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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Credit card orders can be called in to 303-556-4286 or faxed to 303-556-8392. Include your card number and expiration date. Please reference code V303SUMMER2011.

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

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STUDENT &AUXILIARYSERVICES

THE ALUMNI COLLECTION SUMMER 2011

LEFT TO RIGHT:Roadrunner’s Graphic T-ShirtgreyS, M, L, XL, XXL $16.95

Burnout FabricBaseball-style,V-neck T-shirtred, navyS, M, L, XL $25.95

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Student models, left to right: J.D. TrujilloKirsten EvansWalt House

METROWEAR!

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)


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.•


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. •


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.•


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


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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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)]


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.”


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.



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


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.


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)



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


Alu

mniT

imes


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


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)

[email protected]

Janell Lindsey

DirectorofSpecialInitiativesforAlumniRelationsandEnrollmentServices303-556-6344lindseja@mscd.edu

Gini Mennenga

[email protected]

MAILING ADDRESS:

Office of Alumni Relations

Campus Box 11

P.O. Box 173362

Denver, CO 80217-3362

CAMPUS LOCATION:

1059 Ninth Street Park

Phone: 303-556-8320

VISIT US ON THE WEB:

www.mscd.edu/alumni


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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.

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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



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HOTEL VQ @ MILE HIGHSTUDENT & AUXILIARY SERVICES

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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

metro magazine summer 2011

Documents

executive director

director of alumni relations

alumni times22

metro area

mail orders

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chair of aviation

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