Colorado Mesa University

2010s Tamara Krizman, '10 Tamara recently married her boyfriend of 10 years. They have two amazing dogs, Sadie (8) and Gus (6 months), and absolutely love living in Grand Junction, where she was born and raised. She is an avid crafter, and she and her husband enjoy golfing, camping, fishing and four- wheeling. Her first job after graduating from CMU was as the communication specialist for Mesa County Health Department and she is now working as the director of marketing for Mesa Mall/WPGlimcher. She stated that, "I in conservation and energy. About her situation, she said, "I'm happy to have moved to Denver and work in Boulder because of the opportunities it presents - I feel very much at home at my radio station not only because of the political activism apparent in our station, but the freedom we get in the music department." Quinn Cooper, '11 In March 2015, Quinn landed her first "real job" working for Life Time Fitness as an athlete service manager for the Gildan Esprit de She Series. In a nutshell, she coordinates a women's event series offering 5K, 10K, Duathlon and Triathlon events all over the country. Since learned confidence while at Mesa. In the Mass Communication program, you are challenged with a lot of real world tasks and projects. This helped me break out of my shell and become the professional I am today. Mesa does a great job preparing you for real-world jobs; getting you in front of local professionals." Alicia Mitchell, '10 Alicia is the Music Director at the Boulder/ Denver community radio station, KGNU 88.5FM/1390AM. She loves her job because she gets to listen to new music for a living. She married CMU graduate, Micah Mitchell, '09, and lived in Grand Junction until the winter of 2015, working STRONG CREDITS MESA AND COACH WITH A LIFE OF SUCCESS Lack of funds sidelined '52 team but didn't diminish its perfect record By Denny Herzog Bob Strong, a Texas-based consulting engineer, has had a rich life. And he credits much of it to his days at Mesa Junior College in 1951 and '52. He was a football player with options. Arkansas wanted him, as did Oklahoma. But he was born in Delta, and although he and his family left Colorado when he was young, he came back every summer to work on his grandparents' farm. That led him to Mesa. With letter in hand from legendary Oklahoma coach Bud Wilkinson he introduced himself to Mesa's own legendary coach Bus Bergman. Bergman checked him out. "I'll find a place for you," Bergman told him. He did. He gave Strong a scholarship and got him a job at a supermarket. Strong became a Maverick, played end and helped take the team to an undefeated season. The Mavericks went 8-0 and Strong remembers it today as if it were yesterday. "We never thought about losing," he said. Not even in the final game of the season against Scotts Bluff Junior College. Mesa was down 6-0 with six seconds remaining. The Mavericks were on the Scotts Bluff Strong left Mesa after two years and went to Central Oklahoma State, hoping to play football there. But a broken knee ended his football career. Strong credits much of what he has accomplished in a long and successful career to Bergman and CMU. Mesa said it cared about students and meant it, he said. "Mesa did a lot of good things. There are a heck of a lot of people in this world who wouldn't have what they have if it were not for Mesa," he said. He counts himself among them. • six yard line when quarterback Carl Price threw to Bob Tucker. Tucker made a circus catch and walked across the goal line. The extra point made it a 7-6 Mesa win and a perfect season. Mesa's unblemished record earned an invitation to the Junior Rose Bowl, but a lack of money kept the team at home. They were disappointed but no less proud of what they accomplished. Their perfect season, Strong said, was still intact, and that's what mattered most. That and the camaraderie they developed and friendships they made. 31 FALL 2016 • VOLUME 6.1 COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY

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