Foundation News - September 2019
#LoveCSUPueblo Give Day 2019
The #LoveCSUPueblo Give Day is a one-day-only fundraising event encouraging you to support one — or more — of more than 20 cross-campus projects. The fourth annual event will take place on Friday, November 15, 2019. When you give a gift that is meaningful to you at giveday.csupueblo.edu, one hundred percent of your gift will benefit the program designated. Better yet, the CSU-Pueblo Foundation will match it dollar-for-dollar (up to $1,000 per participating organization). All donations are tax deductible. After making a gift, spread the word and share via social media!
Applications are being accepted through Sept. 27 from campus organizations and departments who want to participate in this exciting fundraising event. Visit giveday.csupueblo.edu for more information.
Distinguished Young Alumni Award – Call for Nominations
The CSU-Pueblo Give Day Distinguished Young Alumni Award is one of the highest honors bestowed upon an alumna/us, under the age of 35. The award recognizes alumni who have enhanced the reputation of the college through their outstanding professional achievements, personal accomplishments, and/or their loyal service to their alma mater and community.
Mission
We are proud of what our alumni do around the world. They lead in your communities. They create new ways to serve and meet needs. They take what they learned as a student and use it to make things better in their work, where they live and for the people closest to them. Every year we highlight some of the amazing things our alumni have done and honor them during the annual Love CSU-Pueblo Give Day.
The CSU-Pueblo Foundation and Alumni Association annually seeks and accepts nominations for the CSU-Pueblo Give Day Distinguished Young Alumni Award. The selection is made from nominees who are CSU-Pueblo graduates 35 years of age or younger who have had outstanding achievement in career, public service and/or volunteer activities for their community and/or alma mater.
Recipient Eligibility and Selection Criteria
- Personifies the mission of the CSU-Pueblo Give Day Distinguished Young Alumni Award.
- Has received recognition as an emerging leader trough professional and/or community achievements.
- Exemplifies outstanding professional and personal development either through traditional channels or innovative approaches.
- Serves as a role model for current and future CSU-Pueblo students and alumni.
- Nominees for the CSU-Pueblo Give Day Distinguished Young Alumni Award must be under the age of 35 by the nomination deadline of September 15, 2019.
- Nominations are considered for three (3) consecutive years beginning with the year of nomination.
- Must hold an earned degree from CSU-Pueblo.
- Previous recipients are not eligible for consideration again.
- Current members of the Board of Directors for the CSU-Pueblo Foundation, Alumni Association, or Alumni Relations Office are not eligible for the award.
- Current employees of CSU-Pueblo are not eligible for the award.
- Persons currently holding or running for elected state of federal public office in Colorado are not eligible for consideration.
*It is the nominator’s responsibility to confirm the nominee meets the above criteria.
Nomination and Selection Procedures
Nomination required. Nominees must be living at the time of their nominations. Nominations must be submitted on the nomination forms supplied by the CSU-Pueblo Foundation or Alumni Association. Self-nominations will not be considered.
- Nomination forms can be submitted at any time. They must be completed in their entirety and postmarked by September 15, 2019. Any nominations received after this date will be carried to the following year’s nominations.
- Please submit as much information as you can. Selections are based on information received.
- Prior to final selection, supporting documentation will be required to be submitted upon request for select nominees.
A selection committee from each college of the nominee’s degrees will review all nominations from that college (CEEPS, CHASS, CSM, HSB) and will select the final candidate to receive the CSU-Pueblo Give Day Distinguished Young Alumni Award from that college. There will be four (4) young alumni recipients each year (one recipient per college).
Download an application at www.csupueblofoundation.com
Mia Gilbertson Making an Impact on CSU-Pueblo Campus
For Mia Gilbertson, a sophomore mass communications major at CSU-Pueblo, being a Kane Scholar and member of the President’s Leadership Program (PLP) has enabled her to step-out of her comfort zone and establish herself early in her college career as a leader. The Kane Family Foundation Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program providing funds for the full cost of tuition, books and mandatory course fees to selected Pueblo County high school graduates choosing to attend CSU-Pueblo.
“My college experience was transformed by the Kane Family Foundation Scholarship, providing me with financial security, autonomy and a great deal of pride,” said Mia.
While most freshman students are just getting their feet wet learning to balance the rigors of college classes, Mia stepped-up to serve the CSU-Pueblo campus. Currently, she serves on the Associated Students’ Government as a justice and associate chief justice and manages the University’s Pack Pantry for students and staff struggling with food insecurity. Both of these opportunities were realized through her participation in PLP.
“PLP was a game changer for me. I’m reserved and somewhat shy, so working in a large group and then learning to manage other people and the pantry has been so rewarding.”
Established in 2015 by CSU-Pueblo student, Autumn Black (A15), the Pack Pantry alleviates food and hygiene hardship on the CSU-Pueblo campus by providing emergency food and hygiene items for students, faculty and staff. In order to manage and handle food in the Pantry, Mia received a food safety handling certificate and is a registered contact with Care & Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado. Serving between 30 and 40 individuals each month, the Pack Pantry provides much-needed service to CSU-Pueblo students and is raising awareness around hunger issues on our campus.
In addition to her many other campus roles, this fall, Mia will begin her tenure as a CSU-Pueblo Foundation Board of Trustees member providing a student voice to the organization and elevating the visibility of the Foundation and its mission with students and the community. Mia attributes her success and ability to participate fully in the CSU-Pueblo culture to her Kane Family Foundation Scholarship.
“I feel pressure to exceed expectations academically and professionally. Every time a professor recognizes me as a Kane Scholar, I know I must look beyond myself and represent the University and Kane Family Foundation in the best way possible.”
Years ago, Mia’s mother shared a Japanese phrase that embodies the mentality of treasuring each moment, especially moments with other people — Ichigo Ichie. Directly translated, it means one time, one encounter. This phrase has helped guide Mia in her relationships with others and her approach to life. In fact, Mia is partnering with her dad to host a podcast meant to analyze political ideologies with respect, empathy and reason. Mia’s goal is to make people with differing perspectives feel appreciated and understood rather than attacked. Mia would like to end each podcast with the words Ichigo Ichie. “It’s like saying goodbye, but also that I appreciate and value you.”
Her podcast concept dovetails with her dream to be like CSU-Pueblo mass communications alumnae and media personality, Dana Perino (A94). Once Mia has obtained her bachelor’s degree, she’d like to pursue a law degree and while she may not go the traditional route and become a lawyer, she’ll use her knowledge to understand the complexities of political, social and legal issues affecting people.
Friends & Scholars Luncheon
CSU-Pueblo Foundation is pleased to host the annual Friends & Scholars Luncheon on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 in the Occhiato Student Center Ballroom. This event brings together CSU-Pueblo Foundation scholarship recipients and their generous benefactors. Jessica Gottlieb (A93) will serve as the 2019 keynote speaker. Jessica is an expert and owner of Power Mom and Mombersation Blogs. She is a CSU-Pueblo Foundation Trustee and lives in southern California.
Reisher Scholars Program Signs with CSU-Pueblo
On Wednesday, July 10, representatives from the Reisher Scholars Program at the Denver Foundation were on campus to sign an agreement for CSU-Pueblo to become the 7th Colorado university to partner with the Reisher Scholars Program to provide scholarship funding for Colorado students with demonstrated financial need and proven academic merit.
Students who have completed their freshman year at a partner university or who are transferring into one of the universities from community colleges for their junior year may apply. Applicants must meet a variety of eligibility requirements, including a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better, demonstrated financial need and involvement in service activities.
The Reisher Scholars Program, a fund of the Denver Foundation, seeks to help promising Colorado students earn their undergraduate degrees without incurring additional educational debt. CSU-Pueblo was recently selected through work of the CSU-Pueblo Foundation to become a Reisher Scholars Program partner university.
“This is an exciting opportunity because the Reisher Scholars Program focuses on rising college sophomores and transfer students from community colleges,” said CSU-Pueblo Foundation CEO/President Todd Kelly. “For CSU-Pueblo continuing and transfer students with demonstrated academic and leadership potential as undergraduates, this scholarship program will ensure they can finish their degree program without incurring additional debt.”
The program was established in 2001 by the Reisher family. Roger and Margaret Reisher came from modest means and were the first in their families to attend and graduate from college. Appreciating how much their education impacted their lives and success in the banking industry, the Reishers established the program to help fill a gap in Colorado student financial aid. While many scholarships help students get started on their college journey, the Reisher Scholarship is designed to help provide students with the financial means to complete their undergraduate degree.
“We are very excited to offer the Reisher Scholarship to the southern Colorado region through CSU-Pueblo. This scholarship changes lives and allows high-achieving students to complete their college degrees coming out of school with little to no debt,” said Denver Foundation Director of Scholarship Programs Sharon Harper.
Reisher Scholar awards are full, unmet need scholarships and now range from $4,000 to $11,000 per year. From 2001 to 2015, over 1,000 students from a wide variety of backgrounds have received Reisher support, with a total of $15.7 million in scholarships. The Reisher Scholars Program continues to grow, expanding its reach and impact to help Colorado college students reach their goals.
"This scholarship will be a monumental offering to our region. The Reisher Scholarship will help to provide affordability and accessibility to education. This program will be life-changing for many in our community,” said CSU-Pueblo President Timothy Mottet.
The Reisher Scholars Program will be implemented at CSU-Pueblo in the fall of 2021 with the mission to provide educational opportunities for promising and economically qualified Colorado undergraduate students. Scholars are highly motivated, goal-oriented, responsible, and/or likely to make a contribution to society as evidenced by community service, leadership activities, work experience, or unusual experience.
The selection process is competitive through the CSU-Pueblo Foundation Scholarship Application process and there will be a limited number of awards available.
