Article by Andrea Benton-Maestas
Dennis Lopez will share his incredible insight on the origination of place names within the San Luis Valley. Based on an adaptation of his well-received "Archaic Spanish of the Upper Rio Grande Region" lecture, Lopez will address how names of towns and establishments came into being and have been adapted over the years. Each name is uniquely rooted in the rich heritage of the expansive valley, reflecting the diversity in its growth.
Lopez, a sixth generation native from Capulin, Colorado, currently lives in Alamosa. Lopez received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and French and a master’s in secondary education from Adams State. He taught academic Spanish in the Alamosa School District. He has been dedicated to a study of the different influences and nuances of the Spanish language spoken in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico, which due in part to our isolation, has remained true to its ancient roots. This life-long study prepared Lopez to share what he learned about this distinct dialect, found nowhere else in the Spanish speaking world. Currently, Lopez serves as a Case Manager for the Valley Wide Health Systems at the Convenient Care location.
Adams State University will host this 2016 Lifeways of the San Luis Valley Lecture as part of their series from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Thursday, April 28, in McDaniel Hall, room 101. An audience question and answer session will take place in the last fifteen minutes of the presentation. This lecture is free and open to the public; as well as, all ASU students, faculty, and staff. Parking is located east of McDaniel Hall. Adams State University parking lots do not require permits after 5 p.m. The Spring 2016 Lifeways of the San Luis Valley lecture series is sponsored by the Community for Inclusive Excellence, Leadership & Opportunity (CIELO) at ASU. We are thankful to CIELO for their support and generosity.
Please join us for what promises to be a captivating look into the history of how the Valley’s communities were entitled.
