December 2006 Outstanding Colorado State University Graduates Â?? Media Tip Sheet

Note to Editors: The following students are graduating from Colorado State University on Dec. 15-16, 2006.

TENNIS TEAM CAPTAIN ASPIRES TO BE FUTURE SENATOR OF COLORADO

Jasmin Singh, a four-year Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete, is graduating with a double major in political science and Spanish. While obtaining her degree, Singh also served as a Congressional intern in Washington, D.C., for two years – only one of seven interns selected by the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. Her internship research project focused on the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement. Singh was raised in a home where Spanish was the dominant language. Now Singh serves as a Spanish translator at Catholic Charities of Dallas Immigration Counseling Center and volunteers as a tutor at Bilingual Elementary School and El Centro Student Services. She is applying to law school and would like to attend Columbia Law. After law school, she plans to move to South Africa and work at an AIDS orphanage.

To speak with Singh, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or [email protected].

ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH STUDENT DISCOVERS NEW STRAIN OF TUBERCULOSIS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Environmental health student Sarah Smith spent 10 weeks of her summer in the Cederberg Mountains in South Africa as an intern at The Cape Leopard Trust. Smith’s project was a study on why one of the leopard’s main prey species, the rock dassies, were dying. In her research, she discovered a virulent strain of tuberculosis in rock dassies that had never been documented in a wild population. The rock dassies resemble oversized prairie dogs, but are actually the closest relative to elephants. Upon graduation, Smith has tempting offers from the Cape Leopard Trust and a gorilla research organization in Gabon. But she has applied to veterinary school, and would like to complete her veterinary degree before returning to Africa to work again.

To speak with Smith, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009 or [email protected].

WORLD RODEO CHAMPION SURVIVES CANCER

Brandi Webster was a rodeo champion at a young age. She was running barrels in the rodeo at the age of five and was World Champion in goat tying at the age of 13. By the time she reached high school, Webster was offered a full-ride rodeo scholarship to Southwestern Oklahoma State University. In 1998, Webster was senior in high school and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoma Leukemia. She attended Southwestern for one year but had to withdraw due to her medical situation. Since she was diagnosed with cancer, she has undergone a medial procedure or surgery every school break including six hip surgeries, 12 spinal injections and 10 bone marrow biopsies. She completed her chemotherapy treatment in 2000 and is now cancer free. She is graduating with a degree in Technical Journalism with a concentration in public relations.

To speak with Webster, contact Nik Olsen at (970) 491-7766 or [email protected].

FIRST GENERATION STUDENT OWNS HER OWN BUSINESS

Robin Phelps will graduate with two distinctions: She has an outstanding GPA and is the first in her family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. In addition to keeping up with her school work at Colorado State, Phelps supported her family and owned her own business. Absolute Wellness is Phelps’s privately owned business that teaches people to make good choices with their diet and to handle stress. Phelps is graduating with a degree in business and hopes to expand her Absolute Wellness practice upon graduation.

To speak with Phelps, contact Emily Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or [email protected].

STUDENT TURNS LOSS INTO AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Brandon Chapman knows how difficult it can be to go through life’s important moments without a father. His own father died when he was 12. Although Chapman had some rough times without his dad, he put his life experiences to good use by becoming a mentor at Oasis Mentoring Program. The program helps struggling children mature into responsible adults. The aspiring medical student is graduating summa cum laude with a degree in health and exercise science.

To speak with Chapman, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009 or [email protected].

SINGLE PARENT ACHIEVES EDUCATIONAL GOAL AFTER OVERCOMING PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL STRUGGLES

Despite personal and financial odds, Theresa Bain is graduating with a degree in social work. Bain is a single parent who realized she needed to go to college in order to better provide for her children. Prior to 1999, Bain had been a stay-at-home mother with her two daughters. After attending Front Range Community College for two years, Bain received a Student Challenge Award and decided to transfer to Colorado State University.

To speak with Bain, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009 or [email protected].

BUSINESS STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY BALANCES LIFE

During her time at Colorado State University, Nicole Reko found a way to balance her roles as a working mother, wife and full-time student. Reko had a full plate of non-school-related responsibilities throughout her college experience but she still found time to be actively involved on campus. Reko is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, SPICS supply Chain Management association and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. While attending school, Reko was also the director of marketing and sales at Yudien Fry and Associates. The company experienced a five-time increase in net new business gained over last year under Reko’s leadership. Reko’s extensive work experience in sales, marketing and management helped her to land a job after graduation as an executive team lead at a Target store. Reko is graduating with a degree in business.

To speak with Reko, contact Emily Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen.colostate.edu.

-30-