2008
2008 Press Releases and Stories
Western Receives Grants to Support Solar and Thermal Energy Projects in Kelley Hall
Dec. 22, 2008 -- Western State College’s campus sustainability efforts received a boost from the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO), which awarded the College two grants for solar energy projects. This is the first time that WSC has received funding from GEO.
Dudley Earns Cap and Gown for his Brother
Dec. 17, 2008 --When asked what he is graduating in, Will Dudley joked, “A cap and a gown.”
Western's Heather Orr in Archaeology Magazine
Nov. 30, 2008 --A feature article in the November/December issue of Archaeology magazine profiles an ancient ritual in Southern Mexico that involves the offering of blood to the rain gods.
Dressing (and texting) for a Cause
Nov. 25, 2008 -- Using popular forms of communication like text messaging and Facebook a new shoe company has made a successful name for themselves; all while donating 70,000 pairs of shoes to children in need.
Finding ‘Shangri-la’ in everyday life
Nov. 24, 2008 -- Like many young kids, Harry Heil had an addiction that distracted him from school. For him, it wasn’t video games or television. It was drawing.
WSC Student Film to Premier on Dec. 15
November 24, 2008 -- The 7-11 Ranch in Ohio City, Colo., is a popular place for hunters to stay while they're looking to bag a deer. This past fall, a different kind of shooting occurred -- a film shoot by students at Western State College of Colorado.
Marilyn Laverty New Small Business Development Center Director
Oct. 31, 2008 -- The Small Business Development Center (SBDC), based here at Western State College, has named Marilyn Laverty the new director. Laverty is a third generation Coloradoan that calls herself, "a business woman who enjoys supporting business owners to achieve their goals."
Future Movie Makers Lab Renovated
Oct. 27, 2008 -- Second year assistant professor Jack Lucido is on the executive committee for the upcoming $21 million renovation of Taylor Hall.
Facilities Considering Electric Vehicles
October 13th, 2008 -- Facilities Services is looking into purchasing some electric vehicles, which could be good for Western; economically and environmentally.
Jon Coady Serves the Vegans and the Carnivores
Oct. 10, 2008 -- Jon Coady prepares meals for a wide range of people at Western State College; from the organic vegetarian to the T-bone steak eating carnivore.
Dance Team - Something New and All Volunteer
Oct. 8, 2008 -- "13 girls aren't always easy to work with," Kelly McNeil says.
Western Class Testing Water for the EPA
Sept. 24, 2008 -- Henson Creek, which flows into Lake City, is listed by the State of Colorado and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an impaired waterway. This last week an Environmental Applications course from Western State College, led by Professor Kevin Alexander, was performing water quality tests on the river.
Kelley Hall will be LEED Gold with Solar
Sept. 16, 2008 -- "This is a realization of hopes, dreams, and vision coming into reality," President Jay Helman said on the new Kelley Hall.
Cleve Holmes Studied, Served and Wrestled at Western
Sept. 16, 2008 -- Meeting his wife Tara (Dell) Holmes, at Western is the most significant memory from Cleveland Holmes's college career.
Western Students Running Cars on Vegetable Oil
Sept. 16, 2008 -- Western State College students Sam Duchaine and Zeb Swick drove from Maine to Iowa this summer on free oil.
Student Organizes Motocross Event on Campus
Sept. 12, 2008 -- For Matt Vassal motocross is, "too scary to do anymore." But the Western State College senior still enjoys watching the extreme sport, and has been instrumental in organizing this Saturday's Team FMX motocross event - a first of its kind in Gunnison. It is part of WSC's homecoming festivities this weekend.
Western's Radio Station on Air for 40 Years
Sept. 11, 2008 -- Kevin Sack is a history major at Western State College and he has a techno show on KWSB, our college's radio station. He values the, "freedom to express yourself" on the station, which dials in at 91.1 FM.
Environmental Studies Home at Last
Sept. 3, 2009 -- In the west wing on the first floor of the newly renovated Kelley Hall the Environmental Studies (ENVS) department is settling in to its first permanent home.
Political Science and Spanish Led Pete Solano to Where He is Today
Sept. 3, 2009 -- Without his academic mentors at Western, Pete Solano says he would not be where he is today. Solano graduated from Western in 1995.
Kirky Olsen Climbs Up Down Under
Sept. 2, 2009 -- After just a year in Gunnison 19 year old Kirsten "Kirky" Olsen can hang with the strongest local climbers.
Easy Being Green this Labor Day Weekend
Aug. 22, 2009 -- "Living Green" has the momentum of a boulder tumbling down a mountain. Western's Residence Life and the Environmental Studies department will be harnessing that momentum for the students after our college's first week of classes.
From Yellowstone to the Classroom
Aug. 20, 2009 -- A dozen Colorado school teachers went to study elk and wolves in Yellowstone this summer, and they are bringing back what they learned to the classroom.
Wilderness Pursuits Director to Pass the Torch
Aug. 8, 2009 -- Jake Jones is passing the torch -and the climbing rope- to Janna Hansen. Jones is stepping down as the director of Wilderness Pursuits (WP) at Western State College, and Janna Hansen is being promoted to the position.
Gretchen Moran Used to Ride Hartmans Now She Flies in the Middle East
July 30, 2009 -- Gretchen Moran used to ride mountain bikes at Hartman Rocks, now she flies helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Young Blood a Hot Commodity in Booming Energy Industry
July 2, 2009 -- When Shannon Townley graduated from Western State College in December 2006 with a degree in geology, she worked for the Colorado Geologic Survey (CGS) for six months, like many WSC alumni before her.
Borick Business Building Officially LEED Certified
June 23, 2008 -- An extraordinary moment, born of “what ifs,” happened this Friday when the Borick Business Building officially received the Silver LEED certification.
Update on Graduate Programs
June 10, 2008 -- The Teacher Education Program (TEP) may be the first to offer courses in Western’s new era of graduate studies.
Western's Newest Emphasis: Professional Land and Resource Management
June 10, 2008 -- The newest emphasis at Western, Professional Land and Resource Management (PLRM), began with its first course this spring.
“With Many Becomes One” Successful Relay for Life
Apr. 29, 2008 -- Low temperatures could not dampen high spirits in Western State College’s Mountaineer Bowl Friday night during the Relay for Life which raised more than $50,000 for cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services.
WSC Community Garden Enters its Third Season
Apr. 21, 2008 -- Producing everything from hollyhock flowers to juicy tomatoes the Community Garden is sprouting into its third season. The garden is located on campus in between Coronado and Beckwith Halls.
