Scholarship Gala to Honor Chostner, Moore

Two Puebloans and a Foundation that has benefited numerous community entities will receive President’s Medallions for Distinguished Service as part of the 2007 President’s Scholarship Gala to be held on Friday, April 27. The evening’s theme, “Dreamcatchers,” focuses on raising funds to lessen the barriers that may keep students from achieving their dreams.

The Gala will begin at 6 p.m. in the Occhiato University Center Hearthwell Lounge with cocktails, a silent auction, and performances by The Thundering Earth Singers and The Many Rivers Singers and Groupo Tochli. The entire evening’s expenses are underwritten by donors, guaranteeing that all proceeds directly benefit future generations of CSU-Pueblo students through merit scholarships. Major underwriters include, Community Banks of Colorado, Legacy Bank, My Friend the Printer, RMC Distributing, and U.S. Bank.

Dreamcatchers generally symbolize the web of life, capturing good ideas while filtering bad thoughts out through a center hole. A Native American theme will permeate the event reflected in the evening’s décor, cuisine, entertainment, and silent auction selections.

After dinner, CSU-Pueblo President Joseph Garcia will present community member Jeff Chostner, former Library Dean Beverly Moore, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation with President’s Medallions for Distinguished Service. The President’s Medallion recognizes individuals or organizations that set high standards of ethics and values to serve as examples for CSU-Pueblo students and the campus community as a whole through their profession, exceptional service, and/or contributions to humanity. Recipients must support the University’s continual progress toward future goals and achievements and/or make significant contributions as an advocate of post secondary education.

According to Garcia, Jeff Chostner’s actions reflect a desire to better this community and the region. Chostner publicly supports the business sector, education, the arts, and athletics, and the impact of his generous contributions of time and financial resources to the University has been wide spread. Chostner will receive the President’s Medallion for Distinguished Service to the Community.

“By establishing the Julietta Chostner math scholarship in his mother’s honor, Chostner stands as a role model for all to emulate by allowing future generations of students an opportunity to find success,” Garcia said. “Chostner also has inspired students through his willingness to serve this country in the Air Force and the community through the City Council and now the County Commission.”

Athletics Director Joe Folda said he would consider Beverly Moore to be “the number one fan of Thunderwolves athletics” based on her attendance at men’s and women’s athletic events and her financial generosity. Moore has contributed more than $25,000 since 1985 to the Thunderwolf athletic program, Colorado Music Fest, and the Pueblo Symphony. In more than three decades with the University Library, she exhibited significant leadership and dedication to the success of University students and faculty alike. Moore will receive the President’s Medallion for Distinguished Service to the University.

Since 1982, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation has awarded $14.6 million through 821 grants to 191 organizations working across the spectrum of community needs in Pueblo County. In the past three years, an average of 51 grants has been made annually from a budget of $800,000 per year. The Foundation will receive the President’s Medallion for Distinguished Service to Education.

The Packard Foundation has funded nearly $800,000 in grants since 1987 to projects all across the CSU-Pueblo campus from the Buell Communications Center and Hasan Amphitheatre to Colorado Music Fest, the HSB Healy Center, and our First-Year Experience Project. The local grantmaking program in Pueblo, where David Packard was born and raised, has been a part of the Foundation’s work since 1977. The mission of the program is to enrich the lives of local residents, working in partnership with nonprofits and community leaders. Since 1985, about 13 percent of grant budgets, or nearly $2 million, has gone to educational entities in Pueblo County, including the CSU-Pueblo Foundation, Pueblo Community College, Pueblo City Schools, and Pueblo School District 70.

Tickets for the 2006 President’s Scholarship Gala are $100 per person or $1,000 for a corporate table of 8. To participate as an attendee or a silent auction contributor, contact the CSU-Pueblo Foundation at 719-549-2442.