April Letter from President Cheryl D. Lovell, Ph.D.
Spring has sprung. We’ve had some moisture this month which encouraged the early flowers I see poking out of beds across campus. It’s not just the plant life awakening at Adams State, this year March came out like a hungry grizzly in terms of activities and accomplishments.
For some time now, I have envisioned Adams State reconnecting with the community on a much deeper level and moving our mission forward. Our newest executive team hire, Bruce Rosengrant, started on Monday, March 28, as the Vice President of Community Engagement and Communication. He spent this week becoming acquainted with the campus and community. I hope you will soon meet Bruce face-to-face as his experience in higher education will guide the University into a future of stronger community engagement and connection.
Grizzly roars reverberated loud and clear at the national level. Three wrestlers, Jonathan Andreatta, Noah Hermosillo, and Josiah Rider, are national champions and Head Coach Jason Ramstetter was named NWCA Division II National Tournament Coach of the Year. Brianna Robles just keeps breaking records, her time in the indoor 5K, 16:00.98, not only earned her an individual championship but set a new personal, and NCAA Division II, record on March 11.
As always, Adams State remains relevant academically. A bachelor’s degree in public health begins in the fall and our food studies classroom is renovated, thanks to funding by the local Outcalt Foundation. Students have started hands-on lessons, making delicious dishes as they prepare for future careers in the food industry.
Across campus we are seeing a return to pre-pandemic normal and that includes mask wearing as a personal decision while inside our campus buildings and during in-person activities and events. This month, German students from the University of Siegen visited our School of Education and observed K12 classrooms across the San Luis Valley. The future educators exchanged ideas and techniques for best practices in the classroom with Adams State education students.
As we leave winter behind, a variety of events are scheduled to educate and entertain. A bronze relief commemorating the historic Maestas Case, one of the first civil rights cases in the United States, will be placed in McDaniel Hall for the summer and filmmaker Valadez will answer questions after the showing of his film, American Exile. Throughout April, visual and performing arts inspire audiences with robust programs and provide students hands-on experiences not always available at larger institutions.
Only five more weeks until finals week. Our 2022 spring commencement returns to Plachy Hall, the first ceremony in that building since fall 2019. We have live-streamed our graduation ceremonies for about a decade and will continue to do so at adams.edu/live for those unable to attend.
Grizzly Greatness is blooming in academics, athletics, and student life. With your support, current and future Adams State students can develop deep roots and grow rich in knowledge as they passionately and purposefully achieve personal and career goals. We ask you to take the time to nominate a local high school student from your community for admission to Adams State. Keep the tradition alive. Go Adams State!!
