Pueblo Community College is indeed all about community. Supporters of the college and education in general are consistently advocating “community” as one of the cornerstones of success.
The Pueblo Community College Hall of Fame dinner on Friday night continued with that tradition. Four exemplary people were inducted into the Pueblo Community College Hall of Fame during the annual dinner, where friends, family, past honorees and supporters gathered to eat, drink and be merry. This year’s honorees were:
Dian and Gerry Montgomery, who are both native Puebloans and co-owners of Montgomery & Steward Funeral Directors. The Montgomerys have devoted much of their time and financial support to Pueblo’s arts organizations and several civic groups. The couple’s love of animals led to their sponsorship of pet memorial services that are conducted by local clergy.
Tom Welte and Joe Welte, along with their sister Anne Henne, are owners of Summit Brick & Tile Co., a family business founded by their grandfather in 1902. The Weltes were named the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce’s Charles W. Crews Business Leaders of the Year in 2003. Both have extensive civic involvements, serving on boards and supporting numerous local organizations and businesses. Joe is currently the president of the PCC Foundation.
Non-traditional student Jean Daniel gave a heartfelt speech about how PCC’s educational opportunities and core values changed her life. She is solid proof of what a good education like that gained at PCC can do for a person.
Jovial emcee Craig Eliot expertly navigated the program, which was filled with laughter, tears and memories. And it all boils down to how we relate to one another; our community.
Marv and Sandy Stein, inductees in 2001
Frank Zerfas and Sandy Holter
The TRIO crew helped greet attendees and provide balloons with prizes
Honoree Tom Welte and his wife Nanci
Randy and Arlene Scott
PCC President Dr. Patty Erjavec and Ray Erjavec
Annette, Carl and Grace Pasquin
Glenn Ballantyne played piano during the reception
Honoree Joe Welte with his wife Linda
Margaret Radford and Joseph Rasmussen
Tom and Nanci Welte, left, and Linda and Joe Welte
Honoree Tom Welte’s daughter Lauren Davis, with her husband Tim and kids Ella and Claire
Barbara Fortino (her late husband Tony was inducted in 2002), left, Glenn Parker, Carole Walls
Lindsay and Brian Moore, left, Vanessa and Scott Kochevar
Wendi Dammann, left, and Linda Stetter
Dr. Wally and Wynona Sullivan (she’s on the board of trustees)
Matt Welte, left, Maggie Welte and Kathleen Mattarocci
Arnold and Patricia VanZandt
Bernadette and Jim Warren
Pamela Gonzalez, left, Peggy Gonzalez and Nicole Mondragon
Dr Lana Carter (Dean of the Fremont Campus), left, with City Councilman Larry Atencio and his wife Yolanda
Honoree Dian Montgomery, left, with PCC President Dr. Patty Erjavec
Rob Redwine, left, Sharon Kessler, Sandy Stein
John Keilbach, left, with Barbara and Bill Vidmar
Sharon Bryson, left, 2015 inductee Neta DeRose and PCC Foundation Executive Director Martha Simmons
Ashley Valdez, left, board member Pam Patterson, 2010 inductee and board member Sharon Swerdfeger and board member Wynona Sullivan
Jack Rink, left, board member Paul Willumstad and Jim Duff
Larry Atencio, left, Pat Oxford, Yolanda Atencio and Tom Ready
Hank and Ellyn Geisel, left, with Mary and Jay Tonne
Fran McClave, left, 2005 inductee Kathy Farley, 2003 inductee Maggie Divelbiss, Dee Brown
Scott and Tarrah Schreiner, left, with Julie and Dave Weihrich
2016 Hall of Fame inductees Gerry and Dian Montgomery
Helen and Don Banner, left, Carly Jo Lozoya, Richard and Cheryl Santi
Jeanne and Jim Pagano
Jeanne Pagano, left, Midge Montgomery, Darla Kettering, Lori Gagliano
PCC President Dr. Patty Erjavec, left, with inductees Gerry and Dian Montgomery
PCC President Dr. Patty Erjavec with inductees Joe Welte, left, and Tom Welte
Joe and Tom Welte, left, Dr. Patty Erjavec, Gerry and Dian Montgomery
Linda and Joe Welte, Tom and Nanci Welte, Dr. Patty Erjavec, Gerry and Dian Montgomery
Linda and Joe Welte, Tom and Nanci Welte, Dr. Patty Erjavec, emcee Craig Eliot, Gerry and Dian Montgomery
Linda and Joe Welte, Tom and Nanci Welte, PCC Scholar Jean Daniel, Dr. Patty Erjavec, Craig Eliot, Gerry and Dian Montgomery
Erin Hergert and Jason White
Craig Eliot, left, hams it up with Mike Salardino
Irene and Carmen Bucciarelli
Board member Jan and Ralph Williams
Keith and Heather Wilder
Gary Bryson, left, 2015 inductee Eddie DeRose and 2016 inductee Joe Welte
Mike Pate, left, board members Walter Schepp and Pam Patterson
Anne Henne (sister of inductees Joe and Tom Welte), left, Maggie Welte, Linda Welte, Kathleen Mattarucci
Joe Welte, left, Jane Rawlings and her husband Dave Dill
PCC Scholar Jean Daniel and her mentor Rita Friberg
Tony and Tonya Pinelle
2014 inductees Paulette and Jim Stuart
Board member Mary Jane Voelker, left, and Davina Herrera
Msgr Tom Adrians, left, Dr. Patty Erjavec, Andrew Foster, (Student Government President) and Austin Beebe (Student Government VP)
Emcee Craig Eliot
Craig Eliot makes a point
The PCC Hall of Fame
Dr. Patty Erjavec welcomed everyone
Dr. Patty Erjavec reflects on the past year of accomplishments at PCC
Foundation Executive Director Martha Simmons greets everyone
PCC Scholar Jean Daniel listens to her introduction
Jean Daniel talks about how PCC changed her life
Rita Friberg listens to Jean Daniel thank her for her mentorship
Dr. Rick Calhoun introduces the Montgomerys
Inductees Gerry and Dian Montgomery
Gerry and Dian Montgomery accept their award
The Montgomerys on stage with Dr. Patty Erjavec
Dr. Patty Erjavec congratulates the Montgomerys
Gerry and Dian Montgomery with their inductee award
Gerry and Dian Montgomery with Dr. Patty Erjavec
Mike Salardino talks about humorous memories with the Welte family
Mike Salardino introduces Tom and Joe Welte
Joe and Tom Welte on stage with Dr. Patty Erjavec
Tom and Joe Welte accept their award
Nanci Welte smiles as her husband Tom introduces her, even though she told him not to
Dr. Rick Calhoun introduced the Montgomerys; Mike Salardino introduced the Weltes
Invocation:
Msgr. Tom Adrians
Welcome:
Dr Patty Erjavec, PCC President
Speaker:
Scholar Jean Daniel
Libations:
Wine provided by the PCC Foundation Board of Directors
Entertainment:
Piano by Glenn Ballantyne
Sponsors:
Emerald: Parkview Medical Center, Pueblo Community College, Kathy Farley, Ray Kogovsek, Willlam & Barbara Vidmar, Summit Brick Company, Gerry & Dian Montgomery; Sapphire: Industrial Constructors/Managers Inc., Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Bank, St Mary-Corwin Medical Center; Pearl: Atlas Pacific Engineering, Black Hills Energy, Chavez-Huerta K-12 Prep Academy, CSU-Pueblo, El Pomar Foundation, Barbara Fortino, Loaf 'N Jug, Tim & Lynn Simmons, SunWest Educational Credit Union, US Bank; Opal: Colorado Springs Utilities, Cortez Construction Company, Wallace & Wynona Sullivan, University Park Care Center & Life Care Center of Pueblo, Larry & Carole Walls, Paul Willumstad;
Menu:
Maryland Blue crab cake with Arcadian salad greens; top sirloin and striped bass (grown and harvested in Alamosa) with crayfish and lobster; Chef Paul Prudhomme's hot fanny sauce, warm brussel sprouts, butternut squash and fingerling potato salad; coconut & raspberry financier with white chocolate 'cremeaux' and Meyer lemon cheesecake with spent grain & graham cracker crust, strawberry mint & lemon salsa
Attire:
cocktail
Board of Directors:
Joe Welte, president; Mickey Moore, vice president; Pamela Patterson, secretary; Tammy Fesmire, treasurer; Sharon Swerdfeger, past president; members: Carla Barela, Ross Barnhart, Val DeSantis, Barbara Duff, Patty Erjavec, Barbara Fortino, Jeanne Gardner, Barbara Leonard, Lori Lovato, Charnell Mayer, Scott Moore, Marty Poole, Walter Schepp, Wynona Sullivan, Mary Jane Voelker, Jan Williams, Paul Willumstad