alike — want to aim higher for themselves, for the university and for community.”
2017: Lorrie Shepard (MEdu'70; PhD'72)
With more than four decades spent at CU Boulder, Lorrie Shepard was often the trusted go-to for campus administrators concerning policies, programs and possibilities. “She is known for her sharp analytical skills, her articulate questions and her tenacious commitment to fairness,” said a former CU vice-provost.
In her own work, Lorrie has contributed extensive research on psychometrics, testing and assessment policies, and the use and misuse of tests in educational settings. She is a champion of classroom formative assessments that help improve student learning, and she is committed to equipping and supporting future teachers to serve all students.
A former doctoral student said, “I often feel the positive difference in the way that colleagues look at me when they learn that I was a student of Dr. Shepard’s.” . “I hope that a fraction of her skills rubbed off on me.”
Her leading contributions to research nationally did not diminish her impact as a university leader locally. As dean of the School of Education for 15 years, Lorrie built a productive, effective and dedicated faculty, tripling total research grants. She also helped establish the CU Engage center, connecting CU students and faculty with community members, and she helped create the school’s first development advisory board. Lorrie remains on the faculty as a distinguished professor.
Said a peer: “She is regarded widely as a clear thinker, an audacious proponent of quality education for underserved students and a champion of teachers who make the K-12 educational system work.”
2016: Dave Grusin (Mus'56)
Dave Grusin’s achievements could make anyone feel like an underachiever. It’s among his gifts that he never does.
Intimates describe the 10-time Grammy winner and Academy Award recipient as a rare species — a “creative genius” who brings out the best in others, whether they’re seasoned professional musicians or amateurs with a dream.
A masterful jazz pianist, Dave has been composing, playing, arranging or producing music professionally since the 1960s.
He has performed worldwide and worked with Quincy Jones, Jobim, Paul Simon, Bobby MacFerrin, James Taylor, Renee Fleming and many others. He’s written music for more than 100 films and television programs, including “The Graduate,” “Tootsie,” “On Golden Pond” and “St. Elsewhere.”
Nominated for the Academy Award eight times, he won in 1988 for his score for “The Milagro Beanfield War.”
Admired for his contagious enthusiasm, collaborative spirit and highly original output, Dave’s work often blends elements of jazz, pop and classical music.
Amid all this, Dave has made CU Boulder a priority.
A founding member of the College of Music Advisory Board, he has participated in the Conference on World Affairs for decades — and once returned early from an overseas tour to appear at the Tuesday night jazz concert. He’s performed live with CU musical groups, led students in master classes and given generously of his resources, providing major support for the renovation of the space today called Grusin Music Hall.
In the words of one CU music professor,
“He is a hero to us.”
2016: W. Harold “Sonny” Flowers, Jr. (Engl’67; Law’71)
W. Harold “Sonny” Flowers didn’t have many fellow black classmates at Boulder High in the early 1960s, but he found community among black CU student-athletes he befriended on The Hill.
“Even then,” one mentor wrote, “Sonny stood out as a young man who would go places.”
After enrolling at CU, Sonny, now a prominent Boulder attorney and citizen, emerged as a champion for campus diversity.
He continued this role at Colorado Law, distinguishing himself as a bold debater who traveled the state recruiting students of color to the school.
Over the decades he’s served CU loyally — not least as president of the Alumni Association’s board of directors, as a member of the CU Law and CU Foundation boards and as mentor of black student-athletes, future lawyers among them.
Sonny helped establish the Black Alumni Association and create an endowed scholarship for students of color at both Colorado Law and the University of Denver.
A litigator with Boulder’s Hurth, Sisk & Blakemore, LLC, Sonny is a leader in Colorado’s legal community whose service includes the presidencies of the Sam Cary Bar Association, the Boulder County Bar Association and the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. He continues his more than 10 years as co-chair of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Annual Convention, and is the current president of the Colorado chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only membership group of trial lawyers who represent both civil defendants and plaintiffs.
A determined advocate for friends, clients and CU alike, Sonny’s gifts include the ability to champion a cause and build community at the same time.
“One of the areas that set Sonny apart,” a law school contemporary said, “was that even though he was oftentimes adamant, the difference of views did not carry over to the next class.”
2016: Kathryn Tobey (ChemEngr’84; MEngrMgmt’94)
Kathryn Tobey had pictured herself in the petrochemical industry.
With oil prices slumping as commencement neared in 1984, the CU chemical engineering major pivoted to aerospace, an industry her father had been a part of for over 30 years.
Her challenge was to convince Martin Marietta, now Lockheed Martin, to hire her — as a software engineer.
That bold move paid off: More than 30 years later, Kathy is a seasoned Lockheed executive whose numerous responsibilities have involved spacecraft design, laser-based remote sensing systems, Mars chemistry experiments and management oversight of national security space programs.
From the start, Kathy was an anomaly — a chemical engineer at an aerospace firm and a woman in a male-dominated field. She has helped break the mold for high-level aerospace and defense leaders.
“Kathy stands as a shining role model for all others,” said a fellow aerospace executive.
Today Kathy is vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Special Programs Line of Business. She oversees a broad portfolio of technologies and programs with national security applications.
A stalwart and continuous CU supporter and a vigorous advocate for women in STEM careers, Kathy serves as co-chair of the engineering college’s Broadening Opportunities for Leadership Diversity (BOLD) Center, on the dean’s advisory committee and as the Lockheed Martin University Executive. She is a trustee for the Women’s Foundation of Colorado.
Kathy’s husband and two sons are Buff alumni and her extended family has earned 13 CU degrees.
Award Recipients from 1930-2015
2015: Jimmy Calano (Mktg’78)
2015: Pamela Drew (Math, MCompSci'87, PhD'91)
2015: Bill Marolt (Bus'67)
2014: Philip Howard Karsh (Jour’57)
2014: Edwin Steinbrecher (EdD’73)
2013: Thomas Fredericks (Law’72)
2013: David Lewis (ArchEngr’78)
2012: Michael Brown (Geog’90)
2012: Dean Boal (Mus, MusEdu’53, PhD’59)
2012: Gene Lucero (Bus& Adm’78)
2011: Larissa Bernhardt Herda (PolSci’80)
2011: Anthony Ortega (Span’80, MFA’95)
2011: Lucinda McWilliams Sanders (MCompSci’78)
2010: Laurence Boxer (Hist’61)
2010: Hank Brown (Acct’61, Law’69)
2010: Richard Knowlton (Geog’54)
2010: Julianne Mattingly Steinhauer (Mus’60)
2009: Dale M. “Pete” Atkins (A&S’43, MD’45, MS’53)
2009: Richard E. Engebretson (MBA’72)
2009: George A. Sissel (ElEngr’58)
2008: Gary Jackson (PolSci’67, Law’70)
2008: Charles Maes
2008: Jerry McMorris (Mgmt’62)
2008: Chris Sorensen (MPhys’73, PhD’76)
2007: Peter Henning Jr. (PhDPhys’65)
2007: Walter A. Koelbel Sr. (Mktg’47)
2007: Leonard L. LaPointe (MCommDisSpchSci’66)
2007: Alan Stern (PhDAstro’89)
- 2006: Richard M. Burridge Sr. (Fin’51)
- 2006: Donald H. Grusin (Soc’63, MEcon’66)
- 2006: A. William Ritter Jr. (Law’81)
- 2005: Neil Ashby (Phys’55)
- 2005: Melvin C. Clark (ChemEngr’37)
- 2005: Michael S. Leeds (Bus’74)
- 2004: Richard W. Petree (PolSci’48)
- 2004: Virginia Hunter Petree (DistSt’48)
- 2003: Thomas B.W. Kirk (EngrPhys’62)
- 2003: Mauritz A. Mortenson Jr. (CivEngr’58)
- 2002: Virginia Wheeler Patterson (Jour’46)
- 2002: John Marshall Richardson (Phys’42)
- 2001: John F. Farrington (A&S’49, MD’52)
- 2000: Jo Ann Cram Joselyn (ApMath’65, MAstro’67, PhDAstro’78)
- 2000: James Kielsmeier (PhDEdu’79)
- 1999: Mary Ann Casey (IntlRel’70)
- 1998: Peter C. Dietze (A&S’59, Law’62)
- 1997: Leslie R. Fowler (Bus’48)
- 1997: Alfred C. Harrell (Engl’66)
- 1996: Laurence W. DeMuth Jr. (A&S’51, Law’53)
- 1995: Jean Bovard Sanville (Soc, Psych’40)
- 1995: Richard G. Weingardt (CivEngr’60, MS’64)
- 1994: Peter F. Steinhauer (A&S’58)
- 1994: Carlton R. Stoiber (A&S’65, Law’69)
- 1993: Brian K. Waidmann (Jour’75)
- 1993: Marvin Wolf (Law’54)
- 1992: Francis Eugene Clark (A&S’32)
- 1992: F.A. “Gus” Garcia (A&S’36, MD’41)
- 1992: William P. Johnson (Law’58)
- 1992: James L. Patterson (ElecEngr’60)
- 1991: Vance D. Brand (Bus’53, Aero’60)
- 1991: David S. Curtin (Jour’78)
- 1991: James F. Heuga (PolSci’73)
- 1991: Cassandra Anderson Pyle (A&S’57, Law’58)
- 1991: Gary L. Roubos (ChemEngr’59)
- 1990: David R. Clair (ChemEngr’58)
- 1990: Edith Rosenfeld Sherman (Mus’39, PhDSoc’62)
- 1990: Peter Smythe (Bus’34)
- 1990: Donald C. Spencer (Phys’34)
- 1989: John C. Bailar III (A&S’53)
- 1989: Willis L. Turner (A&S’50, MA’53)
- 1988: Sherman G. Finesliver (A&S’48)
- 1988: Philip Milstein (CivEngr’28, ArchEngr’29, PhD’90)
- 1988: Roger L. Reisher (Acct’50)
- 1987: Marilyn Van Derbur Atler (A&S’60)
- 1987: Ruel C. Mercure Jr. (Phys’51, MS’55, PhD’57)
- 1987: Venita VanCaspel (Econ’48)
- 1986: Stanford Calderwood (Econ’42)
- 1986: Gail Heitler Klapper (Law’68)
- 1986: Arthur Veysey (Jour’35)
- 1985: S. Mark Davidson (ElecEngr’35)
- 1985: Kendrick Frazier (Jour’64)
- 1985: Wilma C. Martin (A&S’34, Law’35)
- 1985: Robert Palmer (Jour’60)
- 1985: Ira C. Rothgerber (PolSci’34, Law’35)
- 1984: Jack Jay Fox (Chem’39, PhDBioChem’50)
- 1984: William R. Long (Jour’65)
- 1983: Bharat Bhushan (MMechEngr’73, PhD’76)
- 1983: Harry M. Vars (A&S’24)
- 1982: Neal Bricker (A&S’46, MD’49)
- 1982: Eugene Coulson (A&S’56, MD’58)
- 1982: Robert Gilbert (Law’38)
- 1982: Thomas Schutte (DBA’63)
- 1982: Gunnar Thorsky (CivEngr’49)
- 1981: Wilbur T. Billington (DistSt’45, MEcon’47)
- 1981: Wesley E. Brittin (ChemEngr’42, MPhys’45)
- 1981: Chuck Mau (Hist, Law’33)
- 1981: Nicholas R. Petry (Econ’40)
- 1980: Nicholas R. Doman (Law’35)
- 1980: Joseph B. Johnson (MPE’67, EdD’73)
- 1980: William K. Metcalfe (MechEngr’36)
- 1980: M. Virginia Sink (ChemEngr’36)
- 1979: Robert P. Colwell (Hist’36, MA’39)
- 1977: Benjamin F. Bailar (Geol’55)
- 1977: Joseph Stepanek (ChemEngr’39)
- 1976: Clifford G. Houston (A&S’27, MEdu’28, EdD’33)
- 1976: Robert L. Howsam (A&S’40)
- 1976: Sanford N. McDonnell (MechEngr’48)
- 1975: Genevieve Trovillion Chavez (A&S’18)
- 1975: William E. “Bud” Davis (PE’51, EdD’63)
- 1975: Eddie W. Schodt (MA’40, PhD’51)
- 1974: Elsie Eaves (CivEngr’20)
- 1974: Franklin Folsom (Engl’28)
- 1974: Mary Elting Folsom (Fren, Span’27)
- 1974: Frank B. McGlone (A&S’34, MD’38)
- 1974: Roland C. Rautenstraus (CivEngr’46, MS’49)
- 1973: Carl W. Borgman (ChemEngr’27, MS’31)
- 1973: Julius E. Johnson Jr. (Chem ex’39)
- 1972: Marjorie Woodward Evans (A&S ex’42)
- 1972: Wilfred M. Hall (CivEngr’16)
- 1972: Raphael J. Moses (A&S’36, Law’37)
- 1972: Rudolph O. Pozzatti (Art’49, MFA’50)
- 1972: Clayton S. White (Psych’34, MD’41)
- 1971: Charles R. Able (Aero’40)
- 1971: Delmar R. Carlson (A&S’40)
- 1971: Lelia M. Hinkley (A&S’15)
- 1971: Joseph J. Markey (MD’23)
- 1971: Wendell G. Scott (A&S’28)
- 1970: Virginia Neal Blue (A&S’31)
- 1970: Neil H. Borden (A&S’19)
- 1970: Thomas F. Hornbein (A&S’52)
- 1970: Richard H. Tatlow (Engr’39)
- 1970: Willis G. Worcester (Engr’39)
- 1969: David B. Bolen (Econ, MMktg’50)
- 1969: P. Frederick Delliquadri (A&S’38)
- 1969: Lloyd Elliot
- 1969: William S. McNary (Bus’26)
- 1969: Joseph Smiley
- 1968: Alfred A. Arraj (Law’28)
- 1968: Floyd D. Hall (A&S’38)
- 1968: George A. Newton (A&S’33)
- 1968: Ralph Prator (Hist’29, MA’33)
- 1968: Bethuel M. Webster Jr. (A&S’22)
- 1967: Robert H. Bahmer (MHist’29)
- 1967: Kenneth C. Sawyer (MD’31)
- 1966: Terrell C. Drinkwater (Law’32)
- 1966: Robert H. Felix (MD’30)
- 1966: Theodore H. Maiman (Engr’49)
- 1965: Gordon Allott (Law’29)
- 1965: Gilbert Cruter (A&S’39)
- 1965: Jacob Weinberger (Law’04)
- 1964: Francis J. Knauss (Law’05)
- 1964: Dayton D. McKean (A&S’27, MA’29)
- 1963: Huber O. Croft (MechEngr’21, ElecEngr’25)
- 1963: William Jovanovich (Engl’41)
- 1963: Quigg Newton
- 1962: M. Scott Carpenter (Aero’49)
- 1962: O. Hatfield Chilson (Law’27)
- 1962: Houstoun Waring (A&S’26)
- 1961: A.A. Paddock (A&S’10)
- 1961: Byron White (A&S’38, HonDocLaw’63)
- 1960: William S.B. Lacy (A&S’32)
- 1960: W. Walter Wasson (A&S’08, MD’10)
- 1959: Frank A. Kemp (Law’13)
- 1959: William B. Neeley Jr. (Law’24)
- 1958: Maynard M. Boring (ElecEngr’16)
- 1958: Royce J. Tipton (CivEngr’40)
- 1957: Jean S. Breitenstein (A&S’22, Law’24)
- 1957: Muriel Sibell Wolle (MA’30)
- 1956: Jean Wilson Stafford (A&S’36, MA’38)
- 1955: Ward Darley (BA’26, MD ’29)
- 1954: Llewellyn E. Thompson (A&S’28)
- 1953: Wellwood E. Beall (Aero’28, MS’48)
- 1953: William Lee Knous (Law’11)
- 1952: Henry Avery Arnold (A&S’23)
- 1952: Claude C. Coffin (A&S’05)
- 1951: Eugene D. Millikin (Law’13)
- 1951: James J. Waring (MD’13)
- 1950: Ivan Charles Crawford (CivEngr’12, MS’15, HonDocSci’44)
- 1949: Donald H. Tippet (A&S’20)
- 1948: Josephine Antoine (A&S’29)
- 1947: Oscar T. Clagett (MD’33)
- 1946: Philip G. Worcester (Geol’09)
- 1945: Reuben G. Gustavson
- 1944: Wiley B. Rutledge (Law’22)
- 1943: Elbridge Gerry Chapman Jr. (A&S’17, Law’24)
- 1942: Floyd B. Odlum (Law’14)
- 1941: Douglas R. Collier (MD’23)
- 1941: Mary Marr Collier (MD’24)
- 1940: Robert L. Stearns (A&S’14)
- 1939: George Norlin
- 1938: James Washington Bell (A&S’12)
- 1938: Icie Gertrude Macy (MA’18)
- 1937: Whitney C. Huntington (Engr’10)
- 1936: Mary Elizabeth Tennant (A&S’16)
- 1935: Junius Henderson (A&S’08)
- 1934: William C. Finnoff (MD’12)
- 1933: Ralph L. Carr (A&S’10, Law’12)
- 1932: Charles A. Lory (A&S’01)
- 1931: Earl H. Morris (A&S’15)
- 1930: Harry Curtis (Engr’08)
Previous Winners of the Alumni Recognition Award
2023: Olivia Omega (Bus'01)
A proven leader in the Denver community, Olivia Omega has a passion for inspiring young people to make their dreams a reality. And her values of inclusion and access drive both her career and community contributions.
As a TEDx speaker, diversity and inclusion advocate, author, branding strategist and seasoned entrepreneur, Olivia has over 20 years of brand positioning and digital marketing experience across startup, nonprofit, and public and private sectors. During this time she has studied the importance of authenticity for both brands and individuals — and what it means for personal brands to show up in a genuine way.
As senior director of marketing and communications at the nonprofit Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF), Olivia helps make college possible for students and builds the educational and economic future of Denver. She collaborates with Denver Public Schools high school students, families and partners statewide to increase access and completion of post-high school learning, while also expanding generational exposure to career and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Olivia is tasked daily with communicating the importance of post-secondary education and the value of a college degree, as well as sharing the stories of students and scholars. Given her own familiarity of growing up in a single-parent, low-income home, she is personally dedicated to helping students receive the support, resources and guidance they need to access the educational and professional pathways of their choice.
Her own journey and experience at CU Boulder also gives Olivia the ability to talk to students about the importance of a college education. Her life is a testament to the value of a CU Boulder degree, and CU’s close to 400 DSF Scholars continue to show the quality of students who can call themselves Forever Buffs.
Beyond the personal value she has gained from her time at CU, Olivia has inspired hundreds of students by returning to campus for 15 consecutive years to host marketing and personal branding sessions in addition to coaching and mentoring.
Throughout her career, Olivia has consistently volunteered for CU Boulder programs such as the Precollegiate Development Program, Leeds Diverse Scholars Program and Key Bank Business Leadership Program. She is also an alumna of the Presidents Leadership Class (PLC) — one of the oldest collegiate leadership programs in the United States — and now serves on its Board of Advocates and as chair of its DEI committee.
As shared by nominator Stanley Hickory of CU Boulder’s Research & Innovation Office, “Olivia has spent 22 years giving back to the university and can now see the individual and collective impact of her dedication through the feedback of the former students she mentored and sponsored. She exemplifies ambassadorship and is a walking example of how the investment in students comes back full circle.”
2023: Kim Christiansen (Jour'84)
Kim Christiansen has appeared as a friendly, calm presence in the homes of Coloradans for more than 30 years. As the lead anchor of Denver’s 9News broadcast, she has earned a reputation as a trusted source for news — and beyond.
Catch her anchoring the 4, 5 and 10 p.m. daily newscasts and hear her voice on the “Train to the plane” at DEN airport.
“Kim Christiansen’s superpower is her empathy,” said 9News colleague Chris Vanderveen (Jour’96). “It makes her a better person. It makes her a better journalist. She cares in a way that’s never been common in this business. She cares about people. If you want to be a better person, seek out any of the work from Kim.”
Kim, who grew up and lives in Arvada, is a staunch Colorado advocate and is fiercely loyal to her state. You’ll also find her in the stands of Folsom Field on a football game day with her family, fully decked out in CU gear and brimming with school pride.
Kim is the epitome of a Forever Buff. She often gives gleaming accolades for the university and supports many of its happenings. As a journalism student in the 1980s — where she also was twirler for the marching band — she credits the foundations of writing and reporting she learned with helping her land her first job at the 9News station in 1985. She’s also now a parent to a recent graduate, her son Tanner Feith (Mktg’23).
And, since 2016, the nine-time Emmy Award winner has dedicated hours of her time to CU Boulder’s annual Alumni Awards ceremony as emcee and video narrator. Her involvement with the event has elevated the status and prestige of the historic ceremony, which celebrates its 94th year in 2023.
Said Brennan Jones, director of Forever Buffs engagement and outreach, who runs the ceremony: "She has done so with grace and always has been willing to go above and beyond.”
2022: Ann Miller Scott (Soc’71; MPE’83)
Ann Miller Scott is a CU fan through and through.
Scott is a dedicated contributor to the CU Boulder community — and she consistently goes above and beyond. Whether at Buffalo Belles (a group of engaged supporters of CU Athletics) or in her many positions across campus and over the years, she always promotes CU with enthusiasm and sincerity.
After graduating from CU Boulder with her bachelor’s degree in 1971, Scott was a public school teacher for Baltimore City Public Schools before transitioning to a 35-year career in higher education with a return to her alma mater in 1977.
She started as a data entry operator and worked her way up to become the director of registrations, better known as registrar. Managing staff and the many volunteers known as the "registration ladies," she registered 20,000 students three times a year.
Later, as a fundraising leader at CU, Scott raised millions in current and estate giving for departments, colleges and schools throughout the campus.
Over the years, her progressively significant roles included senior director of development in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, director of reunion giving for the Leeds School of Business and assistant dean for advancement in the School of Education. In the latter role, she increased planned giving to the School of Education by more than two-fold and was instrumental in securing the largest gift in the school’s history for its new building initiative.
Her ability to expertly connect with donors, alumni and fellow Buffs supporters and their unique passions is paramount to her accomplishments as a fundraiser. Further, her contributions to CU Athletics, the School of Education and CU’s culture of philanthropy have had enduring impacts on the university well beyond her tenure as a fundraising leader.
In true Buffs fashion, Scott also served as a mentor to many.
“Ann Scott is someone who truly embodies the idea of being a Forever Buff and exhibits it through quiet actions of leadership,” said Matt Young, assistant vice chancellor for CU Boulder Advancement. “She always has the best interests of the university in mind — whether it be through taking on responsibilities as an employee, serving as an informal ambassador connecting alumni and friends to the institution or skillfully mentoring younger Buffs as they find their way within the community.”
Scott retired in 2020 but not without creating a network of authentic and up-and-coming fundraisers who are stronger professionals thanks to her leadership and model of service to the university. Even as a retiree, she continues to connect potential supporters and advocates. In fact, those supporters have come together to name the assistant dean for advancement office in the new School of Education building in her honor.
Said Young, “Her positive impact on the CU family is easy to see and impossible to quantify.”
2022: Col. Barry Baer (Mgmt’65; MBA’72) and Mrs. Sue Baer
Col. Barry Baer and Sue Baer have deep roots at CU Boulder.
They met on campus in 1964 as university undergraduates, marrying less than two years later. As strong believers in the value of public education, Barry and Sue remained committed to the university that brought them together — long after leaving Boulder in 1972.
During their time away from CU, Barry and Sue pursued meaningful careers in both the public and private sectors. Barry served 27 years in the United States Army, achieving the rank of colonel. He commanded an armored cavalry troop in Vietnam, a finance battalion in Germany and an airborne finance brigade during the Gulf War. His service has earned him numerous awards. Sue, meanwhile, continued to pursue her own dreams working as a teacher, counselor, cooking instructor and food stylist before finding her calling as a children’s author.
After moving back to Boulder in 2003, the Baers immediately re-engaged with the university, attending events, volunteering on boards and providing financial support. This includes Sue’s service on the Dean’s Board of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Music Advisory Board. Barry has served as a CU trustee, as well as advisory board president for the Program in Jewish Studies, committee chair of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s Board and chair of the AROTC Board.
Further, their philanthropic gifts have provided opportunities for students of myriad backgrounds and interests to pursue their passions and receive important financial assistance — whether that’s through Barry & Sue Baer Endowed Undergraduate and Graduate Student Scholarships, the Baer Crown Institute Scholarship or their contributions to the university’s Student Emergency Fund.
“‘Alums give back to CU, city in multiple ways,’ was the headline written about the impact Barry and Sue Baer have on CU and the city of Boulder — and that was back in 2015,” says Michelle Gaffga, director of development in the College of Arts and Sciences. “In the six years since this alumni spotlight, they have given back in ways that are more audacious. CU would not be where it is today without the generosity of Barry and Sue Baer.”
In addition to their support, the Baers are active members of the CU Boulder community, regularly auditing courses and attending countless campus events.
“There’s a Hawaiian word, ‘ohana,’ which means family,” said Barry. “CU Boulder has become part of our ohana, our extended family.”
2021: Mary Ann Casey (IntlAf’70)
Coloradan Mary Ann Casey exemplifies what it means to be an internationalist, a trailblazer and a leader. After studying international affairs at CU Boulder, her education was a launchpad for her diplomatic career, during which she became the first woman U.S. ambassador in North Africa, serving in the countries of Algeria and Tunisia.
Following her tremendous international career — including two ambassadorships and a fellowship at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution — Casey returned to her alma mater in 1997 as a State Department Diplomat in Residence.
In that role, she taught international relations classes, mentored CU students who are now diplomats themselves, helped launch the Smith Hall International Program and helped power the international affairs committee for the Conference on World Affairs.
Casey also co-founded and generously contributes to the International Affairs Global Grants Endowment at CU, which annually funds over 20 scholarships for education abroad for Boulder-based international affairs majors.
She also chaired the Advisory Board for CU Boulder’s International Affairs Program for nearly a decade, building it up to become a model for alumni engagement in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“Ambassador Casey's dedication to CU Boulder is extraordinary in every way,” remarked Alexander F. Becker (Ger’06), chair of the Advisory Board for CU Boulder’s International Affairs Program. “From the mentoring of students to her unprecedented engagement with the International Affairs alumni community to the co-founding of and major financial support to the Global Grants Endowment, her leadership and service to CU Boulder will continue to make a lasting impact for decades to come.
“She established opportunities for future generations of Colorado students to create positive change around the globe. Her accomplishments and contributions indeed define what it means to serve Colorado and to be engaged in the world.”
2019: Daniel Conroy (Hum'91)
Well-being is at the heart of Daniel Conroy’s (Hum’91) work. As co-founder and director of the CU Collegiate Recovery Center (CUCRC), he offers support and community to students struggling with addiction. Some credit him with saving their lives.
The CUCRC is a non-clinical space in the University Memorial Center where students support each other, with professional help, as they grapple with substance use disorders, mental health issues and other personal challenges. Ninety-five percent of participants graduate or remain enrolled in classes at CU.
Early in his career, while working at Sierra Tucson and CEDU (pronounced see doo), Daniel noticed gaps in support for young adults returning home following substance use disorder and mental health treatment. He began consulting for schools, treatment centers, wilderness programs and residential programs about ways to improve the long-term outlook for young adults facing mental health issues.
In 1999, Daniel and his wife, Mae Martin, began AIM House in Boulder, a residential program for young adults recovering from substance and mental health issues. They have successfully treated thousands of participants and their families. Now in its 21st year, AIM House is thriving.
Said a long-time colleague: “Daniel embodies that rare combination of creative entrepreneurship and compassionate service that makes positive change possible.”
Daniel also helps other Colorado universities establish recovery programs. And former CUCRC students have followed his lead and begun programs elsewhere, including Wake Forest and Iowa.
“In 2013, I got sober. In 2016 I graduated from CU,” said a CUCRC alum. “Those are two of my greatest accomplishments, and Danny was there active during every step of my journey.”
2019: Brian Cowan (Mktg'79)
Brian Cowan (Mktg’79) was a CU superfan for the ages.
The former U.S. Navy commander and hard-driving entrepreneur, who died in January at age 61, served the Alumni Association board for seven memorable years, including two as chair, combining a businessman’s discipline with a cheerleader’s spirit to the lasting benefit of the CU Boulder community.
A vigorous champion for the revival of a robust and varied Homecoming Weekend, Brian cared deeply about connecting Buffs with each other. He led the establishment of a formal alumni reunion program, hosted dinner for groups of Buffs in his Virginia home and financially supported several key Alumni Association initiatives. At every board meeting, he belted the “CU Fight Song,” often in a large cowboy hat.
Brian, a ROTC student at CU, spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 2001 at the rank of Commander. He went on to earn an MBA from the University of Virginia and founded his own information technology and supply chain management consulting business, Cowan & Associates. His commitment to country never wavered: In the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, he responded as a civilian to the flaming Pentagon to help with rescue operations.
Brian, a father of four, died Jan. 14, 2019. The cause was brain cancer. He was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with military honors.
The CU Boulder community mourns his loss and will be forever proud and grateful for his service to country and to CU. He was, in the words of a friend and fellow CU alumna, “a true servant-leader.”
2018: John Leach (Jour'74; MA'79)
John F. Leach knows you can’t have a healthy democracy without first-rate journalism. That’s why he championed the creation of CU’s College of Media, Communication and Information.
After receiving his journalism degrees from CU in the 1970s, John moved to Arizona and ultimately became managing editor of The Arizona Republic, the state’s largest newspaper. He’s now managing partner of the website consultant service Digital Strategies LLC and an adjunct journalism instructor at Arizona State University. John served on CU Boulder’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication advisory board from 2007 to 2010, including two years as chair. After the school was discontinued, he joined the new journalism department’s advisory board as a founding member. He has also joined as a member of CMCI’s newest advisory board and will serve alongside Dean Lori Bergen. When the journalism program was up for re-accreditation in 2017, John traveled to a snowy Boulder from warm and sunny Phoenix to meet with the accreditation council, which strongly endorsed the CU program. John has personally established two student scholarships: The John F. Leach Endowed Scholarship and the Leach Family Scholarship Fund. Both are for undergraduate students, predominately from Colorado’s Western Slope where John grew up. He makes it a point to attend the college’s annual scholarship banquet and to connect with the scholarship winners. He continues to keep in touch with many of those recipients today. “I’ve known alums who were generous financial supporters of our program, other alums who proclaimed their support for the program in various public settings, others who offered creative suggestions to help us thrive and others who served as wise mentors to students. John is all four of these,” said a CMCI professor. “And that combination makes him the most outstanding alumnus I’ve ever known.”
2018: Matthew McElhiney (Fin'86)
Good times or bad, Matt McElhiney makes them better. Ask anyone involved in the Alumni Association’s successful but complex transition from arm of the CU Foundation to university unit. Matt, a lawyer in Denver, joined the board of directors (now advisors) in 2007, as it grappled with thorny organizational and financial challenges, including large deficits and heavy staff turnover.
Less committed, creative newcomers might have fled. Matt dove in headfirst and stuck around for nearly a decade, playing a starring role in establishing today’s thriving association. By the time he stepped down in 2016, Matt had been a committee chair, treasurer and chair of the board. He’d also become the longest-serving member ever. Matt’s “perseverance, diligence and leadership,” one nominator wrote, “provided the glue that allowed the Alumni Association to survive and prosper.” And he did it while beaming 360 degrees of positive energy with a delightfully impish smile. In his day job at Kutak Rock LLP, Matt focuses on corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, dispute resolution and business contracts. Law Week of Colorado named him a Corporate Counsel of the Year in 2010. Matt also makes time for the adventures Coloradans are famous for (skiing, hiking and biking) and at least one we’re less famous for (sailing). He lives in Denver with his wife, Colleen, and their son, Max. A member of the Director’s Club, a “big brother” for his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, Matt is always a lively Homecoming presence.
2017: Ron Scott (Mktg'68)
If you were naming Forever Buffs who live and breathe CU, you’d have to include Ron Scott. CU has been part of his identity for more than 50 years, and he lets you know it. “One common theme for Ron throughout his life is carrying the CU torch at all times whether he is working, volunteering or doing errands on a weekend,” said a CU Advancement colleague.
Ron came to CU as part of football coach Eddie Crowder’s first freshman class. He was a star on the field, and started three seasons as middle guard.
After college, he spent 14 years in the private sector, including a stint as general manager of Hotel Boulderado. He returned to his alma mater in the ‘80s and served as the Buff Club’s development director and as assistant athletic director, helping to raise $14 million for the Dal Ward Athletic Center.
From that point, Ron was a fundraising dynamo, shepherding large gifts to CU Athletics. He’s seen at virtually every CU event and activity, whether it’s giving a potential student a tour of campus or attending a game-day tailgate, and establishes meaningful conversation beyond the world of sports.
“Ron Scott is the epitome of professionalism and enthusiasm,” said one CU Regent.
Ron is a true CU steward. As a former teammate summed things up: “To many of us, Ron is CU.”
2017: Jeff Osterkamp (MEngr'97)
There are many recipes for success in our world. All share this ingredient: Opportunity. Time and again, Jeff Osterkamp has proved his commitment to producing it for CU Boulder students — especially students from groups underrepresented in engineering fields.
A high-level executive at Ball Aerospace and past chair of the advisory council for the engineering college’s BOLD Center (Broadening Opportunity through Leadership and Diversity), Jeff shows up and makes things happen.
One signature initiative has paid especially rich dividends: The creation of Ball internships for students in the college’s GoldShirt program. These promising Buffs, typically from under-resourced high schools, have obvious potential, but need an extra year of engineering fundamentals to prepare for the full curriculum. Every year the Ball program brings Goldshirt students into, and often back to, the company, positioning them for full-time employment later.
“Jeff walks the walk for diverse students,” said an engineering assistant dean.
Despite the demands of Jeff’s role as Ball’s vice president for mission assurance, leading quality control for all products and processes, the 30-year aerospace industry veteran is a frequent campus presence.
“You can always find Jeff at a student networking event by locating the largest circle of students,” the assistant dean said. “Jeff will be in the middle.”
Said a Ball colleague who’s witnessed it: “He will make an effort to talk to each and every student.”
Always it’s with sincerity and respect.
“Regardless of rank, status or title,” another of Jeff’s fans said, “he always treats everyone the same.”
2016: Ed Reinhardt (A&S ex’87)
It was Sept. 15, 1984 and CU football was playing in Oregon. Buffs tight end Ed Reinhardt took the ball on a routine play near the game’s end.
As he was tackled, his head struck an Oregon player, then the field. A blood vessel burst and a radically new life began.
Rushed to the hospital for immediate surgery, performed by a neurosurgeon who’d been at the game, Ed was in a coma for 62 days.
“Ed had to draw upon all of his courage and competitive spirit just to live,” said Bill McCartney, then CU’s head coach.
The 6’5”, 235-pound sophomore with a 3.65 GPA awoke to a lifetime of reinvention that should be an inspiration to us all.
“Ed’s enthusiasm and friendly spirit is not only infectious, but reassuring to his fellow campers that anything is possible,” said a Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado coordinator who has worked with Ed, who is still partially paralyzed, to raise scholarships for the group’s outdoor adventure program for adults with injuries.
For 25 years, Ed and his father, Ed Sr., have traveled the country speaking about the value of a fighting spirit. Ed, who had to relearn basic speech and movement, loves singing and acting, performing in plays and musicals, as well as at fundraisers and, from time to time, Folsom Field.
Once, before a show with Magic Moments, group that integrates performers with special needs and local actors, Ed fell backstage, injuring his hip.
Rather than leave the show, he requested a wheelchair, then took the stage.
“The show,” he’d said, “must go on.”
2016: Michele Ritter (Anth'81)
A 1981 graduate in anthropology and history known to friends as “Mikhy,” Michele Ritter has built an inspiring career in education, providing access and programing for diverse populations.
Well known for her philanthropic and humanitarian causes — including CU’s College of Music, the Italian department, children, developmentally disabled adults and the “lost girls” of South Sudan — she keeps finding new ways to make CU a magnetic force in higher education.
She is a founding board member of the College of Music’s pioneering Entrepreneurship Center for Music and incoming chair of the Music Advisory Board. In 2015 she and her family provided funding for an endowment that established the Ritter Family Classical Guitar Program.
An Italophile, Michele has been a reliable supporter of and lively presence at Italian department events.
Off campus she volunteers at a Missouri camp for seriously ill children and has helped nearly 20 South Sudanese girls, survivors of an ethnic cleansing campaign, resettle in Boulder. Five have graduated from CU; one went to work for Michelle Obama in the White House.
Mikhy’s admirers describe her as “generous” yet “humble,” “a unique caring presence” and “one of the strongest advocates for a truly Liberal Arts education on the CU Boulder campus.”
She also knows the big value of small kindnesses and has provided “mounds of pizza” for music students’ recital celebrations.
“Hers is a life lived with the utmost integrity,” an admirer wrote, “rich in compassion, love and dedication — to humankind in general and to her alma mater in particular.”
2016: Gary Anderson (MechEngr’69)
Gary Anderson worked hard for his CU Boulder degree, and not just in the classroom: Student by day, he drove a forklift at night to support his young family.
Now a retired business executive, he’s never forgotten what balancing school and work was like, and has helped later students find ways to integrate paid work and academics. Notably, as a member of the College of Engineering & Applied Science’s advisory council (EAC), he was a prime mover behind the “Earn-Learn” apprenticeship program.
Over years of steady service to CU, Gary has led CU Boulder’s engineering fundraising council, served on the University of Colorado Foundation’s board and helped found a joint program of CU Denver and CU Anschutz — displaying integrity, enthusiasm, executive ability and a prodigious work ethic that has inspired others to act on CU’s behalf.
“I consider Gary to be one of my earliest mentors in ‘How to be a good alum,’” said one engaged fellow Buff.
Gary worked at Honeywell for more than a decade and spent nearly 20 years at StorageTek, the digital storage systems firm, rising to director and corporate vice president. In retirement he’s pursued investing and philanthropy, with CU as a major beneficiary of his time, treasure and expertise.
Gary has helped improve student retention in engineering, advocated for Engineers Without Borders and contributed his financial and organizational savvy to college, campus and system. He is a recipient of the University Medal and the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award.
“When I think of the ideal role model for men and women in engineering, business and the community,” said a former EAC member, “I think of Gary Anderson.”
Award Recipients from 1936-2015
- 2015: Nan Joesten (ChemEngr’82)
- 2015: Joe Neguse (Econ, PolSci’05; Law’09)
- 2014: Karin Rutstein (IntlBus’87)
- 2013: Scott Donnelly (CompSci, ElEngr’84)
- 2013: Midge Korczak (A&S’67, MHist’80)
- 2012: Bill Harris (A&S ex’64)
- 2012: Roe Green (Comm,Thtr’70)
- 2012: Rebecca Roser (MSpLangHearSci’75)
- 2011: James D. Copeland (PE’62, Arch’69)
- 2011: Ron Geschwer (Psych’01)
- 2010: Joanne Easley Arnold (Engl’52, MJour’65, PhDComm’71)
- 2010: Clarence A. Herbst Jr. (ChemEngr’50, HonDocSci’95)
- 2010: Henry Eaton (DistSt’62) and Leslie Bernstein Eaton (Art’63)
- 2007: Jean L. Doepper Thompson (Zoo’64)
- 2007: H. Rolan Zick (Chem’51, MD’55)
- 2006: Martha Coffin Evans (Engl’64)
- 2005: Jane Butcher (IntAf’66)
- 2005: Julianne Mattingly Steinhauer (Mus’60)
- 2003: Donald Estes (MechEngr, Bus’58)
- 2002: L. Robert Bauers (Bus’67)
- 2002: Judith Stenzel Liebman (Phys’58)
- 2001: Bruce D. Benson (Geol’64)
- 2001: Jeanne L. Manning (MFren’68)
- 2000: Christopher Bittman (Jour’85)
- 2000: William Royal (ElEngr’28)
- 1999: William Caile (CivEngr’65)
- 1999: William Goldstein (Bus’88)
- 1999: Graham Hill (Jour’86)
- 1997: Clayton Johnson (PolSci’60, Law’63)
- 1997: Kimbirly Orr (Mktg’83)
- 1996: Melanie Hamburger (PolSci, IntAf’85)
- 1994: James Hunter (Psych’51)
- 1993: Phillip B. Durian (Jour’60)
- 1993: Sallie Laney Duvall (Bus’56)
- 1992: Donna Bogard (Mus’53, MS’70, PhD’84)
- 1991: Tucker Hart Adams (MEcon’77, PhD’79)
- 1991: Stanley L. Dodson (CivEngr’41)
- 1990: Caroline Prouty Shreve (Fin’42)
- 1990: Theodore N. Shreve (Chem’42)
- 1989: Fred Thomas (CivEngr’60)
- 1989: Nancy Speer Thomas (Nurs’63)
- 1988: Robert Thatcher Irwin (Bus’61)
- 1987: Paul Albright (Jour’57)
- 1987: Anna Smith Bacus (MA’64)
- 1987: Lois Unfug Jackson (Ger’46)
- 1987: Stella Jenkins Lillicrop (Bus’70)
- 1987: Mary Ward (PolSci’66)
- 1986: George M. Anderson (Phar’54)
- 1986: Betty Carter Arkell (MPolSci’72, Law’75)
- 1986: Linda Harvey Caldwell (Edu’64)
- 1986: Robert E. Caldwell (Econ’62)
- 1986: Richard Engebretson (MBA’72)
- 1986: Leigh “Pete” Rabbitt (Mktg’64)
- 1985: Bruce O. Downsbrough (Law’78)
- 1985: James L. Jamison (A&S’61)
- 1985: Nancy Mitchell Lennartz (A&S’67)
- 1985: William R. Lennartz (Fin’63)
- 1985: Lanis Pinchuk
- 1984: William S. Bradfield (Mktg’60)
- 1984: H. Clyde Coulson (Phar’40)
- 1984: Harold E. Donnelly (CivEngr’55)
- 1984: Sara Raddatz Henry (Edu’62)
- 1984: Thomas A. Henry Jr. (A&S’60, Law’63)
- 1984: Kenneth R. Wilson (Phar, Bus’53)
- 1983: Leonna M. Lann (Jour’48)
- 1983: Patricia Kennedy Lann (Engl’40)
- 1983: Jean Mills Loeffler (DistSt’42)
- 1983: Marjorie Mollman Rogers (HomeEcon’50)
- 1983: Stuart Takeuchi (EdD’83)
- 1982: Fred M. Betz Jr. (Jour’50)
- 1982: Ralph “Cappy” Black (Mktg’52)
- 1982: Emerson S. Ellett (CivEngr’32)
- 1982: Sue Jackson McMillan (A&S’51)
- 1982: F.M. “Dutch” Westerberg (ElEngr’33)
- 1981: Steven D. Barnett (Law’76)
- 1981: Judy Bechner Belcher Rimple (PE’62, MEdu’83)
- 1981: Rick G. Doty (Acct’73)
- 1981: Jon F. Kottke (Law’76)
- 1980: Frank D. Allen Sr. (Law’15)
- 1980: Judith A. Burford (Art’49)
- 1980: C.F. Alan Cass (A&S’63)
- 1980: Clyde C. Gelwick (PE’35, MS’42)
- 1980: Ernestine B. Grigsby (A&S’19)
- 1980: William P. Johnson (Law’58)
- 1980: Leonard M. Perlmutter (DistSt’48)
- 1979: Lynne Abdnor Barnett (Edu’69)
- 1979: Lyle W. Beattie (MechEngr’46, MS’48)
- 1979: Bruce S. Buckland (ChemEngr, Bus’61)
- 1979: Ruth Wierman Hamilton (Engl’51)
- 1979: Marletta Meister Jenkins (Acct’68, MAcct’71)
- 1979: Dale W. Kehl Jr. (Mktg’68)
- 1979: Sarah Reed Kingdom (Engl’66)
- 1979: Ronald L. Latta (Fin’59)
- 1979: Dale H. Rea (CivEngr’34, MS’41)
- 1979: Milton Richert (Law’51)
- 1979: Colleen Jacobsen Voshall (DistSt’50)
- 1978: Gary C. Aden (MD’60)
- 1978: Thomas G. Brown (Acct’56, Law’64)
- 1978: Richard B. Cantrell (PolSci’51)
- 1978: Donald L. Harlan (Mktg’56)
- 1978: Ronald E. Herdt (Bus’71)
- 1978: Curtis J. Kopecky (Acct’68)
- 1978: M. John Loeffler (Ling’46, MGeog’48)
- 1978: Robert L. Pyle (Law’50)
- 1978: Roger V. Smith (Bus’64)
- 1978: W. Howard Tyler (ElEngr’23)
- 1977: Walter “Pete” Franklin Jr. (Mktg’49)
- 1977: Sara C. Gentry (AfrMidE’69)
- 1977: Robert W. Giacomini (Econ, PolSci’51, Law’57)
- 1977: Maya Zary Hamburger (A&S’50)
- 1977: Jesse H. Humphries (PreMed’45, MD’48)
- 1977: Coila Goodin Maphis (Art’73)
- 1977: Dwight V. Roberts (Geol’57)
- 1977: Kathleen A. Saidy (Nurs’74)
- 1977: Thomas C. Stokes (Fin’56)
- 1976: Jewel Krier Geiger (MusEdu’42)
- 1976: David G. Hawthorn (MechEngr’24, MS’28)
- 1976: Ruth Morris Keesling (Jour’52)
- 1976: Sally Kelly (Bus’68)
- 1976: Laurence T. Paddock (Jour’50)
- 1976: Bancroft T. Tapp (A&S’52)
- 1975: Rodney W. Angove (Jour’54)
- 1975: Judith S. Caughey (DistSt’50)
- 1975: Eugenia S. De Luise (A&S’72)
- 1975: G. Lane Earnest (PolSci’60, Law’63)
- 1975: Robert I. Spengler (Soc’63)
- 1975: Donald S. Stubbs (Law’32)
- 1975: Claude Walton (Mus’37)
- 1975: Patrick M. Woods (A&S’69, MPubAd’79)
- 1974: Edward W. Bailey (CivEngr’59)
- 1974: Ronald J. Carlson (Fin’57)
- 1974: Marjorie Anderson Davis (A&S’42)
- 1974: Joan Nelson Hancock (Fin’52)
- 1974: Mary Kay Hinkley Hudson (A&S’57)
- 1974: John T. Livoni (A&S’63)
- 1974: Ronald D. Muzio (Edu’71)
- 1974: Donald L. Patterson (Bus’31)
- 1974: Nancy Smith Rasmussen (Engl’67)
- 1974: Jack B. Shellabarger (Fin’57)
- 1974: Caroline Prouty Shreve (Chem’42)
- 1974: Alvin D. Swanson (Engr’43)
- 1973: Denis Clanahan (DistSt’67, Law’71)
- 1973: W. Warren Culpepper (Acct’49)
- 1973: Charles R. Gardner (Math’66, MBA’73)
- 1973: David Junior Gudeman (MechEngrBus, Mgmt’49)
- 1973: J. Patrick Hindman (PE’54)
- 1973: Faith A. Kinsley (A&S’59)
- 1973: Joan Lamont (A&S’55)
- 1973: Helen Strong Lesser (Psych’31)
- 1973: Burton “Bud” Olde (A&S’52)
- 1973: E. James Quigley (MPubSer’57)
- 1973: Robert “Bill” Spencer (PolSci’60)
- 1972: Beverly Boothe Berry (DistSt’50)
- 1972: Kenneth W. Charlton (Engl’63)
- 1972: Margaret Wilmer Dunn (A&S’36)
- 1972: Paul F. Eckelman (Engr’48)
- 1972: Thomas G. Estes (A&S’50)
- 1972: Robert G. Fleming (ElEngr’47, Law’49)
- 1972: Patricia Thorn Gibson (A&S’52)
- 1972: A. Dwight Grotewold (MPubSer’64)
- 1972: Clarence L. Ireland (Law’16)
- 1972: Bess Low Ireland (A&S’16)
- 1972: Richard G. Punches (A&S’51)
- 1971: Mary Marvin Bartoe (Econ, PolSci’53)
- 1971: David E. Fleming (ArchEngr’43, MCivEngr’51)
- 1971: Neil S. Mincer (Law’40)
- 1971: Richard W. Olde (Mgmt’56)
- 1971: Landon M. Persons (Mktg’37)
- 1971: Charles W. Ready (Fin’60)
- 1971: Robert R. “Bud” Sabin (A&S’38, Law’40)
- 1971: Harvey T. Sethman (Engl’21)
- 1971: Peter Smythe (Bus’34)
- 1971: George N. Steinhauer (CivEngr’27)
- 1971: Dale Tooley (Law’57)
- 1970: Lorraine Kelso Beers (Art’41)
- 1970: Ronald H. Cowgill (ChemEngr’61)
- 1970: Wesley H. Dieter (Mgmt’48)
- 1970: Richard S. Gittings (Bus’58)
- 1970: W. Bruce Fullerton (Fin’43)
- 1970: Max T. Morton (Mgmt’41)
- 1970: Roland C. Rautenstraus (CivEngr’46, MS’49)
- 1970: William S. Simons (PE’50)
- 1970: Albert E. Smith (Econ’37)
- 1970: Richard W. Whitehead (A&S’19)
- 1969: James T. Bayer (Law’51)
- 1969: Gilbert Beck (ChemEngr’33)
- 1969: Cloid Hammers (Engr’32)
- 1969: Leo Hayward (Phar’58)
- 1969: Clifford Houston (Edu’27, MEdu’28, EdD’33)
- 1969: Graydon D. Hubbard (Bus’55)
- 1969: Samuel A. Koenig (ElEngr’13)
- 1969: Jay E. Lutz (PolSci’51, Law’54)
- 1969: Hugh F. MacColl (A&S’61)
- 1969: Monroe Tyler (A&S’33, MD’37)
- 1968: Donald C. Cieber (Jour’58)
- 1968: Louis Degen (ChemEngr’39)
- 1968: Kenneth Huffer (Bus’54)
- 1968: Jerome L. Lindberg (MechEngr’46)
- 1968: LeRoy D. Moloney (Acct’48)
- 1968: Hollister Moyer (A&S’23)
- 1968: Delores Heermann Rhode (Engl’51)
- 1968: Walter W. Smith (Mktg’35)
- 1968: Victor C. Thomas (Chem, Zool’49, PE’51)
- 1968: Stanley T. Wallbank (A&S’17, Law’18)
- 1967: Jack Kent Anderson (PolSci’52, Law’55)
- 1967: Edith Barnes Baldwin (HomeEcon’33)
- 1967: Howard C. Beresford (A&S’18)
- 1967: Elmer W. Coyer (ElEngr’37)
- 1967: James Q. Hammond (Law’48)
- 1967: Frank H. Hopkins (A&S’01)
- 1967: Walter A. Koebel (Mktg’47)
- 1967: Thomas S. Moon (Fin’44)
- 1967: Donald B. Richardson (ArchEngr’33)
- 1967: William V.S. Smith (A&S’30)
- 1966: Sidney Buka (Bus’34)
- 1966: William J. Brill (MechEngr’49)
- 1966: Nicholas Doman (Law’35)
- 1966: Vikki Viskniskki Huff (Thtr’58)
- 1966: Otis Lipstreu (MEdu’48)
- 1966: Olin Richert (PE’36)
- 1966: Robert W. Spencer (Jour’31)
- 1966: Robert L. Stearns (A&S’14, HonDocLaw’54)
- 1965: H. H. “Bud” Arnold (Econ’52, Law’55)
- 1965: Michael G. Lenzini (Mgmt’43)
- 1965: James M. Pughe (Law’51)
- 1965: Avis Neal Roemer (A&S’37)
- 1965: Eugene M. Shearer (Geol’48, MA’51)
- 1965: Albert E. Smith (Econ’37)
- 1965: Earl Swisher
- 1964: James H. Anderson (Mktg, Fin’51)
- 1964: D. Russell Burwell (Fin’54)
- 1964: S. Mark Davidson (ElEngr’35)
- 1964: Fred L. Dixon (Bus’46)
- 1964: Eleanor Carlson Flanders (Jour’38)
- 1964: David C. Knowlton (Law’53)
- 1964: Donald K. Lee (Mgmt’51)
- 1964: John G. Mackie (A&S’42, Law’48)
- 1963: Philip G. Dufford (Law’52)
- 1963: Marshall M. Reddish (Bus’30)
- 1963: William M. Reno (A&S’24)
- 1963: Luis D. Rovira (PolSci, Econ’48, Law’50)
- 1963: Agnes Bowie Sabin (A&S’38)
- 1963: Wade Wood (Bus’30)
- 1962: Melvin E. Clark (ChemEngr’37)
- 1962: Frances M. Coburn (Geog’50, MA’77)
- 1962: Donald F. Gardner (A&S’51)
- 1962: John D. Gillaspie (A&S’29, MD’32)
- 1962: Lou Mathis (A&S’27)
- 1962: Ben K. Miller (Bus’46)
- 1962: Elizabeth Ireland Naugle (Chem’41)
- 1962: Rialto Philleo (Hist, Econ’25)
- 1961: Duane L. Barnard (Bus’48, Law’52)
- 1961: Robert W. Bartley (Law’50)
- 1961: C.B. “Pat” Bell (A&S’30)
- 1961: Richard H. Cooper (A&S’36)
- 1961: Mildred Johnson Dodge (PE’22)
- 1961: JoAnne Hastings Gray (Psych, Soc’43)
- 1961: Robert S. Herzog (A&S’23)
- 1961: Katherine Wilson Kendall (A&S’30)
- 1961: Robert R. Knowles (ChemEngr’09)
- 1961: Virginia E. Moore (A&S’32)
- 1960: Glenn Anderson (MechEngr’21)
- 1960: Edmund F. Garrett (A&S’27)
- 1960: Clark R. Gittings (A&S’31)
- 1960: C. Ray Goodwin (A&S’25)
- 1960: Charles W. Keller (ElEngr’23)
- 1960: A. Reynolds Morse (Geol’38)
- 1960: Margaret Pollard Nelson (Mktg’37)
- 1960: Kenneth C. Penfold (Mktg’37)
- 1960: Merritt H. Perkins (A&S’10)
- 1960: Idonna Wigglesworth Wilson (A&S’25)
- 1959: Stuart R. Beresford (A&S’29)
- 1959: Virginia Neal Blue (A&S’31)
- 1959: James N. Counter (Econ’35)
- 1959: Laurence B. Flanders Jr. (Fin’38, Law’40)
- 1959: S. Nelson Hicks Jr. (A&S’22)
- 1959: Kathryn Alldredge Hughes (A&S’32)
- 1959: Burtis B. H. Shattuck (A&S’15, Law’18)
- 1958: Robert C. Hawley (Econ, PolSci’43)
- 1958: Emmett H. Heitler (MechEngr’30)
- 1958: Frank M. Hickey (A&S’22)
- 1958: Helen Burger Miller (A&S’27)
- 1958: George Newton (Jour, Econ’33)
- 1958: Nicholas R. Petry (Econ’40)
- 1957: Alva D. Abbott (MA’36, MEdu’51)
- 1957: William A. Graham (Mktg’33)
- 1957: Dayton D. McKean (A&S’27, MA’29)
- 1957: Vincent G. Reynolds (A&S’32)
- 1957: Newman L. Sheets (A&S’28)
- 1957: David N. Yaker (MD’23)
- 1956: John H. Amesse (A&S’37, MD’41)
- 1956: Boyd S. Bailey (A&S’35)
- 1956: Margaret Donnelly Nelson (A&S’28)
- 1956: J. Lee Willard (CivEngr’22)
- 1955: Charles J. Beise (A&S’30, Law’32)
- 1955: Howard “Cap” Hardy (A&S’30)
- 1955: Frank B. McGlone (A&S’34, MD’38)
- 1955: G. Russell Miller (A&S’26, Law’29)
- 1955: Merritt W. Oldaker (Law’25)
- 1955: Frederic A. Wardenburg (ElEngr’00)
- 1954: James M. Kastner (ElEngr’47)
- 1954: William R. Kelly (A&S’05, Law’07)
- 1954: William T. Krieghoff (Engr’39)
- 1954: William “Kayo” Lam (Hist’36)
- 1954: Chuck Mau (Law’32)
- 1954: Earl Mosley (MechEngr’31)
- 1954: Mary Rait (A&S’22, MNurs’31)
- 1954: J. Alfred Ritter (Hist’35)
- 1953: A. Allen Brown (A&S’29)
- 1953: Glenn A. Coleman (MechEngr’23)
- 1953: Gilbert Cruter (PE’39, MS’60)
- 1953: Henry Dendahl (Engr’09)
- 1953: Rudolf E. Geihm (A&S’38)
- 1953: Ralph Prator (Hist’29, MA’33)
- 1952: Philip Eddy (MechEngr’18)
- 1952: Ellis Hall (A&S’21)
- 1952: Anne McLaughlin Long (Jour’33)
- 1952: Jacob Weinberger (Law’04)
- 1952: Wallace X. Rawles (Jour’23)
- 1952: Wilbur Rocchio (Hist, Law’44)
- 1951: Waldo Brockway (CivEngr’17)
- 1951: William R. Goebel (A&S’21)
- 1951: Harry L. McGinnis (A&S’95)
- 1951: Willard J. Moore (Geog’32)
- 1951: Amy Pitkin Stearns (A&S’19)
- 1951: Melvin L. Sutley (A&S’13, Law’17)
- 1951: C.C. Tiffin (MD’11)
- 1950: Charles D. Bromley (Law’24)
- 1950: Samuel T. Jones (A&S’29)
- 1950: Bonnibel Sutherland Lester (A&S 29, Edu’30)
- 1950: Raphael J. Moses (A&S’36, Law’37)
- 1950: David Rosner (A&S’23)
- 1950: Ira C. Rothgerber Jr. (PolSci’34, Law’35)
- 1949: Ward Darley (A&S’26, MD’29)
- 1949: Zell F. Mabee (Jour’24)
- 1949: Wiley B. Rutledge (Law’22)
- 1948: George A. Pughe (Law’09)
- 1948: Paul E. Remington (Math’17)
- 1948: Kenneth C. Sawyer (MD’31)
- 1947: Clarence L. Eckel (CivEngr’14, MS’21)
- 1947: Richard W. Lindsay (CivEngr’15)
- 1947: V.C. Perini Jr. (Geol’19, MA’21)
- 1946: Obie Sue Pulliam Dunklee (A&S’13)
- 1946: George H. Shaw (Law’15)
- 1946: George A. Unfug (MD’26)
- 1945: E. Ray Campbell (Law’23)
- 1945: N. Peter Rathvon (Law’15)
- 1944: Ralph W. Danielson (A&S’20, MD’23)
- 1944: Earl L. Mosley (CivEngr’05)
- 1943: Edward R. Mugrage (MD’13)
- 1943: Ira C. Rothgerber Sr. (Law’01)
- 1942: John Andrew (MD’06)
- 1941: F.G. Folsom (Law’99)
- 1940: A.D. Wilson (A&S’08)
- 1939: A.A. Paddock (A&S’10)
- 1938: Herman C. Graves (A&S’17)
- 1937: Olivia Cleveland McKenna (A&S 1898)
- 1937: Frank H. Means (Law’07)
- 1935: Todd C. Storer (A&S’11, Law’13)
- 1934: W.W. King (MD’02)
Previous Winners of the Leanne Skupa-Lee Award
2023: Tom Shepherd (TranMgmt '78)
Tom Shepherd’s CU Boulder family pride has a wide range: His mother, wife, son and several extended family members are all Forever Buffs.
He wanted this huge display of school enthusiasm to be evident in other CU families, too. So, as a master of getting things done — evident in his work as the now-retired vice president of logistics for global berry company Driscoll’s — he got to work on a new university initiative.
The Buffalo Legacy Program launched during his nine-year tenure on the CU Boulder Alumni Association’s Advisory Board. Today, through the program — which Tom donates to — first-year students with parents, step-parents or grandparents can apply for legacy-related scholarships, and graduating students can wear a complimentary black and gold cord over their gowns during commencement ceremonies.
“Through Tom’s ongoing commitment and work, hundreds of families and students are positively impacted each year,” said Julann Andresen (Mktg’85), senior director of Forever Buffs engagement and outreach.
Tom served on the board of advisors from 2008 to 2012 and from 2015 to 2020, notching nearly a decade of volunteer time for the Alumni Association, including four years as chair of the board. Despite his prominent career position directing logistics for Driscoll’s, he flew to Boulder from his California home several times a year for board meetings and was instrumental in transitioning the board from one focused on committees and tactics to a group focused on strategy and initiatives.
His strategic input on how the alumni board could better support the rapidly changing Alumni Association and university will endure for years to come.
“The change he has enacted leaves a generational impact on supporting and growing our alumni and university,” said Colin Finch (PolSci’05), former Alumni Association Advisory Board chair.
Outside of the Alumni Association, Tom was involved with the Professional Mentorship Program with the Leeds School of Business for 12 years.
Said Alumni Association executive director Ryan Chreist (Kines'96, MPubAd'09): “Tom exemplifies what it means to serve selflessly as a volunteer to make CU a better place.”
2023: Stephen Hatfield (Bus '96)
As part of the CU Boulder community since childhood, Stephen Hatfield exemplifies what it means to be a Forever Buff.
Stephen grew up in Boulder and surrounded by the world of CU, where his father was an adjunct professor in the interdisciplinary telecommunications program. This connection to the university led him to discover what would become his ultimate passion: CU Athletics.
From an early age, Stephen was often in the stands at football games, cheering on his beloved Buffaloes in Folsom Field. Years later, he enrolled at CU and graduated with a degree in business administration, later earning his executive master’s of business administration from CU Denver in 2003.
After years of putting his business acumen to work in marketing and sales roles, he returned to CU Boulder where he joined the Forever Buffs Alumni Association Advisory Board from 2019 to 2020. He went on to serve as chairperson of the board from 2020 to 2022, serving both the Boulder and Denver chapters.
During this time, Stephen worked on several impactful engagement and fundraising opportunities, including a showing of documentary film Mission Mt. Mangart, which chronicles the story of the 10th Mountain Division ski troops. This event was the most successful fundraising event for any Forever Buffs chapter to date.
While on the board, Stephen was known for his contagious excitement whenever he gained momentum on a project or solicited support. Even in the midst of the 2021 Marshall Fire tragedy in Boulder County — amid a global pandemic, nonetheless — Stephen’s positivity and professionalism persevered. He is a shining example of grace and professionalism, capable of stepping into any role that needs extra attention.
“Stephen’s leadership is directly attributable to our success,” said Andrew North, chapter officer of Forever Buffs Boulder. “In his first year as a board member, Stephen executed multiple events of unprecedented scope, attracting numerous high-profile attendees and top donors, which garnered significant funds for scholarships.”
Stephen even carries the spirit of CU Boulder into his personal life: For a milestone birthday, he asked guests to make contributions to the CU Boulder Alumni Association scholarship program in lieu of gifts for himself.
With his innate capacity for empathy, Stephen continues to build and nurture relationships with CU faculty, staff and students, always on the prowl for new ways to affect positive change in people’s lives. His undeniable and unwavering dedication to the CU community makes him a quintessential recipient of the Leanne Skupa-Lee Award.
2022: Vanessa Lopez (Bus, EthnSt’09)
Vanessa Lopez thrives on giving back to her community.
A board member for both the Forever Buffs Latinx club and Forever Buffs Boulder chapter, Lopez consistently takes a leadership role in building connections and creating impact.
“It is likely impossible to calculate the total hours that Vanessa has volunteered with the Forever Buffs community, but it is clear that her ongoing dedication has had a tremendous impact on the efforts of the university,” said Aja Ringenbach, program manager for alumni volunteer engagement. “She is consistently a volunteer who stands out above the rest.”
Take her role in the Buffs Give Back national volunteer event, which returned last spring. When Lopez heard the event was coming back after a pandemic hiatus, she immediately became a project leader for both Forever Buffs Latinx and Forever Buffs Boulder, coordinating two different shifts for volunteers at the Marshall Fire Donation Center.
With Lopez at the helm, the groups spent the day unpacking, sorting and shelving donations for individuals impacted by the fires in Superior, Louisville and unincorporated Boulder County. Both shifts filled up completely, and Lopez — who has participated in four Buffs Give Back projects to date — was able to connect with over 20 local Buffs, including several alumni who had not regularly engaged with the groups before.
Lopez also finds joy in building connections with students. A co-chair for the May 2022 Latinx Graduation, she had a direct, positive impact on the experience of graduating Buffs. With planning that began in January, she was highly intentional and vocal about creating a meaningful event that represented the values of the CU Boulder Latinx community.
As a volunteer for the Forever Buffs scholarship program, Lopez has helped provide students with transformative scholarship awards. In 2022, she reviewed 41 scholarship applications — when the average reviewer reads only 10 to 15. In all, Lopez helped the Forever Buffs Latinx club award $30,000 to 10 deserving students, and she helped start the new Forever Buffs First Generation Scholarship, awarding $15,000 to five students.
In all, Lopez remains committed to giving back to her CU community. She said, “While we all can’t reach global or even national recognition for our contributions to society, we all are capable of making an important impact in someone’s life.”
2021: Lisa Ayala-Williams (Mktg’86)
If Lisa Ayala-Williams is your mentor, you’ve got a friend for life. The former Disney vice president has been a CU student mentor since 2012.
She makes time for regular communication, lending support, career guidance and networking. A former student even landed her dream job in marketing at Walt Disney Animation Studios after Ayala-Williams helped her become an intern.
“She truly bleeds black and gold and is always promoting the benefits of a CU Boulder education and staying involved with the institution, to everyone with whom she interacts,” said the Alumni Association’s senior director, Julann Andresen.
In 2002, Ayala-Williams joined the film marketing team at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment as a supervising producer. As a vice president for eight years, she led creative services and strategic marketing teams at The Walt Disney Studios. Over a more than 17-year tenure, she and her teams created global advertising campaigns for Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel films on digital, movie apps, DVD, Blu-Ray and for 3D theatrical film releases.
While working, Ayala-Williams also established a strong relationship with CU Boulder, beginning with the Leeds School of Business and expanding to the Alumni Association. She served as an executive board member for the Alumni Association for nearly four years, serving as a brand ambassador to help guide decisions related to alumni and student programming, especially Homecoming Weekend.
While she’s proud of her many creative awards, becoming CU’s PAC-12 “Spotlight Alumnus” in 2016 was a career highlight.
At Leeds, she’s a three-time “Mentor of the Year” nominee. She also regularly speaks to MBA student groups and on women’s panels.
“Every time Lisa visits Boulder, we get together for a meal to catch up and discuss our goals,” said a mentee of Lisa’s in 2017. “Lisa’s love of the university is contagious, and makes me look forward to coming back and being involved as an alumnus.”
Today, Ayala-Williams is also a board member for ForeverGold, a highly engaged group of alumni and friends of the university who advance CU through the support of student scholarships, capital projects and increasing overall engagement.
Said Andresen, “CU Boulder needs more involved, engaged and generous people like Lisa.”
2019: Carrie Beth Scott (Comm'80)
To know Carrie Scott was to know passion, tenacity and kindness. One of her greatest passions was her alma mater, where her legacy lives on in the community she nurtured and the students whose lives she touched.
A devoted CU Boulder fundraiser and Parent Leadership Society leader, Carrie loyally served CU until her death last year at age 60.
After shepherding daughter Shoshanna (Art’17) into the CU family, she catalyzed the growth of the CU parent community in Southern California, hosting events at her home and generating major financial resources for CU student services.
“The southern California community continues to grow today thanks to Carrie,” a CU partner said.
Carrie, who had a 20-year career in advertising, was also involved in a series of charities, including Dollies Making a Difference, Birthright, Stop Cancer and Jewish Federation. She loved strolling beaches, playing Mahjong, scuba diving and traveling.
While at CU, she attended Semester at Sea — paying for it herself by successfully auditioning for Hollywood Squares and winning $15,000 in prizes.
In addition to Shoshanna, Carrie is survived by her children Zachary and Rachel, and her husband of 31 years, Michael B. Scott.
“Carrie once told me that the best thing you could do for the world is to help children achieve their goals in life,” a fellow CU parent said. “She did just that, time and time again.”
Up until a month before she died of cancer, Carrie was still referring students and parents to her beloved CU. Said another CU parent, “Colorado was ingrained in her soul.”
2019: Scott Steinbrecher (PolSci'81; MPubAd'94)
Scott Steinbrecher is a big-picture guy who sweats the details.
When he coordinated a CU scholarship fundraising event, nothing went unnoticed. Tickets for 200 people, food and drinks to satisfy a crowd, a busy silent auction… Scott juggled it all.
Amid the happy hubbub, Scott, an international student programs coordinator at CU Denver, kept the event’s fundraising mission front and center. He’s proud to have raised and awarded over $75,000 in scholarships for incoming CU freshmen during his time with the Boulder alumni chapter. Of course, he had lots of enthusiastic Boulder chapter volunteers also hard at work in generating those funds.
An active CU volunteer since 1990, Scott has led the Boulder alumni chapter and chaired its scholarships committee. He‘s also been an important voice on the Alumni Association Board of Advisors.
Also a member of CU Advocates, the university’s official grassroots network, Scott has helped build a stronger link between the program and the Boulder alumni chapter, to the benefit of students, alumni and community members.
“He is always keeping an eye out for appropriate connections to advance the reach, exposure and mission of CU,” a fellow Advocate said.
Always looking for unique ways to support, celebrate and recruit students, Scott has represented the university at college admission fairs and serves on the board of the Buffalo Bicycle Classic, which raises money for CU scholarships. In 2017 and 2018, he even led the Homecoming Parade down Pearl Street, ensuring that the student groups did not run into the band.
Whether he’s juggling details or rousing a crowd, Scott keeps CU close to his heart.
As a Directors Club member put it, “Scott represents what it means to be a truly engaged alum, putting countless time and energy into strengthening our alumni association and alumni family.”
2018: Alex Passett (EnvDes'86)
If there’s a CU celebration happening in Kansas City, Alex Passett knows about it — and probably planned it. Since assuming the role of Kansas City Alumni Chapter president in 2001, the loyal Buff has hosted hundreds of CU events, including tailgates, watch parties and spirited send-offs for Boulder-bound freshmen and their parents. At the 2007 pregame he organized at Kansas State, he fed the entire CU Marching Band.
Each year, Alex — senior project manager at digital marketing agency Intouch Solutions — hosts at least six football and five basketball watch parties for local Buffs fans. Representing CU, he annually volunteers at a high school college fair, and he’s led selection of the chapter’s student scholarship recipients since 2001. Alex’s enthusiasm for all things silver and gold has led to a reliable corps of 30 alumni in the Kansas City area who attend nearly every local CU event. “We’ve watched his kids grow up in front of us at tailgate parties, watch parties and picnics,” says a fellow chapter member. Alex has made his mark in Boulder, too. He served five years on the Alumni Association’s then-board of directors and was instrumental in implementing the Forever Buffs dues-free membership model in effect today. He also organized two successful fall reunions for his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, drawing alumni from as far as Hawaii and Canada. Said a peer: “CU could not possibly mean more to anyone else as it does Alex.”
2017: Svein Hasund (MechEngr'67)
Svein Hasund is the volunteer organizations yearn for. Fortunately for CU Boulder, Svein is around a lot. When Svein gives his time, which is often, he’s fully committed. He’s among the first to arrive and last to leave.
At an Alumni Association event for nearly 2,500 graduating CU seniors this spring, Svein, who was then 74, stood and greeted students for four hours straight. Immediately after the party ended, he put himself to work hauling tables without a word.
“I think anyone in our organization would agree that he is our most dedicated event volunteer,” said an Alumni Association staffer.
Svein’s time serving CU has more than made up for the years he lost touch with the university during his 42-year career in the oil and gas industry, both on- and off-shore. The Norway native lived in places as far away as Alaska and the UK. However, his strongest CU tie was with him the whole time: Svein met Pauline, his wife of more than 50 years, while a student here. Their sons are also CU graduates.
In addition to their own children, the couple has contributed to the lives of more than 55 babies through philanthropic efforts and foster programs.
Since returning to Boulder in 2000, Svein has served on the Alumni Association and Directors Club boards among other CU commitments.
As a board peer put it: “He believes in the institution of CU and is willing to do whatever is needed to spread the word.”
2017: Barbara Cooke (Psych'75; MBA'81)
If there’s a CU game to be watched, Buffs in Los Angeles know where to show up: Grunion’s Sports Bar and Grill. It’s all thanks to Barbara Cooke. As the L.A. alumni chapter leader since shortly after its founding in 1988, Barb has ensured that L.A. Buffs have a place...
to watch the biggest CU athletic events. Today, the chapter remains one of the most active in the country.
“Barb’s enthusiasm, love of all things CU and sincere inclusiveness were the recipe for success that set a standard for other alumni chapter gatherings,” said a former Alumni Association staff member.
In addition to the watch parties — which often include a roaring rendition of the “CU Fight Song” — Barb coordinates the yearly awarding of scholarships to Los Angeles CU students, participates in high-school college fairs and admissions events, and leads a team of alumni volunteers in organizing a range of alumni activities in the Los Angeles area from networking events to concerts. To stay current with the university, Barb often travels to Boulder.
“Her leadership and mentorship as I was forming the Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter was invaluable,” said a fellow chapter leader.
The L.A. chapter holds a special personal tie to Barbara too. At the first organizational meeting for the chapter, she met her now-husband Raymond (Fin’79), who also remains committed to its success.
“I’m willing to bet that Los Angeles has the longest-running CU football watch party location outside of Colorado,” said Ray. “We’ve probably outlasted four owners of that Manhattan Beach bar, and it’s Barb who keeps it going.”
Besides Barb’s involvement with the local CU alumni chapter, Barb is a former member of the CU Alumni Association Advisory Committee, and recently retired from 30 plus years as a IT Project Manager and Consultant. She also serves as a chapter leader for her Professional Organization, Project Management Institute Los Angeles, having lead that chapter as its president and now as a Trustee for the past 10 years. Barb and Ray live by the beach in Los Angeles, along with one very spoiled two year old cat, Dusty.
2016: Colin Finch (PolSci’05)
As both student and proud alum, Colin Finch, a senior project manager at software firm Four Winds Interactive, has been involved in club sports, helping grow the swim team to a consistently victorious National Champion.
From 2001-2012 Colin served on the Department of Recreation’s Board of Directors, overseeing the multi-million-dollar budget and policies. He was a vocal champion for the $63.5-million Rec Center renovation project, completed in 2014.
The day CU broke ground for the renovated Rec Center, Colin retired from his 12-year role. He had a lot to be proud of — and new ways of serving CU in mind.
Since then, Colin has taken the helm of the Boulder Alumni Chapter and set his sights on bettering CU through additional roles on the executive committee of the Alumni Association Board of Advisors and the CU Directors Club.
Under his leadership the chapter has diversified the type of events it hosts and grown the number of annual events to 30. The chapter has created its own branding and has partnered with the Alumni Association, the CU Advocates, and others to engage more alumni. Currently the Chapter is building a scholarship endowment.
Colin is the youngest executive board member of The CU Directors Club, which offers 12 CU scholarships, contributions toward capital improvements and special projects, as well as exceptional events that enhance and engage interest in an enduring connection to CU.
For his tireless work for CU, Finch was named CU Advocate of the Year in 2015.
Award Recipients from 1984-2014
- 2014: Thomas Selnau
- 2013: Doug Nelson (Anth’77)
- 2012: Brian Corcoran (BusFin’99)
- 2011: Sue Duris-McMurdy (Econ’84)
- 2010: Mary Allen Judd (PolSci’80)
- 2009: David M. Oliver (Arch’79)
- 2008: Robert Cohen (Econ’73)
- 2007: Scott Wood (A&S ex’77)
- 2006: Monica Frazer Irvine (PolSci’97)
- 2006: Peter Irvine (Engl’97)
- 2005: Colleen Susu Leong Markham (Rec’80)
- 2005: Gregory K. Markham (Geol’79, Law’83)
- 2004: Richard L. Haynes (A&S’50, MEdu’57)
- 2002: John Chandler (Fin’74)
- 2001: George Gramer Jr. (Span’73, MA’74)
- 2000: Kimberly Ann Clayton (Mktg’84)
- 1999: Thomas W. McEntee (Fin’88)
- 1998: Debra A. Martinez (Comm’83)
- 1996: Jonathan Cohen (A&S’83)
- 1995: Angus McNeely (Econ’81)
- 1994: Erin McCarney Lunceford (Econ’83)
- 1993: Helen Grubbs (Soc’39, MPubSer’52)
- 1992: Barbara Kagin Phillips (Comm’70)
- 1991: Judy Brett Thompson (Bus’65)
- 1990: Michael Loeb (A&S’65)
- 1989: Beverly Pettit Christians (A&S’58)
- 1988: Ann Leutwiler Gasaway (SocSci’57)
- 1987: Winifred Clegg Smith (Hist’61)
- 1986: Steven D. Schmidt (Econ’73)
- 1985: Sara Raddatz Henry (Edu’62)
- 1984: Gloria Parnham Bradfield (Adv’59
Previous Winners of the Kalpana Chawla Award
2023: Eddie Taylor (BioChem, Math '12)
When Eddie Taylor stepped atop Mount Everest in May 2022 after years of planning and training, he celebrated a much greater accomplishment than reaching the top: He just had helped double the amount of Black climbers to ever reach Everest’s summit.
Eddie was a member of the Full Circle climbing team, which was composed of 10 other Black climbers who raised more than $800,000 for the historic expedition. The team’s accomplishment was featured in USA Today, Outside magazine, National Geographic and CNN.
“They made it to the top of the world — while also making history,” declared a USA Today article after Eddie and six other Full Circle team members reached the summit.
Eddie, a former CU decathlete, was approached by Phillip Henderson, the leader of the
Full Circle team, while ice-climbing in Ouray.
“It was his drive and passion for mountaineering that made him a great fit for the team,” said Henderson.
While the experience on Mount Everest was memorable for Eddie, there’s one thing that has always remained a top priority for him: his students. A former water chemist, Eddie realized teaching was his calling after he began coaching track at Broomfield High School. He received his master’s degree in education from Regis University and took a position teaching science at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, Colorado, where he also serves as head track coach.
When Phillip originally asked him to join the Everest team, Eddie was hesitant to leave during the last few weeks of the spring semester and miss his graduating seniors. His wife convinced him to go.
“Eddie's climbing accomplishments are clearly deserving of attention, but we should also celebrate the work that he does each and every day as a teacher, coach and role model for students at Centaurus High School,” said Daniel Ryan, principal at Centaurus High School. “His example is inspiring the next generation to challenge themselves and find success.”
2023: Brock Kowalchuk (AeroEngr '11)
The fields of aerospace engineering and finance aren’t commonly combined when building a career path — but Brock Kowalchuk is hardly common.
After graduating from CU Boulder in 2011, Brock spent seven years working for Goldman Sachs. During this time, he also earned a master’s degree in information and data science from UC Berkeley, before transitioning to Kaspien, an innovative e-commerce company.
Known by colleagues for his professionalism, Brock quickly climbed the ranks from senior vice president of finance to his current role as chief executive officer in four years, serving as chief financial officer and chief operations officer along the way. In these four years, Brock led the company through several rounds of funding and guided its restructuring efforts through the departure of two CEOs, before stepping into the role himself. The e-commerce company now has 80 employees, works with hundreds of brands and generates more than $100 million in revenue per year.
“Brock had a unique way of entering our organization and quickly earning the respect of the company through his strong financial leadership and acumen,” said Mitchell Bailey, a former executive of the company.
“He connects with people, listens to their ideas, and creates an inclusive and welcoming environment that is contagious. He has influenced significant and unprecedented change to benefit our organization, and I attribute a large portion of his abilities to his background in engineering.”
In 2018, Brock brought his storied career experience and unflappable work ethic to CU Boulder’s inaugural College of Engineering and Applied Science Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Board. As co-chair, he helped establish the initial board structure and future expectations for the role, implementing clear performance indicators.
Under his leadership, the board grew to 17 members with three subcommittees and had 100% philanthropic participation from all members. During this time the board also established the now semesterly tradition of pairing engaged alumni with current students to practice their professional interviewing skills in a low-stress environment.
Outside of the board, Brock has volunteered to speak on student-facing panels, sharing his life experiences. He uses his speaking opportunities with students to show that their degree can open professional doors outside of engineering. Additionally, he donates generously to the College of Engineering and Applied Science, and he believes in the power of philanthropy to support the next generation of engineers and leaders.
Brock is only just getting started with his outstanding career accomplishments and is building the foundation to make meaningful contributions for years to come. Through his early successes he has remained connected and committed to CU Boulder — and to ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to make an impact wherever they go.
2022: Hayley Leibson (Comm’15)
Business Analytics Minor (’15)
Technology, Art and Media Minor (’15)
Less than 2% of venture capital funding assists female-founded companies. Hayley Leibson is part of that 2%, and looking to increase that figure for others.
In an interview with CU Boulder in 2018, Leibson said her mission was to “inspire, motivate and move millennial women to enter the tech industry.” At the time, she was a growing name in the technology sphere and creator of the influential and wildly popular blog, “Lady in Tech,” dedicated to empowering women to pursue careers in technology.
Since then, she co-founded and serves as COO of Lunchclub, an AI-powered networking site, which is expected to have more than 1 million active monthly users by the end of 2022. The startup — which matches professionals based on their goals — has raised over $30 million from top-tier investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Michael Ovitz and is valued at over $100 million.
Leibson, named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for consumer technology, wrote her first book, Raise Early Stage Venture Capital. She also is a key investor and advisor for women and minority-founded companies. She was named a top founder angel investor recently by Business Insider.
Leibson has spoken around the world, including at Stanford and Harvard Universities, on topics ranging from startup building to diversity and inclusion. She credits some of her success to her time at CU and her studies in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences in the technology, arts and media (TAM) program.
“Through TAM, I discovered the best way to make a positive impact on the world is through technology, and I have carried this belief forward ever since,” said Leibson.
For her work, Leibson was named one of Entrepreneur’s “15 Entrepreneurs Under 30 to Watch Out For” and was selected for the Women in IT Award’s 2019 Silicon Valley Rising Star of the Year Award, among other recognitions, and she has been featured on such media outlets as the BBC and ABC and in The Wall Street Journal.
“We need all perspectives and viewpoints represented as we build the future,” Leibson said. “Utilizing the talent that exists means we’re assembling smarter, more innovative teams.”
2021: Vanessa Aponte (PhDAeroEngr’06)
Vanessa Aponte’s career is out of this world — quite literally. A systems engineer focused on human spaceflight and landing systems, she has spent the past two decades pursuing humanity’s final frontier.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Aponte first came to CU in 1996 as part of the Summer Multicultural Access to Research Training (SMART) program for undergraduates. There, she met the crew of NASA’s 77th space shuttle mission and was inspired to pursue an advanced degree and career in aerospace.
As she was working on her doctorate in aerospace engineering at CU, she worked on life support systems as well as controls, dynamics and propulsion at NASA’s Kennedy, Dryden and Johnson space centers.
After graduating with her PhD, she was hired at Lockheed Martin, where she has since launched a remarkable career working on the Orion Spacecraft, leading the company’s new technology evaluation board, spearheading research and development for human space exploration and leading mission ops for the ascent element of their human landing system. Through all that, she was an astronaut candidate finalist herself … twice.
“Vanessa helped pave the way for humanity’s return to the moon and then Mars,” said Kathryn Tobey, former vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Space, who recruited and hired Aponte in 2006. “She is a system thinker who ties all the elements of a complex system together and sees what others cannot see.”
In addition to her professional work, Aponte has devoted time and expertise to CU’s engineering college, serving on the Aerospace Engineering Executive Advisory Board and Engineering Advisory Council. She’s also an enthusiastic advocate for closing the gender gap in STEM, often volunteering as a speaker and mentor for the Brooke Owens Fellowship and STEMblazers. Vanessa is also a board member for College Track, a nonprofit organization dedicated to seeing students through their education from high school through college graduation.
“Her extensive work promoting STEM opportunities to underrepresented communities highlights her dedication and impact,” said Dr. Penina Axelrad, a distinguished professor in the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research. “Vanessa is an alumna who personifies CU’s mission, vision and values.”
Aponte’s work is inspiring to anyone who looks up at the stars in wonder. And when humanity takes its first steps on Mars — and beyond — Aponte will have contributed to those milestones.
According to Tobey, “Vanessa dreams of making space accessible for all. But she isn’t just a dreamer — she’s a doer.”
2020: Wei Wu (MMus’13)
When Wei Wu (MMus’13) came to CU Boulder on a scholarship in fall 2008, he spoke little English and considered himself to be very shy.
And yet as a music student, Wei, a bass, sang classical arias, acted and performed theatrical improvisation — all in English. When he sang, he often moved his audiences to tears.
“It was very clear that his voice was something special,” said Rebecca J. Roser, a long-time music college supporter who was present at one of his first performances.
Eventually, the world also took notice. He received a Grammy Award for “Best Opera Recording” in 2019 for his role as Steve Jobs’ spiritual advisor Kôbun Chino Otogawa in the world premiere of the opera The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.
“The Chinese bass Wei Wu almost stole the show,” declared The Washington Post in its opera review. “[Wei] seems to have realized his considerable potential, singing with a rich gorgeous sound that never flagged, backed up by a twinkle in his eye that made this character a delight.”
His progression from a timid student to accomplished performer was the result of a decade of practice, persistence and performance, along with the support of friends, patrons and teachers.
Wei got his start in his home city of Beijing, China, where he received his bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. Renowned bass Hao Jiang Tian of the Metropolitan Opera invited him to accompany him to Colorado as his understudy at Central City Opera. While there, Wei met Daniel Sher, dean of CU Boulder’s College of Music, and jumped at the opportunity to audition for graduate program there. Wei received a certificate in voice performance and then a master’s degree in vocal performance. Ever since, he has frequently returned to campus as a performer and mentor.
“The dedication he gave to new American works, the English language and vocal technique while a student here at CU served him well in his astonishing international operatic career,” said Leigh Holman, CU’s opera director.
After CU, Wei was admitted to the Washington National Opera Cafritz Young Artist program, among the most prestigious of its kind in the nation, where he performed in a variety of comic and tragic roles on the stage of the Kennedy Center. He then joined the roster of the New York Metropolitan Opera and has also appeared with the Pittsburgh Opera, the San Francisco Opera and the Philadelphia Opera, among others. A milestone of his career his casting in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs in 2017, an opera composed by Grammy winner Mason Bates. With this performance and Grammy winning recording, Wei solidified his reputation as an important artist of our time.
The artistic administrator of the Metropolitan Opera, Michael Heaston, described Wei as “one of the most gifted young basses in the world of opera” and as an “ambassador for the arts.”
Even with a career successfully launched, Wei remains humble and grateful for his opportunities. He and his wife, Shih-Han Chiu — also a CU music alum — were married in the home of his CU scholarship supporters John and Anna Sie. Wei and Shih-Han now live in New York City.
At the CU Boulder Next New York event in February 2020, Wei told the crowd: “I always considered Colorado to be my second home — I received my degrees from CU, I met many life-time friends there, I found the love of my life at CU Boulder and we got married at my generous patron’s beautiful home in Denver. These are important and beautiful memories in Colorado that will always be in my heart. It will always be a pleasure to share my voice with everyone and contribute back to my beloved alma mater.”
2019: Savannah Sellers (Jour'13)
For young Buffs, Savannah Sellers is an inspiring reminder that it’s possible to achieve one’s professional dreams — and that it doesn’t have to take decades.
Through hard work, self-confidence and perseverance, Savannah has risen fast at NBC News in the six years since her 2013 graduation from CU Boulder.
She began her career working as an NBC page before becoming an executive assistant to MSNBC’s president. Now, Savannah co-hosts NBC News’s innovative Snapchat news service, Stay Tuned, and is one of the youngest people on air at the network level.
A media industry trailblazer, Savannah has been described by one fellow CU alum as “a breath of fresh air” and “a force for international good.” Her show, Stay Tuned, has nearly 10 million subscribers and a daily audience of at least 5 million millennials and Gen Z-ers — reaching a new demographic in a new way.
From her Emmy-winning documentary work reporting on heroin addiction to her interviews with Parkland shooting survivors and former Vice President Joe Biden, Savannah has a way of bringing a story to life and connecting with an audience.
“She has a special ability to tell stories in a way that makes young people feel understood, informed and inspired,” said a colleague.
At CU Boulder’s 2019 spring commencement, Savannah’s keynote address encouraged graduating Buffs to chase their dreams — and to remember that success depends on how one copes with challenges.
“She has brought inspiration to students of CU Boulder and students across the nation,” said a recent CU alum, “especially to young women in journalism.”
2018: Daniel Ramos (Soc, Span'10; MPubAd'14)
It’s time to get used to the name Daniel Ramos. By the time he was named executive director of the LGBTQ advocacy group One Colorado at age 29, Daniel had proven himself an assertive champion for political and social causes. As one of CU Boulder’s tri-executives, he started the first-ever student government zero waste program in the U.S.
As a national outreach officer for the United States Student Association, he organized Colorado students to lobby at the state and national level for student aid reform and the DREAM Act. In his first role at One Colorado, he also created the Colorado Gay-Straight Alliance Network, a leadership program that’s nearly tripled middle school, high school and college gay-straight alliances, which equip LGBTQ students and allies to combat bullying. All this from a first-generation college student from Sterling, a small town on Colorado’s eastern plains. “Daniel believes the world isn’t complete until every person feels safe, welcome and empowered to make change,” said a former CU tri-executive. In nearly two years as executive director of One Colorado — the state’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group — Daniel has overseen its extensive lobbying efforts, which aim to improve the lives of LGBTQ Coloradans in the areas of healthcare, safe schools and alliance building. “A model of integrity,” as one CU administrator put it, Daniel exudes energy, inspires dedication and prioritizes leadership. “He gives focus, attention and praise to everyone around him while scanning the environment for what needs to be done,” another CU mentor said. True to his environmentalist roots, Daniel doesn’t own a car. He gets around by bicycle.
2018: Sara Staley (PhDEdu'14)
Bethy Leonardi and Sara Staley are redefining how students and teachers learn about gender, family and sexual diversity in K-12 classrooms. The pair, research associates and instructors in CU’s School of Education, founded A Queer Endeavor, an initiative that aims to provide educators with guidance, vocabulary and tools for creating school cultures that are safe, supportive and accepting of LGBTQ youth.
Since the 2014-2015 school year, Sara and Bethy have worked with more than 5,000 educators and school leaders nationwide, including all of the principals in the Boulder Valley, Adams 12 and St. Vrain Valley School Districts. Because of their work, Boulder County schools have become a safe haven for many LGBTQ youth and their families. Said one BVSD principal: “They’ve [Parents] heard that Boulder schools provide support and compassion and may be a safe place for their child. So they move here and their child, for the first time in their school careers, feel ‘out and proud’ and truly knows that they belong.” In 2015, Sara and Bethy were awarded the Big Hearts Award from the LGBTQ community organization Out Boulder County. Sara and Bethy have created a 20-minute film, available online, called Breaking the Silence: Honoring the Voices of LGBTQ Youth and Allies in Supporting Our Teachers. It features 14 youth, 75 educators and 30 Boulder-area community members in open conversation about gender, family and sexual diversity in K-12 schools and teacher preparation. Sara and Bethy’s social justice commitments, leadership and unwavering support for LGBTQ students is helping educators across the country cultivate the safe and inclusive spaces that all children deserve.
2018: Bethy Leonardi (PhDEdu'14)
Bethy Leonardi and Sara Staley are redefining how students and teachers learn about gender, family and sexual diversity in K-12 classrooms. The pair, research associates and instructors in CU’s School of Education, founded A Queer Endeavor, an initiative that aims to provide educators with guidance, vocabulary and tools for creating school cultures that are safe, supportive and accepting of LGBTQ youth.
Since the 2014-2015 school year, Sara and Bethy have worked with more than 5,000 educators and school leaders nationwide, including all of the principals in the Boulder Valley, Adams 12 and St. Vrain Valley School Districts. Because of their work, Boulder County schools have become a safe haven for many LGBTQ youth and their families. Said one BVSD principal: “They’ve [Parents] heard that Boulder schools provide support and compassion and may be a safe place for their child. So they move here and their child, for the first time in their school careers, feel ‘out and proud’ and truly knows that they belong.” In 2015, Sara and Bethy were awarded the Big Hearts Award from the LGBTQ community organization Out Boulder County. Sara and Bethy have created a 20-minute film, available online, called Breaking the Silence: Honoring the Voices of LGBTQ Youth and Allies in Supporting Our Teachers. It features 14 youth, 75 educators and 30 Boulder-area community members in open conversation about gender, family and sexual diversity in K-12 schools and teacher preparation. Sara and Bethy’s social justice commitments, leadership and unwavering support for LGBTQ students is helping educators across the country cultivate the safe and inclusive spaces that all children deserve.
2018: Jared Leidich (MechEngr'09)
Jared Leidich brought a high-flying man safely down to Earth. But the trajectory of his career seems to go only upward.
The 2009 College of Engineering & Applied Sciences graduate played key technical roles in StratEx, the record-breaking 2014 endeavor in which Google executive Alan Eustace completed the longest and highest freefall ever, dropping to Earth from the upper stratosphere (after an extreme balloon flight up). Then working for Paragon Space Development Corp., Jared helped develop the suit, life-support pack and parachute Eustace wore in the 25-mile supersonic fall. Today Jared is lead engineer for parachute systems at World View, an Arizona firm developing high-altitude balloons. He is part of the founding team. Jared stars in a documentary about StratEx, 14 Minutes from Earth, and wrote an insider’s account of it called The Wild Black Yonder. After buying the book, one of Jared’s CU professors wrote: “It was the first and only time to date that I have ever asked a former student for an autograph!” Jared’s CU days hinted at big things to come. As an undergraduate, he worked in CU’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, traveled to Rwanda with Engineers Without Borders and co-authored peer-reviewed conference papers. Early on he developed expertise in micro-gravity. Jared received a powerful endorsement for the Kalpana Chawla Award. Wrote colleague Ron Garan: “I was not only an astronaut colleague of Kalpana Chawla, I was her friend, and I believe that Jared epitomizes the excellence that is representative of this award in her name.”
2017: Teju Ravilochan (IntlAf'09)
Impossible is not in Teju Ravilochan’s vocabulary. He embraces the difficult, unruly and implausible and groups them into one difficult-but-attainable concept — unreasonable. Since Teju co-founded the Unreasonable Institute, a Denver-based incubator for entrepreneurs, in 2010, more than 20 million people have benefitted from the 148 startups his organization has supported. The institute, now called Uncharted, also has run 40 accelerator programs in 26 countries.
“One of Teju’s greatest strengths is breathing life into an early-stage idea and pulling together the right people to give it flight,” said a peer whose employer, ReWork, was supported by Teju and the Institute.
For his efforts, Teju was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 social entrepreneur this year. The institute’s work also has been cited in the New York Times, Inc. magazine and blog posts by the Wall Street Journal.
“Teju has the relentless curiosity of a puppy, the serene wisdom of Buddha and the pulsating compassion of Mother Teresa,” said a colleague.
Once, Teju gave such an impassioned speech about his current class of entrepreneurs that a woman quit her job immediately to pursue a bigger endeavor.
Said the colleague: “Teju represents to those who know him — and even to those who do not — that the distance between their current reality and their most daring dreams is far shorter than they ever imagined.”
2017: Siddhartha Rathod (Law'07)
In Colorado, Siddhartha Rathod represents a powerful voice for marginalized communities. His work as a defense attorney has brought justice to undocumented individuals, sexual assault victims, prisoners and many others.
Siddhartha became a founding partner of Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC in Denver in 2011. Since then he’s been involved in several high-profile legal settlements. He successfully negotiated one of Denver’s largest-ever settlements in a prisoner abuse civil rights case, which resulted in policy changes for the Denver sheriff’s department and detention center. Additionally, two of his settlements involving officer-involved shooting deaths brought law enforcement and the community together to initiate positive change.
“Siddhartha is a skilled and charismatic lawyer,” said a peer. “He has dedicated himself to extensive community service and leadership by example.”
He is especially dedicated to serving nonprofits focused on equality and inclusiveness. A quarter of Siddhartha’s work is pro bono, which includes his involvement on the legal team that successfully challenged Wyoming’s gay marriage ban.
Today at CU Boulder, the former Marine Corps captain serves on the Colorado Law alumni board, where he chaired the diversity committee. He also mentors students, hosts law school events at his firm and teaches as an adjunct faculty member.
An assistant dean in the law school calls his CU volunteer efforts “continuous and substantial.”
Siddhartha tackles difficult issues whole-heartedly, and it’s his dedication and grit that serve as inspiration for all — especially the next generation of attorneys and policy-makers.
2016: Nathan Seidle (ElecEng ’04)
Nathan Seidle could be a poster child for the start-up era.
In 2003, as a CU Boulder engineering student, he opened a one-man business reselling hard-to-find circuit boards from Eastern Europe. That dorm-room enterprise would become SparkFun Electronics, a Boulder-based firm that offers tools, hardware and guidance for artists, engineers, prototypers and electronic gadgetry hobbyists.
Today SparkFun employs a workforce of more than a hundred fellow geeks (as he puts it), has annual revenues of more than $30 million and spreads the joy of making things worldwide. Seidle, the CEO, retains an infectious tinkerer’s spirit that animates the company.
“Where many in his position would have moved on from technical work to high-level business machinations,” said a fellow entrepreneur, “Nathan remains heart and soul an engineer.”
He also happens to be a big-hearted guy with what one intimate called “an extraordinary presence.”
Seidle invites school groups into SparkFun’s factory, hosts robot competitions and sponsors workshops for gadgeteers and makers, often joining beginners in the act of invention. He’s advocated for women and the underprivileged in engineering and made himself available to fellow entrepreneurs seeking business advice — convincing at least one to manufacture in Colorado instead of in China.
“Nathan Seidle,” one admirer said, “is a mensch.”
At CU, Seidle not only visits classes, but has provided fellowships for doctoral candidates and a sales channel for their inventions.
Along the way, one CU computer scientist said, Seidle “put Boulder on the map as a central hub of personalized do-it-yourself-technology.”
“We should be beside ourselves with pride,” another professor said, “to call Nathan Seidle a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder.”
2016: David Wolf (Law, MBA’01)
It didn’t take David Wolf long to start repaying the debt he felt to CU Boulder: In 2001, just after graduating with law and MBA degrees, he established a scholarship at the Leeds School of Business.
Supporting the university became a way of life. David has been an active member of the Leeds advisory board, spoken at CU conferences, on industry panels and in classes and judged competitions — while also mentoring and hiring numerous CU students along the way.
His service to CU makes sense for a businessman celebrated for his trailblazing contributions to the field of impact investing, which aims to align investors’ capital with their values and generate both profits and social or environmental benefits.
As chief operating officer and managing principal of BSW Wealth Partners, a multi-family office and wealth advisory firm with offices in Boulder and Denver, David oversees $800 million in assets. He also is founder and chief investment officer of R3 Returns, an impact investing fund that manages $85 million in social and environmental municipal bonds.
David nourishes others, and hopes they’ll pay it forward.
As he told one mentee:
“‘Twenty years from now, a student will likely be asking you for a reference letter. You will be busy; it will be late; you will be tired, and your spouse will be nagging you to go to bed. But you’ll remember…and you’ll stay up and get it done — chipping away at the debt you, and each one of us who lives a rich life, owes to those special people who help it along.’”
Award Recipients from 1982-2015
- 2015: Meshach Rhoades (Law'04)
- 2015: Evan Thomas (Aero, Jour, MAero’06, PhD’09)
- 2014: Avery Bang (MCivEngr’09)
- 2013: Marco Campos (CivEngr’98)
- 2013: Dave Morin (Econ’03)
- 2012: Todd Mosher (MAero’95, PhD’00)
- 2011: Jason Burdick (PhDChemEngr’02)
- 2011: Richard “Trey” Lyons III (PolSci’00)
- 2010: Nick Sowden (Mgmt’07)
- 2007: James J. Tighe (Aero’97)
- 2006: Stephen P. Cape (PhDChemBioEngr’02)
- 2006: Joshua Stuart (CompSci, MCDBio’96)
- 2004: Kristi Anseth (PhDChemEngr’94)
- 2004: Trent Hein (CompSci’91, PhD ex’96)
- 2004: Kenzo Kawanabe (PolSci’94)
- 2002: Randolph “Trey” Parker III (A&S ex’93)
- 2002: Matthew Stone (Art, Math’93)
- 2000: Simona Errico (Aero’94, MS’99)
- 1999: Charles Bedford (Law’92)
- 1996: Elisabeth Arenales (Law’93)
- 1995: John P. Raeder Jr. (Econ’85)
- 1994: Prince Holley III (Geog’83)
- 1992: Gail Howerton (Rec’83, MEdu’86)
- 1989: Joseph P. Missal (DMA’87)
- 1986: Jeff Lipton (MBA’75, MFin’79)
- 1986: Sharon D. Prater (Mus’77)
- 1986: Deborah L. Redding (Mus’78)
- 1985: Lorenzo A. Trujillo (A&S’72, MDance’74)
- 1984: James Nicklos (Acct’71)
- 1984: Stella Jenkins Lillicrop (Bus’70)
- 1983: Jon F. Kottke (Law’76)
- 1983: Karen Tatum Williams (Geog’72)
- 1982: Kenneth E. Powell (PolSci’75)
Previous Winners of the Robert L. Stearns Award
2023: Sara McDonald (Mgmt '01)
Since her earliest role as a student employee, Sara McDonald has consistently been a reliable and irreplaceable leader at CU Boulder.
Fond of saying she grew up in the CU Boulder School of Education, she watched her mother, Patty McDonald, build an unassailable reputation as a trusted administrator in her 32 years with the school. Likewise, Sara knew from an early age that she also wanted to have a lasting influence at the university.
In 2001, she graduated from CU with a degree in business management. She worked her way up to her current position as senior director of operations at the School of Education, a community she has lovingly served and played an essential role in leading for over 20 years.
Described by colleagues as the “heart and soul of the School of Education,” Sara plans and runs many of the school’s events, including panel discussions, multi-day conferences, scholarship ceremonies and commencements. Using her master’s degree in information and learning technologies from CU Denver, she manages technology, IT and logistical needs for all School of Education spaces, students, faculty and staff. In 2020, she spearheaded and implemented the physical move of offices and classrooms for more than 200 faculty, staff and students — all in the midst of a global pandemic.
In addition to her logistical and managerial prowess, Sara has embraced CU Boulder’s diversity, equity and inclusion commitments, making her a source of refuge for many students of color and LGBTQ+ leaders seeking a safe space. Recently, she started a Staff of Color Alliance, and she has also served on the School of Education’s Strategic Planning Committee and Equity and Justice Committee.
“I could write pages of how Sara has supported us,” said Sara Staley and Bethy Leonardi, CU faculty and co-founders of A Queer Endeavor – a nationally recognized center for gender and sexual diversity in education – as well as past Alumni Award honorees. “She donated time and effort to basically run the tech at the institutes, plan the meals, organize and more.
“Sara McDonald is the steadiest, most humble behind-the-scenes force of so much magic that happens in our School of Education. Her leadership truly enriches our community.”
With her institutional knowledge and drive to help others, Sara also serves as both a formal and informal mentor to many.
“Sara is quietly vital to grad student success at the School of Education,” said Wagma Mommandi (PhDEdu’23), one of the school’s doctoral students. “As you advance through the program you realize more and more how important she is and how many official and unofficial hats she wears.”
2022: Michael Gooseff (MCivEngr’98; PhD’01)
After earning his graduate degrees from CU Boulder, Michael Gooseff excelled in his career as a polar science researcher and educator, always aspiring to return to CU Boulder as a faculty member. In 2015, the university hired him — and he impacted the campus and its students immediately.
CU Boulder recruited Gooseff to lead the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research project — a $6 million project supported by the National Science Foundation to understand the effects of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem. He has since enthusiastically advanced his field — which often involves unexplored regions of the world — in ways that will remain relevant for years.
“Dr. Michael Gooseff is exactly the type of colleague and professional that CU Boulder should be proud to call their own,” praised colleague Holly Barnard, associate geography professor.
Peers acclaim his unique teaching style, enthusiasm and student engagement. In addition to teaching five courses at CU, Gooseff has advised over 40 graduate and postdoctoral students throughout his career. His “scaffold and fade” method of teaching — involving short videos about a topic augmented by supporting materials that fade as a student progresses into the topic’s problem sets — was recognized by the National Academy of Engineering at its Frontiers in Engineering Education Symposium.
“His effective graduate mentoring is demonstrated in the fact that he has co-authored with many of them and that several of them receive competitive grants and best paper awards at conferences,” said Barnard.
Gooseff has served as the co-director of the CU hydrologic sciences graduate program since 2015, and has chaired or taken on leadership roles in several committees within CU’s department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research.
Beyond CU, Gooseff chairs the Water Quality Control Commission for the State of Colorado and was a member of the Scientific Advisory Board on Water Body Connectivity for the Environmental Protection Agency and among other scientific boards and committees.
As a researcher delving into how a changing climate affects ecosystems, Dr. Gooseff has published over 150 papers and been awarded over $30 million in funding.
Said Barnard: “Mike truly puts his science into action for the greater public good.”
2022: Deb Coffin
A leader is integral to a team’s success. Good leaders identify a strong vision and support their teams to carry it out — while inspiring, motivating and celebrating them along the way. The best leaders bring joy to their work.
Deb Coffin was one such leader for CU Boulder.
Coffin, who retired from the university in 2021, held a career in higher education for 39 years, including 19 years at CU Boulder. She served the university in many capacities, including as vice chancellor for student affairs and as the Boulder campus’s inaugural vice chancellor for advancement.
In student affairs, Coffin’s focus was on helping students succeed. She consistently advocated for students in the margins, created a seamless move-in process and supported Buffs families.
In 2015, Chancellor Philip DiStefano tapped Coffin to lead a new Boulder Advancement team. After several tumultuous years for the university’s advancement units, he knew he needed a strong leader who could create community for CU Boulder staff and supporters alike — and Coffin fit the bill perfectly.
In addition to record-breaking fundraising years, Coffin spearheaded the creation of new teams in advancement leadership, human resources, principal gifts, marketing and communications, and industry and foundation relations. A loyal CU Boulder donor herself, she also led a strategic planning process that continues to provide a foundation for alumni engagement and fundraising today.
“She is a quiet ambassador who asks nothing more from others than she is willing to give or do herself,” said Marty Coffin Evans (A&S’64), a CU donor and past University of Colorado Foundation trustee.
In announcing Coffin’s retirement late in 2020, Chancellor DiStefano said, “I can’t adequately share my deep gratitude to Deb for her many contributions to our university. … Deb has played a central role on my leadership team [and] is a true Forever Buff.”
Coffin’s legacy is evident not only in the tangible impact she had on the CU Boulder campus, but in the communities of people whose lives she touched. As Coffin’s nominating committee put it, “The care, joy, love and dedication she brought to her role as vice chancellor for advancement elevated the work of us all.”
Since retiring, Coffin has been enjoying time with Randy, her husband of 44 years, as well as her adult children and their families.
2021: CU Boulder Pandemic Scientific Steering Committee and Science Team (“The Team”)
Most people will forever remember where they were in March 2020 as the world began to shut down. For many at CU Boulder, an incredible haul of work instantly followed. Like the COVID-19 virus, their tasks were new, momentous and immediate.
“I can think of no more difficult year than the one that began on March 13, 2020, and was dominated by COVID-19, its impact on our students, faculty and staff and our institutional response,” said CU Boulder provost Russ Moore.
One group of faculty and staff — the CU Boulder Pandemic Scientific Steering Committee and Science Team, or “The Team” — was set on determining how the university could remain operational during a pandemic.
“Without being asked, and in the true spirit of public service, the members of the Scientific Steering Committee and Science Team dropped what they were doing in order to develop the science and many of the associated operations that allowed our campus to successfully open and operate,” said Moore.
The Team consisted of Kristen Bjorkman, Gloria Brisson, Jose Jimenez, Mark Kavanaugh, Daniel Larremore, Leslie Leinwand, Cresten Mansfeldt, Jennifer McDuffie, Matt McQueen, Shelly Miller, Roy Parker and Melanie Parra. Their priority was the safety of the CU Boulder community and beyond.
Their work was evident in every aspect of campus life.
They developed saliva- and wastewater-based SARS-CoV-2 screening tests to find both individual infections and larger outbreaks on campus. They created a contact tracing program that involved eager students and became one of the most responsive in the state. They helped design the HVAC systems that were installed throughout campus to reduce airborne disease transmission. They guided physical distancing and masking protocols. Most importantly, their solutions were grounded in science.
Their ideas and implementations were constant — sometimes happening from the hours of 2 to 4 a.m. or on weekends. The work is not done. Much of The Team’s scientific work will be studied, reviewed and published to help future crisis response practices.
In the words of the provost, speaking on behalf of thousands positively impacted by their work, “The Team’s dedication serves as an inspiration to us all.”
Team includes:
Kristen Bjorkman (PhDBioChem’07)
Gloria Brisson
Jose Jimenez
Mark Kavanaugh
Daniel Larremore (ApMath’09; PhD’12)
Leslie Leinwand
Cresten Mansfeldt
Jennifer McDuffie
Matt McQueen (Psych’96)
Shelly Miller
Roy Parker
Melanie Parra
2020: Rubén Donato
Some educators might shy away from challenging discussions in their classrooms. Professor Rubén Donato leans into them.
Since 1993, Rubén has served the University of Colorado Boulder and the greater educational community with a commitment to equity and justice. Honored with a “Best Should Teach” award, Marinus Smith Award, and Equity and Excellence Faculty Award, his teaching is widely hailed throughout the School of Education as both highly effective and demanding.
In particular, he regularly challenges his students — many of whom are white — to think critically about the role of race in the education system.
“Issues of race, class and gender … must be confronted if future teachers are going to be able to respond to the needs, and recognize the talents, of an increasingly diverse K-12 student population,” said Joseph L. Polman, associate dean for research at the School of Education.
“Students in Professor Donato’s classes praise his abilities to lead respectful discussions, while challenging students who believe that racism and white privilege are located in the past.”
A fellow with the American Educational Research Association — the education field’s premier professional society — and recently elected into the National Academy of Education, Rubén studies the history of Mexican Americans in public schools. His work examines the often-overlooked fight for school desegregation in Mexican-American communities. He has also published a comprehensive study of a landmark school desegregation case led by Mexican Americans (Hispanos) in Colorado.
“Professor Donato is clearly the leading historian of Mexican-American education in the world,” said Julie Reuben, the Charles Warren Professor of the History of American Education at Harvard University. “His research is unique and essential to our knowledge of our history.”
Rubén has served CU Boulder’s School of Education as the chair of Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice, as well as faculty chair. As a faculty leader, he regularly organizes discussions around pedagogy, class assignments, university policies and student issues.
He also consistently advocates for junior scholars and offers support to many assistant professors of color in the School of Education.
“His wisdom is invaluable and has an important impact on [these professors’] scholarly choices and lives, as well as the university’s goal to support and retain outstanding faculty of color,” said Polman.
Amid a busy schedule of teaching, research and administrative duties, Rubén takes time to mentor graduate students in deeply meaningful ways. Especially for those studying education history, he has offered both professional and personal support.
“What really stands out in my memory is Rubén transmitting his deep interest and commitment to historical research directly to me through his critical reflection and interest in my own work,” said Brad Bartels, executive director of the Utah Education Association and one of Rubén’s former mentees.
Brad also recalled Rubén’s commitment to social justice activism and desire to influence those “on the front lines” of this work:
“I am often on those front lines leading educators, and his teaching and scholarship have been an inspiration. No one has been more influential as a teacher and mentor in my life.”
2020: Bud Coleman
In CU Boulder’s first-ever virtual commencement, after the usual pomp and circumstance in an unusual format, Bud Coleman began his address as commencement marshall: “Class of 2020, you certainly are unique.” Despite the lack of a stage and thousands of people in Folsom Field, he was as dynamic as ever.
Bud has spent nearly 30 years as a professor in the CU Boulder Department of Theatre & Dance, but also has been deeply involved in the campus beyond the theater. Commencement marshall is just one of the many hats he’s worn.
“The number of college task forces, committees and searches Bud has participated in is beyond listing,” said Todd Gleeson, professor of physiology and 2019 Robert L. Stearns award winner.
After graduating from the University of Texas with a PhD in theatre history, Bud came to CU as an assistant professor in 1993. Ten years later, he was named chair of the department, a position he held until 2017. Currently, he serves as the inaugural Roe Green Endowed chair in theatre and divisional dean of the arts and humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences.
As an artist, he has directed, choreographed or produced nearly 50 plays and musicals, of which over 20 have been with CU. When he’s not on campus, Bud teaches theater and directs plays all over the world, including directing Stephen Sondheim’s Company in Russia, directing the Thai premiere of Fiddler on the Roof in Bangkok and teaching American musical theatre as a Fulbright lecturer in Japan.
“American musicals are very, very popular in Japan,” Bud told CU Connections in 2017. “One thing that was a happy surprise for me when I was teaching in both Thailand and Japan is that the students already have a great deal of knowledge of musical theater.”
Over the years, Bud also has made numerous contributions to CU’s LGBTQ community. He’s been a member of the chancellor’s standing gender and sexuality committee concerning gay, lesbian and bisexual issues since 1994. He’s been the faculty advisor to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center and was a foundational advisor for CU’s undergraduate certificate in LGBTQ studies.
“Bud has saved the lives of many an LGBTQ student,” said Karen Raforth, former director of counseling and psychological services and dean of students at CU.
Bud is equally busy in the classroom. Students lucky enough to have him for “American Musical Theater” might notice his name on the textbook, Back Stage Pass: A Survey of American Musical Theatre. He’s the director of the BFA in musical theatre program, has served as a graduate advisor and has supervised nearly 50 dissertations and theses.
Despite his full schedule, Bud continues to act. In 2013, he played Robin Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Frosch in the CU Eklund Opera production of Die Fledermaus in 2016 and the role of in Actor in Celebration, Florida for square product theatre in 2018.
In 2015, Bud was named the inaugural Roe Green Endowed Chair after Green donated $2 million to the Department of Theatre & Dance. It was the first endowed chairship for any arts discipline in CU Boulder’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“What makes us human are the arts,” donor Roe Green said, “and Bud continues to fuel our humanity daily.”
2019: David Aragon (DistSt'88; MEdu'11)
The Latin phrase non sibi means “not for self.” David J. Aragon exemplifies it: His work elevates others.
As CU Boulder’s assistant vice chancellor for diversity, learning and student success, Dave helps students achieve their goal of obtaining a college education successfully. His work focuses on supporting students who come from historically underrepresented groups such as first-generation college students.
Dave’s humility and mild manner mask his determination to broaden access to the transformative experience of a CU Boulder education.
He’s been at it since his own student days, when he served as CU student body president collaborating with groups across campus to promote inclusive ideas.
After graduation, he worked in admissions, then became associate director (and later director) of the engineering college’s Multicultural Engineering Program. It evolved into the nationally esteemed BOLD Center.
Over decades, Dave has developed a variety of programs for underserved youth, attracted financial support for them and fostered appreciation for the social and practical barriers some students face.
Admirers praise his “awe-inspiring ability to build bridges and connect people and groups with integrity” and his “authentic and lasting relationships with students.”
He’s published academic papers, advised DACA students and nurtured alliances with the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program and other groups invested in the belief that diversity is a strength.
“Dave takes on the very human work of listening to students and then putting them in a position to be successful,” said a former student, “and there is no way to do what Dave does just through projects and programming."
2019: Sona Dimidjian
Sona Dimidjian is a real life superwoman. Channeling psychology as her superpower, she fights for global wellness and a better tomorrow — accomplishing more than seems humanly possible for one person.
In 13 years at CU Boulder, Sona has served as a professor, lab director, faculty fellow, and member and chair of numerous committees. She has received a multitude of accolades for her valuable research and work in clinical psychology, including faculty service, teaching and research awards from the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Sona’s service extends beyond CU and improves communities across Colorado and the world. From rural India to urban Colorado, she works with communities to enhance mental health support and wellness. Her internationally recognized body of rigorous scholarship and innovative approach to mental health interventions have established her as a world-renowned clinical psychologist.
To young scholars, Sona exemplifies a balance between academia and activism — proving that it’s possible to be both a researcher and an advocate.
“In Dr. Dimidjian, they see a mentor who is bridging the worlds of research and practice in transformative ways,” said a faculty peer.
While some may puzzle over where Sona finds the time and energy for all her professional accomplishments — and wonder if she maybe is Superwoman — at least one colleague thinks he knows the source of her superpowers.
“I think the answer is that all of her activities are driven by an incredible passion for her work,” said the colleague, “and by the belief that she can make a difference in every realm of her life.”
2019: Todd Gleeson
Todd Gleeson is the MVP — the teammate people hope for and the leader they look up to. And luckily for Buffs, his home team is CU Boulder.
An academic jack-of-all-trades, Todd’s vast number of positions within the College of Arts and Sciences, including professor and dean, has benefitted from his dizzying array and diversity of skills — intellectual, social and practical. From leading CU’s largest college to setting up fundraising tents at dawn, no task is ever too awesome or too modest for him.
In 38 years at CU, Todd has also served as associate vice chancellor for faculty affairs, director of the Health Professions Residential Academic Program and mentor for legions. His impressive fundraising work for the college includes the establishment of the Buffalo Bicycle Classic, which has raised over $3.9 million for student scholarships, the construction of the $63 million Visual Arts Complex and a partnership with CU Engineering on the joint $170 Biotechnology Building.
He also helped establish new programming in Arts and Sciences — in the midst of the Great Recession — in several areas including Jewish studies, neurosciences, Asian languages and ethnic studies.
Todd has built lasting enterprises and won universal respect among colleagues because he leads by example — sharing in the workload and exuding respect for and commitment to others.
“Todd had come to embody the college,” a faculty peer said of Todd’s years as dean. “He was the college, in many ways.”
More than one colleague praised his talents as the shepherd everyone craved and needed.
“He brought a spirit of collegiality and community to a college faculty that is far more difficult to lead,” said a peer, “than it would be to herd an equivalent number of cats.”
2018: Dennis Eckart
Dennis Eckart’s CU students — thousands of them — thrived on his lively classroom presentations. Lecture after lecture, the political science professor, now retired, captivated students, speaking without notes while brandishing rolled-up papers amid his oration. He paced — “practically on tiptoe,” a former student recalls — stopping periodically to rest his foot on a chair and gaze into students’ eyes. “Sometimes it felt like he could peer right into our souls,” another former student said.
Dennis, who taught a variety of courses, such as urban politics and public policy, strongly encouraged critical thinking, a nurturing environment and positive dialogue. Some of his phrases — known as “Eckartisms” — remain with former students to this day, including, “It’s not the space that makes the place, it’s the people that make the place” and “Ask the next logical question.” “The joyful way in which he engaged with his students contributed to my eventual decision to go into teaching myself,” said another fan. Many of his colleagues seek him out for advice on how to improve their own teaching methods. Over the years, beginning in 1977, Dennis won a number of campus teaching awards. He cared deeply about students’ successes long after their graduation from CU and has remained in touch with many of them over the years. He retired from CU Boulder in 2005 after 35 years of teaching. In 2016, an office in Ketchum was named in his honor. Said a former graduate student, now a UC Davis professor: “Dennis Eckart was the most dedicated teacher I have known in my 40 years of teaching."
2018: Natalie Koster (Ger, MA’07)
As CU Boulder’s associate director of international recruitment and outreach, Natalie Koster brings the world to CU. When she started working in the CU Boulder Office of Admissions in 2010, the university was home to just over 1,200 international students. Thanks to her leadership and initiative, that number has increased to above 3,000 students from over 100 countries.
A fierce advocate for increasing the diversity and representation of international students on campus, Natalie works to promote global student mobility and access to higher education. She works alongside her team to provide equitable access and policies to international students who apply for study at CU. “On a daily basis, Natalie’s considerable vision, leadership and management contribute to CU Boulder’s international reputation as a world-class university,” said a CU colleague. “Her contributions to campus-wide diversity awareness and promoting internationalization will undoubtedly have a long-lasting impact on our community, and are even more important and significant today than when she first stepped into her role years ago.” Natalie serves on the Council of International School’s Higher Education Committee and within that volunteer role directs and leads highly visible university recruitment tours around Europe and the Middle East – trips that connect her with students who she supports with their desire to internationalize their academic endeavors at CU Boulder. “The relationships that Natalie has cultivated and the practices she has developed have positioned CU Boulder as an exemplar institution among public universities involved in international student engagement,” said another colleague. “Her collaborative spirit and commitment to service inspires similar qualities in others.”
2017: Robert Davis
Rob Davis is an engineer, and engineers like numbers. Here are five: 14, 20, 32, 74 — and 74 million. In 14 years as dean of CU Boulder’s College of Engineering & Applied Science, Rob led it to a new, sparkling prominence.
The college now ranks among the nation’s top 20 public engineering programs, its loftiest perch yet.
He oversaw a doubling of the percentage of underrepresented minorities among CU engineering students, to 20 percent, and nearly doubled the percentage of women, to 32 percent — while growing total enrollment by 74 percent and raising admissions standards.
Meanwhile, Rob, who stepped down at the end of last year, led the once cash-strapped college to financial security and enabled both an expansion of research activity and a doubling of annual research funding, to $74 million.
As one colleague put it, Rob “changed the very nature and trajectory of our college.”
Other numbers testify to his extraordinary service. Here’s one more: 220. That’s the number of student researchers, from undergraduates through postdocs, that Rob has personally mentored — a practice he continued while running CU Boulder’s second biggest college.
But numbers tell only aspects of Rob’s 35-year CU story, still unfolding following his return to the full-time chemical engineering faculty.
“He’s the only dean I know,” said another colleague, “who’s offered to babysit while working in his office.”
2016: Kathy Escamilla (Span’71)
Kathy Escamilla has dedicated three decades to studying, educating and advocating for America’s bilingual students, and today ranks among the nation’s foremost scholars of bilingual education.
“Her work has led to shifts in the way teachers view the potential of their students and the value of knowing how to read and write in two languages,” said a school principal familiar with her work.
A CU professor of education since 1998, Kathy is especially interested in the development of bilingualism and biliteracy in the early elementary grades for Spanish-speaking minority populations in U.S. schools.
Eschewing traditional reading approaches for bilingual students, she focuses on the cultural and linguistic resources available to each child and evaluates them on their progress in both languages to better help them develop reading and writing skills in each.
Kathy is no ivory-tower dreamer: She takes pains to help apply her academic research findings in the real world. In 2004, she helped conceive the Literacy Squared initiative for advancing biliteracy programs for emerging bilingual students in U.S. schools, for example. She’s also advised the Colorado Department of Education and its Office of Civil Rights.
Kathy’s students at CU applaud her for fostering a sense of community in classes and addressing topics that are relevant, significant and sometimes controversial.
Said a peer:
“I will consider myself to be a successful scholar, friend, mentor and human being if I can live up to even half of what Dr. Escamilla has meant to her students, colleagues, friends and family.”
2016: James W. C. White
Jim White is a trailblazing research scientist who couples deep expertise with broad interests and further distinguishes himself as an amiable colleague, first-rate administrator, generous mentor and gifted teacher — a serious man of science who leavens his lectures with humor, promotes discussion and listens as well as enlightens.
As director of the Institute of Artic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) and professor of geological sciences and environmental studies, Jim is a hugely prominent figure in the study of Earth and its environment. His scholarship has (for example) deepened our understanding of the global carbon cycle, reconstructed ancient environments and illuminated the degree to which plants can absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide.
A solid citizen of CU Boulder, he launched the Environmental Studies Program, has guided faculty searches inside the sciences and out and earned a reputation for sound judgment and cool-headedness. He also led development of the campus’ new Sustainability, Energy and Environment Complex.
“He is the faculty member we should all aspire to be,” one colleague said.
Despite Jim’s exalted stature among researchers, he routinely teaches undergraduate courses, including “Introduction to Environmental Studies,” and speaks at middle and high schools, public libraries and retirement homes.
“In the midst of the hard work and sobering science of climate change research,” said a former student, “his positive attitude and easy laugh reminded me that it is also fun to be able to learn something new about the natural world.”
Jim believes some questions may lie beyond the grasp of science. He’s active in his church and in the Lutheran Campus Ministry — an “encouraging,” “approachable” and “humane” person who happens to be “one of the brightest researchers around.”
Award Recipients from 1953-2015
- 2015: Adam Bradley
- 2015: David Plati (Jour’82)
- 2015: Steven Pollock
- 2014: Leonard Baca
- 2014: Bruce Jakosky
- 2014: Paul Mintken
- 2013: Maren Additon
- 2013: Daniel Sher
- 2012: Ryan Chreist (Kines ’96, MPA ’09)
- 2012: Lorrie Shepard (MEdu’70, PhD’72)
- 2011: Bernard Amadei
- 2011: Brian Cabral (Rec’79)
- 2011: David Getches
- 2011: Daniel Liston
- 2010: John Cumalat
- 2010: Richard Noble
- 2010: Ric Porreca
- 2010: Robert Schulzinger
- 2009: Douglas A. Burger
- 2009: Patricia N. Limerick
- 2009: Owen “Brian” Toon
- 2008: Barbara Bintliff
- 2008: David Clough (ChemEngr’69, PhD’79)
- 2008: Marvin Caruthers
- 2007: Daniel N. Baker
- 2007: Polly E. McLean
- 2007: Uriel Nauenberg
- 2006: Michael D. Breed
- 2006: Jeffrey S. Lipton (MBA’75, MFin’79)
- 2006: David O. Norris
- 2006: Richard L. Wobbekind (MEcon’79, PhD’84)
- 2005: Cathy Comstock (MCompLit’75, PhD’81)
- 2005: Dale Mood
- 2005: Gary J. Rottman
- 2004: Richard J. Castro (MPE’73)
- 2004: Robert Spillman
- 2004: Ronald Stump
- 2003: Ceal Barry
- 2003: Robert A. Pois
- 2003: Robert E. Sievers
- 2002: Alphonse Keasley Jr. (PhDSpch’01)
- 2002: Laurence D. Nelson (Acct’69)
- 2002: William Wei
- 2001: Jean E. Delaney (Hist’70, MA’72)
- 2001: Dennis C. Jackson
- 2001: Richard Jessor
- 2000: John Cooper
- 2000: Robert L. Hohlfelder
- 2000: Kevin J. McCarthy
- 1999: Susan K. Avery
- 1999: Larry D. Singell
- 1998: Judson G. Hurd
- 1998: James W. Palmer
- 1997: John J. DeBell (Psych’83)
- 1997: William R. Deno (Arch’72, MS’73)
- 1996: Kris C. McCandless (Soc’72, MPubAf’78)
- 1996: Charles R. Middleton
- 1996: James E. Schafer (Bus’67, MBA’71)
- 1995: Bruce R. Ekstrand
- 1995: Marjorie Keniston McIntosh
- 1994: James N. Corbridge Jr.
- 1994: Evelyn M. Krohn (MedTech’45)
- 1993: Robert R. Fink
- 1993: Lanny Pinchuk
- 1992: Charles N. Fasanero
- 1992: Gladeane Goode Lefferdink (Mus’57)
- 1992: Patricia H. Magette
- 1991: John G. “Pete” Copeland
- 1991: Ronald A. James (A&S’59, MJour’67)
- 1990: Gordon Johnson (MBA’82)
- 1989: Emily M. Calhoun
- 1989: F. Wayne Scott
- 1989: John R. Taylor
- 1989: Shirley Youngren
- 1988: John R. Carnes
- 1988: Ward Churchill
- 1988: J. Beverly Hathaway
- 1988: Kaye Howe
- 1988: Richard K. Knaub
- 1988: Eugene H. Smith
- 1987: Peter J. Barden (MBA’70)
- 1987: Vincent W. Beach
- 1987: Julius London
- 1987: Edward W. Murrow (Acct’59)
- 1986: David Breternitz
- 1986: Homer Clark
- 1986: Jenny Kate Collins
- 1986: George Maler (ElecEngr’45, MS’56)
- 1986: Charles Nilon
- 1986: N. Mildred Nilon
- 1986: William Weber
- 1985: Wendell Burchett
- 1985: Lillian Pohorilak
- 1985: Kenneth A. Reed (MBA’49)
- 1985: Aladeen Smith
- 1984: C.F. Alan Cass (A&S’63)
- 1984: Jackson F. Fuller (ElecEngr’44)
- 1984: C. Dean Graves (PE’51, MPubAd’56)
- 1984: David Hawkins
- 1984: Neil Hartley Sadler
- 1984: Theo. Volsky Jr.
- 1983: Charles A. Byers (MMus’52)
- 1983: Helen B. Duhon (Jour’38)
- 1983: J.K. Emery (Jour’48)
- 1983: Richard L. Harpel (MPubSer’63, EdD’70)
- 1983: Wallace Leiper
- 1983: David A. Lind
- 1983: Wyn Owen
- 1982: Robert Athearn
- 1982: Clifford Calhoun
- 1982: Rosetta H. Clark
- 1982: John W. Marr
- 1982: David Prescott
- 1982: Robert B. Rhode
- 1982: Joe Ben Wheat
- 1981: Wilmar F. Bernthal
- 1981: Frank Prentup
- 1981: Jeannette Royer
- 1981: Hobart Smith
- 1981: Klaus Timmerhaus
- 1981: Harold Walton
- 1980: H.H. “Bud” Arnold (Econ’52, Law’55)
- 1980: Joanne Easley Arnold (A&S’52, MJour’65, PhD’71)
- 1980: Frank S. Barnes
- 1980: William E. Briggs (MMath’49, PhD’53)
- 1980: M. John Loeffler (A&S’46, MGeog’48)
- 1980: Olwen O. William (A&S’51)
- 1980: C. Marie Wood
- 1979: Peter Albersheim
- 1979: Charles A. Barth
- 1979: D. Wilson Crumpacker
- 1979: Courtland H. Peterson (A&S’51, Law’53)
- 1979: Dan Stavely
- 1978: C. Michael Baier (Acct’42, MBA’63)
- 1978: Cal A. Briggs
- 1978: Fred Casotti (Jour’49)
- 1978: Ivar Pearson
- 1978: Max S. Peters
- 1978: Ruth Purkaple
- 1978: E. James Quigley (MPubSer’57)
- 1978: Leo C. Reithmayer
- 1977: Edwin P. Banks (MPolSci’52)
- 1977: DeVon M. Carlson (ArchEngr’47)
- 1977: Berton Coffin
- 1977: Mildred Coffin
- 1977: Virginia A. Fassler
- 1977: John E. Moreland (Bus’43, MFin’55)
- 1977: Robert S. Wasley (MAcct’41)
- 1976: F. Kendrick Bangs (MPubSer’46)
- 1976: Eloise V. Braidwood
- 1976: Roderick L. Downing (CivEngr’14)
- 1976: Mabel M. Irwin
- 1976: Benjamin H. Spurlock (MMechEngr’50)
- 1976: Thomas E. Starzl
- 1975: Roland E. “Doc” Balch
- 1975: Willa E. Green
- 1975: Barbara Schindler Jones (MComm’59, PhD’68)
- 1975: Gordon Meiklejohn
- 1975: Omer C. Stewart
- 1975: Howard B. Waltz
- 1974: Albert A. Bartlett
- 1974: William H. Baughn
- 1974: Bertha Black
- 1974: Donald E. Carline
- 1974: A. Dwight Grotewold (MPubSer’64)
- 1974: George S. Lesser (Bus’33)
- 1974: Reuben Zubrow
- 1973: Willard B. Cook (Bus’33, MBA’51)
- 1973: Harold C. Heim (Phar’32)
- 1973: Howard H. Higman (Art’37, SocSci’42)
- 1973: Charlotte York Irey (MThtr’65)
- 1973: Pauline A. Parish
- 1973: Keith R. Porter
- 1972: Peggy Tague Earnest
- 1972: John N. Hough
- 1972: Calvin Grieder
- 1971: Gordon H. Barker
- 1971: Stanley J. Cristol
- 1971: Thorrel B. Fest
- 1971: Burton W. Jones
- 1971: Tim K. Kelley
- 1971: William B. Markward
- 1970: Sam J. Akins
- 1970: Alice Clyncke
- 1970: John J. Conger
- 1970: Lawrence D. Coolidge
- 1970: Stephen A. Romine (MEdu’40, EdD’47)
- 1970: Homer P. Rainey
- 1969: Charles L. Evans
- 1969: Dorothy L. Greenman (Edu’32)
- 1969: Otis Lipstreau
- 1969: Hugh McMillan
- 1969: Karl H. Stahl
- 1968: C. Henry Kempe
- 1968: Evelyn M. Mitchell (A&S’28)
- 1968: Jack D. Ogilvy (A&S ex’25)
- 1968: A. Gayle Waldrop
- 1968: Norman F. Witt (MChem’28, PhD’37)
- 1967: Norma Mitchell
- 1967: Margaret Robb
- 1967: Don W. Sears
- 1967: Russell “Sox” Walseth (PE’48, MEdu’53)
- 1966: John W. Bartram (Chem’41)
- 1966: Joseph W. Cohen
- 1966: Austin W. Scott Jr.
- 1966: Muriel Sibell Wolle (MA’30)
- 1965: M. Helen Carpenter (Engl ex’22)
- 1965: Roland C. Rautenstraus (CivEngr’46, MS’49)
- 1965: Martin F. Schmidt (Bus’34, MBA’34)
- 1965: Eugene Wilson
- 1964: James W. Broxon
- 1964: Clifford Houston (A&S’27, MEdu’28, EdD’33)
- 1964: Warner L. Imig (MMus’42)
- 1964: Aubrey J. Kempner
- 1964: S. Harrison Thomson
- 1963: Frank Eastom (ElecEngr’21)
- 1963: John R. Little (EdD’48)
- 1963: Louise McAllister (Bus’37)
- 1963: Lawrence A. Warner
- 1962: Leo V. Aspinwall (MBA’32)
- 1962: D. Mack Easton
- 1962: Dorothy R. Martin (Psych’34, MA’36, PhD’47)
- 1961: W. Otto Birk
- 1961: Harold A. Hoffmeister (A&S’25)
- 1961: Charles G. Vavra (A&S’25)
- 1960: Mary Ethel Ball (A&S’14)
- 1960: W. Stuart Cuthbertson (MA’24)
- 1960: Frederic P. Storke (Law’17)
- 1960: Warren O. Thompson (A&S’22)
- 1959: Charles A. Hutchinson (A&S’22)
- 1959: Edward C. King
- 1959: Henrietta A. Loughran
- 1959: Theordore T. Puck
- 1958: W.F. Dyde
- 1958: Clarence L. Eckel (CivEngr’13, MS’21)
- 1958: Jacob Van Ek
- 1957: Earl C. Crockett
- 1957: William B. Draper
- 1957: Claribel Kendall (A&S’12)
- 1957: Walter Orr Roberts
- 1956: Waldo E. Brockway (CivEngr’17)
- 1956: Elizabeth Fay Selleck (A&S’14)
- 1956: Clare Hebard Small
- 1956: Frank C. Potts
- 1955: Bly Ewalt Curtis (A&S’39)
- 1955: Ruth T. Colestock (Nurs’20)
- 1955: Walter B. Franklin (A&S’22, Law’25)
- 1954: Benjamin S. Galland (Law’19)
- 1954: Francis Wolle (MA’16)
- 1953: Harry G. Carlson
- 1953: Colin B. Goodykoontz
Previous Winners of the Forever Buffs Student Award
2023: Joanne Christine Marras Tate (PhDComm'23)
During her six years on the CU Boulder campus, Joanne (Jo) Christine Marras Tate has consistently demonstrated her commitment to being a Forever Buff.
As a doctoral candidate in communication studies — specifically in the Community and Social Interaction area — she has strived to improve her department’s community, her field of expertise in environmental communication and the greater CU Boulder community.
“I am a proud CU Boulder student, who throughout my studies, has been eager to make the community and our campus beautiful and welcoming,” said Jo.
Her dedication to CU Boulder began in 2017 as secretary for the Communication Graduate Student Association (CGSA), and later as the association's disability and wellness chair. In 2019, she was elected the association’s co-president and has served as its social liaison for two terms.
“CGSA is an integral part of the communication department’s graduate student body. We advocate for student needs and serve as intermediaries between graduate students and faculty,” she said.
Jo has been an active member of several campus groups during her time as a PhD student and continues as a postdoc. She served as co-president and remains a science communication facilitator for Science Under the Dome at Fiske Planetarium. She is also a member of the campus Tree Care Advisory Committee and the Microplastics Working Group with the Inland Ocean Coalition. She was co-president of CU’s Colorado Ocean Coalition and still mentors undergraduate students within the organization.
Jo derives a great sense of accomplishment and CU pride from two particular campus projects — art murals and a campus field guide — both of which, she said, foster stronger connection between human and more-than-human communities.
For the first project, she helped create two public murals on campus. The Field Day mural — one of seven in a series facilitated by the Nature, Environment, Science & Technology (NEST) Studio for the Arts on campus — can be found on the glass entranceway of the SEEC building and depicts drawings of birds, bugs and plants from her collaborator, Robert Martin Bueller.
As Jo told CU Boulder Today, “I would hope that students, faculty, staff, everybody takes a chance to admire the murals, and try to find out a little bit more about the fauna and flora around them.”
She also helped create a campus field guide for the second project, featuring species relationships at CU Boulder. Launched on Earth Day 2020, the project encouraged then students and the broader community to engage with the outdoors during COVID-19 lockdowns. She also helped create educational videos and coloring books for kids to stay engaged during periods of isolation.
In all her work, Jo consistently prioritizes the well-being of her communities — whether through service, teaching, research, learning or art.
2022: Michael Bortnowski (Mgmt’22)
When Michael Bortnowski transferred to CU Boulder in 2019, he noticed a gap in the college experience for students like himself. He took it upon himself to make CU a more welcoming environment for transfer students, many of whom are students of color.
In 2021, Bortnowski campaigned for — and won — a representative position within Leeds Student Government. In his role, he created and led a task force, the Reducing Student Inequities (RSI) committee, to address some of the concerns he observed and felt were echoed by the student body. The committee started with interviews of more than 40 faculty, staff and administrators asking where student voices could improve conversations regarding a more inclusive campus.
The small team also lobbied for the passing of the education bills HB21-1067 and HB21-1173 through the Colorado state legislature, which removed the admissions requirement of mandatory ACT and SAT test score submissions and prohibited legacy preference for college admission.
“With the help of Leeds Student Government senators and countless others, the RSI team galvanized the entire CU Student Government and student governments at most other Colorado higher education institutions to lobby and testify on behalf of these bills’ passage, which both successfully became law,” said Bortnowski.
The following semester, Bortnowski and his RSI team conducted a study to understand the perceptions of community college transfer students about the business school and CU in general. The report has since been used by school administrators and within the admissions and advancement departments across campus, in the spirit of continuously improving the transfer student experience.
As a senior, Bortnowski also created a new tradition for graduating members of the Leeds Consulting Group (another organization with which he was also very invested in): a senior summit, which allowed for students to reflect on their achievements and lessons learned during their time at CU, and how they could translate those key learnings into their upcoming careers.
At this summit, students surveyed their peers, friends and family, asking when the respondent sees them at their best. A respondent for Bortnowski said, in part: “He is bringing people to a place they haven't been before, emotionally, physically — sometimes even spiritually.”
As Bortnowski embarks on this next phase of his life, he will continue to coach and inspire others.
He said: “I believe I have long served this kind of a role without recognizing it until recently.”
2021: Taylor Hirschberg (Soc’21)
Taylor Hirschberg is passionate about the intersections of human health and the natural environment, and how those influence global equity among marginalized populations.
Growing up in eastern Kentucky, he was surrounded by abundant nature and outdoor activities, while also experiencing first-hand the challenges of widespread poverty. This upbringing, in addition to years of working as a humanitarian in underserved communities, has led to his lasting interest in activism for environmental and social justice.
While studying sociology and public health at CU, Hirschberg was very active on campus. In his first semester, he founded the first planetary health club at a public university, which offers wellness activities in nature, networking, speakers and opportunities for community service. That same semester, Hirschberg also joined a lab housed in the integrative physiology department, where he participated in study design and grant writing opportunities that included developing a partnership with Rocky Mountain Healthcare and the Denver Botanical Gardens to create a nature immersion program for older adults living with HIV.
Hirschberg also has influenced several of his peers to pursue degrees at CU, recruiting students from the Community College of Denver. To remove barriers to their success, he chauffeured them from Denver to Boulder, helped with scholarship applications and connected them with affinity groups on campus. Currently, every one of those recruits is in their senior year with a full scholarship.
According to one of those peers, “Every day of every week, Taylor works to make this world a better place.”
After a rash of tire slashing in Hirschberg’s neighborhood, where he raised money for full repairs and later created a microloan program with leftover funds, Hirschberg found journalism as an avenue for activism to tell the stories of those who often cannot speak for themselves. Much of his work has focused on how global events impact the LGBTQI+ community. One of these stories was the April 2020 Out Magazine cover that uncovered the mistreatment of the Venezuelan LGBTQI+ diaspora.
Since graduation, Hirschberg moved to NYC to attend Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, where he is the single recipient of the Hearst Family Endowment. His current goal is to open an academic research center that focuses on forced migration among LGBTQI+ communities.
In a nomination for the Center for Student Involvement’s Leigh Wyman Family Award, which Hirschberg won in 2021, a peer wrote, “In every action Taylor has taken, he exemplifies the Colorado Creed” — a social responsibility code started by CU Boulder students emphasizing honor, respect and integrity.
2021: Thaala Loper (MBA’21)
On her first day at the Leeds School of Business, Thaala Loper was keenly aware that she was the only Black woman in the room. So she dedicated herself toward diversity efforts at Leeds, which she pursued with great force alongside her MBA.
Over the course of her time at CU, Loper devoted her time to service far beyond her academic pursuits. She served those at CU Boulder by providing opportunities for community engagement, education and racial unification.
Whether leading social impact projects or diversity initiatives, Loper consistently dedicated herself towards the betterment of her community.
“I showed my pride in CU by showcasing the importance of diversity and inclusivity at the university,” said Loper. “My hope was to help place CU and the Leeds School of Business in the position of being viewed as a thought leader in racial equity initiatives.”
At Leeds, Loper served as the vice president of Sustainable Business Partners, an MBA club that helps local businesses attain B Corp status, an outside certification signifying high social, environmental, public and legal standards. She was also the co-president of the Leeds Social Impact Consulting club, a student-run consultancy that helps mission-driven companies pursue strategic objectives though semester-long consulting projects.
As part of the school’s MBA Association board, Loper was the vice president of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. In this role, she led multiple initiatives, including a non-partisan Get Out the Vote campaign during the 2020 presidential elections and a racial equity habit-building campaign during Black History Month. She was awarded the Graduate Student Leader of the Year award for this work.
Further, Loper also founded a justice, equity, diversity and inclusion committee to pursue inclusive excellence at the Leeds School of Business.
“I am leaving CU with a treasure trove of skills and experiences, an exciting job at Apple and an incredible array of friends,” said Loper. “Earning my graduate degree was a long-held goal and one that I wish my mother could have seen. Graduation was a proud moment and a reminder of the many sacrifices my parents made so I could pursue my passions.”
2019: Jessica Mason (PolSci'20)
When Jessica Mason’s (PoliSci’20) mom dropped her off at CU freshman year, she said, “You only have four years, you should make the best of it: Go.” Jessica hit the ground running.
She joined the student government and began lobbying city and state officials about affordability issues and the pre-leasing process for student rentals — important issues for CU students. Promoted to associate justice of the Student Supreme Court in February of 2018, she’s risen to deputy chief justice, overseeing student government elections and reviewing student legislative actions. Some nights she works until 2 a.m.
“I can affirm her good character, organizational discipline, intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and her unwavering spirit to never give in to life’s challenges,” her academic advisor said.
Jessica, who grew up in Trinidad, Colo. and moved to Pueblo West in high school, has also been a peer mentor on campus and a journey leader, or person who helps new students adjust to the campus lifestyle. Having spent most of her childhood in a town of eight thousand people, she knows a big place like CU can induce culture shock. Today Jess mentors other journey leaders for New Student and Family Programs, helping ensure that thousands of new students make a smooth transition to college.
In between classes, student government, mentoring, and being president of Pi Sigma Alpha, she nannies a seven year-old child three days a week.
“I honestly thrive on being busy,” she said, “I’m not somebody who likes to sit at home.”
A member of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Coed Fraternity, Jess plans to attend law school.
2018: Alan Sanchez (AeroEngr'17; MS'18)
Alan Sanchez thinks far ahead in time and far away in space. With one course to go for a joint bachelor’s-master’s degree in aerospace engineering, he’s set his sights on a career in spacecraft propulsion. Long-term, he’s ready to ride to Mars to develop a viable human habitat there. On Earth, he’s been doing all the right things to make it happen.
Besides immersing himself in engineering mathematics and philosophy, he’s worked paid jobs while attending school fulltime, including roles with the National Snow and Ice Data Center and the Precision Laser Diagnostics Lab of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He’s been a resident adviser in Libby Hall, a private tutor and a childcare provider at a school where immigrant parents learn English. Today Alan has an internship with Tesla. On the side, he’s a competitive break-dancer with his crew, Bedtime Monsters. Along the way, he’s encouraged and advocated for fellow “Dreamers” — people born in other countries, brought to the U.S. as children and raised here without legal immigration status. Among the CU students with temporary relief from deportation under federal DACA policy, Alan has been very involved in their campus group, the Inspired Dreamers, since before its inception. He has also served as vice president for the CU Boulder Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Mentors and admirers describe him as resourceful, resilient, persistent, confident and courageous. Recently he’s shared his tale with alumni audiences on both coasts, underscoring circumstances others face while expressing gratitude for the support and opportunity he’s found at CU. Already he’s investigating how to pay it forward: In a note of thanks for a scholarship, one mentor reported, Alan asked how he could set one up for somebody else.
2017: Alexander "Xander" Martin (Geog'18)
For more than 800 recent Baker Hall freshman, one person played an outsized role in their lives: Xander Martin was their resident cheerleader, their mentor, their leader and their event planner.
As a Baker Hall resident advisor and student coordinator, Xander jumped into the students’ lives with enthusiasm. A nature-lover, he was especially interested in motivating others to get outdoors. He planned climbing nights in the rec center, organized bus rides to local trailheads and guided hikes under full moons. If students without a car were interested in an outdoor volunteer activity, Xander drove them there himself.
“In my 40 years as a faculty member at CU, Xander rises to the top,” said the hall’s academic director.
During his time in the Baker Residential Academic Program (RAP), Xander prioritized the hall’s weekly coffee hours to share his own college experiences, offer advice and recommend courses to first-year students.
“He ably handles difficult situations through his humor, genuine altruism and compassion for others,” said Baker’s resident faculty member.
Xander aspires to a career in environmental law and policy after he graduates this year. In the spring, he started his work as an intern for the Colorado State Senate.
Said the Baker RAP director: “Xander is the epitome of what we look for in a CU student — caring, hard-working and exerting the highest level of integrity.”
2016: Floyd Pierce (ApMath, Econ'17)
The CU senior from Highlands Ranch, Colo. — a four-year Boettcher Scholar with a 3.8 GPA and a double major in applied math and economics — is also a joiner, a doer and a leader.
Floyd Pierce III knows how to make things happen and spread joy while doing it.
“Floyd Pierce is an eternal optimist with a bright personality,” one CU mentor said.
Bold but friendly, Floyd is often the first to introduce himself to people in a crowded room and regularly seeks out leadership positions.
A member of the President’s Leadership Class and The Herd Leadership Council, he serves as president of the Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity’s Midwest district. He’s a drum major in the Golden Buffalo Marching Band and sits on the engineering dean’s advisory board and is an engineering fellow.
“Floyd maintains a work ethic that is among the strongest I have encountered over the past 15 years at CU,” said the marching band director, who credits him for improving morale within the group.
Floyd also is active in the community beyond CU. He has interned with the YMCA of Boulder Valley and volunteers with the Dairy Center for the Arts, where he works special events and hangs art exhibits. He is currently an intern at the Boulder Economic Council and conducts research for the Scientific Cultural and Facilities District.
Said a mentor: “He’s a veritable Energizer Bunny, showing up for whatever he commits to happily, responsibly and fully charged and present.”
Award Recipients from 2011-2015
- 2015: Paris Angelique Ferribee (Comm, Mktg’16)
- 2015: Juedon Kebede (Comm’15)
- 2014: Chip Bollendonk
- 2013: Quen Ameyaw
- 2012: Brittni Hernandez
- 2011: Justin Macauley
- 2011: Dan Omasta
- 2011: Marni Spott