Since 2012, UCCS has honored Golden Graduates – alumni who graduated 50 years ago – and Silver Graduates – alumni who graduated 25 years ago – during Commencement ceremonies in May and December, respectively.

This year, UCCS will recognize ten Golden Graduates, each of whom graduated from UCCS in 1975.

Read stories from each of the Golden Grads below.

Richard B. Doyle | B.S., Electrical Engineering & Computer Science ’75; M.S., Computer Science ’02; Ph.D., Computer Science ’08

Richard is a Mountain Lion three times over and has seen campus through many stages of its lifecycle, with one undergraduate and two graduate degrees all from UCCS.

“UCCS was a commuter campus back then, and engineering didn’t leave much time for outside activities but there was a never-ending bridge game in the student lounge. Faculty was wonderful and I recall falling in love with Computer Science. UCCS taught me to study, and prepared me well for my profession.”

After graduating with his bachelor’s, Richard spent fifteen years with the Texas Instruments Defense Systems and Electronics group, where he worked on GPS systems and the Manpack/Vehicular User Equipment (MVUE), which is now at the Smithsonian as part of the history of navigation exhibit. Richard also worked on simulators in the Advanced Computer Systems Laboratory and Pilot’s Associate in the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and on the Marine Spill Response System for the Marine Spill Response Corporation, which was eventually used to assist with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and spent six and a half years on an Artificial Intelligence Services team.

Richard’s experience doesn’t end there, as he also spent time working in automated code conversion and automated product configuration, computer graphics and electronic design automation. While pursuing his master’s, he worked on the Head and Neck Project as a Regular Fellow at the Center for Human Simulation at UC Health Sciences. After returning to UCCS a third time and graduating with his doctorate, Richard’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, which prompted Richard to expand his his studies to researching the illness.

“On finishing my Ph.D. in 2008, I began planning further study to do research in that area until interrupted by a health event that forced my retirement. These days I enjoy cycling and woodworking and continue to support Alzheimer’s Disease research.”

Pam Konishi Harrold | B.S., Nursing

Pam has had a prolific career in medicine for several decades. She practiced in Colorado and Montana, working as both an RN and Office Nurse, and then went back to school in 1992 to become a Physician Assistant. Pam then worked in family medicine in Fort Collins before taking well-earned retirement in 2023.

“The education I received at Beth-El was the foundation for both my nursing career and contributed to me having a successful career as a Physician Assistant for thirty years.”

Anne Kennedy Jennette | B.S., Nursing

Two years after graduating from the Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Anne joined the Navy and considers it one of the best decisions of her life. Following her military appointment, Anne and her husband had long, fulfilling careers in healthcare while raising their three children.

“My education prepared me to be successful in my career and life.”

Peggy Macko | B.A., Psychology

After graduating from UCCS, Peggy found a new home in Oregon where she continued her education with a Master of Social Work from Portland State University in 1977. Before retiring, she spent many years in different healthcare roles, working in hospice in the early ’80s during its formative period. She then transitioned to chronic illness care management for Kaiser Permanente, where she also participated in Social HMO, a project intending to add chronic in-home care to Medicare to prevent need for nursing home care by supporting families in caring for elders at home.

“As a commuter, UCCS provided me with an affordable opportunity to complete my bachelor’s, and receiving grants lessened the hours I had to work while attending classes full time. My classes in psychology and anthropology provided a basis for a continuing interest in culture and human behavior, and the opportunity to participate in a Psychology Department research study on the role of thalamic nuclei in the time sequencing of behavior helped me develop a sense of ethics in conducting and reporting research findings.”

Peggy also managed renal, congestive heart failure and anticoagulation care management programs and concluded her impressive career after eleven years as Director of Benefits, Resources, and Care Consultation of the Sisters of the Holy Names, a progressive community of Catholic Nuns committed to Social Justice.

“Since retiring, I volunteer for Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers and the Western Farm Workers Association. I enjoy supporting conservation, backyard bird habitats and Citizen Science efforts like Pika Watch in the Columbia River Gorge.”

Margurite Trent McLennan | B.S., Nursing

“My three years at Beth-El and the time I spent with my wonderful classmates and teachers were some of the best of my life. The friendships we made and the times we shared were very special. As a small class, we also formed very strong relationships with our teachers and our administrator.”

Margurite spent forty years at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento after graduating in 1975, first in the cardiac ICU, then in outpatient surgery and finishing her time there as Operating Room Manager. She returned to school to earn her bachelor of science in nursing and went on to become a Registered Nurse First Assistant as the Robotics Coordinator in the hospital’s main operating room. She finished her career as an operating room manager for a local surgery center.

“I married in 1980 and have two wonderful sons and a beautiful granddaughter. My first husband passed away in 2001 and in 2005 I married my current husband, Tom. We moved to Middle Tennessee from California in 2019 and are living our best lives traveling the country and the world. My career as a nurse enabled me to meet and care for many wonderful people over the years. God has truly blessed me! The fact that my mother, Shirley Moore Trent, was also a Beth-El graduate (Class of 1946) adds another dimension to my love and appreciation for Beth-El.”

Richard Daniel Medina | B.A., Political Science

“As a young Chicano in 1970, I was given two options after my high school graduation – the Army or trade school. Because I failed the Army’s health exam due to asthma, it looked like I was on my way to becoming a welder. In 1970, Dr. David Halaas and Cornelius Chavez were recruiting minority students for UCCS, and I took advantage of this opportunity to enroll.”

During his time on campus, Richard became active in student government and participated in a study abroad program in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, with his wife, Margaret. After graduation, they returned to the Arkansas Valley and purchased a farm in 1976 where Richard planted beans and sugar beets. Margaret began teaching while Richard continued his agricultural pursuits. After 31 years, he retired from the National Park Service and Colorado Department of Corrections, but not from his service to the State of Colorado, and was appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to serve as Crowley County’s lay judge for the 16th Judicial District in 2017.

“Our friendship with Dr. David Halaas endured almost 50 years. We visited him prior to his passing in 2019 and asked him what he had expected to accomplish by recruiting students to UCCS. He said, ‘We expected you to return to your community to make a difference. You did that.'”

W. R. “Dick” Sauer | B.S., Electrical Engineering

After graduating, Dick joined Northrop Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California where he worked on advanced military aircraft. He was the Project Manager of the Avionics department for the design and development of the cockpit of the B-2 Stealth Bomber, managed the Avionics Laboratory development and B-2 simulator for the Avionics suite of the B-2 and worked as part of the Air Force Program managing classified satellite development.

“I retired in 2011 and have been involved in the Masonic organization. My wife passed on in 2019 after 39 years of marriage, and I now live in Redondo Beach, California.”

Susan Pfrangle Spiering | B.S., Nursing

Susan has fond memories of her time at UCCS, singing and attending parties with classmates, joining student activities and working in the summers to supplement funds not covered by her scholarships.

“Beth-El School of Nursing was my mother’s alma mater and it was the only place I applied to go. I loved my time there. We only had twenty-five students in my class and we were all very close.”

She was named Student Nurse of the Year in 1975, and began working in a clinic and married her first husband that same year. They moved to Montana, where Susan worked in the ICU and emergency department, and later moved again to Wyoming where she spent twelve years working in the emergency department there. After she divorced and remarried, this time to her high school sweetheart, she lived in Spain and later Vancouver, B.C., Canada, where she worked for twelve years in the emergency department and Medical Short Stay Unit there, doing outpatient IV therapy and chemo as well as blood transfusions.

“I loved my nursing career and never thought of doing anything else. Nursing is my passion and I will continue to have that passion, even after retiring last December. I nursed my husband until he passed this year and will always be grateful I was able to do that for him. Nursing is special and I pray that this passion continues forever for myself and those who chose to enter in to it.”

Martha Steider | B.S., Nursing

Martha worked as a staff nurse at Memorial Hospital following graduation, then joined the marketing department as a community health education coordinator. She went back to nursing at Honeywell as an occupational health nurse before becoming a nurse case manager for Colorado Sports and Spine Center. After moving to Minnesota, she rejoined Honeywell Corporation as an occupational health nurse and later continued to practice occupational health with GE and Genex services. Martha now does utilization review.

“UCCS helped prepare me foster continued connections with professional organizations and build strong working relationships.”

Walker A. Wolford | B.S., Business Organization Management

Walker has been married to his wife, Julia, for 58 years, and they’ve spent much of their time together living their american dream of rewarding employment and homeownership.

“Because I was a veteran, having served in the United States Air Force, I attended college under the GI Bill. I crammed four years of college into seven and graduated without any student debt. My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has blessed me abundantly beyond anything I could ask or think.”

While studying at UCCS, Walker worked full time at a behavioral health facility. After graduation, he continued working there as a Licensed Psychiatric Technician for eleven years, where he thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to serve people directly. In total, he spent 33 years at the health facility, helping and caring for others – a legacy he’s rightfully proud of. Now, he is enjoying retirement, and has a niece who’s preparing to attend UCCS herself.

“We built our first home in 1970. It was a brand new rancher with no steps. Our second home was a tri-level with thirteen steps. We lived there for forty enjoyable years. About three years ago, we sold our house and moved into an apartment. It has two bedrooms, two baths, an attached garage and no steps. Praise God, we are still living the american dream.”

About the UCCS Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony 

The UCCS Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies will celebrate degrees conferred to more than graduates. More than 1,200 will attend the ceremony at the Broadmoor World Arena on May 16, 2025, along with family and friends. See the full Commencement program online.