Download - Metro Magazine Summer 2011
PROUD SERVICE PG. 6
9 ANSWERS: SAGE CEO WALTER ISENBERGPG. 8
FROM LEARNINGTO LAUNCHPG. 10
FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE OF DENVER
VOL.
SUMMER 201126
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Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 1
///Contents
DEPARTMENTS
2 Letter from the Executive Editor
3 Metrozoic Era
4 Newsworthy
16 Alumni Times
22 The Rowdy Report
24 Don’t Blink
Summer 2011 / Volume XXVI / Issue III
SUMMER 2011
14DANCING WITH THE CELTS IrishdancingsensationandMetroStatestudentWalterWaretrainswithalumLinnaneWickfornextworldchampionship.
6PROUD SERVICEAMetroStatecouplesharestherewardsandchallengesofmilitarylife.
89 ANSWERSMetroMagazineaskshotelierWalterIsenbergabouttheRockyMountainhotelbusinessandrunning“HotelMetroState.”
10FROM LEARNING TO LAUNCHMajoringinMetroState’spioneeringaerospaceandspacecommercializationprograms,fourstudentsdistinguishthemselvesinternationallybymodelingtheancientnightsky.
Cover photo credit:
NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team
About this image:
Full-field image of a stellar jet in the Carina Nebula, imaged by Hubble’s WFC3/UVIS detector
Object Name: Jet in Carina
Image Type: Astronomical
2 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll FALL 2010
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Cathy Lucas
EDITOR Donna Fowler (’80)
ASSISTANT EDITOR Angelia McGowan
ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNERJulie Strasheim
GRAPHIC DESIGNERRuth M’Gonigle
PHOTOGRAPHERSDave NelighChris SchneiderJulie Strasheim
METRO MAGAZINE EDITORIAL BOARD Bridgette Coble, Director of Career Services Clay Daughtrey, Professor and Chair of MarketingJeffrey Forrest (’90), Professor and Chair of Aviation and Aerospace ScienceDonna Fowler (’80), Director of Internal CommunicationsMark Jastorff, Director of Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the Alumni AssociationRichard Jividen (’00), Director of Creative ServicesCathy Lucas, Associate Vice President of Communications and AdvancementLunden MacDonald, Assistant Professor of Spanish Angelia McGowan, Assistant Director of Communications Carmen Sanjurjo, Assistant Professor of Secondary Education Julie Strasheim, Art Director, Creative Services
©2011MetropolitanStateCollegeofDenver.MetroMagazineispublishedthreetimesayearbytheMetropolitanStateCollegeofDenverOfficeofCollegeCommunicationsforalumniandfriendsoftheCollege.Allrightsreserved.
Address correspondence to:MetropolitanStateCollegeofDenverMetroMagazineOfficeofCollegeCommunicationsCampusBox86,POBox173362•Denver,CO80217-3362
Please send letters to the editor, editorials and inquiries to:DonnaFowler,editor,[email protected].
EmailalumniaddresschangesandClassActssubmissionsto:[email protected].
The opinions expressed in Metro Magazine do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions of Metropolitan State College of Denver nor imply endorsement by its officers or by the College’s alumni association.
Nondiscrimination PolicyMetropolitanStateCollegeofDenverdoesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofrace,color,creed,nationalorigin,sex,age,sexualorientationordisabilityinadmissionsoraccessto,ortreatmentoremploymentin,itseducationalprogramsoractivities.
Metro Magazine is printed on recycled paper.
Jessica Taves Mark Woolcott
MetroVision///Letter from the Executive Editor
Dear Alumni and Friends,
Ifyou’vebeenfollowingoureffortstochangetheCollege’sname,youknowthatformorethanayear,we’vebeenstudyingthisissue.We’veconductedstakeholderinputsessions,focus
groups,in-depthone-on-oneinterviewsandelectronicsurveys.Theresultsareclear—peopleoverwhelminglyfavoranamechangefortheMetropolitanStateCollegeofDenver.
Youralmamaterisproudtobepartofacommunityofoutstandinghighereducationinstitutionswithdistinctrolesandmissions,offeringawiderangeofchoicesforColoradostudents.Beassuredthatwearecommittedtoourmissionofaccessibility,affordabilityandhigh-qualityeducation.Wearealsocommittedtogettingthisright.Sowehavedecidedtodeferourrequestuntilthe2012legislativesessiontogiveourBoardofTrusteestheopportunitytoconductfurtherresearchregardingthemarketingandbrandingofthenameDenverStateUniversity.Aspartoftheboard’sanalysisofthisissue,theyhaveappointedacommitteethatwillinvolveadditionalcommunitystakeholderstoconductadetailedstudyofthebranding,marketingandotherissuesaroundtheproposedname.
Anamechangeisanenormousundertaking,butthefactofthematteris:MetropolitanStateCollegeofDenverdoesnotadequatelyreflecttheinstitutionasitistodayintermsofsize,complexityofofferingsortheimpacttheCollegehasontheregionandthestate.Ourresearchdemonstratedthatthereisconsiderableconfusioninthecommunity
aboutourpositionasahigher-educationinstitution.Manyviewusasatwo-yearcommunitycollege.
Butwe’vematured.Fromourhumblebeginningstobecomingoneofthelargestinstitutionsofhighereducationinthestategrantingundergraduateandgraduatedegrees,weeducateeveryonefromhigh-schoolvaledictorianstotheworkingparentwhoisbalancingclasses,workandlife.24,000Coloradanseveryyearandcounting.
It’safactthatMetroStateeducatesmoreColoradoundergraduatesthananycollegeoruniversity.WeareintheprocessofrollingoutanewmarketingcampaignthatspeakstotheimpactswehaveandourroleasColorado’scollegeofchoice.Featuringtheachievementsofstudentsandalumni,thecampaignusesthetagline:MetroState—WeeducateColorado.Watchforthiscampaigninprint,broadcastandsocialmediaincomingmonths.
Asahighereducationinstitution,wehavebeendeeplygratifiedbythesupportalumnihaveshowntheiralmamateraswelooktotakethisenormousstep.Weanticipatethatbyaligningournamewiththeoutstandingeducationalopportunitiesweoffer,wewillincreasethevalueofyourdegrees,boosttheCollege’sstatusandclarifyouridentityastheinstitutioneducatingthemostColoradansofanyschoolinthestate.
Ifyouhaveanyfeedback,pleasesenditviaemailto:namechangeinfo@mscd.edu.Wewillcontinuetokeepyouapprisedofoureffortsonthisinitiative.
Sincerely,
CatherineB.LucasExecutiveEditor
Editor:
Idonotunderstandwhytheterms“undocumented/illegalaliens”whenappliedtoMexicanscontinuetobeskimmedover(MetroMagazine,Spring2011,p.8). WhatistherethatmakestheMexicansabovewhatmanyimmigrantsinthehistoryofourcountryhavehadtodotobecomecitizens? Itisaslapinthefacetoeverydocumented/legalalien/immigrantthatwentthroughtheprocessandbecamerightfullyeligibletoreceivewhattheMexicansarebeinggrantedforflauntingthelaw.
Sowrong!
BarbaraFox(’99)
Voices///Letter to the Editor
2 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
MetroState’spast,presentandfuture///MetrozoicEra
Despitebeingsidelinedforthe2011baseballseasonbysurgerytohisthrowingarm,youcouldstillsaythatMetroStatepitcherForrestCarpenterisatthetopofhisgame.Atleast,ifbygame,youmeanwaterfowl.
Itwouldbefairtosaythattheleft-handedpitcheristheonlyRoadrunnerinhistorywho’s“beep-beep”isactuallyaveryconvincing“honk.”Aworld-classhonk,infact.Carpenter,anavidsportsmanwhostartedhuntingnottoomanyyearsafterhestartedplayingt-ball,isbothastatechampionduckcallerandthereigningworldchampionlivegoosecaller.
CarpentertookthetophonorslastfallattheworldcompetitioninEaston,Md.andhascompetedallacrossthesoutheast,theEasternseaboardandinCanada,nottomentionhereinColorado,whereheisalsoathree-timechampionduckcaller.Alltold,Carpenterwondozensoftrophiesinbothjuniorandadultcompetitions,allbeforeturning21.
IntheparkinglotofasmallretailstripcenterinLakewoodlastMarch,CarpenterpulledabagofcallsfromthecabofhisGMCSierraandgaveabriefdemonstrationoftheartofcallinggeese.Hisfistsballedtightlyaroundthecall,hesqueezedsoundsfromitthatsoundednotjustlikealonegoose,butlikeawholeflockofthem.Heseemedtorecitetheentiregoosevocabulary,infact,fromclucksandmoanstohonksandgrunts.Thoughnogeeserespondedtothebriefdemonstration,itwouldbereasonabletoassumethatanyonewithinearshotofthatparkinglotwaslookingupandmaybereachingforahat.
Withhisloveofbothhuntingandfishing,andhisearlysuccessesasacompetitivegamecaller,it’shardlyasurprisethatCarpenterhopessomedaytoparlayhismanagementdegreeintoacareerinthe“outdoorindustries”—fishingandhunting.ButbaseballremainsCarpenter’sfirstlove.“Baseballtakesallmytime,”hesays.Inhisdesiretoplayprofessionalball,heiskeepinghisoptionsopen:“I’llplaywhereverIcan.”
Atthetimeofthispublication,Carpenterisrecoveringfromsurgerytorepairanulnarcollateralligament(UCL)injury—commonamongbaseballpitchers.Hesayshetoretheligamentintwoplaceslastsummer.Theinjurydidn’tsidelinehim;itjusttooksomeoftheheatoffofhisfastball.Thesurgery,however,willkeephimoffthefieldthissummer.Hehopestheprocedure,whichhedescribesas“90percentsuccessful,”willbringhispitchbackintotheupper80s(mph),orevenhigher,bythetimebaseballrollsbackaroundin2012.
Carpenter,ajunior,transferredfromtheUniversityofNorthernColoradolastfall.Hegrewuponasix-acrefarmwestofLovelandandadmitsthatgoingtoschoolintheheartofdowntownDenverhasrequiredsomeadjustments.“I’mstillnotusedtobeingaroundsomanypeople,”hesaysoflifeonthecrowdedAurariaCampus.Betweenbaseballandwaterfowlcalling,Carpenterstaysvery
NO ‘BEEP-BEEP’FORTHISROADRUNNERBy Carson Reed ( ’83)
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 3
Honk if you love Metro State: junior management major, Forrest Carpenter, holds the title, world champion live goose caller.
busy,buthisinterestsgowellbeyonddiamondsandduckblinds.“I’moneofthoseguyswhowanttokeepgoingbacktoschoolforever,”hesays.Amonghisotherinterests:journalism,andart.Hehopesonedaytoplayinternationalbaseballandadds,“IwanttolearnItalian.”•
Newsworthy/// CollegeNews
What’s in a name? Inthecontinuingname-change
story,theBoardofTrusteeshasvoted
unanimouslytodeferseekinglegislative
actiontochangeMetropolitanStateCollege
ofDenver’snametoDenverState
Universityuntilthe2012legislativesession.
Thedecisionwasmadeataspecialmeeting
convenedinresponsetooppositionbythe
UniversityofDenver,whichexpressed
concernsaboutbrandingissues.
It’simportantforthepublictoknow
that“thealumni,facultyandstudents
areunifiedinthismotion,”saysBoard
ChairRobertCohen,whonotedthe
effortsofstudentsandalumniin
advocatingforDenverStateUniversity
asthenewname.
Thestrategicnameinitiativewas
theresultofmorethanayearofresearch
bytheCollege,whichdemonstratedhow
thenewnamecouldincreasethevalue
ofdegreesforstudentsandalumniand
eliminateconfusionwithcommunity
colleges,amongothergoals.•
4 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
No reservations: HLC construction begins Bookyourroomnow!ConstructionofMetroState’sHotelandHospitalityLearning
Center(HLC)isunderway.
Morethan250faculty,staff,students,electedofficials,communityandbusiness
leadersattendedtheMarch31groundbreakingceremonyfortheestimated$45million
facility,thesecondbuildingintheMetroStateneighborhoodontheAurariaCampus.
“IamproudbeyondwordstoseetheCollegetakingthismomentousstep,”
saidBoardofTrusteememberandceremonyemceeDawnBookhardt,whoalsochaired
thepublic-privatepartnershipcommitteethatfacilitatedthedevelopmentoftheHLC.
Thehotel,aSpringHillSuites®byMarriott,willbemanagedbyDenver-basedSage
Hospitalityandinclude150hotelroomsandconferencefacilities.Itwillalsoprovide
hands-ontrainingopportunitiesforstudentsintheCollege’sDepartmentofHospitality,
TourismandEvents(HTE).(ReadaninterviewwithSageCEOWalterIsenbergonp.8.)
TheadjacentHospitalityLearningCenterwillboastmorethan28,000squarefeet
ofacademicspace,includingclassrooms,specialtylearninglabsandfacultyoffices.
TheHLCisscheduledtoopenfall2012.Tokeepabreastoftheproject,goto
www.mscd.edu/metrostaterising.•
AtouringplayfeaturingMetropolitan
StateCollegeofDenvertheatrestudents
hascapturedtheeyesandespeciallythe
earsofyouthintheDenvermetroarea.
“Here’stoEars,”a17-memberplay,
touredPre-K-8schoolsintheDenver
metroareathisspring,presentinga
“visualperformanceofajourneythrough
theearmechanism,”accordingtoChair
andProfessorofTheatreMarilyn“Cookie”
Hetzel.“Throughthisjourney,they
alsoteachchildrenhowtoprotect
theirhearing.”
Theimpetusforthecollaborationcame
inMarch2010afterSpeech,Languageand
HearingSciencesAssistantProfessor
JessicaRossi-Katzaccompaniedmembers
ofMetroState’sNationalStudentSpeech
LanguageHearingAssociation(NSSLHA)
Chapterwhospoketothirdgradersabout
hearingloss.
Afterwardshewonderedwhether
theremightbeamorekidfriendlyway
topresenttheinformationandensureit
would“stick.”Thatledtoaconversationwith
Hetzel,whomentionedthatsheteaches
atheatreensembleclassandthought
hearinglosswouldmakeanidealtopic
tobuildaplayaround.
“Soasourwheelsareturning,around
thecountrythereisincreasingattention
beingpaidtohearingloss,”saysRossi-Katz,who
providedscientificinformation
toHetzelforherclass.“I
realizedlecturingdoesn’t
doit.There’snothingmore
powerfulthanstorytelling.”
Throughperforming,
the“Here’stoEars”cast
reachedmorethan1,000
studentswiththeir
messageabouthearing
lossprevention.•
Theater students teach kids about hearing loss
IN MEMORIAM Elyse Mikiko Yamauchi, a longtime administrator and faculty member, passed away April 21 at Hospice of Saint John from complications of cancer. From 1979 to 2003, when she retired, Yamauchi worked at Metro State in three different administrative positions, including student judicial officer/assistant dean, benefit administrator/director and assistant to the vice president foradministration and finance. Yamauchi also served as an affiliate faculty member teaching sociology, ethnic studies and Asian studies since 1997. She served the College for more than 30 years. •
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 5
7th annual
a sample, s ip & savor class ic
Presented by- the Exclusive Culinary Sponsor
atMetropolitan State College of Denver
THE GRAnD TASTInGSaturday, September 10, 2011
noon– 4:00 p.m.
Experience Tastes From Denver’sFinest Restaurants and Over
600 Wines & Spirts
Southern Wines & Spirits of Colorado andthe CRA Education Foundation are pleasedto present the 7th annual Denver Food and
Wine, a sample, sip & savor classic, thelargest single-day food, wine and spirits
tasting experience in Denver.
Beneficiaries: Metropolitan State College of Denver,The Denver Post Charities and the
CRA Education Foundation Scholarship Program
For more information visit www.denverfoodandwine.com
Metropolitan State College of Denver • Jim Beam • Maker’s Mark • Red Stag • Hornitos • Tequila Patron • Malibu • Absolut Vodka • Jameson • Kahlua • Ameristar Cares • American Express • SKYY Spirits • Trinchero • W.J. Deutsch & Sons • Seattle Fish Co. • Viking • The Brown Palace Hotel • KOSI 101
• The Mountain • Alice 105.9 • Studio 1430 KEZW • The Denver Post • CBS 4
College welcomes new business deanMetropolitan
StateCollegeof
DenverProvostand
VicePresidentfor
AcademicAffairs
VickiL.Golichhas
announcedAnn
Murphyasthenew
deanoftheSchool
ofBusiness,effectiveJune1.
Murphy,whohadservedas
associatedeanoftheCollege’sSchool
ofBusiness,hasbeenatMetroState
since1997asaprofessorofaccounting.
Sheassumedtheroleofassociatedean
in2007.
“I’mexcitedabout(workingwith
thefaculty,staff,presidentandprovost
tocontinuetheCollege’sinitiativesand
theworkDeanCochranhasstartedin
theSchoolofBusiness,”saysMurphy.
“ThroughtheinterviewingprocessI
receivedsomuchsupportfromthe
faculty.Ilookforwardtocontinuing
toworkwiththematMetroState,
aplaceIlove.”
MurphyreplacesJohnCochran
(’78,economics),nowretired,an
economicsprofessorwhohasservedin
therolesince2004andbeenwiththe
Collegesince1981.•
6 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
Joe Rice (’89, history) answers interview questions via email, hoping his internet connection holds a few more minutes. HerepliesfromKuwaitwhilewaitingforamilitaryflighttoColoradofortwoweeksofR&RinlateMay.Then,he’llreturntoIraqtocompletehissixthtoursince9/11.
“Hopefully,cominghomeforgoodinAugust,”hesays.Justlikemanytimesbefore,hiswifeKendallRice(’90,psychologyandphysicaltherapy)andtheirthreechildrenwaitfromtheirLittletonhome.“It’sbeenunnervingovertheyears,”Kendallsays.“Youjustputitoutofyourmind.We’vealwaysapproacheditlike,‘Whenit’syourtimetogo,it’syourtimetogo.’
Thatmaybeaslipinthebathtub,oranaccidentonSantaFe,orinIraq.”
ThecouplemetatMetroState,whenJoewasasenior,Kendallasophomore.“Wehadaclasstogether,”shesays.“Ithoughthewascuteandsatbyhim.Ittookhimthreeweekstoaskmeout.”
TofulfillhisROTCcommitment,Joewentonactivemilitarydutyupongraduation.HeproposedwhensheattendedhisArmyRangergraduationatFortBenning,Ga.“ShepinnedonmyRangerTab,”herecalls,“andIdroppedtoakneeandproposed.”
TheirroadforwardincludedtimeatFortCarsoninColoradoSpringsandhisforayintolocalpolitics.Fromahomeownersassociationboard,Glendale
citycouncilandlatertwotermsasGlendalemayor,Ricebridgedbothprivatesectorworkandpublicservice.
HewasinIraqwhenKendallmovedthefamilytoarepublicanstrongholdneighborhoodinLittleton,whentheirtwinswere2yearsold.“Really,forhispoliticalfuture,”shesays,“Icouldn’thavemovedtoaworseplace.Iwasn’tlookingatthepoliticalmap.”
Nonetheless,voterselectedJoe,ademocrat,toColoradoHouseDistrict38in2006andre-electedhimin2008.Often,heworkedhereduringthelegislativesession,whichlastsfivemonths,beforeheadingbacktoIraq.
Tappingintohislocalgovernmentexperienceaswellashismaster’sdegreeinpublicadministration(UniversityofColoradoDenver)andhismasterofstrategicstudies(U.S.ArmyWarCollege),JoehelpsIraqissetupneighborhood,cityanddistrictcouncils—wheremuch
Proud Service A Metro State family deals with the realities of repeated tours of dutyBYROXANNEHAWN
The Rices in 2008: Kendall, Alexandria, Dalton, Joe and Harrison
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 7
ofthegrassrootshumanitarianworkhappens.
Imagineawartimemessofepicproportion.Now,imaginenotspeakingArabic,nothavingaccesstogoodmapsordemographics,notgettingcleardirectivesonwhattofixandhow,andyou’llhaveaprettygoodideaofthechallengesJoefacesinIraq.
Yet,heexplains,“I’vealwaysbeendrawntoservice.Publicservice,militaryservice,Ibelievethesethingsareimportant.Ienjoytheteamwork,thefrustrationandtheaccomplishments.”
Especiallysincethefamilydoesnotliveinamilitarycommunity,withwholeneighborhoodsaffectedbydeployments,Kendallwatchesothersgoabouttheirbusiness.“That’sprobablythehardestpart,”shesays.“Ourrealityisseparatefromhowwelive.”
Lifetakesonanewdimensionwhenyou’veseencommunitiesinactionbothlocallyandabroad,andespeciallyafteraroadsidebombblowsupyourvehicle.Yet,JoequestionsthepremisethatU.S.politicshavechanged.“Toughissuesaretoughforareason,”hesays,adding,“IfthereisonethingIworryabout,itisthatwearelosingourabilitytothinkcriticallyaboutissues.Toomanypeoplevoteforpeoplewhotellthemwhattheywanttohear,insteadofthinkingthroughanissuethemselves.”
Lookingback,KendallcreditsMetroStatewithteachingvaluablelessonsabouttenacity,resiliencyandlifetransitions.TheRicefamilyhasanotherbigchangecoming.Joelosthisre-electionbidin2010,hisfirst-everpoliticalloss.WhenhereturnsinAugust,he’llworkasthedirectorofgovernmentaffairsforLockheedMartinSpaceSystemsCompany.Kendall,freshfromearningaPh.D.inhealthandneuropsychology,willalsotakeonanew,privatepracticejob.
Kendallexpectsanotherpoliticalrunatsomepoint.“Heisverygiftedatit,”shesays.“Heisgoodworkingwithpeople.Heisagoodnegotiator.”•
Notes from IraqIn his fifth deployment, alum Joe Rice reflects on U.S.-Iraqi relations
Alothaschangedineightyears.Since9/11,IhavecompletedatourinBosnia,fourtoursinIraqwiththeArmyReserveandampresentlyonmyfifthIraqitour.
Inthattime,I’vebeenprivilegedtoseehowthingshaveevolvedinIraq,goingfromgreathopetogreatdespairtoguardedoptimismtoday.
AstheUnitedStatespreparestowithdrawallmilitaryforcesbytheendofDecember,itisinterestingtobepartofthegroupthatishelpingtotransitiontheU.S.presenceinIraqfrombeingledbytheU.S.militarytoinsteadbeingledbytheU.S.Embassy.
RegardlessofhowpeoplefeelabouttheUnitedStates’involvementinIraq,everyoneshouldunderstandtheimportanceofdoingwhatwecannowtoensurethebestpossiblefuturefortheIraqipeople.Notonlyisitmorallyright,itisalsoinournationalinterests.AnunstableIraqwillprovetobeabreedinggroundforterrorismandalsowillstrengthenanalreadydangerousIran.
Evenafterthetransition,theUnitedStateswillcontinuetoprovidelimitedmilitarytrainingandequipment;thisinvolvementwasrequestedbytheIraqigovernmentandwillbeconductedbyaround200U.S.militarypersonnelaswellasseveralthousandcontractors,whowillworkundertheU.S.Embassy.ButthisisonlypartofwhatIthinkthefutureU.S.-Iraqirelationshipshouldhold.
Ourfuturerelationshipshouldreflectourstatusaspeers.Wearetwonationsthatsharethecommon,mutuallybeneficialgoalsofstability,democracyandeconomicprosperity.ThatisatallorderforIraqtoachieve,butitisoneIbelieveispossible.
Iraqislargelyoutofthemediaandoutofmind,butwhathappensthereaffectsusall.Youdon’thavetosharemyviewson
Iraq,butpleaseconsidergettinginvolvedinacitizen-diplomacyeffortinvolvingIraq.Youcanfindoutmoreatwww.drcog.org/bdrp.
Joe Rice is on his fifth tour of duty in Iraq.
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8 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
9 AnswersWalter Isenberg, president, CEO and co-founder of Sage Hospitality—the company that will manage the SpringHill Suites® by Marriott property at Metro State’s Hospitality Learning Center—shares his thoughts on succeeding in the hotel business.
[ByWendyPetersen(’89)]
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 9
What are you most proud of in your career?
I’mmostproudthatIhavebeenabletoweavecorporatecitizenshipintoourbusiness.Throughimplementingmeaningfulwaysofconductingbusiness,therewardsarebothpersonallyandprofessionallysatisfying—givingbackandgettingback.
What would be your best advice for someone
wanting to break into the hospitality business? Getajobintheindustryfirst!Experiencethebusinessandhaveagoodunderstandingofcustomerservice.Thisindustryiscustomer-drivenandit’simportanttohavepassionforit.AsI’vealwayssaid,lovewhatyoudoandlovewhoyoudoitwith!
How did you wind up in Denver? Why do you
stay here?ZackNeumeyer,acollegeassociate,wasinDenverandhadquithisjobandstartedaconsultingcompany.HecalledmeafewmonthslaterandaskedifIwantedtojoinhim.
Therestastheysayishistory…AndIlovethisplace!
Do you have a favorite story about running
a hotel? Backin1984whenmypartnerZackandIwerenegotiatingourveryfirsthotelmanagementcontract,wewereindiscussionstomanageahotel/resortinUtahforawealthydeveloperfromOklahoma.Weflewtotheresort,whichwasoutinthemiddleofnowhere,onhisprivateplane,needlesstosayaveryexcitingexperienceforZackandmyself.Aftertouringthehotel/resort,wegotbackontheplaneandwereflyingbackwhenthedeveloperallofasuddenpulledoutagun,laiditonthetableandproclaimed,“Boyswe’regoingtonegotiateyourmanagementcontract!”Truestory!
How long do you think it will take for Denver’s hospitality
industry to recover from the economic crisis?Denver’shospitalityindustryreallydidn’tstartfeelingtheeconomiccrisisuntilfourthquarter2008,whiletherestofthecountrystartedtofeelthecrisisin2007.I’dhavetosaythatthemostdifficulteconomicdownturnforuswasin2009.However,I’mexcitedtoreportthatasofMay2011,wehaveseen15monthsofpositivegainyear-over-year,whichindicateswearewellonourwaytorecovery.
How did you get into the hospitality business?
Backin1972whenIwas14yearsold,IwasheddishesatacountryclubinKansasCity.Averydynamicmaîtred’fromMexico,CarlosPena,noticedthatIhadaknackforthehospitalityindustry.I’llneverforgetCarlos;hehadnodiploma,buthesureknewexactlyhowIshouldgoaboutmappingoutahospitalitycareer.Carlostookmeunderhiswing,andwhenIwas16yearsold,hetoldmeIneededtogotoCornellformyeducation.Heintroducedmetoahigh-poweredmemberoftheclub,PhilPastilli,whousedhisconnectionsandassistedandguidedmeingettingintoCornell.
How does it feel knowing that your company is such
an integral player in one of only a few operating hotel learning centers on a college campus in the country?We’reextremelyexcited!ThisisnotonlyagreatopportunityforSagebutatremendousassetforDenver,theRockyMountainWestand,ofcourse,MetroState.
[ByWendyPetersen(’89)]
I myself am an alum and a high percentage of your
workforce has graduated from Metro State. Do you see a difference in Metro State grads vs. graduates from other institutions?I’venoticedtwodifferenceswithMetroStategradsascomparedtoothergraduates:
First,Metrogradsarereadytoworkandsucceedfromanoperatingstandpoint.
Second,theypossessastrongworkethic,probablyduetohavingworkedorheldjobswhileincollege.
What do you think it is about Metro State that has
made it so successful?IfeelMetroStateissuccessfulforanumberofreasons.ThefirstbeingthatMetroStateprovidesanaffordable,“highvalue”educationthatisaccessibletoaculturallydiversestudentbody.
Secondly,studentshavetheabilitytowork—orhavebeenworking—andthey’regainingvaluablehands-onexperiencewhileattendingcollege.PlusMetroState’scloseproximitytodowntownDenverandareabusinessesenhancestheirsuccesses.•
A 1989 graduate from the then-Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism, Wendy Petersen began her career with Marriott and has spent the last 18 years with Sage Hospitality
working in sales and marketing positions regionally and nationwide. As the current director of field sales support for all Sage properties, Petersen will oversee the pre-opening sales and marketing process for the SpringHill Suites® by Marriott hotel at Metro State’s Hospitality Learning Center. “This project is so close to me and to see it come to fruition is wonderful,” she says. “It was so exciting when we landed this project; it’s been really incredible and lots of fun working with Metro State.”
10 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
It’sDec.3,2010inthelobbyoftheSeventhStreetClassroomBuilding10daysbeforetheendofMetroState’sfallsemester.Theweatherhasbeenunseasonablywarmandawansunilluminatesthisdrearyroomwherefourmenhuddlearoundlaptops,feverishlyhammeringontheirkeyboards.
Inlessthan30minutestheyarescheduledtopresenta“roughdraft”oftheCordovaProjecttoJeffForrest,whochairstheDepartmentofAviationandAerospaceScience.Thisisago-no-gomomentforthisteamofstudents,whoforthelastthreemonthshavebeenpreparingtotakeapowerfulsoftwarecalledtheSatelliteToolkit(STK)backintime.
DevelopedbyAGI,aPennsylvania-basedcompanythatproducessoftwareforthespace,defenseandintelligencesectors,STKisconsideredoneofthemostpowerfulprogramsforsimulatingmissionsandtrackingobjectsinspaceorontheground.STK’sthree-dimensionalvisualizationcapabilitiesallowuserstodoeverythingfrommodelinterplanetarytraveltrajectoriestotrackingground-aerialmilitarymaneuvers—orsend3D-modeledbeercansintoorbit,anexercisestudentsparticularlyrelish.
“STKisheavilyusedinindustry,”explainsJoseLopez,anaffiliatefacultymemberandretiredaerospaceengineer,whoteachesaclassatMetroStateonusingthesoftware.“TherearealotofaerospacejobswhereSTKcertificationisrequired.”
Theclassheteaches,“SpecialTopicsinAerospaceScience,”istothebestofhisknowledgetheonlyoneofitskindinthecountrywherestudentsactuallygethands-onexperiencelearningtouseSTK.MostuniversitieswithSTKlicenses,hesays,givestudentsaccesstotheapplicationbutdon’tteachitdirectly.“Mygutfeelingistheytreatitlike(Microsoft)WordorMATLAB(atechnicalcomputing
languageusedbyengineersandscientists);studentshavetolearnitontheirown.ButyouneedguidancetolearnallthepiecesofSTK,it’ssoincrediblypowerful.”
Theteam,studentsDaveDominguez,RobertThompson,AmritpalSinghandYee“Ken”Tai,arestrugglingtomakethisuber-powerfulsoftwaredosomethingevenitsarchitectswouldhavedifficultyimagining.Asentrantsinthe2011AGIUniversityGrantCompetition,theyarewrestlingSTKbacktothetimeofthePyramids,4713BCE,toseeifitcanserveasanarchaeoastronomicaltool.
Sincetheearlypartoffallsemester2010,LopezhasmentoredtheCordovateamthroughmonthsoflearningcurves,missteps,softwareincompatibilities,personalitydifferencesandflashesofgeniusastheypreparedtosubmittheirprojectinApril2011.Thecompetition—first-placewinnersreceive$1,000,aspeakingopportunityandbraggingrights—asksundergraduateandgraduatestudentstoproposeaproblemandthensolveitusingAGIsoftware.
Theproblemplaguingtheteamtodayisemblematicoftheobstaclesandchallengesfacedbythisdiversegroupofengineers,softwaredevelopersand
FROM LEARNING TO LAUNCHaviationspecialists,eachinpossessionofdifferentcomputers,operatingsystemsandversionsofcriticalsoftware,especiallythe3D-modellingpackagebyAutodesk.Intryingtoloadthelatestiterationsoftheirancientmonuments,STKbalked,refusingtoacceptthem.
“Weneedtoestablishprocedures,”Lopeztellstheteam,exasperated.“Weneedtoknowwhatwentwrong.Thisneedstobewrittendown!”
DaveDominguez,theteamleader,visiblyagitated,asks:“Whereisthescenario?!”
SuddenlySinghandThompsonyell,“Wegotit!”
Highfivesmaketherounds.“Sweet!”Dominguezsays,relieved.“Let’sgetChichenItza(alargepre-ColumbianarchaeologicalsitebuiltbytheMayancivilization)in.”Thecelebrationisshort-livedastheyscoopuplaptopsandheadtotheAdvancedAviationandAerospaceFlightSimulationTrainingLabtogivetheirdemo.
TheCordovaProjectisa“go.”
The Cordova Project Itallbeganinearly2010.JasonCordova(BS’10),aveteranoftheU.S.NavyandaMetroStatesenior,wastheonlystudentinLopez’sSTKclasslastyearwhovolunteeredtotakeacrackattheAGIcompetition.Armedwithanenthusiast’sknowledgeoftheancientskies,CordovawantedtoseewhetherSTKcouldbehavelikeanastronomicaltimemachine.CouldSTKmodelhowancientpeoplealignedimportantbuildingstotheheavens?
Intenseandrestivelycurious,CordovaapproachedLopezwithhisidea.Intriguedbutconcernedabouttimingandscope,Lopez,who’smanagedlarge
A team of students in Metro State’s burgeoning aerospace and space commercialization programs take industry software where no code has gone before.
“The Mayans incorporated these alignments to mark
days of the year when the stars would be in a significant phase. They would orient a temple to view celestial events, to mark solstices or equinoxes. It was a
huge part of their lives.”
teamsandprojectsforthemilitaryandRaytheon,pairedCordovawithanothersenioratthetime,WillardKyleOtto(BS’10),anaerospacetechnologyanddesignmajorskilledin3Dmodelling.
Withonlyabout12weekstocompletetheirproject,CordovaandOttochosetomodelonlytwobuildingsontheChichenItzasite.WhileCordovaworkedonthearchaeoastronomy,OttobuiltcomputermodelsoftheiconicTempleofKukulkanorElCastilloandElCaracol,astructurethoughttobeanobservatorywithwindowsanddoorsalignedtotrackVenus’journeyacrossthesky.
UsingtheSTKvectortoolCordovaandOttoshowedknownalignmentsfrom
ElCaracoltothesummerandwintersolsticesunsets,thesummersolsticesunriseandVenus’northern-mostrisingpoint.TheyalsopinpointedthestarsPolluxandCanopusrisingandFomalhautsetting.
“TheMayansincorporatedthesealignmentstomarkdaysoftheyearwhenthestarswouldbeinasignificantphase,”Cordovaexplains.“Theywouldorientatempletoviewcelestialevents,tomarksolsticesorequinoxes.Itwasahugepartoftheirlives.Itwasevidentinthewaytheybuiltthesestructuresandspeakstotheadvancementofancientpeople.Itdispelsstereotypesthateverythingoldisprimitive.”
OnthedayAGIwasscheduledtopostcontestresultsonitswebsite(www.agi.com),Lopezkeptcheckingithourly.Itwasn’tuntil9p.m.thatLopezlearnedthathisdigitalarchaeoastronomersfromMetroStatehadbestedteamsfromallovertheworld,earninganhonorablemention.In2010,thecompetition’sinauguralyear,thecontestattractedentriesfromdozensofuniversitiesworldwide.
A space odyssey Whilealigningancientmonumentstostarsrepresentsacoolintellectualandtechnologicalchallenge,theexerciseisonlypartoftheDepartmentofAviation
FROM LEARNING TO LAUNCH
continuedonpage12
A team of students in Metro State’s burgeoning aerospace and space commercialization programs take industry software where no code has gone before.
Shooting the moon: (l to r) Dave Dominguez, Amritpal
Singh, Robert Thompson and Yee “Ken” Tai digitally recreate
ancient skies and monuments for international competition.
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 11
12 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
andAerospaceScience’splantoboldlygointothebusinessofbuildingaworkforceforColorado’sburgeoningaerospaceindustry.
AccordingtotheMetroDenverEconomicDevelopmentCorporation,Coloradoisthecountry’sthird-largestaerospaceeconomy—hometoalmost400companies,fourmilitarycommandsandcorporatejuggernautssuchasLockheedMartin,RaytheonandBallAerospace.Almost25,000peopleworkinprivateaerospacecompanieswithanother28,000-plusinthemilitary.Withcivilianspacetravelonceagainfuelingthepublic’sromancewiththecosmosnottomentioncommercialinterestsrelatedtonationalsecurity,research,alternativeenergyandtelecommunications,that’sonlythebeginning.
LocatedasitisindowntownDenver—theMileHighmetroplexranksfirstamongthecountry’sbiggestcitiesforthenumberofaerospaceprofessionalsemployedinprivatecompanies—MetroStateisideallypositionedtobecomeago-toresourceforcompaniesseekinginterns,futureemployeesandprofessionaldevelopmenttraining;opportunitiesthathaven’tbeenlostonAviationChairForrest.
LeveragingtheCollege’sflexibleIndependentDegreeProgram(IDP),amajorwherestudentscan—withapproval—developtheirownlearningplans,theAviationandAerospaceScienceDepartmenthaslaunchedoptionsforIDPdegreesinaerospacesystemengineeringtechnology(inconjunctionwiththeDepartmentofEngineeringTechnology),aerospacephysics(withthePhysicsDepartment),aspacecommercializationcertificate,emphasisandIDPminoraswellasanaerospaceoperationsconcentrationandoneinaerospacemanagement.Allinall,MetroStatehaswellover100studentsenrolledinsomekindofspace-relatedprogram.
“OurIntrotoAerospaceOperationsclassforfallof2011hadthehighestnumberofearlyregistrationsyet,”observesForrest,himselfa1991MetroStateaviationgraduate.“Oncestudentsseehowmuchfunthisdomainis—itischallengingandthrilling—Ibelievewewillseesteadyenrollmentgrowth.Thissubjectandprofessionintroducestudentstotopicsthatmostcan’teven
dreamabout.Anditprovidesanavenuetothefuture,whichisglobalinscopeandtransferabletoanyindustryinskill.”In2007ForrestalsosecuredthedonationfromAGIof22educationallicensesoftheSTKsoftwaresuite,agiftworthapproximately$1.5million.LastyearAlexMcKenzie,ajuniormajoringinphysicsandmathematics,becameMetroState’sfirststudenttoearnhisprofessionalSTKcertificationaftertakingLopez’sclass—partofhisrewardforpassingthetest:Amaroonpoloshirtthatreads,“AGI-STK-CertifiedRocketScientist.”
The Competition Version 2011 ImpressedbywhatCordovaandOttoaccomplishedwithonlyweekstoprepareandintriguedbythearchaeo-astronomyangle,Lopezwonderedwhatateamcoulddoifittookthebetterpartofanacademicyeartoprepare.CouldanundergraduateteamfromMetroStatewinagainststudentsandteams—somewithadvanceddegrees—fromeminentprogramsaroundtheworld?
Withmonthstogetready,LopezexpandedthescopetoencompasstheentireChichenItzasite,theGizaNecropolis(theEgyptianpyramidsinCairo)andMachuPichuinPeru.ByincludingthepyramidsatGiza,theteamwouldhavetopushSTKbackintimeto4700BCE,afeatevensomeAGIexpertsdidn’tknowcouldbedone.TheywouldalsohavetorecreatethenightskiesthatsoinspiredtheancientpeoplesbyinputtingstarandplanetarydataintotheirscenariofromtheSTKdatabase.Finally,theywouldbuilda“plug-in”—software—thatwouldenablenon-STK-conversantastronomerstoresearchalignmentsontheirown.
Atthebeginningoftheacademicyear,Lopezbeganlookingforstudents.Hehand-pickedDominguez,acareer-changerandsoftwaredeveloper,whoafterbreakinghisneckinamountainbikeaccidentin2002,decidedwhileinrecoverytocheckoffsomeitemsonhisbucketlist.
“Ihadalotoftimetoreflect,”hesaysofhispost-surgeryyearinabrace.“OneofmybiggestregretswasIhadnevergottenamaster’sdegreeandhadneverlearnedtofly.”
Dominguezalreadyhadabachelor’sinelectronicsengineeringtechnologywithaminorincomputersciencewhenhe
startedtakingclassesatMetroStateinmeteorology,along-standinginterestofhis.Lopez’sSTKclass,however,reignitedhispassionforcrackingthebindingoncomputersoftwareand“makingthingshappen.”
Dominguez,whograduatedthisspringinaerospaceoperationsandisinterestedingraduateschoolandapplyinghisSTKsavvytowardnewEarth-andspace-basedsolarenergytechnologies,tookthereinsastheCordovaProject’steamlead.HeandLopezbroughtAmritpalSinghintothefold.
Singh,afirst-generationcollegestudentfromPunjab,Indiaandprofessionalflightofficermajor,cametotheprojectwiththestrongestaviationbackground,havingworkedinaircraftmaintenance.Heisalsoheavilycommittedoutsideofschool.Marriedandworkingfull-timeatabig-boxcomputerstoreasacomputertechnician,he’shelpingtosupporthisparents,wholiveintheDenverareabutarefacingdeportation.
Thoughit’sbeenhardtoconcentrate,hesays,theinternshiphasgivenhimagreaterunderstandingofspaceandthesoftwaretechnologyassociatedwithit.“Mylong-timegoalisIwanttoflyinaspacemission,”hesays.“That’smymaindream.Butwhoknows?”
At21KenTai,ajuniormajoringinaerospacesystemsengineeringtechnology,istheyoungestteammemberandarguablyitsmostlaidback.HecametoMetroStatefromSabah,Malaysia(ontheislandofBorneo)ontherecommendationofhisuncle,GeorgeMiddlemist,theCollege’scontroller,andwasaveteranofLopez’sIntroductiontoSpaceclass.Tai,whodidmuchoftheteam’sresearchonstaralignmentsandmonumentplacements,discoveredthecompetition,whichLopezrunsasaninternship,throughtheCollege’sinternshipoffice.
“Sometimesitfeelsoverwhelming,”hesays.“Therearesomeegos.Ijustsitquietlyanddomystuff;Ijustdowhattheytellmetodo.”
RobertThompson,aseniormajoringinaerospacephysicsandaerospacesystemsengineeringtechnology,hasperhapstravelledthefurthestofanyonetoworkontheproject.Thoughhe’sthe
onlyColoradonativeontheteam,10yearsago,hewasalsoahomelessteen,workingoddjobsandflyingaflagonthestreetstobringinextracash.
Deeplyconnectedtohisscouttroop,whichbecameasurrogatefamily,Thompsonmanagedbythetimehewas18togetbothheandhismom,whosuffersfromprogressivemultiplesclerosis,offthestreets,whileatthesametimeearninghisGEDandbecominganEagleScout.Hecaughtwindthattheteamneededacrackerjack3Dmodelerto“build”digitalversionsofGizaandChichenItza.
Aswithanycomplexendeavor,theCordovaProjecthaditsapogeesandperigees.PriortoFebruary,noneofthemembershadanyexperienceprogramminginHTML,MATLABorSTK.Theteam,too,becamehamstrungbySTK’sbyzantinenamingconventionsfordirectories,whichcausedanongoingscrambleforfiles.MachuPichufellbythewaysideduetotiming.ThentherewasthesheerenormityofinputtingthousandsandthousandsofstarsintoSTK’sdatabasefromtheHipparcos6ephemerisorstarmap.
Therewerehighpoints,too.OnFeb.3,wearingsuitsandlookingvaguely
discomfited,theteampresentedtheirearlyworktoMetroStatePresidentStephenJordan,ProvostVickiGolich,theChairmanoftheCollege’sBoardofTrusteesandotherhigh-rankingCollegeofficials,intriguedbythisnextgenerationofaerospaceworkersandtheeducationalpotentialofthesoftware.
“Howmuchtimeaweekdoyouspendonthis?”Jordanasks.
“Twelveto15hoursperweekperperson,”Dominguezsays.
ByearlyspringastheAGIdeadlineloomedthatnumberwoulddouble,witheachmemberlogginghoursadayontheprojectwhilebalancingtheirotherclasses,personallives,MarchMadnessandtheCricketWorldCup.
OnApril14,DominguezsubmittedtheCordovaProject,completewithbeautifullyrendered3DmodelsoftheGizaandChichenItzaplainsandalignmentsmatchedandconfirmedtovariousstars.(Whimsically,theteamevenpredictedthenexttwoNorthStars,thechangearesultofhowtheEarthmovesvis-à-visthemovementofthecelestialfirmament.)Theyalsocompletedapreliminaryversionoftheplug-into
allownon-STKuserstoresearchalignments.
“Thisisaverycreativeproject,”Lopezsays.“ItpushedtheboundsofSTK,itwasn’tdesignedtodothat,itreallygoesoutsidetheenvelope.Ifeelthisisafirst-placescenario,butI’mbiased.”
Intheend,though,MetroStategarneredasecondhonorablemention.
Inanemailtohisteammates,Dominguezwrote,“Thewinnersmostcertainlydeservedtheirwin.Wehavenothingtobeashamedof.Wedidanamazingjob.”•
HIGH FLYING—Affiliate professor Jose Lopez at the site of a balloon launch conducted by his Introduction to Space class. Lopez gives Metro State students opportunities to test-drive careers in space.
See a slideshow of computer-generated pyramids
and stars:www.mscd.edu/metromagazine
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 13
Atthetenderageof6,WalterWaremadeabigdecisionabouthislife.Hechosedance—and,notjustanydancetypically
availabletokids.InspiredbyMichaelFlatley(aka“LordoftheDance”),WarewantedtolearnthedisciplinedartofIrishdancing.Beyondthecostumes,whichcanbespectacularandpricey,andbeyondthedance’scardiovascular,calorie-crushingglory,hesawonlyfun.
Itrequiresalotofjumpingaround,incaseyoudidn’tknow.
Waretooklessons,sometimesseveralaweek.Upondiscoveringacompetitivestreak,heoftendanceddailyonhisown.Thathardworkpaidoffovertheyearswithtravel,performancesanddance-competitionsuccess.Evenashegrewintothemostcompetitiveagebrackets,WarequalifiedasecondtimetoattendtheIrishDanceWorldChampionshipsin2010.Hefinishedin12thplace.
Hisfirsttriptotheworldeventinhighschoolnettedlowerresults.“It’sabigdeal,”Waresaysoftheopportunity.“Ididn’texpecttodoverywellthen,becauseitwasmyfirsttimecompetingatthatlevel.”
Dancing C elts A Metro State grad and Metro State freshman
take on the world...of dance. ByRoxanneHawn
A
thewith
Facedwithanotherchancetotakeontheworld’sbest,Waremadeanotherimportantdecision.“Originally,IwasgoingtomajorindanceatCSU,butIdecidedtoattendMetrosothatIcouldcontinuetoliveandtraininDenver,”hesays.
Itdidn’thurtthathisIrishdanceinstructorsincedayone,LinnaneWick(pronounced“Lynn-Anne”),fromtheWickSchoolofIrishDance,graduatedfromtheCollegein1987withadegreeinSpanishandaccounting.ThosedisciplinesservedasWick’sbackupplan,butshehasalwaysworkedfulltimeasadanceranddanceinstructor.
“Linnaneisgreat.Sheislikefamily.It’sridiculous.I’veknownheralmostaslongasI’veknownbothofmybrothers,”saysWare,whoisoneoffivekids.“WickSchooliskindofapowerhouse.We’redefinitelyknownnationally.”
WickadmitssteeringWaretowardMetroStateandtowardhisinternationaldancinggoals.“Isaidtohim,‘YoureallywanttogiveitanothergoandgoingtoFortCollinsisgoingtomakeitreallyhardtogetyourpracticein.Youknow,IwenttoMetro.Youcanliveathome.Youcanwork.Youcanteachclassesforme.You’llhavethestudiotouse,’”sherecalls,adding,“IthinkMetrohasbeengreatforhim.”
WickdescribesaconfluenceoftalentswhenaskedaboutWare’ssuccess.Shepointstohisrhythm,athleticismandcommitment.Plus,shesays,“HehasagreatspringinhisstepandbeingagoodjumperisabigpartofIrishdancing.Walterisanincrediblejumper.”
Thesedays,Warebalancesschool,anon-campusjob,Irishdancing(bothasstudentandteacher)andplayingonMetroState’slacrosseteam.Waremajorsinhistoryeducation,withaplantograduatein2013,thenteach.
However,whenaskedifhe’dtakeajobasaprofessionaldancer,helaughsandanswerswithoutmissingabeat,“Oh,immediately.”
Student Walter Ware and alumna Linnane Wick are a championship parnership.
14 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
Emma R. Hall (’06) serves as Boulder County’s coroner.
EmmaR.Hallrarelybringsgoodnewstothepeopleshevisitsprofessionally.Yetthatdoesn’tstopBoulderCounty’snewlyelectedcoronerfromlovingwhatshedoes.
Hall,33,alongwithherteamoffivefull-timeinvestigatorsandacontractforensicpathologist,isresponsibleforinvestigatingallsuddenand/orunattendeddeathsinBoulderCounty,identifyingthedeceased,removingbodiesfromthescene,determiningthecauseofdeathandconductingautopsies,amongotherduties.
“Theappropriatelawenforcementagencyisresponsibleforthesceneoftheaccidentandfollow-upinvestigation,”explainsHall,whoranasanindependent.“Thecoroner’sofficeisresponsibleforthebodyitselfanddeterminingcauseofdeath.”
Sheconcedesherchosencareermayseemsomewhatunconventional,yetit’salmostsecondnatureforHall.Herfascinationwithforensicsanddeathinvestigationbeganearly,shesays,recountingatimeasayounggirlwhensheoverheardfamilymembersdiscussingamurderthatoccurrednearthefamilyhomeinLyons,Colo.,yearsbefore.Shedidn’texactlyrunandhideunderthebed.“Iimmediatelywantedtoknowhowthefamilywastoldaboutthedeath.”
DuringhighschoolHallwasabletomatchhereducationwithherlong-standinginterestinforensics,supplementingherclassesatNiwotHighSchoolwithmedical-relatedclassesatColorado’sCareerDevelopmentCenter.AfterearninganassociateofsciencedegreefromFrontRangeCommunityCollege,shesearchedforacollegeinColoradothatwouldgiveherthetypeofdegreesheneededtocompeteinherfield.ShefounditinMetroState,graduatingwithabachelor’sdegreeinchemistrycriminalisticsin2006.
“Thejobofcoronerinvolveselementsofmedicine,forensicscience,
investigation,managementandcommunityservice,”explainsHall,whowontheNovemberelectionbymorethan15,700votesoverheropponent.“Ithoroughlyenjoythechallengeanddiversityofmywork.IlovewhatIdo.”
AccordingtoHall,ascoronersheattendsallhomicideand“high-profile”calls—leadingonetoaskhowthesoft-spokenofficialmanagestokeephercoolinpotentiallygruesomeorheart-wrenchingsituations.HallsaysshedrawsonherpastexperienceasanevidenceanalystinternfortheDenverPoliceDepartmentandasaninvestigatorandfield-trainingofficerwiththeAdamsCountyCoroner’sOffice,aswellashercommitmenttoherwork.
“Ofcoursecertaincasescanbeverydifficult,”saysHall.“ButwhenI’monthesceneortalkingwiththefamily,IstayprofessionalandIdon’tallowmyemotionstosurface.”
InfactHall,themiddlechildinaclose-knitfamilyof10,placesahighpriorityonpropernotificationoffamilymembers—anunenviabletaskthatfallsunderthecoroner’soffice,yetoneHallisdeterminedtohandlewithdignityandgrace.
“I’mpassionateaboutthefieldofdeathinvestigation,especiallyhowitrelatestoansweringquestionsforthesurvivingfamilyandlovedones,”saysHall.“Irealizehowimportantitisforthefamilytogetanswersquickly,betreatedwithcompassionandhaveclosure.”•
‘Passion’ for forensics leads to coroner’s position ByVonaldaUtterback(’92)
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 15
16 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
AlumniTimes///AlumniNewsandEvents
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS
TheDistinguishedAlumnusawardwentto Michael Miera(’80,bilingualstudies).In1981Mierabegana20-yearcareerinMetroState’sAdmissionsOffice,duringwhichhegainedareputationforrelatingtoat-riskLatino/ayouth.In1991hehelpedfound—andhecontinuestoworkwith—LaRazaYouthLeadershipInstitute,whichannuallypresentsbothaconferenceandfive-monthleadershiptrainingforLatino/ayouth.MieraisalsoaCityandCountyofDenvercommunitydevelopmentrepresentativeinredevelopingbrownfields,propertywhereredevelopmentmaybecomplicatedbythepresenceofhazardoussubstancesorpollutants.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Hon. Chris Melonakis (’74,economics),AdamsCountryDistrictJudgeinthe17thJudicialDistrict,receivedthe“MakingaDifference”award.Appointedadistrictjudgein1998,Melonakishasworkedtirelesslytoimproveoutcomesforchildrenandfamiliescaughtupindrugsandalcoholabuse.Hehelpedformanintegratedfamilydrugcourtthathelpsmothersovercomeaddictionand
reunitewiththeirchildren,createdtheFamilyViolenceCoordinatingCouncilforat-riskyouth,andledaninitiativetoscreenandassessyoungpeoplewithFetalAlcoholSyndromeDisorder(FASD)whohavecomeincontactwiththecourts.
METRO STATE PRIDE
Shirley Phillips (’76,earlychildhoodeducation)wasrecognizedfor“MetroStatePride.”Intheearly1970s,Phillipsandfourfamilymembersmadeapact:tofinishtheireducations.ThatcommitmentstartedafamilytraditionofMetroStateeducationthatcontinuestodaywith10MetroStategradsinthefamilyandcounting.Today,astheownerofPhillipsInvestGroup,LLC,Phillipsoverseesbusinessdevelopmentandprojectmanagementforbusinessesrangingfromgasstationsandrestaurantstohousingprojectsandautomotivedealerships.SeveralfamilymembershaveworkedinthefamilybusinesswhileobtainingtheirdegreesattheCollege.
GIVING BACK
Lisa Moder (’90,electricalengineeringtechnology),aseniormanufacturingtestengineeratEchoStarTechnologies,receivedtheawardfor“GivingBack.”Moder’sareaofspecialtyisset-topboxes,devicesthatconnecttelevisionstoanexternalsignal.Shehasdevelopedinnovativetestingstrategies,despitechallengesposedbythediversetechnologiesandhacker-proofing.In2010,TestandMeasurementWorldmagazinenamedherTestEngineeroftheYear.Askedtodesignateanengineeringschooltoreceivea$10,000grantaspartofheraward,ModerchoseMetroState,sayingshe“believesingivingbacktothosewhohavehelped
About350peoplegatheredataluncheonattheTivoliTurnhalleon
Feb.19asfiveMetroStatealumnireceivedthe2011AlumniRecognitionAwards.NewAthleticHallofFameinducteeswerealsoannounced.Theluncheon,co-sponsoredbytheAthleticsDepartmentandtheMetroStateAlumniAssociation,cappedaweekofHomecomingactivities.
“ItwasatrueMetroStateevent,”saysMarkJastorff,directorofalumnirelations.“Thisyear’sawardwinnersareaneclecticmix.”
Theawardsarebestowedbasedonthefourcorevaluesoftheassociation:MakingaDifference,MetroStatePride,GivingBackandWorkEthic.TheDistinguishedAlumnus/aAwardisgiventoanindividualwhoexemplifiesallfour.
Traditionally,nominationsaresolicitedonceayearinthefall,Jastorffexplains.
“Inthecomingyear,withthenewwebsitewe’reworkingon,we’llacceptnominationsonlineyear-round,”hesays.“Whenyouthinkofnominatingsomeone,you’llbeabletodoitrightonthespot.We’realwaysonthelookoutforalumnideservingofrecognition.”
Reflecting Our Core Values: 2011 Alumni Recognition
Michael Miera (’80, bilingual studies)
meinmycareer.”ShealsoservesontheCollege’sTechnologyIndustryAdvisoryBoard.
WORK ETHIC
Zander Keig (’99,interpersonalcommunication)receivedthe“WorkEthic”award.Keig,atranssexualman,holdstwograduatedegreesandisworkingonathird.Heiscurrentlyafull-timeMSWstudentatSanDiegoStateUniversityandasocialworkinternatJewishFamilyServiceofSanDiego.Theawardrecognizestheconsistencyandextensivenessofhisengagementincommunitydevelopment,organizing,mentoringandeducatingonGLBTtopicssince1987.
“I’vedonethisworkasastudent,throughbothofmygraduateprograms,andIdoitcurrentlyonandoffcampus,”Keigsays.“It’sinmyDNA.”
FUTURE ALUMNI
Finally,twoseniorswerehonoredasfuturealumni: Adrian Puryear (English,secondaryeducationlicensure)andPhillip Eggers (humanservices).•ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
• Elizabeth Friot
• Rebecca “Beck” Meares (2001-04)
• Patrick Mutombo (1999-2003)
• Antonio Porras (2003-06)
• Doug Stepleton (1966-69)
• 1994 Men’s Tennis Team
• 2004 Women’s Soccer Team
Readmoreaboutthisyear’sAthleticsHallofFameclassatgometrostate.com.
Awards By Julie Lancaster
It’ssummertimeandyou’rereadytotakethatpartytothepark!Hereareafewtipsonmakingsureyourfoodissafetoeatwhereveryouchoosetoenjoyit.
Beforeyoupurchaseanyfood,remembertoaskyourself,“HowwillIkeephotfoodhotandcoldfoodcold?”Oneofthebestanswersistobesureyouhaveicepacks,coolersandinsulatedlunchbagstokeepfoodcold.Keepingfoodhotisalittletrickier.Iliketousethemicrowaveablehotandcoldpacksandinstanthandwarmers.Oryoucanusetheinsulatedlunchorgrocerybagsthatclosewithazipper.
Whydoesfoodtemperaturematter?Foodissafetoconsumewhenitstemperatureis40Fdegreesorcolderand140Forhotter.The“danger”temperaturestostayawayfromarebetween70Fand135F.Onceyourfoodsettlesinthisrange,bacteriabeginstogrowrapidlyandyourfoodmaybecomedangeroustoeat.
Tofurtheravoiddangeroustemperatures,keepcoldfoodoutofdirectsunlightandtrytoavoidheatingandreheatingfoodunnecessarily.Themoretripsthroughthedangerzoneyourmealtakes,thegreaterthechanceforbacteriatogrowinyourfood.Ifyouarestoringfoodsforlaterconsumption,dosorapidly.Coolingquicklyandstoringandservingfoodatitsappropriatetemperaturewillkeepyousafeandhappythissummerandallyearlong.
Here’sanotherquicktip:Whenyoufinishdoingdishes,makesuretheyhavedriedthoroughlybeforeyouputthemaway.Trappedmoisturebetweendishescanprovideaperfectenvironmentforharmfulbacteriaandmoldstotakehold—notexactlywelcomeguestsatanymeal!•
Mason Capps (’98, English) is the owner/operator of OiNKs! BBQ in Denver, which just celebrated its first anniversary.
ASK AN ALUM SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVIN’ IS…QUEASY? FOOD SAFETY ON THE GO BY MASON CAPPS
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 17
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18 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
100-percent silk ties! Featuring details from an original
painting done by internationally
acclaimed artist and Metro State
alum, Malcolm Farley, for the
45th anniversary Plain & Fancy Ball
A portion of tie sales benefit the
Metro State Alumni Association
Purchase ties at www.aurariabooks.com
or call 303-556-4286
.
Show your Metro State ties!
MeghanHartvigson(humanservices,’10),thenewassistantdirectorofoutreachandengagementfortheOfficeofAlumniRelations,hasaninsidetrackontellingtheMetroStatestory—she’slivedherownversionofit.
HartvigsongrewupinDenver,hermomaneducatorinJeffcoSchoolsandherdadaKingSoopersemployeewhoworkednights.
AftergraduatingfromNorthHighSchoolsheattendedAdamsStateCollegeinAlamosaforayearandahalf.Seekingasociologyprogramwithmorehumaninteractionandcommunityinvolvement,shetransferredtoMetroState.
Thenshediscoveredshewaspregnant.
“Icomefromafamilywithnot-extensivecollegeeducationbackgrounds,”Hartvigsonsays.“ButI’vealwaysbeenencouragedtogofullforcewithmyeducation.SowhenmyfiancéandIfoundoutIwaspregnant,andintakinginhisdaughterAlison,my‘bonus’daughter,Ireallywantedtomakethestatementtothemaswellasyoung
womeninthecommunity:Therearesomanyforcesworkingagainstyou—opportunitiesyouthinkaremissed.Butifyouembracethem,youcanusethemtoyouradvantage.”
Hartvigsoncontinuedtoattendschoolandwork,includinganinternshipintheCollege’sDevelopmentOffice.TwoyearsafterherdaughterRorywasborn,shegraduatedwithadegreeinhumanservices,nonprofitemphasis,withasociologyminor.
ShejoinedthealumniofficelastAugustasalumniengagementcoordinator,researchingthealumnibaseandworkingtofurtherengagealumni.
EffectiveJuly1,asassistantdirectorofoutreachandengagement,shewillbechargedwithbuildingprograms,communitypartnershipsandthevolunteerbase.
“Researching,reconnectingwithpeople,reachingout,tellingtheMetroStatestoryandhavingconversationsthatreallyresonate,”shesays.“ThatwillbeagoodpartofthefirststepsIneedtotake.”•
AlumniTimes///AlumniNewsandEvents
New assistant director has her ownMetro StatestoryByJulieLancaster
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 19
NEW! OFFICIAL COLLEGE RING COLLECTION The official Metro State ring collection, designed for and by alumni, is a unique and lasting symbol of your lifelong connection to your alma mater. Part of the
proceeds from ring sales benefit Metro State Alumni Association programs and student scholarships.
If you would like to book a consultation, contact Shelley McClellan from Jostens at 303-921-6662.
METRO STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 2010-11 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT JimGarrison(’80,Economics)
VICE PRESIDENT CassandraJohnson(’04,Management)
SECRETARY VictoriaHannu(’84,ComputerandManagementScience)
TREASURER JudyGeorge
(’01,BusinessManagement)
PAST PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPRESENTATIVE EricPeterson(’99,Marketing)
FOUNDATION BOARD REPRESENTATIVERobMorrill(’97,PoliticalScience)
DerekAnguilm(’00,Finance)///ScottApplegate
(’96,Finance)///PiperBillups,(’99,Marketing)///
DavidDiaz(’97,Mathematics)///MarisolEnriquez
(’99,Hospitality,MeetingandTravelAdministration)
///DanyetteHardin(’07,Management)///Michelle
LeBoo,AdministratorRepresentative(’95,History)
///BradMcQueen(’95,Accounting)///RCMontoya
(’93,TechnicalCommunication)///ChuckMoss(’88,
Finance)///AnneO’Neill(’07,Hospitality,Tourism
andEventsManagement)///DanielParks(’96,
PoliticalScience)///WendyPetersen(’89,Hospitality,
MeetingandTravelAdministration)///RonRamirez
(’94,Hospitality,MeetingandTravelAdministration)
///JudyShafer(’95/97,English)///JohnSilva,(’91,
Finance)///Sterling“Noah”Steingraeber(’08,
Marketing)///MetzaTempleton,ClassifiedStaff
Representative(’07,Management)///Aerospace
ScienceChairJeffreyForrest(‘91,Aerospace
Science)FacultyRepresentative///SGAPresident
JessieAltum,StudentRepresentative.•
YOUR METRO STATE ALUMNI RELATIONS STAFF:Our door is wide open. Please stop by and say hello!
Mark Jastorff
DirectorofAlumniRelationsandExecutiveDirectoroftheAlumniAssociation303-352-7207mjastorf@mscd.edu
Meghan Hartvigson (’10)
Janell Lindsey
DirectorofSpecialInitiativesforAlumniRelationsandEnrollmentServices303-556-6344lindseja@mscd.edu
Gini Mennenga
MAILING ADDRESS:
Office of Alumni Relations
Campus Box 11
P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362
CAMPUS LOCATION:
1059 Ninth Street Park
Phone: 303-556-8320
VISIT US ON THE WEB:
www.mscd.edu/alumni
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 19
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20 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
Class Acts highlights the latest news from Metro State alumni. To submit your information for publication, go to www.mscd.edu/alumni and click on Update Your Info.
John Agner (’76, political science)isanassistantprincipalwithWinslowPublicSchoolsinAtco,N.J.Hereceivedamaster’sdegreeinspecialeducationfromtheUniversityofNorthernColoradoandalawdegreefromRutgersUniversityin1990.Aftersevenyearspracticinglaw,hebeganworkinginschooladministration.
Wally Blinde (’70, criminology)isretiredafterworking37yearsinprisonadministration.HelivesinAstoria,Ore.
James Penland (’77, psychology)retiredin2007afterworking26yearsasaP.h.D.-levelresearchscientistattheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture.Hisresearchfocusedontherelationshipbetweenmineralelementnutritionandbrainfunctioninadultsandchildren.HelivesinFortCollins,Colo.
Edward Jacobs Jr.(’96, computer management systems)isasenioreducationaltechnologistatMetroState.
Kristine A. Knapp(’92, chemistry)isamedicaldoctor(OB/GYN)forPutnamWomen’sHealthinGreencastle,Ind.
Jerra H. Ryan(’93, English)isavicepresidentatCherryCreekMortgageCo.inGreenwoodVillage,Colo.
Brad Swartzwelter(’94, hospitality)isaconductorforAmtrakinDenver.
David Sweet(’91, English)isamanagingdirectorforTopGradeJapanK.K.,anexecutivesearchconsultancyinJapan.
Shayne Urbanowski(’97, land use/GIS)isaseniorstaffsoftwareengineerforLockheedMartininLittleton,Colo.andhasearnedamaster’sofscienceinsoftwareengineering.
David Vaughan(’93, land use)isself-employedinWestminster,Colo.
Shawna Wood(’97, psychology)hasbeenaninsuranceconsultantfor13yearsandhasjustcompletedadegreetobecomeaveterinarytechnician.
CLASS ACTS
Kathryn L. Lee(’86, communications)managesrealestateinSterling,Colo.
Ken Martinez(’81, finance)ownsVidaRicheDesigns,ahomeinteriordesignandwindowtreatmentcompanyinBroomfield.
Alfonzo F. McCullough(’86, professional pilot)isacaptainwithUnitedAirlines.HelivesinCentennial.
Kathie Scarbrough(’85, computer management systems)isahousekeeperwithMt.CatCleaninginGrandLake,Colo.She’salsoworkingonfinishinghermaster’sdegreeininformationsystemswithRegisCollege.
Melinda Yeary(’86, marketing)hasbecomearealestateagentforLiveUrbanRealEstateinDenverafterworkingforseveralyearswithDeltaAirlines.SheenjoysdonatingtimetoareanonprofitsandhelpedFriendsofRedRocks,agroupofparkadvocates.ShealsoservesontheboardofdirectorsforArtsStreet,acreativeoutletforunderservedyouth,andFurryFriendsFoodDrive,whichcollectsfoodforthefoodbanksforpets.
Fred Allen (’03, aviation technology)isanFA-18HornetinstructorpilotatVFA-106stationedatNavalAirStationOceanainVirginiaBeach,Va.HewasnamedCaptainMichaelScottSpeicherPilotoftheYearin2010byCommanderStrikeFighterWingAtlantic.
Dana Bell(’01, English)haspublished,“WinterAwakening,”herfirstbook,nowavailableonAmazon.Bellalsohaspublishedstoriesinseveralanthologiesande-zinesandpoemsinmagazines.BelllivesinLittleton,Colo.
CLASS ACTS
Kyle Bowman(’08, management)isasalesplannerforNikeInc.inDenver,handlingaccountswithcompaniessuchasTarget,Walmart,Kohl’sandSportsAuthority.
Joy C. Davidson(’03, Spanish)ispresidentofJoyfulTransitions,LLCinAurora,Colo.
Suzette Davis-Hudson(’07, political science)isaconstituentservicesrepresentativeforU.S.Rep.EdPerlmutterinLakewood,Colo.Davis-HudsonalsoplaysfieldhockeyandwonagoldmedalintheColoradoStateGamesin2009.
Kerri Dunagan(’07, human services)isaprogramassistantattheDenverMuseumofNatureandScience.
Fristina Fritsch (’04, environmental science)isafloodanalystforMichaelBakerCorp.inLakewood,Colo.
Kristopher Kreutzer(’05, art)isagraphicdesignerwithMerrick&CompanyinAurora,Colo.
Travis Landry(’07, biology)isastudentatRockyVistaUniversityCollegeofOsteopathicMedicineinDenver,classof2012;hehasahealthprofessionalscholarshipfromtheUnitedStatesNavy.He’scurrentlyanensign.
Brian Macias (’05, Spanish)isateacherwithJeffersonCountySchools.
Tim Meurer(’03, management)isarecruiterwithLongViewSystems,anITsolutionscompanyinDenver.
Tyler Murphy(’05, management)isachanneldevelopmentmanagerforMcAfee,Inc.inEnglewood.HeearnedasalesrecognitionhonorfromColoradoBizMagazineforColorado’s25mostpowerfulsalespeoplefor2011.
Eric Lucas Wilson(’03, English)isadeputywiththeJeffersonCountySheriff’sOfficesinGolden,Colo.
John Wiltsie(’08, behavioral science)isanadministrativeassistantatMetroState.Heearnedamaster’sinadulteducationfromtheUniversityofPhoenixin2010andisworkingonhisdoctorateineducationthereandexpectstograduate2014.
RO
WE
NA
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EG
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PUBLISHING MOGUL ON THE MOVE
Keri Cooper (’10, marketing)isanadvertisingspecialistwithSpeeCoinGolden,Colo.
Bethany Lamer(’10, technical communications)isane-learningdataanddevelopmentspecialistwithSutterHealthinCalifornia.
NotlongafterRowenaAlegria(’91,Spanish)graduatedwithhonorsfromMetroState,shelandedajobwithTheDenverPostwhereshehasenjoyedasteadyclimbofjournalisticsuccess.EventuallyAlegriabecameeditorofThePost’sVivaColorado,thelargestpublicationforLatinosinthestate.AndlastyearshewasnamedViva’spublisher.
AlegriasaysthatinitiallyherroleatVivawassmallbecausethepaperwasproducedmostlyinMexico.ButacoupleofyearsagoshepersuadedthePosttomakeVivaapaperforthecommunitywithacompletelylocalstaff.
“Sincethenwe’vewatchedVivaColoradogrowandchangeandbecomeanimportantandaward-winningvoiceforDenver’sLatinocommunity,”saysAlegria,whogavethekeynotespeechatMetroState’sLatinograduationceremonyinMay.
Sincetakingthepublisherreins,shesaysshe’sbeenworkingto“takeVivatothenextlevel.”Alegriahasmadethepaperbilingual,addedanewlookwithexpandedcontent;andreadersnolongerhavetowaitforthepapertoarriveonnewsstandseveryThursday,becauseit’snowonlineatwww.VivaColorado.com.What’smore,VivanowbreaksnewsonFacebook,Twitterandviamobileapplications.
“ItakegreatprideinourworkatVivaColoradoandlooktothefuturewithhighexpectations,”shesays.
Alegriahasbreakingnewsonthepersonalfront,too.InJanuary,hereldestson,CameronSubryan,enrolledatMetroStatetostudyavionics.
–DougMcPherson
Alegria and son, Cameron Subryan
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Lessthan24hoursafterMetroState’swomen’sbasketballteamsuffereditsousterfromthe2011NCAADivisionIITournament(theyhadmadeittotheEliteEight,theCollege’sfirst-everwomen’steamtodoso),CassondraBrattonwassittinginherArvadahomejustbeginningtoputsomeperspectiveontheseason,hercareerandthegamethat’splayedacentralroleinherlifefornearlytwodecades.
It’sparticularlytoughbecauseshe’sasenior;she’llgraduateinDecemberwithadegreeinbusinessmanagement.ThefinalbuzzeronherdaysasaMetroStatebasketballplayerhassounded,itsechogone.Thegymisquiet.
“Ithasn’treallysunkinyet,”Brattonsays.“Thelossstillstings.”
Indeed.Butshedoesn’tsoundassadasyoumightexpect.Actually,theemotionthatsurfacesfromhervoiceisoneofgratitude.
“AsIthinkbackonitrightnow,I’mveryhappyabouthavinghadthechancetoplaywiththeplayersontheteam,”shesays.
ForBratton,a5-foot-10forwardandagraduateofPomonaHigh,basketballhasalwaysbeenabouttheteam.Here’saperfectexample.Whenaskedaboutherpersonalcontribution(shewastheteam’sleadingscorerandrebounder),shequicklybrushesitoff.
“Mynumbersaren’tthatimpressive.Somethinglike13pointsandeightboardsagame.Lookattheaverageacrossthenation.Thosearen’treallybignumbers.Butifyoulookatwhatwe’vedoneasateam,that’sreallyoutstanding.Ourdefenseonshootingpercentageandpointsallowedwasincredible.”
Humility.It’slikelyanattributeshebroughtnaturallytothegamewhenshefirstlearnedaboutit.Thatwaswhenshewas8yearsold,walkingthroughherfrontdoorandsharingaflyerfromtheYMCAwithherdadaboutabasketballleague.
Metro State senior, Cassondra Bratton
and daughterJayna.
The final buzzer By Doug McPherson
TheRowdyReport///RoadrunnerSports
22 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011
Metro Magazine llllllllllllllll SUMMER 2011 23
AURARIA CAMPUS BOOKSTOREBRAUN’S BAR AND GRILL
CLICK’S COPY CENTER
COACH AMERICAHILTON GARDEN INN
HOTEL VQ @ MILE HIGHSTUDENT & AUXILIARY SERVICES
BOULDER RUNNING COMPANYINN AT AURARIA
PHILL FOSTER & COMPANYSPORTLINE
THE UPS STORE
METRO STATE ATHLETICSCORPORATE SPONSORS
“Eversincethen,mydadhasbeeninmycornerandhedidagreatjobofmakingmehumbleandtoalwaysthinkoftheteamfirst,”Brattonsays.
Lesson learned—and applied TurnsoutherdadwasbehindBrattontakingupbasketballnotonce,buttwice.
Brattonplayedoftenandwellfromage8to23butdecidedtoleavethesporttospendmoretimewithherdaughter,thena3-year-oldcutienamedJayna.
Atfirstshedidn’tmissit.Butafterabout18monthsthefirestartedburning,andsheknewshehadmorelefttoleaveonthecourt.
Atthesametimeherdadwasbattlingstagethreecoloncancer.“Itwasatoughtime,butwebattledthroughittogether,”Brattonsays.“Hewasgettingburnedoutoncoaching,butIthoughtheshouldgobacktoitwhenhegotbetter,andhethoughtIshouldplaybasketballagain,soIdid.”
ThenewcoachatMetroState,TanyaHaave,knewBrattonandaskedhertoplayapick-upgamewiththeteamtoseeifBrattonstillhadthegoods.“Afterthegame,shecalledmeoverandsaid,‘Let’sdosomepaperwork.’”
“She’sdefinitelyhumblebutalsoverycompetitive,”Haavesays.“Sheunderstoodthegamewasabouttheteam,shewasaclearleaderandwe’llmissherterribly.”
Nowthatherplayingdaysreallyareover,Bratton’sfutureisuncertain.“Imaytrycoachingorgointothecorporateworld,we’llsee.”
Shealsoreflectsonthesportthat’smeantsomuchtoher.
“IfeellikeeverythingI’velearnedinbasketballhasbeenalifelesson,”shesays.“IrememberwhenIfirstcamehomewiththatflyer,mydadtoldmeIcouldplayifIdidn’tgiveupandworkedhard,ifIdidthosetwothingsI’dneverfail.Andhewasright.Peoplewhoworkhardcanmakeitinlife.”
Brattonsayswhatshe’llmissmostfromMetroStateisbeingonateam.
“I’veplayedbasketballandbeenonateamformostofmylife.It’skindoflikeyouloseyouridentitywhenyou’renotapartofateam.”
Perhapsherfamilywillfillthatrolenow.HerdadhassincereturnedtocoachingtheBoulderRockiesBasketballClub—cancerfree.
Andasforherdaughter,Jayna,nowage5,herrolewillchangesome,too.She’dspenttheseasoninthestandscheeringonhermom,alwayswearingherfavoriteshirt:Thefrontreads,“GoMom.”Andtheback,thenameBrattonandhermom’snumber:40.
Athome,littleJaynahasasmallhoopandhardwoodfloors.
“She’snotverygoodatdefense,butshehasprettygoodaim,”hermomsays.“Butshelikeseverythingtobeperfect.That’ssomethingshe’llhavetolearntogetover.”
WillJaynabeafutureRoadrunner? “Wejokeaboutthatallthetime,”Brattonsays.“Shecanwritehername,soshecouldactuallysignthepapers.”•
2010-11 Season Highlightsn First-ever Elite Eight appearancen Finished the season ranked fifth nationally, the highest ranking in school historyn School record for wins in a season (finished 30-3)n Tanya Haave named RMAC Coach of the Year in her first seasonn Cassondra Bratton named first team all-conference and Central Region Tournament MVPn Three players named academic all-conference n First RMAC regular season championship since 1997-98n School record for longest home winning streak (18 games, streak is still active) and tied the record for longest overall winning streak (15 games)
Don’tBlink///ALastLook
COLLEGE DAY IN COLORADO
Students from Park Hill Elementary displayed their Metro State pride in “Future
Roadrunner” t-shirts when they led the Pledge of Allegiance at the state capitol on
Friday, April 8—College Friday.
The day represented the state’s sixth annual College Friday, a day when all Coloradans
are asked to support students’ dreams of higher education by wearing their favorite
college logo items. The students are (l to r) Ethan McWhirter, Sam Baker, Aiden Smyrnios,
Taylor Lucas and Eoin Smyrnios.
24 Metro Magazine llllllllllllllllSUMMER 2011
No Business Degree? No Problem.The Metro State/FHSU partnership offers you a seamless transition into the MBA progam. Begin your MBA while completing the business foundation courses. You do not have to wait!
• • •
Fast Track Admissions Requirements• A bachelor’s degree in Business from Metro State College• Completion of all required admission materials• Score a 990 or above with the MBA admissions formula:
200 x undergraduate G.P.A + Official GMAT score = 990 or above
An MBA for Metro Take the next step
StateGradsThomas Gaschler-FHSU & Dr. John Cochran, Dean, Metro State School of Business
Market Competitive Tuition*
Convenient, Flexible, OnlineLearn on your schedule, not ours. Choose to study online, or on the Fort Hays State campus in Hays, Kansas. Full-time or part-time ... again, your choice! Same great program, same great faculty teaching relevant, up-to-date courses using the latest in user-friendly course delivery methods.
Your Program ... Your Specialty.One size does not fit all. That was true when you were a student at Metro State, and it’s true of MBA programs. Choose a concentrationthat will help you achieve your professional goals.
• Finance
• General MBA Studies
• Health and Human Performance/ Sports Management
• Health Care Management
• Human Resource Management
• Information Assurance
• International Business
• Leadership Studies
• Management Information Systems
• Tourism and Hospitality Management
* Total estimated program tuition; current as of Spring 2011** Based on CO in-state residency; non-resident est. tuition $42,456
Fort Hays State University
University of Denver
Regis University
University of Colorado at Denver
University of Phoenix
METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE OF DENVER
CAMPUS BOX 14
P.O. BOX 173362
DENVER, CO 80217-3362
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAIDPermit 2965
Denver, Colo.
Take your Metro State bachelor’s degreeone step further.Metro State offers master’s degrees in:
• Professional Accountancy• Teacher Education (MAT)• Social Work
Access graduate-level urban education at its finest and most affordable.
For more information, visit . . .
www.mscd.edu/masters
“I’m really excited about the new Master’s of Social Work Program. It’s affordable, which means I won’t have to move out of Denver tocontinue my education.”
Kaylee Jeffrey, B.S. ’11
Social Work