PCC Donor Dinner 2017
Michelle Dantz stood before the crowd with tears running down her cheeks, and emotionally, but proudly, told her story about how she went from a high school dropout to a cum laude nursing student at Pueblo Community College. THIS is why we do this–why donors, supporters and community partners give their time, dollars and energy to students: to invest in the future of undiscovered gems like Michelle.
The celebration of this philanthropic partnership was the focus of the PCC Donor Dinner on Friday night.
Rogene Armstrong and Kathy Farley were bestowed this year’s Crystal Eagle Awards during the induction ceremony.
Mrs. Armstrong committed many years of service to the Pueblo Community College Foundation when she served under the direction of PCC Foundation Founder Tony Fortino. “Rogene was one of those go-to members of the PCC Board,” recalls Sharon Swerdfeger. “She would take on projects of all scope and sizes and always delivered success on behalf of the college and its student scholars.” She was the catalyst behind the growth of the Foundation from $93,000 in assets when she started to over $6.5 million.
Kathy Farley has been credited as a community leader who broke ground for women in Southern Colorado. She was the first woman ever elected Pueblo County Commissioner. Kathy worked diligently to gain support for countless community projects, including the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, Pueblo Conservancy, HARP, Colorado Women’s Forum and Colorado State Parks.
As PCC President Dr. Patty Erjavec pointed out, PCC would also not exist without the support of community partners and thus the tradition was started this year to acknowledge and honor them. Focusing on health care, awards were presented to Colorado Mental Health Institute of Pueblo and Parkview and St. Mary Corwin Medical Centers.
But sentiments throughout the evening kept returning to Michelle Dantz and students like her, who if not for the support and confidence given to them by PCC supporters, would not be able to realize their dream.
You can help someone achieve their dream by contacting the PCC Foundation at www.puebloccfoundation.org or calling 719-544-0677.
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- Foundation Exec. Director Martha Simmons, top left, with Ernest Montoya (scholarship coordinator), Shauna Boyd (bookkeeping), Lorna Jackson (front left, administrative and data specialist) and Desiree Fann
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- Desiree Segura, PCC event planner, left, with Jill Young, sales manager
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- Catherine Shea and Robert Franz
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- Ernest Montoya, left, greets sponsor and board member Walt Schepp
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- Bryan Wold with PCC scholar and speaker for the evening, Michelle Dantz
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- PCC Culinary Chef Mo Montgomery, left, with Bing and Todd Ecklund
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- Bernadette Olguin and Larry Ruiz
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- Gregoria and Dr. Edmund Vallejo
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- Sarah Kurash, left, Doreen Arguello, Martha Ceja, Marie Holm, Ronda Katzenmeyer
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- Gerry and Richard Unrein
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- Board member (and chair of the PCC scholarship committee) Barbara Fortino, left, with Carole Walls
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- John and Nancy Tracey
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- Glenn Ballantyne provided piano tunes throughout the reception
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- John Myers, left, and Doug Houghton
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- BJ McNamara, left, Doug Houghton and Mary Lou Scott
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- Kathy and Robert Figueroa, left, with Walt Schepp
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- Barbara and Hal Deselms
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- Glenn Parker and Martha Simmons
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- Father John Farley and his mom, honoree Kathy Farley
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- Christine and Paul Willumstad, PCC Foundation board chair
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- Aaron Lucero and Molly Milusnic
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- Todd Kelly, left, and Pueblo councilman Ed Brown
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- Steve and Cheryl Shirley
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- Pat and Al Chirby
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- Robin and Kevin Rivard
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- PCC President Dr. Patty Erjavec, left, with Mary Jo Ryals
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- Margie Abeyta, left, Kathy Figueroa, Diane Porter and Elizabeth Davis
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- Mary and Tom Chavez
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- Linda August and Bill Wilcoxson
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- John Barnosky and Jane Mazur
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- Tammy and Scott Moore (PCC Foundation board member), left, with Wynona Sullivan, Foundation board secretary
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- Virginia Shaw, left, greets honoree Rogene Armstrong
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- Virginia and Dave Shaw
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- Honoree Rogene Armstrong, center, with Greg Armstrong, Alyssa Lucero, Mary Lucero and Jeff Armstrong
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- Valeria Tursi, left, Marv Stein and Shirley Cline
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- Board member Jan Williams and her husband Ralph
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- Board treasurer Pam Patterson, left, with Dee Rogers Brown
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- Lisa Hyams and Mannie Colon
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- Lori Tapia, left, and Jonna Pagano
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- Sandy Nebl, left, Pat Krasovec and Fran McClave
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- Bing and Todd Ecklund, left, Fred Segura, Richard Duran, Dr. Heather Speed
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- Christie Shaddy, left, and Aletta Benko
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- Wynona Sullivan, left, chats with Dr. Patty Erjavec
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- Erin and Alfonso Aragon
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- Amy Galassini, left, Leslie Shepard, Mike and Shawn Shoaf
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- Ralph Williams, left, Burnie and Pam Zercher and Jan Williams
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- Deb Borchers, left, Carlos and Olive Baca (he’s an emeritus board member), and Phil Borchers
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- Dr. Patty Erjavec congratulates Rogene Armstrong
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- From community partner CMHIP: Cara Dasher, left, Martha Ceja, Ronda Katzenmeyer and Sarah Kurash
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- Martha Simmons thanks everyone for attending
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- What are those mannequins doing on stage? They are examples of the very cool student scholar clothing closet, a new enterprise at PCC
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- Michelle Dantz gave a very emotional speech about her path to becoming a cum laude nursing student at PCC
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- Michelle Dantz spoke from the heart.
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- President Dr Patty Erjavec welcomed everyone
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- Dr Patty Erjavec talks about the huge scope of PCC projects and campuses throughout the state
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- Board Chair Paul Willumstad introduced the honorees
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- Paul Willumstad talks about the President’s Circle inductees
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- Rogene Armstrong accepts her award for being inducted into the President’s Circle
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- Honoree Kathy Farley greets Board Chair Paul Willumstad
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- Dr. Patty Erjavec, left, honoree Kathy Farley and Paul Willumstad
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- Kathy Farley says a few words in accepting her honor
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- Kathy Farley was instrumental in bringing women’s projects to Southern Colorado.
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- Kathy Farley makes a point
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- Cara Dasher, director of nursing at CMHIP, accepts the community partner award from Dr. Patty Erjavec
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- Cara Dasher says a few words about the partnership between PCC and CMHIP
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- Dr. Patty Erjavec and Steve Shirley, who accepted the community partnership award on behalf of Parkview Medical Center
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- Steve Shirley from Parkview Medical Center thanks everyone
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- Jane Mazur accepted the community partnership award on behalf of St Mary Corwin Medical Center from Dr. Patty Erjavec
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- Jane Mazur says a few words about St Mary Corwin Medical Center and PCC
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- Jane Mazur from St Mary Corwin Medical Center
