FOR UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO ALUMNI AND FRIENDS NorthernNorthernVISION WINTER 2008 UNC’S JAZZ PROGRAM CONTInuES JJaaA TRADITIOzzN OF EzzXCELLEnceeE dd SPECIAL SECTION REPORT ON GIVING CANCER REHABILITATION INSTITUTE >> HONORS AND SCHOLARS Call 970.351.4TIX (4849) or visit www.uncbears.com www.uncbears.com WINTER 2008 DEPARTMENTS contentsFEATURES 3 10 A Smooth Melody The UNC Jazz Studies Program continues to build a reputation as one of the country’s best 14 8 2 Letters 18 3 Northern News 8 Bears Sports 22 Giving Back 14 A Higher Learning The Center for Honors, Scholars and 23 Alumni News Leadership challenges students to go 24 Alumni Profile beyond education to think for themselves 25 Class Notes 18 Transforming Lives 32 Calendar of Events UNC’s Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute changes the way patients, students and professionals think about cancer recovery ON THE COVER SPECIAL SECTION FOR UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO The University of Northern ALUMNI AND FRIENDS Colorado Big Band ensemble, 25 WINTER 2008 NorthernVISION photographed after a perfor- Report 23 mance at the University Center, was named Best College Big on Giving Band by Down Beat magazine. This was the seventh award in Transforming UNC’S JAZZ PROGRAM CONTINUES NorthernVISION A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE the past five years for the Jazz Lives Through Jazzed Studies Program. Education SPECIAL SECTION REPORT ON GIVING Vol. 5 No. 2 CANCER REHABILITATION INSTITUTE >> HONORS AND SCHOLARS PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIK STENBAKKEN 33 NORTHERN VISION < UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO > 1 lettersREADER This is an egregious error. I realize China 101 Editor that no one pays admission to see these Danyel Barnard THE SIDEBAR on the article “China 101” students run, but a cross country meet Alumni/Class Notes Editor in the fall 2007 issue said that the China is a true spectator sport where fans can Margie Meyer trip was the first three-week faculty- get close to the runners, cheer them on Contributing Writers taught study abroad course. I found from just a few feet away, and give them Anne Cumming Rice, Jennifer Starbuck, Allie Steg ’03, Jason Webb ’97, ’06 this interesting because when I was a an encouraging pat on the back. There Contributing Photographers sophomore in 1964, I traveled with a are no stands or bleachers to separate John Blake, Tom Blessner, Barry Lapoint, group of mostly older students (teach- runners from spectators—and everyone Erik Stenbakken ing assistants) to Europe for a term. We receives encouragement, from first to Art Direction/Design were accompanied by a faculty member last. I feel you owe an apology to these John Hall Design Group and received 15 credit hours for our students, to their coach, Doug Bell, University President studies—five hours each in European and to the runners’ parents for your Kay Norton history, geography and art history. So omission. It reflects poor reporting, UNC Foundation President/CEO while the China trip may have been the inadequate knowledge of the athletic Virgil Scott first “three-week” study course of its program and disregard for the hard Vice President of Development Michael Johnson nature, the university has a long history work of these university athletes. of students learning abroad. Both of my Cathy Intemann ’73, MA ’75 Editorial Office daughters studied overseas when they Proud parent of a Bear runner and Judy Farr Alumni Center were in college, too. All of our family music education major, class of 2010 1620 Reservoir Road Albuquerque, N.M. Campus Box 20 members have made lifelong friends Greeley, CO 80639 when delving into other cultures (both Phone here and in other countries). This sort 970.351.2551 of experience is appropriate and im- Memories of the ’40s 800.332.1862 portant for every student. IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE reading Email [email protected] Rita (Kirk) Powell ’66 Northern Vision. It is apparent, though, Dallas, Ore. that you get little from students who Fax 970.351.1835 graduated in the 1940s—I guess we are getting fewer and fewer. There is one Numbers to Know Apologies to Admissions 970.351.2881 topic that should be written about. Dur- Alumni Relations 970.351.2551 Cross Country ing WWII, Coach Dobenmeier created Athletic Ticket Office 970.351.4TIX (4849) Bookstore 970.351.2135 WHEN I RECEIVED the fall 2007 issue what was known as “Dobby’s Letters,” Financial Aid 970.351.2502 of Northern Vision, I was just leaving which was a report on what was then Public Relations 970.351.2331 Registrar 970.351.2231 Albuquerque to drive five hours to the Colorado State College of Educa- Switchboard 970.351.1890 Colorado Springs to watch my daughter tion for people in the service. It came Visitor’s Center 970.351.2097 and the other men and women of the out monthly and, for us in the service, Northern Vision magazine is published three times UNC cross country team compete in it was welcome mail to read about our a year by the University of Northern Colorado Foundation. The views presented are not neces- the Colorado College Cross Country fellow classmates. I believe there is a sarily those of the editors or the official policies Invitational. I flipped to the fall sports file of these somewhere on campus. of the university. All material in the magazine © 2008 by the University of Northern Colorado preview and saw only three sports President Frasier wrote in a letter that Foundation and individual photographers. featured: women’s volleyball; men’s and it was the greatest public relations tool For change of address, email data@uncalumni. women’s soccer; and football. However, ever for the college. It’s time for a story org or call 970.351.2551 or 800.332.1862. POST- the 20+ students who make up UNC about this! MASTER: Please send address changes to North- ern Vision, Campus Box 20, Greeley, CO 80639. men’s and women’s cross country team Marvin Billings ’47, MA ’48 were not even mentioned. San Bernardino, Calif. We’d love to hear from you. Send letters to [email protected] or Northern Vision, University of Northern Colorado, Judy Farr Alumni Center, Campus Box 20, Greeley, CO 80639. 2 < WINTER 2008 > WWW.UNCO.EDU NORTHERN WHAT’s HAPPENING ON CAMPUS AND IN THE NORTHERN COLORADO COMMUNITY news Student Support UNC Recognized Nationally for McNair Scholars Excellence in Teacher Education Program Receives $1 Million Grant THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION of State Colleges and Universities recognized the THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION University of Northern Colorado for its leadership and innovation by selecting the awarded the university a $1 million, four- university as one of three recipients of the 2007 year grant to continue the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher McNair Scholars Program. Education. UNC received the award for the inno- UNC was one of 181 institu- vative and exemplary manner in which elemen- tions selected for funding tary and secondary teacher education programs out of 318 that applied. The have designed and implemented a comprehensive McNair Scholars Program provides undergraduate assessment system, “Assessment and Program research opportunities Innovation for Quality Teacher Preparation.” The designed to prepare eligible juniors and system permits ongoing and continuous im- seniors for graduate school. The federally provement of programs, high-quality feedback to funded TRIO program is dedicated to in- teacher candidates, and excellent, technologically creasing access to doctoral education among sophisticated role models of assessments for pro- currently underrepre- The McNair Scholars sented groups. Since spective classroom teachers. “We are honored to Program is named 2000, 71 percent be selected by our peers for the Christa McAuliffe for Ronald McNair, Award,” said Kay Norton, UNC president. “Teacher of graduating UNC who was killed in the McNair Scholars have education represents a mission-critical area of the Challenger explosion. been accepted into university that can be traced back to our institu- graduate school. This is the fourth time since tion’s earliest beginnings. This award speaks to the devoted and knowledgeable faculty the UNC program began in 1995 that it will who serve a vital role in delivering a top-notch education to our future teachers and receive grant funding from the Department who transform lives along the way.” The award, named in honor of Christa McAuliffe, a of Education. For more information, visit teacher who died in the 1986 Challenger disaster, was first presented in the 1980s. www.unco.edu/mcnair. Art EXhibit DocuMenTING CHINA: ConTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY and SocIAL CHANGE JAN. 23–FEB. 15. MARIANI GALLERY, UNC SCHooL of ART and DesIGN DEVELOPED BY THE BATES COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART in Lewiston, Maine, “Documenting China: Contemporary Photography and Social Change” was organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. An opening reception will be held Jan. 23, 4–6 pm. The exhibit is part of the “Path- ways to China” program that aims to deepen audiences’ knowledge of the people, events and places that underscore the importance of Chinese culture in global civilization. For more information, visit www.arts.unco.edu/china08. Zhang Qunzi and Her Two Daughters Mengjin County, Henan, 1996, by Jiang Jian. NORTHERN VISION < UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO > 3 newsNORTHERN Trustees PVA Dean Chosen for Fulbright Program ANDREW JAY SVEDLOW, dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts and professor of art and design at UNC, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in Japan for June 2007. The Japan-United States Educational Commission oversees the Fulbright International Education Administrator Program, which provides opportunities for higher- education administrators in the U.S. to gain firsthand Education Leader knowledge of the academic infrastructure and culture of Appointed to Board Japan to create lasting collabo- Of Trustees rations and connections GOV.