Celebrating Extraordinary Achievement
We are so excited to have celebrated our 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award winners during Homecoming and Family Weekend. The Distinguished Alumni Awards program recognizes CSU alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally, brought honor to the University, and have made significant contributions of time and/or philanthropy to the University and their community. These alumni represent the very best of the values we hold dear – extraordinary achievement, selfless public service, and a lifelong commitment to Ram pride.
Stay tuned for details about the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards. We hope to see you there!
Congratulations to the 2024 award winners!
William E. Morgan Alumni Achievement Award
Yusef Komunyakaa (M.A., English, ’81)
Yusef Komunyakaa was born April 29, 1947, in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and raised during the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1970 during the Vietnam War and was a correspondent and managing editor of the Southern Cross, which earned him a Bronze Star.
He began writing poetry in 1973 and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs in 1975. His first book of poems, Dedications & Other Darkhorses, was published in 1977, followed by Lost in the Bonewheel Factory in 1979. He earned his M.A. in English from Colorado State University in 1981, and an M.F.A. from University of California, Irvine. In 2015, Yusef was selected as CSU’s 2015 College of Liberal Arts Honor Alumnus.
In 1984, Komunyakaa began to receive wider attention when he published Copacetic, a collection of poems that showcased how his poetry was influenced by jazz. That collection was followed by I Apologize for the Eyes in My Head that won the San Francisco Poetry Center Award; and Dien Cai Dau, which is considered by many to be some of the finest writing on the Vietnam War and earned him the Dark Room Poetry Prize.
In 1994, Yusef received the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for Neon Vernacular: New and Selected Poems 1977-1989. That publication also earned him the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award.
As both a jazz and soldier poet, Yusef has rejected the idea that you should write only what you know and prefers to write what you are willing to discover, stating “Be inquisitive, and not just for the sake of information … but because I do think that it keeps us connected to who we are. Life is celebration and confrontation, the same as poetry.”
Beyond poetry, Yusef’s prose includes Blues Notes: Essays, Interviews, and Commentaries, as well as Gilgamesh: A Verse Play and the libretto for Slip Knot. He served as coeditor for The Jazz Poetry Anthology, was co-translator for The Insomnia of Fire by Nguyen Quang Thieu, and was guest editor for The Best of American Poetry 2003.
Yusef’s other awards and honors include the Wallace Stevens Award, Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, Griffin Poetry Prize Lifetime Recognition Award, William Faulkner Prize from the Université de Rennes, Thomas Forcade Award, Hanes Poetry Prize, and fellowships from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, the Louisiana Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 1999, Yusef became the chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. His teaching credits include the University of New Orleans, Indiana University, and Princeton University. Yusef currently lives in New York City where he is a distinguished senior poet in New York University’s graduate creative writing program.
About the award: Named for the eighth president of the University, Dr. William E. Morgan, this award is the highest honor given by the Alumni Association and is reserved for individuals who have excelled at the national or international level. The purpose of this award is to recognize a graduate who has attained extraordinary distinction and success in their field of endeavor and whose achievements have brought credit to CSU and benefited their fellow citizens.
Charles A. Lory Public Service Award
James A. Martell (B.S., psychology, ’72)
James “Jim” Martell was born in Kremmling, Colorado, in 1950 and attended Poudre High School where he met his future wife, Christine Anne Lilyblade. The two were married in 1970 at Colorado State University’s Danforth Chapel, and both earned degrees from CSU – Christy received a B.F.A. in 1971 followed by an M.F.A. in 1988, and Jim earned a B.S. in psychology in 1972. Jim not only holds the distinction of being a CSU graduate, but also a CSU dropout after he re-enrolled in the University at 53 to take some philosophy classes. He had three of his philosophy papers published, but after the registrar’s office informed him that he had to tell the office when he would graduate and had to start taking some of the required philosophy courses, Jim chose to stop pursuing his second degree. However, after being counseled by a student 30 years younger, he did agree that he may return someday.
Jim’s dedication to CSU did not stop at earning degrees. In 1979, the executive director of the CSU Alumni Foundation asked Jim for some legal help regarding merging the Alumni Foundation with the CSU Foundation. For the next seven years, Jim provided pro bono legal assistance to the Alumni Foundation until the two foundations agreed to merge in 1986. Jim served as a member of the CSU Foundation Board for 38 years (1986-2024) and as chairman of the board for 30 years (1991-2021).
Jim graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, in the top 15 percent of his class in May 1977. He was selected editor in chief of the law review his third year. Jim was admitted to the Colorado state and federal courts in October 1977 and the U.S. Supreme Court in May 1989. He has been practicing real estate law in Fort Collins for 47 years. He represents several governmental and nonprofit entities providing affordable housing in Northern Colorado.
Jim has also been a member, president, and chair of several boards, including the Advisory Board of the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art the Family Center/La Familia; OpenStage Theatre Board; the Downtown Development Authority of Fort Collins; One West Art Center of Fort Collins; the Affordable Housing Consortium; and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Jim ran five marathons during the late 1980s, including the Boston Marathon, and currently enjoys yoga while continuing to practice law full time in Fort Collins.
About the award: This award is named for Dr. Charles A. Lory, the fifth president of the University, whose leadership helped the institution attain a vital balance of teaching, research, and service. It is given to alumni who have demonstrated exceptional and sustained leadership in their community, professional field, or personal commitments and have given a significant contribution of time and talent to the University.
Jim and Nadine Henry Award
Kay and Rudy Garcia (B.S., business administration, ’81)
Rudy’s and Kay’s journey is a testament to resilience, community support, and the enduring power of education. Rudy’s early years were shaped by humble beginnings as his family lived in a railroad boxcar in Leadville, Colorado, before moving to Fort Collins his senior year in high school. Kay hails from a rural community in Eastern Nebraska, where her parents farmed and raised cattle.
Despite their different backgrounds, Rudy’s and Kay’s paths converged in 1987 when they were introduced by a mutual friend. They quickly discovered common ground and the desire to make Fort Collins their forever home. Kay became immersed in the CSU family by attending many athletics events and accompanying Rudy to university functions. At CSU, they found themselves embraced by a community that lives by the motto, “Rams taking care of Rams.”
Rudy’s journey to college was a personal achievement and a fulfillment of the dreams of his parents, who steadfastly believed in his potential to attend and graduate from college. Their unwavering support and encouragement gave Rudy the foundation and motivation to pursue his academic goals. In 1981, he graduated from CSU with a B.S. in business administration. Kay’s journey was similarly guided by parents who impressed upon her to set high goals and never to forget the values she was taught.
For 40 years, Rudy significantly contributed to the University’s advancement and administration. He was assistant dean for the Warner College of Natural Resources for 12 years, fostering academic excellence and strategic growth. In 2006, he assumed the senior associate vice president for University Advancement role for more than a decade, steering initiatives to enhance philanthropic support and alumni engagement. His leadership was further recognized when he was appointed co-interim vice president for University Advancement. Kay’s career was primarily in the finance sector, culminating with her tenure at First National Bank of Omaha, where she served as a regional director overseeing multiple branch offices in the Northern Colorado region.
Kay and Rudy have demonstrated a deep commitment to philanthropy outside their professional roles. Their generous support has led to the establishment of three endowed scholarships, spanning athletics, the Warner College of Natural Resources, and the College of Business. These funds are a testament to their dedication to nurturing academic excellence and ensuring lasting impacts on the university community. As they continue their journey together, Rudy and Kay remain grounded in their roots and committed to paying forward the support and opportunities they have received. Their story is a testament to the enduring bonds of community, the value of education, and the belief that with determination and support, anything is possible.
About the award: This award is given in honor of Jim (’40) and Nadine (Hartshorn) (’41) Henry of Longmont, Colorado, to alumni who exemplify extraordinary service to the University and its academic, athletics, and alumni programs. This award is presented annually to alumni who represent the highest goals of the Alumni Association and the University and who have given significant support and service to both.
Distinguished Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD)
Master Sergeant Josh Johnson (B.S., psychology, ’20)
Master Sgt. Joshua Reese Johnson serves as the first sergeant for 111th Attack Squadron, Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, Texas. In this role, he is a key adviser to three command teams on all matters concerning 200 airmen to include readiness, health, welfare, enlisted performance reports, discipline, resiliency, standards, and morale. He provides counsel to members and assists commanders in preparation and execution of unit training and information programs. He ensures training is provided on matters of leadership, customs and courtesies, dress and personal appearance, drill and ceremony, and safety.
Josh entered the Air Force in August 2009. He worked in the airfield management career field for more than eight years before transferring to the Colorado Air National Guard. During his 14 years in service, his professional background included duty as an airfield management operations supervisor, noncommissioned officer in charge of airfield management operations, and deputy airfield manager. In 2015, he deployed and served as an airfield management operations supervisor in support of Operation Juniper Micron. Josh deployed for a domestic operation working on a Joint Task Force Emergency Operations Center Support assisting Montezuma County with the COVID-19 response. Josh received a B.S. in psychology from Colorado State University. In 2021, he deployed and served as the first sergeant in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield. Prior to his current position, he was the first sergeant, 233d Space Group, Greeley Air National Guard Station, Colorado.
Josh is also owner and founder of Johnson Coaching and Consulting LLC. He donates hundreds of hours consulting with various nonprofit organizations and one-on-one coaching services to athletes on the Air Force Cycling Team. He has competed in more than 150 competitive events throughout the U.S., Asia, and Europe, including multiple RAGBRAIs (ride across Iowa) with the AFCT, competing nationally for the Colorado State University triathlon team, AF triathlon team, and AF marathon team. Most notably, Josh is the deputy director for the AF Heritage Memorial to Memorial ride that began in 2022.
In his civilian career, Josh creates one-on-one connections with veterans, employers, and other resources to help them thrive through his coaching business. In addition to leading airmen and helping veterans, he is a coach to athletes around him. Josh is not simply a sports community influence; he is a force for good in the sports community.
About the award: The purpose of the GOLD award is to recognize a CSU graduate from the past 10 years for accomplishments made in the areas of career, service, and/or volunteer efforts that have brought honor to the individual and the University.
Distinguished Athletics Award
Anntheresa (B.S., business administration, ‘89); Larry (B.S., business administration, ’88) Buckendorf
Anntheresa Buckendorf earned a B.S. in finance from Colorado State University in 1989, and Larry Buckendorf earned a B.S. in accounting from CSU in 1988. After graduating from the University, Anntheresa graduated from the Denver Catholic Bible School and currently drives and volunteers for Meals on Wheels and SAINT, a senior transportation nonprofit. Larry, who earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1994, is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and Colorado Board of Accountancy. He serves as general counsel and principal of Journey Homes LLC, the largest privately held homebuilding operation in Northern Colorado. Residents of Timnath, the Buckendorfs continue to show their Ram Pride by being members of the Lory Society and Frontier Legacy Society and CSU Basketball Roundball Club, and as CSU football and stadium benefactors. When not rooting on the Rams, the Buckendorfs actively participate in their home parish of Our Lady of the Valley and provide financial and operational support for the Nazareth Home for God’s Children, a Catholic orphanage in Ghana, Africa. They have three children – Whitney, Jacob, and Derek – as well as two “adopted” children – Precious and Sarah.
About the award: The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding commitment to CSU Athletics; significant contributions toward the success of CSU Athletics as a staff member, athlete, volunteer, or donor; and achievements that have brought honor to the University.
College Honor Alumni
College of Agricultural Sciences
Robbie Baird LeValley (B.S., animal sciences, ’87; M.S., animal sciences, ‘89)
Robbie Baird LeValley began her career with the livestock industry by growing up on the family ranch near Thermopolis, Wyoming. She began her lifelong relationship with Colorado State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences when she started as an undergraduate majoring in animal sciences and obtaining her B.S. in animal sciences in 1987, followed by an M.S. in animal sciences in 1989. Since 1987, Robbie has continued her association with CSU as a student, instructor, affiliate faculty, employee, volunteer, and author, and continues to assist CSU by serving on the Ag Next Innovation Industry Group and Committee of the Center for Meat Safety and Quality. In 1989, Robbie became the CSU Tri River Agriculture and Range Extension agent for the Tri River area, which she held until 2012. Robbie is very active in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (serving as president in 2010), Public Lands Council, Society for Range Management (serving as president in 2008), Club 20, Colorado Beef Council, and numerous other boards. Robbie continues to ranch in western Colorado on the multigenerational LeValley Ranch, which was awarded the Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award in 2023.
College of Business
Kimberly (B.S., business administration, ’86) and Jeff (B.S., business administration, ’87) Finnin
Jeffrey S. Finnin is an accomplished CPA with a distinguished career spanning multiple prestigious roles. He has served as a partner at Arthur Andersen and KPMG, as chief accounting officer at Prologis, and as chief financial officer at CoreSite Realty. His leadership extends beyond the corporate world, having contributed significantly to the community through his roles on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, the Executive Council of Bethany Lutheran Church, and the Accounting Advisory Board and Global Leadership Council for Colorado State University. During his time at Colorado State University, Jeff was the president of Beta Alpha Psi, team captain for the baseball team, and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
Kimberly J. Finnin had a successful career in retail, working as an assistant buyer and manager of retail stores for May Company and Gap Kids. She also served as a paraprofessional for Littleton Public Schools and has been a dedicated volunteer for Littleton Public Schools, Bethany Lutheran Church, and Girl Scouts, and as a coach of kids’ sports, along with Jeff. During her time at Colorado State University, Kimberly was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and Mortar Board and served as the Business College Council vice president.
In their personal time, Jeff and Kim enjoy spending time with their family, especially their three children and two grandchildren. They also enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors with activities such as golfing, skiing, biking, and hiking.
College of Health and Human Sciences
Jo Karen “Jody” Werner (B.S., occupational therapy, ’70)
Jo Karen “Jody” Smokstad Werner grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, and was an active Girl Scout who earned the Curved Bar, the highest award in Girl Scouting. Jody met her husband at Green Hall on their first day on the Colorado State University campus as freshmen, and they have been a couple ever since. Jody earned a B.S. in occupational therapy and worked in a variety of therapy settings, including a period with the British National Health Service in Oxford, England. She finished her career as assistant professor of occupational therapy at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. Since retiring and returning to Fort Collins, Jody has volunteered at Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center in Loveland, been a Girl Scout leader for more than 50 years, and currently works with the Girl Scouts of Colorado History Center in Loveland. In 2018, she was recognized as the Department of Occupational Therapy Distinguished Alumna for her contributions to the profession. Jody has endowed two scholarships for occupational therapy graduate students working at CSU’s Early Childhood Center providing experiential learning opportunities for our youngest Rams. Jody’s two daughters, their families, and four grandchildren all call Fort Collins home.
College of Liberal Arts
Marty Lenz (B.A., speech communication, ’90)
Marty Lenz grew up along the Front Range, personally and professionally. After graduating from Columbine High School, Marty realized Colorado State University presented the best opportunities to live out his dreams of playing college football and having a career in and on the radio. College athletics and CSU Rams football taught Marty perseverance, toughness, and teamwork. Academics in the College of Liberal Arts in the Department of Speech Communication and learning from legendary professors, especially Ann Gill, molded and shaped his professional and personal skills.
Since graduating from CSU, Marty has moved up and down the radio and TV dial, and around the country doing what he loves with those he loves – his family: wife, Jolynn; daughters, Ellen (also a CSU alum) and Maree; and son, Hanan. Marty now is co-host/co-anchor for Colorado’s Morning News on KOA. CSU has always remained in his heart, soul, and mind. A football season ticket holder and donor to athletics, academics, and the College of Liberal Arts, Marty, along with fellow CSU CLA alums and siblings, Carole and Jim, created the Lenz Family Legacy Endowment for the college. Like family, CSU is ingrained in Marty’s DNA. He proudly refers to CSU as his “All That Matters,” and believes he wouldn’t be what he is today without his time and experiences at Colorado State University.
College of Natural Sciences
Dr. Kevin Franklin (B.S., biological science, ’84)
Born in Anchorage, Alaska, at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Dr. Kevin Franklin was drawn to Colorado State University and its renowned veterinary school, but altered his plans when the U.S. Air Force discontinued its Veterinary Corps. He graduated from CSU in 1984 with a B.S. in biological sciences and entered active duty as a second lieutenant after completing the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at CSU’s Detachment 90. After completing a medical technology internship, he was the chief of laboratory services at Malmstrom AFB. Kevin was awarded a Doctor of Medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Allied Health Sciences and was commissioned a captain in the Air Force. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Wright Patterson Air Force Medical Center. Drawn in by the challenges of gastroenterology, Kevin completed his fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.
He was gastroenterology consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General and program director for the San Antonio gastroenterology joint military fellowship program. Kevin received major awards and decorations for his service, including the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster. After 26 years in the Air Force, he retired in 2010 but is still providing compassionate gastrointestinal care for his patients at San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates of TDDC.
Kevin is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men. He currently serves as the chief medical officer for the Delta Rho Lambda graduate chapter, providing medical education on health issues that disproportionately affect Black communities.
He and his wife, Dr. Pamela Gill Franklin, endowed the Kevin and Pamela Gill Franklin College of Natural Sciences Scholarship and established the Kevin and Pamela Gill Franklin Leading with Excellence and Professionalism Program.
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Joan Bowen (D.V.M., ’76)
Joan S. Bowen grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. By the time she was 8, she knew she wanted to become a veterinarian. She entered Colorado State University’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program in 1972, working in the college throughout her academic career and marrying her husband, Richard, while pursuing her degree.
After graduation, Joan started a mobile veterinary practice, going door-to-door and farm-to-ranch in Larimer and Weld counties, providing veterinary care for food animals and pets. For 16 years, the American Breeders Service Artificial Insemination Collection Center near Wellington, Colorado, was her largest client, and she served as the first female veterinarian working for a commercial bull stud in the United States.
In 1989, a daughter, Helena Rose Bowen, brought added joy to the Bowens’ lives as she was raised in the back of trucks, on farms and ranches, and at lots of goat shows. Joan’s mentors encouraged her to pursue her passion of small ruminant – mostly dairy goats – production and medicine. She joined the American Association of Sheep and Goat Practitioners while a student and became very involved in program planning, leadership, and educational outreach, serving two terms as president. Additionally, Joan has served on boards for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, International Council for Veterinary Assessment, and CSU’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories External Advisory Committee.
Joan currently serves as a member of the Viticus Group Western Veterinary Conference Board of Directors and continues to support CSU’s DVM program through scholarships. A proud fan of Rams athletics, Joan has held season tickets for the volleyball team, sitting in Section O, Row 5, Seat 1, for the past 25 years. Along with her daughter, Joan was a founding member of the CSU Slam Dunk Club, which supports women’s basketball, and Joan always finds time to root for women’s athletics at CSU.
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering
Elizabeth Walzel (B.S., chemical engineering, ’84)
Elizabeth (Liz) Walzel earned a B.S.in chemical engineering from Colorado State University in 1984. That year, she joined the Dow Chemical Company, where she would stay for her entire 35-year career. Dow is also where Liz met her husband, Mike, whom she married in 1987.
Liz was one of the first women working in Dow’s manufacturing plants and successfully collaborated with plant staffs to set production, safety, and environmental improvement records in every assignment. Following 18 years in manufacturing, Liz served in various roles, including supply chain director, director of technology for specialties and ventures, director of the Houston Engineering Center, president of the Dow Engineering Company, and director of manufacturing and engineering external technical services. She also served as Houston Dow Center site leader and was an active mentor, supported GLAD (Gays, Lesbians and Allies at Dow) as management consultant, and served on the board of the Engineering and Construction Contracting Association. Liz retired from Dow in 2016.
Liz served on the CSU Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board from 2004-2021 and served as chair from 2018-21. Liz and Mike have supported CSU chemical and biological engineering since 1986, with a named scholarship and annual support for the department head discretionary fund.
Since retirement, Liz has volunteered in the math classroom at her local elementary school and is a very active volunteer and board member with SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship. Liz and Mike are learning to farm on their 44 acres of land and enjoy spending time with their son, daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.
Warner College of Natural Resources
Mike Werner (B.S., outdoor recreation, ’70)
Michael Crowell Werner is the son of a career Air Force officer and grew up on Air Force bases all over the United States. Because of his extensive Boy Scout experience, which includes being an Eagle Scout, he came to Colorado State University to study natural resource management and met his wife at Green Hall on their first day on campus. He graduated with a B.S. in outdoor recreation and earned a commission as a second lieutenant from Air Force ROTC. Mike served for 36 years as a morale, welfare, and recreation officer and civilian manager of recreation and troop support activities on Air Force bases across the United States, Thailand, and Great Britain.
Mike created an endowed scholarship that supports three natural resource students each summer at the Mountain Campus, mentors 24 CSU accounting students serving in the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in the College of Business, and actively supports CSU’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 90. As a Girl Scout leader for more than 50 years, he volunteers at the Girl Scouts of Colorado History Center in Loveland. He is a conductor on the Mountain Avenue streetcar each summer and currently serves on four advisory committees for the Poudre School District.
Mike and Jody’s two daughters, their families, and four grandchildren now call Fort Collins home.
Award Descriptions and Criteria
William E. Morgan Alumni Achievement Award
This award is named for Colorado State University’s 8th President, Dr. William E. Morgan, whose participation in and commitment to the life of Colorado State University for over 30 years has significantly contributed to Colorado State’s position as a premier institution of higher education. This award is the highest honor given by the Association and is reserved for alumni who have excelled at the national or international level. The purpose of this award is to recognize a graduate of Colorado State University who has attained extraordinary distinction and success in their field of endeavor, whose achievements have brought credit to Colorado State University and benefit to their fellow citizens.
The ideal candidate must have:
• A degree from Colorado State University
• A proven record of extraordinary distinction and accomplishment in their field
• Demonstrated achievements that have brought credit to CSU
• Demonstrated leadership and service to their community and society at large
• Received national or international recognition
• Made a significant contribution of time and talent to the University
• Demonstrated value for the University’s commitment to research, education, extension and service
** Cannot be a current Colorado State University/CSU System employee.
Charles A. Lory Public Service Award
This award is named for Dr. Charles A. Lory, 5th president of Colorado State University, whose leadership helped the University attain a vital balance of teaching, research and service. It is given to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional and sustained leadership in their community, professional field, or personal commitments, and has given a significant contribution of time and talent to the University.
The ideal candidate must have:
• Demonstrated exceptional and sustained leadership in their professional field and/or personal commitments
• Demonstrated extraordinary and exemplary public and/or community service
• Made a significant contribution of time and talent to the University
• A degree from Colorado State University
** Cannot be a current Colorado State University/CSU System employee.
Jim and Nadine Henry Award
This award is given in honor of Jim (’40) and Nadine (Hartshorn) (’41) Henry of Longmont, Colorado, who exemplify extraordinary service to Colorado State University and its academic, athletic, and alumni programs. This award is presented annually to a person who represents the highest goals of the Alumni Association and Colorado State University, and who has given significant support and service to the Alumni Association and the University.
The ideal candidate must:
• Adequately embody and demonstrate the four core values of the CSU Alumni Association: Pride, Tradition, Relationships and Diversity
• Demonstrate a commitment to, and involvement in, the life of the University
• Have given significant support to the CSU Alumni Association and the University
• Demonstrate a record of service to the University, the CSU Alumni Association and Athletics
• A degree from Colorado State University
** Cannot be a current Colorado State University/CSU System employee.
Graduate of the Last Decade Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize a recent graduate for their accomplishments made in the area of career, service, and/or volunteer efforts that have brought honor to the individual and to Colorado State University. The nominee must have graduated from Colorado State University within the last ten years.
The ideal candidate must have:
• Obtained CSU undergraduate degree within the last ten years from the nomination deadline (2010-2020)
• Demonstrated contributions that have brought honor to the individual and to CSU in the area of career, service and/or volunteer efforts
** Cannot be a current Colorado State University/CSU System employee.
Distinguished Athletics Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual for their outstanding commitment to Colorado State University Athletics, who has contributed to the goal of excellence in athletics, and brought honor to the university. The recipient may be a former Athletic Department staff member, former athlete, or dedicated volunteer and must be a Colorado State University alum.
** Cannot be a current Colorado State University/CSU System employee.
College Alumnus Award
Each year, the Colorado State University Alumni Association honors an outstanding alumnus/a from each of the University’s eight colleges. An Honor Alumnus/Alumna is a former student who, by their distinguished career and service to the University, state, nation, or world, has brought honor to Colorado State University and to themselves.
** Cannot be a current Colorado State University/CSU System employee.