ALUMNI and GIVING

The Development Office works closely with campus colleagues, alumni, and friends to secure a bright future for the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering.

Alumni & Friends

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Even if you do not visit Fort Collins on a regular basis, you can still keep in touch with classmates and friends or get updates on campus news and events.

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Alumni News

Follow the progress of our ever-growing network of alumni who reside in every state in this country and more than 93 countries worldwide.

Tim Seitz, Fort Collins Budweiser Brewmaster

Beer brewing, stormwater – it’s all engineering to this alumni couple

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CSU alumni are escape room artists

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President Obama to appoint civil engineering alumnus to key administration post

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ERC Flume

Engineering alumnus re-energizes future of hydraulics program

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Collage of engineering images

Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Colorado State University Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Awards program recognizes CSU alumni and friends who, by their distinguished careers and service to the College, University, state, nation, or world, have brought honor to the College of Engineering, Colorado State University, and themselves.

How to nominate an alumnus:

To nominate an individual for a Distinguished Alumni Award, follow the submission process via the Alumni Association.

SUBMIT NOMINATION

Previous College of Engineering recipients:

2015: College of Engineering Honor Alumni

Desi Rhoden

Desi Rhoden

B.S., Electrical Engineering, ’83
M.S., Electrical Engineering, ’84 

 

Lisa Rhoden

Lisa Rhoden

B.S., Electrical Engineering, ’84

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Desi Rhoden has a long history of working on the bleeding edge of technology with international leaders in the semiconductor industry. He has served as an engineer/scientist with Hewlett-Packard and an engineering fellow with VLSI, and was a founder, president, and CEO of Advanced Memory International Inc., a nonprofit industry trade organization responsible for coordinating the worldwide rollout of DDR and DDR2 SDRAM. Rhoden serves as an industry consultant and helped two companies (Inphi and Montage Technology) enter the market as successful publicly traded companies. Rhoden has more than 30 years as a primary leader in computer memory development, and he has led development of many generations and types of memory for everything from cellphones to mainframe computers.

Rhoden has received many leadership awards, including the JEDEC Award of Excellence, the highest honor from the world’s leading semiconductor standards organization. Rhoden was also Alumnus of the Year for CSU’s ECE department in 2010 for his work in computer memory. Rhoden has a B.S. and an M.S. in electrical engineering from CSU. He is a member of the IEEE and is a Vietnam veteran. 

Rhoden is involved with Colorado State University in a number of ways. To honor the impact of two of their professors, he and his wife, Lisa, helped establish the Aram Budak Scholarship Endowment in Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Paul Wilbur Scholarship Endowment in Mechanical Engineering, which offer assistance to deserving CSU engineering students. In addition, the Rhodens provided funding for the Biomedical Engineering Teaching Laboratory in the new Suzanne and Walter Scott, Jr. Bioengineering Building. They have also established the first endowed college professorship in electrical and computer engineering with the Lisa and Desi Rhoden ECE College Professorship Endowment fund to help attract and retain the very best engineering professors in ECE at CSU.

Lisa Rhoden is an international business consultant specializing in industry trade organizations, bringing together major companies from around the world and coordinating the rollout of advanced technology. With a B.S.E.E. from Colorado State University and minors in computer science and mathematics, Rhoden migrated toward the software side of technology, where she served as a software manager for VLSI Technology and director of software and IT for ASM America. Rhoden received her technology M.B.A. from Arizona State University before becoming involved with international trade organizations as vice president of Advanced Memory International Inc.  and president of the Universal Flash Storage Association. Rhoden leads the UFSA, a worldwide nonprofit trade organization coordinating the certification and rollout of next-generation Flash memory that will directly support full-motion video.

Rhoden is involved with CSU in a number of ways. To honor the impact of two of their professors, she and her husband, Desi, helped establish the Aram Budak Scholarship Endowment in Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Paul Wilbur Scholarship Endowment in Mechanical Engineering, which offer assistance to deserving CSU engineering students. In addition, the Rhodens provided funding for the Biomedical Engineering Teaching Laboratory in the new Suzanne and Walter Scott, Jr. Bioengineering Building. They have also established the first endowed college professorship in electrical and computer engineering with the Lisa and Desi Rhoden ECE College Professorship Endowment fund, to help attract and retain the very best engineering professors in ECE at CSU.

2014: William E. Morgan Alumni Achievement Award

Walter Scott, Jr.

Walter Scott, Jr.

B.S., Civil Engineering, ’52

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Walter Scott Jr. enrolled at what was then Colorado A&M in the fall of 1949. During college summers, he worked for Omaha-based construction and mining giant, Peter Kiewit Sons’, Inc., at the Garrison Dam project in North Dakota.

He married his high school sweetheart in his senior year. After earning his civil engineering degree in 1953, the couple moved to their hometown of Omaha where Scott joined Kiewit full time. Following his 1954-1956 service in the U.S. Air Force at Orlando Air Force Base, he returned to Kiewit.

Engineering assignments sent the Scott family to California, New York, and Ohio. Reflecting on the constant moves, Scott’s children were all born in different cities. He was given responsibility for Kiewit’s operations in the Great Lakes region in 1962. He was elected vice president in 1964, executive vice president in 1965, and soon thereafter led the company’s entry into the eastern provinces of Canada.

When Peter Kiewit passed away in 1979, Scott succeeded him as chairman and CEO. When the company’s two divisions became separate companies in 1998, he became chairman of Level 3 Communications, retiring from that role in the spring of 2014. In addition to Kiewit, he is also a director of Berkshire Hathaway, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and Valmont Industries.

Scott is known as one of Omaha’s leading philanthropists. Among his many civic leadership roles, he is best known for his 32-year chairmanship of the Omaha Zoological Society, a period in which it has become recognized as one of the finest zoos in the world. He has also been exceptionally kind to his alma mater, funding Scott scholarships and providing the lead gift for the Suzanne and Walter Scott, Jr. Bioengineering Building. Carolyn Falk Scott passed away in 1983. Suzanne Singer Scott passed away in 2013. In Scott’s combined family there are six children and 17 grandchildren.

2015: College of Engineering Honor Alumni

Ter Fung Tsao

Ter-Fung Tsao

M.S., Civil Engineering, ’72
Ph.D., Agricultural Engineering, ’76

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Ter-Fung Tsao is an accomplished businessman living in Taiwan. He credits his professional start and success to the education and direction he received at Colorado State University. After completing a B.S. in civil engineering in Taiwan, he came to CSU to continue his studies, and in 1976, received his Ph.D. in agricultural engineering with a food processing focus, a program that was the forerunner of the successful chemical engineering department at CSU.

Following graduation, Tsao took a position as a research engineer with the Quaker Oats Company in Barrington, Illinois. He was extremely successful in this role, and received the prestigious Chairman Award an unprecedented three times. In 1981, he returned to Taiwan as the plant manager of Quaker’s brand new oatmeal and baby cereal factory. In 1986, when Quaker decided to divest their Taiwan business, Tsao followed his entrepreneurial heart and acquired Quaker’s entire Taiwan operations associated license and founded Standard Foods. In the nearly 30 years since, Standard Foods has expanded into milk powder, edible oil, nutritional and healthy drinks, and many other products. Today, Standard Foods is the third largest food company in Taiwan, with a thriving operation in China, and is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

Beyond being an active chairman for Standard Foods, Tsao was an initial investor and closely engaged with the formation of Sina.Com, the world’s largest Chinese language web portal, and now he serves as a director. Outside of the business world, Tsao helped found, and is the chairman of, the Taiwan chapter of International Life Science Institute. He is also intimately involved with Angel Heart Family Foundation and the Chinese Christian Relief Association.

Tsao recently made a substantial gift to complete and furnish the 150-person lecture hall in the new Scott Bioengineering Building. Named in honor of Tsao mentor, the Judson M. Harper Auditorium is a state-of-the-art teaching facility that supports the University’s academic and research programs. Tsao is married and has two children, Arthur and Katherene, and three grandchildren.

2015: College of Engineering Honor Alumni

Terry Ruhl

Terry Ruhl, P.E., F. ASCE

B.S., Civil Engineering, ’88

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Terry Ruhl currently serves as the president of the Transportation business group at CH2M. He is also a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. 

Based at CH2M’s Denver Headquarters, Terry leads the Aviation, Bridge, Highway, Ports & Maritime and Transit & Rail capabilities. Transportation’s 4,000 employees are located in close to 200 offices around the world and are delivering projects throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East and North America.

Terry is responsible for the growth and profitability of these market segments around the globe and oversees a delivery portfolio that spans the entire asset lifecycle from initial client advisory to planning, design, design-build, construction management, program management and operations & maintenance.

View all past recipients

Giving

Priorities


Purpose

As a part of the $1 billion Universitywide State Your Purpose Campaign, the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering seeks to raise $130 million to advance our academic mission by strengthening the following characteristics that have made us exceptional:

  • Fostering faculty excellence and recruitment
  • Ensure student access and success
  • Building upon outstanding educational programs and initiatives
  • Providing cutting-edge research opportunities
  • Matching infrastructure to aspiration

 

Water

We have a rich legacy of excellence in water research in the areas of hydrology, hydraulics, and water resources, and work being done through our facilities and research centers will help us maintain a position of authority in the field and take our research to the next level.

 

Health

Engagement in health issues uses an interdisciplinary approach, with a focus on biomedical engineering, fighting diseases, and aiding persons with disabilities, as well as public health implications of environmental problems, such as emissions and air pollution.

 

Energy

Continued access to clean, reliable, and abundant energy is central to almost every major challenge the world faces today, and our students and faculty are developing environmentally conscious solutions through the creation of renewable energies, more efficient and resilient infrastructure, and advanced power grid technologies.

Environment

Our programs in atmospheric science, climate modeling, and environmental science are ranked among the top programs in the world. Cross-disciplinary focus and activities allow us to build on this reputation to solve not just today’s global problems, but also those of tomorrow.

 

Ensuring Student Access and Success

For many deserving students, an undergraduate or graduate degree is unattainable without scholarship and fellowship support from generous individuals, companies, and foundations. There is no greater gift to these students, and our society, than the chance to pursue higher education and the experience that comes with it.

Your support offers the opportunity of a better future to students with the potential to change our world.

 

“Scholarships [like the one I received] prove that there are passionate individuals willing to aid others in achieving their goals. It makes it easier to work towards my career goal of participating in medical research and lets me focus more on my studies with less financial worry. This support helps me be more confident of reaching my goals because I know someone else believes in me too.”

-- Carolyn Keating (’18)

Fostering Faculty Excellence and Recruitment

CSU’s reputation across the nation and around the world is intrinsically connected with the excellence of our faculty.

Your support is vital in recruiting the best scholars for endowed chairs and professorships who keep Colorado State University competitive with other top universities, strengthen our programs and reputation, and provide a world-class education for students that will last a lifetime.

 

“Our electrical engineering education is the foundation of our life successes. We want to support excellence in the classroom to ensure transformative learning experiences for future generations.”

-- Lisa (’84) and Desi (’83, G ’84) Rhoden

Creating a Better Tomorrow through Research 

The Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering is known as a leader throughout the industry because of the innovative research pulsating through our departments.

Research that addresses important problems impacting our environment. Research that’s improving human health by the second. Research that’s creating new energy solutions. Research that’s lending itself to global water needs.

These projects not only contribute to a better world, they give faculty the opportunity to further their expertise, while offering students a space to gain practical, hands-on experience in their areas of study.

Your support is what brings these ideas to life.

"In the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering, the opportunity to work on challenging and impactful research problems is an essential part of the undergraduate educational experience. Learning how to tackle open-ended problems and to work on interdisciplinary teams, and acquiring skills in laboratory and fieldwork are all reinforced in new and exciting ways through research projects. These projects range from summer internships to Honors theses and senior design projects, many of which are supported through the generosity of our donors."

-- Sonia Kreidenweis, Associate Dean for Research, Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering

Supporting Educational Initiatives and Programs

The Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering places a strong emphasis on experiential learning in order to give our students the advantage they need to transition into the engineering profession and secure leadership roles in advanced technology fields.

Your support brings new experiences to our classrooms and labs, helps us maintain and forge ahead in the quality of academics we provide, and ensures we are able to meet new educational initiatives and encourage curricula reform.

"The education, the experiences, and the opportunities that CSU provided helped set up my career, from the technical aspects to learning how to work with people and how to lead."

-- Brittany Stinson, '02
University Honors Program Participant

Matching Infrastructure to Inspiration 

As we work toward achieving our goals in other areas throughout the College, it’s crucial we’re able to provide the space and facilities that our programs and faculty need to provide hands-on educational experiences. The need for additional and specialized space remains a priority to accommodate growing student enrollment and expanding research activities.

Your support allows us to retain outstanding students, faculty, and staff, and maintain exceptional programs through state-of-the-art labs, classrooms, and collaboration spaces.

 

"The Scott Bioengineering Building, with its innovative design and state-of-the-art technologies, will allow us to better educate our students and better prepare them to make an impact on our world. We are enormously grateful to the students and donors – particularly Walter and Suzanne Scott – who believed in this project and made it such a true success."

-- Tony Frank,
President, CSU

  • Purpose
  • Areas of Excellence
  • Ensuring Student Access and Success
  • Fostering Faculty Excellence and Recruitment
  • Creating a Better Tomorrow through Research
  • Supporting Educational Initiatives and Programs
  • Matching Infrastructure to Aspiration


1870 Engineering Dean's Circle of Excellence


Become a part of our community of alumni and friends who, through their annual giving, demonstrate their extraordinary commitment to the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering.

As a member of the Dean’s Circle, your annual gifts of $1,870 to the Dean’s Innovation Fund support the mission-critical initiatives of the College, including:

  • Faculty and student achievement through the retention and recruitment of great minds 

  • New endeavors that empower our students and faculty to innovate and solve global challenges 

  • Student projects with hands-on learning and leadership components 


Show your pride and support for the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering by becoming a member of the 
1870 Engineering Dean’s Circle of Excellence today. 


As a Dean's Circle member, you will receive:

  • Quarterly communications from the dean that detail where investments are being made and feature updates on Dean’s Circle projects
  • An annual report summarizing the year’s investments and impacts
  • Automatic membership in the University’s 1870 Club
  • 1870 Engineering Dean’s Circle of Excellence membership recognition 

  • Invitations to Dean’s Circle events scheduled to coincide with the University’s 1870 Dinner (February) and Homecoming (October) 


Your commitment to the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering will allow us – together – to continue educating the next generation of engineering leaders.

GIVE NOW
Visit the College’s giving page and select “Scott College of Engineering Dean’s Innovation” from the dropdown menu under “Gift.” When you make a gift of $1,870 or more to this selected fund, you will be automatically enrolled in the Dean’s Circle.
 

Scholarships

An undergraduate degree or graduate degree, for many deserving students, is unattainable without scholarship and fellowship support from generous individuals, companies, and foundations. There is no greater gift to these students, and society, than the opportunity to pursue higher education and use that education to better our world.

Scholarship Fact Sheet
View all College scholarships

WAYS TO GIVE

 Check

Make checks payable to the Colorado State University Foundation and designate "Campaign for Colorado State University."

 

CREDIT CARD/WIRE TRANSFER

To give by credit card or wire transfer, contact the Colorado State University Foundation at (970) 491-7135 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT, or by e-mail to csugifts@csuf.colostate.edu.

CURRENCY

For security and safety reasons, do not mail cash donations. Instead, please deliver to:

Colorado State University Foundation
601 South Howes Street
410 University Services Center
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-9100

PLANNED GIVING

Planned gifts can be a significant benefit to you, your family, and Colorado State. Bequests, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts offer donors a variety of ways to support the College.

Questions? Contact Matt Carlyon at (970) 491-5000 or matt.carlyon@colostate.edu

GIFTS OF SECURITIES

Giving appreciated stock can be beneficial for both the COE and you. 

Questions? Contact Matt Carlyon at (970) 491-5000 or matt.carlyon@colostate.edu

GIFTS OF REAL ESTATE

Donated homes, land, and other types of real estate can help the College of Engineering reach its goals.

Questions? Contact Matt Carlyon at (970) 491-5000 or matt.carlyon@colostate.edu

GIFTS IN KIND

A gift of personal property includes equipment, inventory, books, technology, or other tangible property. Gifts of personal property are accepted by CSU and the College of Engineering. Gifts in kind will be used to benefit the college as designated by the donor.

Questions? Contact Nate Budd at (970) 491-4389 or nathaniel.budd@colostate.edu

EMPLOYER MATCHING GIFTS

Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will double or even triple any charitable contributions made by their employees. If your company is eligible, request a matching gift form from your employer, and send it completed and signed with your gift - we will do the rest. Some companies even match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses.

Employer Matching Gift Search >>

Questions? Contact Ginger Morehouse at (970) 491-3938 or ginger.morehouse@colostate.edu

PAY YOUR PLEDGE

There are several options for paying a pledge made in the College of Engineering.

You may mail a check - addressed to the CSU Foundation and noting the fund you would like to support - to:

Colorado State University Foundation
P.O. Box 1870
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522.

You may pay your pledge online at https://advancing.colostate.edu/paymypledge.

If you prefer to pay your pledge in person, we enjoy visiting with you at the Dean's office at the Suzanne and Walter Scott, Jr. Bioengineering Building, second floor, on the CSU campus.

Contact Development Office

All Matt Carlyon Ginger Morehouse Nate Budd
Matt Carlyon

MATT CARLYON

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Matt is in charge of alumni relations and development for the College of Engineering. As the Director of Development, Matt works in close collaboration with the dean and department heads while building relationships with the College's most important donors. Prior to his August 2013 appointment, Matt was the Director of Development for the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of New Hampshire for seven years. Before pursuing his passion in higher education, Matt worked in the financial services industry for 10 years in Boston. Matt is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. In his spare time, you will find Matt playing golf and spending time with his family.
Ginger Morehouse

GINGER MOREHOUSE

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Ginger Morehouse joined the Colorado State University College of Engineering Development team in 2016 where she works with alumni, corporations and foundations. Previous to this role she worked in Corporate Relations building collaborative and strategic partnerships across the university with industry. Joining CSU in 2007, Ginger started her work with the University as an Event Coordinator at the Alumni Association. Previously to CSU she worked at Northwest Special Recreation Association as a Special Olympic Area Director as well as CenturyTel. She is currently pursuing her MBA at CSU. Ginger and her husband have one son, Finley.  
Nate Budd

NATE BUDD

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Nate is a proud alumnus of CSU’s Warner College of Natural Resources. Prior to taking this role, Nate served as a Partner and Director of Business Development for a water infrastructure company and a Key Account Executive for Gannett. Outside of work, Nate enjoys getting involved in the community. He served on the Coloradoan Editorial Board and is actively involved with the Homelessness Prevention Initiative, the Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek and the Northern Colorado Economic Alliance. In his spare time, you will find Nate ogling commercial real estate deals, climbing, and spending time with his nieces and nephew.