Image courtesy of csupueblo.edu

Colorado State University- Pueblo plans to host back to school event PackFest for students, faculty, and staff. The event will take place Friday, Sept. 9, from 4 p.m.-11p.m.

PackFest will be located next to the campus sand volleyball and ropes course area. Most of the events will happen in the western parking lot between the football stadium and the ropes course.

The event will be put on by the Campus Activities Board and the Associated Students Government President Antonio Huerta. The Campus Activities Board plans events that happen on CSU-Pueblo’s campus throughout the year.

Huerta is looking forward to the event and wants this event to become a tradition on campus.

“My goal is that this event is so incredibly successful that it becomes an annual CSU-Pueblo tradition,” Huerta said.

PackFest will include a beer garden and live music.The concerts will include music and entertainment by; Olivia Colletti, Landon Williams, Two Girls Rock Tour: Natalie Stovall and Ruthis Collins, and Drake White. The live music begins at 4:00 p.m.

“My vision for this event was to bring the whole campus together to have fun.” Huerta continued, “And kick off the school year in a safe, informal and inviting environment,” he said.

Other attractions will include a Ferris wheel, foam pit party, henna, yard games and a mechanical bull.

The beer garden is for ages 21 and up and between the hours of 5 p.m. And 7 p.m. There is a two for $20 entry fee which includes food, beer, bottled water and a souvenir cup. After 7p.m. The entry to the beer garden returns to $20 each.

Students are advised to pick up their free ticket to the concerts outside the L.A.R.C. or L.A.R.C 267 this week. CSU-Pueblo faculty will receive discounted tickets, three for $5 at L.A.R.C. 267 or $5 each at the door which includes food and activities.

Huerta said PackFest is unique from other campus activities because this is one of the first on-campus events that offers alcohol.

Huerta believes this event will draw a lot of commuter students because of the timing and duration of the event.

“This will give commuter students time to actually drive to campus and the length of the event will make it worth the drive,” Huerta said.

Huerta hopes to see a large turnout of CSU-Pueblo students, faculty and staff. “A goal is to have an attendance of 1000 people at PackFest,” he said.

For more information about PackFest, please visit the My CSU-Pueblo Facebook page or stop by L.A.R.C 267.

Edited by: D. Calhoun

Image courtesy of CSU-Pueblo Outdoor Pursuits

The organizers of the Outdoor Pursuits Program at Colorado State University-Pueblo will take interested participants on a hike to the top of West Spanish Peak Sept. 11. The cost of the trip is $27 for students and free for active duty military, veterans and first responders.

The registration deadline for the trip is Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. The trip fee includes cost of transportation.

The group plans to ascend the peak’s summit. Outdoor Pursuits Public Relations and Marketing Supervisor, Jennifer de Groot, will accompany the hikers on the trip.

“Students can get a bird’s eye view of Pueblo and the Sangre De Cristo Mountains,” de Groot said. She said the weather is perfect for hiking in September.

“We will have enough time to make it to the top before noon. In the afternoon storms come in.”

Students have the opportunity to purchase an Outdoor Pursuits co-op for $40 per semester, which allows students to rent equipment and outdoor gear at no additional cost.

The Outdoor Pursuits Office is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 – 5 p.m. The program offers outdoor gear and supplies for to rent.

The organization is currently offering a $10 discount to students who sign up for both the West Spanish Peak and Marian Mine Fall Colors trips. The Marian Mine trip is scheduled for Sept. 24.

De Groot said that her favorite part of participating in Outdoor Pursuits is how the program takes advantage of Pueblo’s natural resources.

“There is so much to see and explore. Outdoor Pursuits makes that a reality for the students of CSU-Pueblo,” she added.

Image courtesy of CSU-Pueblo Outdoor Pursuits

Members of the Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Outdoor Pursuits program plan to take interested students rock climbing at Garden of the Gods Saturday, Sept. 3. The trip cost is $30 for students and covers transportation and equipment rental. The group plans to have dinner in Colorado Springs after the climb. The registration deadline for the trip is Sept. 2.

The group plans to ascend the north face of Garden of the Gods. Outdoor Pursuits Rock Wall Supervisor Cala Grayson will accompany the hikers on the trip. She said climbers of all skill levels are welcome to join.

“If people want to explore or climb around after the ascent that’s great, we are here to help,” Grayson said.

Nicole Hulet, a team member of Outdoor Pursuits said this trip is one of her favorites to go on. “It’s one of my favorite trips as the Garden is one of the most beautiful places in Colorado, and is always a wonderful time,” she said.

Students have the opportunity to purchase an Outdoor Pursuits co-op for $40, which is a one-time semester based fee that allows students free rentals for outdoor gear.

Outdoor Pursuits offers rentals varying from sleeping bags and tents to advanced avalanche trackers.

“We love meeting new people, and we are an epic group of students who want to make the outdoors accessible for all, especially in our beautiful state of Colorado,” Hulet said.

Hulet highly recommends that students come check Outdoor Pursuits out.

“Whether it’s at the rock wall, the kayaking nights at the pool, our challenge course, or on one of our trips,” she said.

Grayson recommends students partake in Outdoor Pursuits trips because it helps grow their skill sets. “The people that attend our trips grow their own skill sets and then eventually begin to take their own trips,” she said.

Edited by: Theresa Wolf

Jonathon Thompson, the Desk Assistant of the Year, and Samantha Baker, the Resident Assistant of The Year, accepted awards Thursday. | Photo by Alexandra Hyland

Colorado State University-Pueblo’s department of Residence Life and Housing celebrated the end of the school year with a banquet April 21 in the Occhiato University Center Underground.

There were about 50 guests in attendance that featured the Housing department staff. The staff included desk assistants, office assistants, resident assistants, work crew members, residence life coordinators and department heads Charlatte Cesar and Jami Hinshaw. Dean of Students and Residence Life Marie Humphrey was also in attendance.

The theme for the casual awards banquet consisted of the “Despicable Me” movie characters called minions. The event titled “You’re One in a Minion to Residence Life and Housing” awarded and honored individual outstanding department members.

Photo by Alexandra Hyland

Each Residence Life Coordinator was recognized for their year of hard work and leadership. The six coordinators were presented with a personalized picture frame featuring the famous quote from Dr. Suess: “Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

Hinshaw was also honored and was presented with a keepsake clock that was personalized with, “Thank you for the timeless memories.”

Student staff were also recognized for their year of leadership and dedication. The Resident Assistant of the year award was presented to Samantha Baker.

The Rookie Resident Assistant of the year, which was awarded to the most outstanding first year Resident Assistant, was awarded to Adam Wagner.

Resident assistants were also honored with other awards featuring Community Builder of the Year which went to Yamile Ingles. Other awards such as the bulletin board of the year, most creative advertising and team program of the year was presented.

Desk assistants were also honored and the Desk Assistant of the year award was presented to Jonathon Thompson.

Graduating seniors were honored from their time working at the Housing Department. Many of them started working for the department since their freshman year at CSU-Pueblo. The seniors were awarded with a portfolio keepsake.

Image courtesy of csupueblo.edu.

The Colorado State University-Pueblo Outdoor Pursuits program plans to take interested students, faculty and community members on an overnight rock climbing trip to Penitente in the San Luis Valley during the weekend of April 16-17.

The rock climbers will leave Pueblo on Saturday April 16, at 7 a.m. and return to Pueblo on Sunday April 17 at 7 p.m.

The fees that are associated with the trip for students with the Outdoor Pursuits  member co-op are $40. Students who are non-member co-op are  $50, alumni and staff are $80 and community members are $120. The fees cover the trip, transportation and equipment rental.

Amanda Roemeling, the Outdoor Pursuits Public Relations and Marketing Supervisor, said she believes this will be a great experience for students.

“It will be a  glorious outdoor experience with a combination of rock climbing and camping. You will get the entire outdoor pursuits experience. With trained guides and plenty of dad jokes there is no way you could have a better weekend. It is a full package,” Roemeling said.

Roemeling has been very active with the Outdoor Pursuits program during her time at CSU-Pueblo.

“I have been involved in the outdoor pursuits since my first semester,” Roemeling added.

Some of Roemeling’s experiences have included boogie boarding, days at Lake Pueblo kayaking and paddling around in a duckie, camping at the Great Sand Dunes, ice climbing, and rock climbing at Garden of the Gods, shelf and Penitente.

Roemeling also mentioned that she went skiing at Monarch many times and twice at Wolf Creek. She also enjoyed the challenge course, hiked up Mount Greenhorn, slacklined, made s’mores, hung out at the rock wall and learned how to roll a kayak, as well as dog sledding.

“There have been so many wonderful adventures and experiences I have gotten to enjoy with the outdoor pursuits that it lead to me becoming part of the team this last year.It has helped me grow as a person and helped me reach out to the campus in an attempt to get as many people involved with the outdoors as possible,” she said.

The Outdoor Pursuits enthusiast also believes that the program has a positive impact on the CSU-Pueblo’s campus.

“Outdoor pursuits opens doors and provides opportunities for the students on campus to do many different activities that are hard to do as a college student. They provide something fun for students to do during the week and on the weekend. They encourage students to grow as people and allow students to explore different activities in the outdoors,” Roemeling said.

CSU-Pueblo students can get involved and utilize opportunities with the Outdoor Pursuits program by stopping by the Equipment Room Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 12-5, located in the Student Recreation Center, and talk to one of the facilitators in person to get any information they are curious about.

“Outdoor Pursuits is an amazing program because students can use it however fits best for them.  If they have free time and enjoy doing new things they are welcome to join us on our weekend trips,” Roemeling continued, “ If they would rather just do something they have done before with close friends they can stop by our equipment room and rent gear to make sure they are prepared for their trip.”

Interested students, faculty/staff and community members can get more information by liking the Outdoor Pursuits page on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CSUPuebloOutdoorPursuits.

Colorado State University-Pueblo hosted the Remarkable Women’s Conference April 3 in the General Classroom Building. The event hosted young CSU-Pueblo women and a few members of the community. Quatisha Franklin, coordinator of Health and Prevention Student Affairs, planned the event.

Photo by Alexandra Hyland

Different workshops and group sessions were designed in order to inspire and give the young women tools that they can take for the future.

The workshops included tips about finances and how to set goals which were discussed with successful CSU-Pueblo women. There were about 50 female students in attendance, along with a few members of the YWCA and some community members.

The workshops were taught by Marie Humphrey, Carol Daughtery and Carol Loats. Each woman was recognized for being a remarkable woman.

“The three women that I am honoring today are three women that I look up to,” Franklin said.

Loats was recognized as a strong and successful Pueblo community member. She worked for CSU-Pueblo for over 30 years and retired last year. Each year Loats hosts a Young Women Real World conference that hosts workshops for about 80 young women.

Humphrey received an award in honor of Franklin’s grandmother.

“When I think of remarkable women, I think of the words striking and strong. I also think of being a leader,” Franklin said.

Franklin wanted to create an event that would empower young woman at CSU-Pueblo.

“I had a vision to put this program together, I wanted to make it elegant and set the tone to make it classy. My goal was to bring CSU-Pueblo women together as one, to not compete with each other but to collaborate together,” Franklin added.

Franklin hopes that the attendees took away keys to success and how to become successful and to also understand that everyone is different in their own way.

“I want the participants to understand that everyone is unique in their own way.”

The Southern Colorado Association of Nursing Students helps Colorado State University-Pueblo nursing students gain volunteer experience, network and become involved in the Pueblo community. SCANS currently has six members built up of current nursing majors.

CSU-Pueblo SCAN members at a Walk for Alzheimer’s event | Photo courtesy of Lance Cox

Bri Mason, a junior at CSU-Pueblo, currently serves as the faulty representative.

“SCANS has the responsibility of connecting the nursing field to our program on our campus. This helps the nursing field improve if the nursing students can start off by implementing the most recent evidence-based practice,” Mason said.

Mason said she believes that SCANS plays an important role to nursing students but plans to become more active on CSU-Pueblo’s campus.

“I believe SCANS plays an important role for the nursing student body of CSU-Pueblo, but it is not very involved with the overall campus,” Mason added.

According to Mason, it would be more beneficial for SCANS and prospective nursing students for the organization to be more involved on the CSU-Pueblo campus.

“That is one our goals for the next few years,” Mason said.

“Being involved in SCANS has taught me a lot about communicating and getting involved with my major, not only at school but within the state and somewhat on the national level.”

Mason joined SCANS in hopes of a connection to be a part of for the start of her nursing career.

This upcoming April, the senior members of the club have the opportunity to travel to the National Nursing Convention held in Florida.

“The seniors of SCANS are going to Florida for the National Nursing Conference where they will learn about new evidence-based practice studies and bring back so that nursing students and our community can start implementing them,” Mason said.

Lance Cox, the SCANS treasurer said nursing students who are interested in joining SCANS can sign up on a sheet to participate, and the current nursing class will do a majority vote for the upcoming junior and senior class at the end of the 2016 spring semester.

“We first introduce each position within SCANS to the classes. We then have them sign up for a position if they would like to,” Cox said.

“After we have all of the people signed up, we do a voting within the classes for the candidates.”

Further information on the National Student Nursing Association can be found at www.nsna.org.

Colorado State University-Pueblo hosted a Discover Day March 12. The orientation event was held for potential future students of CSU-Pueblo. Future students met with President Lesley Di Mare, campus clubs and organizations, and were given campus tours that were guided by student ambassadors.

Photo by Alexandra Hyland

Student Ambassador Maggie Geolat helped guide campus tours.

“I believe that Discover Day is beneficial for future students, because they get to partake in several sections that show different segments of college life,” Geolat said.

She also said the orientation event gave future students the opportunity to talk to current students who were able to give them vital information to take as they start their college experience.

Future students that participated were Colorado natives and some were from out-of-state. The students were guided on tours that included the Residence Halls, new General Classroom Building, campus buildings, the Student Recreation Center and were told about the renovation of the Occhiato University Center. Potential students were also given instructions on the application process, financial aid, college majors and guidance with campus life.

“Some of the key components that future students can take away from Discover Day is information on their major of interest, paying for college, living on campus and extracurricular activities that they can participate in when attending college,” Geolat said.

Geolat said she enjoys her job as a Student Ambassador and assists potential students by giving her own advice.

“I decided to become a student ambassador because it was important to me to show potential students all of the great benefits that coming to our university provides. If I had to give one piece of advice to incoming freshman, it would be to get involved with as many activities as possible. It is a great way to meet new friends and to have some fun while taking a break from homework,” Geolat added.

Geolat took her own advice to heart as she serves as a Student Ambassador, a Resident Assistant, remains active in the President’s Leadership Program, serves on the Associated Student Government as the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Senator and is also very active in the CSU-Pueblo Enactus and Love Your Melon organizations.

Photo by Alexandra Hyland

This was Geolat’s fourth Discover Day and she said she believes that she takes away something new within every attendance to the event.

“There is always new information to learn, and I am always surprised when I hear about a new club, major or program that I did not realize our university had,” Geolat said.

Colorado State University-Pueblo will host the 2016 Colorado Student Nurses Association Spring Convention March 5 at 8 a.m. in the Occhiato University Center Ballroom.

Marina Pacheco, a senior nursing major who is also the President of the Southern Colorado Association of Nursing Students will be attending the event.

Photo courtesy of Kelley Johnson’s Facebook page

“I’m looking forward to the networking and professional opportunities that attending a CSNA convention offers. This is an excellent opportunity for students to network with nurses from across the state and to help make the transition from student to professional nurse,” Pacheco said.

The keynote speaker of the event is Kelley Johnson, Miss Colorado 2015. Johnson currently represents the Miss Colorado Organization statewide and across the country. Johnson has been featured on television shows such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Dr. Oz Show. After performing a monologue for the talent portion of the 2016 Miss America Pageant, Johnson placed 2nd runner up in the nationwide pageant.

“She is the ICU nurse who rocked the nursing nation with her monologue about nursing at the 2016 Miss America Pageant,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco believes that the convention is a positive experience for student nurses.

“The CSNA Spring Convention is an exciting opportunity for nursing and pre-nursing students in Colorado to explore career and leadership opportunities,” Pacheco said. “Students will also be exposed to issues that the nursing profession faces and will be privileged to network with student nurses and professional nurses from across the state.”

The convention will unite nursing students and professional nurses from across the state. Each college or university sets different requirements to be entered in each nursing program.The CSU-Pueblo Nursing program accepts 60 students a year into their program.

Although with the nursing program, there are extracurricular clubs. The CSU-Pueblo Southern Colorado Association of Nursing Students currently has eight members.

Pacheco credits her goal to becoming a nurse to her fascination of the human body.

“It was a very conscious decision for me to become a nurse. I’ve always been fascinated by the science aspect of the human body and I love the medical field. In fact, I came to school with the intent of becoming a doctor,” Pacheco said.

Photo courtesy of ceeps.csupueblo.edu

Pacheco believes that nurses play a critical role in health care.

“It wasn’t until I started volunteering at a hospital that I realized the crucial role that a nurse holds within the health care team. They are the eyes, ears and voice of their patients.  Life can bring on some horrible and tough situations,” Pacheco said.

“In the mists of that darkness, someone needs to find even the smallest shred of light.  That someone is a nurse. I know I can do that; I want to be that light,” she added.

The CSU-Pueblo senior also believes the experience of being a nurse can be rewarding but challenging experience.

“Every day is challenging yet so rewarding. You make it through every day feeling satisfied because you know that you made a difference, however large or small.”

More information about the 2016 Spring CSNA Convention can be found at http://www.coloradostudentnurses.org/convention.html.

Photo courtesy of Alumni Association

Colorado State University-Pueblo will host a Student to Alumni and Community Networking Reception March 2 from 3.30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event will be located at the Hearthwell Lounge in the Occhiato University Center.

Director of the Alumni Association Tracy Samora will host the event, which is entering its fifth year at CSU-Pueblo.

“The partners for the event are the CSU-Pueblo Career Center, the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Chamber of Commerce, PEDCO, Power Credit Union and the Pueblo West Chamber of Commerce,” Samora said.

Samora said this program is beneficial to all CSU-Pueblo students.

“The benefits of networking are essential in any career path. Students should understand that participation in the event could lead to internship opportunities as well as possible employment. Networking is an extremely valuable skill that students need to be exposed to before entering the workforce,” Samora added.

Samora said many business leaders from different industries within the Pueblo community will be attending the event.

“Students should come prepared to interact and engage with those leaders who are present,” Samora said.

“This is a unique opportunity to speak with these individuals one-on-one, ask questions, discuss potential internships or employment opportunities and also to get to know these leaders on a personal basis.”

Samora mentioned that she has advertised throughout campus as well as with different mediums for the event.

“As far as promoting the event to students, we have promoted the event on REV89, through The Howl, fliers have been posted on campus. We have sent it to senior seminar classes and e-mailed all students to encourage them to attend,” she said.

Samora has also been working with Associated Students’ Government to reach to student leaders on the CSU-Pueblo campus.

“We have also worked with our Alumni Board of Directors, and with our event partners to encourage business leaders and alumni to attend by inviting them personally.”

The deadline to RSVP for the event was on Feb. 24, but for those with more questions or information on future events, please contact Samora through email at tracy.samora@csupueblo.edu or by calling 719-549-2858.