The Colorado State University Pueblo Foundation Trustees and staff had a busy October hosting events for alumni, scholarship donors, and scholarship recipients.
Over the 31 days of the month, the CSU Pueblo Foundation assisted the CSU Pueblo Alumni Association with nine homecoming events welcoming back over 200 former students, hosted two scholarship recognition events with over 600 attendees, held their quarterly Trustee meeting, and finished with a clean third-party audit.
“I would like to thank the CSU Pueblo Foundation Trustees, as well as a big thank you to the hard-working Foundation staff, for their time and effort in October,” said Todd Kelly, Foundation President/CEO. “This is a busy time of year for us, but everything we did was a culmination of a year’s worth of efforts in fundraising, engagement, fiduciary responsibility, and enjoyment.”
Below is a breakdown of each event and more details.
HOMECOMING EVENTS
Homecoming is more than just a tradition—it’s a time to reunite, celebrate our shared pride, and make new memories as ThunderWolves. The CSU Pueblo Alumni Association welcomed over 200 alumni across 9 different events to include:
October 4, 2024
Dave Lange Memorial Golf Tournament: The CSU Pueblo baseball program welcomed over 125 former players and supporters for a day of golf, a silent auction, and lunch, raising funds to support the baseball team and the Dave Lange Memorial Baseball Scholarship.
Classified Staff Council Cornhole Tournament: The Classified Staff Council Scholarship provides financial assistance to CSU Pueblo staff members who are classified employees or their family members pursuing higher education. The tournament raised over $3,000 to support the Classified Staff Council Scholarship Fund.
Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner: CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves Athletics celebrated the legacy of its athletic program by inducting a new class into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The ceremony honored seven former student-athletes, a longtime baseball coach, a contributor to the baseball program, the Women’s Recreation Association legacy of the 1950s and 1960s, and three former teams: 1982 football, 2011-12 women’s golf, and 2013-14 women’s golf. Over 350 attendees gathered for the dinner, and the inductees were also recognized at the CSU Pueblo Homecoming Football Game.
Student Engagement and Leadership and the Associated Students’ Government pep rally and bonfire: The pep rally and bonfire event featured the introduction of the homecoming court, along with performances by the CSU Pueblo band and dance team.
October 5, 2024
Engineering Breakfast and Open House: The CSU Pueblo Alumni Association hosted an engineering alumni breakfast sponsored by ENSCO and Martin Marietta. The event allowed alumni to tour the remodeled Technology Building and see displays from current student engineering projects.
Alumni Tailgate: Nearly 100 ThunderWolves supporters gathered for a pre-game party before CSU Pueblo’s game against New Mexico Highlands. Highlights included a flash mob by the marching band, over 20 alumni performing the fight song, and a former drum major directing the national anthem—all celebrating Pack pride and community.
Ice Cream Social Work: A casual event designed to encourage social work alumni to engage and see what great things the CSU Pueblo Social Work Program is accomplishing.
Media and Entertainment After Party: The Media and Entertainment Program at CSU Pueblo hosted a free concert, offering students hands-on experience in live production, including operating cameras, switchboards, and other live event technologies.
October 6, 2024
Distinguished Young Alumni Awards Brunch: The CSU Pueblo Distinguished Young Alumni Award, one of the university’s highest honors for alumni under 40, recognizes outstanding professional achievements, personal accomplishments, and dedicated service to their alma mater and community.
At this Sunday brunch, the university’s President and Deans celebrated the top five young alumni from each college, selected through a competitive nomination process. The event highlighted the inspiring stories of these recipients and their efforts to enhance their communities while strengthening CSU Pueblo’s reputation.
FRIENDS AND SCHOLARS EVENTS
The CSU Pueblo Foundation hosted its annual Friends & Scholars and Athletics Appreciation Luncheons, bringing together over 550 donors and scholarship recipients to celebrate the
life-changing impact of scholarships. Thanks to the generosity of donors, more than 900 scholarships totaling over $3 million have supported students in achieving their academic goals this academic year.
Special recognition goes to Sandy Lundahl, Director of Foundation Scholarships, for her exceptional work in organizing these events, making the day a memorable celebration of community support and student success.
October 2, 2024
Friends and Scholars Athletics Luncheon: Over 100 donors and scholars celebrated the achievements of CSU Pueblo student-athletes. Men’s soccer player, Ignatius Demark, shared his journey as an athlete and his plans after graduation, inspiring attendees with his story.
October 16, 2024
Friends and Scholars Academics Luncheon: More than 450 donors and scholars celebrated student success and donor support. Alondra Solas-Ayala, CSU Pueblo’s student body president, delivered the keynote address, sharing her journey from a financially difficult upbringing to her leadership role on campus.
October 30, 2024
Reisher Scholars Dinner: The CSU Pueblo Foundation recently celebrated its Annual Reisher Scholars Dinner, honoring new transfer students and rising sophomores in the Reisher Scholars Program for their academic achievements. Special guests from the Denver Foundation, CSU Pueblo President Armando Valdez, and others joined to support the scholars, with a keynote by Senior scholar Cidonia Ponce, who shared her journey of overcoming financial and social obstacles. The evening welcomed 12 new transfers and 13 Rising sophomores, underscoring the program’s ongoing impact in providing financial support to students in need across Colorado.
October 10, 2024
Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Donates Chile Fest Proceeds: The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce announced a generous donation to the CSU Pueblo Foundation and Pueblo Community College Foundation, funded by tips collected during this year’s Chile & Frijole Festival. The proceeds will support scholarships for students pursuing degrees in Business and Agriculture at both institutions, reflecting the Chamber’s commitment to advancing local education and career opportunities.
Friday October 18, 2024
Foundation Trustees meet and then tour CSU Pueblo campus: The CSU Pueblo Board of Trustees met to recognize key updates and celebrate student success. The Board presented the prestigious Pack Way Award to Bobby Applegate, CSU Pueblo Head Baseball Coach, for his outstanding leadership and alumni engagement.
Seniors Cidonia Ponce and Ashlyn Nogare Drury shared how scholarships have supported their education and future plans, emphasizing the impact of donor generosity. The Board also toured the renovated Buell Communications Center, now a state-of-the-art production facility for student media opportunities.
Additionally, the Board welcomed four new members: Rebecca Diaz, Ray Erjavec, Matt Hutchings, and KC Savage, who will contribute to the university’s continued growth.
October 24, 2024
Ken White, III Donates $15,000 to CSU Pueblo: Ken White, III presented a $13,000 check to CSU Pueblo Foundation for the Dr. Rahul Singh Nursing Scholarship, along with an additional $2,000 for CSU Pueblo’s Track and Field program. These donations, raised through the Break Your Neck 5K, were made possible by Ken and his family just one year after he suffered a broken neck. Ken, embodying resilience, even participated in the event to support CSU Pueblo students and athletes.
