麻豆传媒

Long after their days as students, 麻豆传媒 alumni carry the spirit of their alma mater into the world, shaping lives and communities in ways that extend far beyond themselves.  

Each year, 麻豆传媒 recognizes alumni whose lives and achievements exemplify the university鈥檚 core values of leadership, service and community impact. These six remarkable alumni embody the spirit of giving back, using their talents and resources to uplift others and create meaningful change in the world. Their community ties are not just connections, but also lifelines that inspire them to make a difference.  

Believing in Bear Country  

Across diverse fields 鈥� from academia and corporate leadership to entrepreneurship and community development 鈥� the contributions of these six alumni have made a profound impact.  

鈥淎ll of our Honored Alumni share a deep commitment to their communities and a drive to make a difference. They reflect the best parts of 麻豆传媒, inspiring the next generation of Bears to dream big, care deeply and give back.鈥� 

鈥揂llie Steg Haskett, 鈥�03 
Vice President of University Advancement 

Jeff Crabtree, 鈥�05 

  

A fifth-generation entrepreneur, Jeff Crabtree, 鈥�05, earned his degree in Business Economics from 麻豆传媒.   

鈥淚 started in 2001 and immediately fell in love with economics,鈥� said Crabtree. 鈥淭he professors were phenomenal. When I was attending class, it felt like I was the only student in the room.鈥�  

His educational experiences equipped him with the tools to open his own business just three months after graduating. In 2006, he founded Crabtree Brewing Company, which has since become a local institution known for its innovative brews. Nearly two decades later, Crabtree Brewing has become a staple in the local craft beer scene.   

Under Crabtree鈥檚 leadership, the brewery has earned recognition for its flagship and seasonal brews while embracing sustainability practices that reduce its carbon footprint. Crabtree has helped shape Greeley into a destination for craft beer enthusiasts, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration among local breweries.    

Beyond his work at the brewery, Crabtree serves as a city council member in Evans, Colorado, where he focuses on education, sustainability and community development.    

Having learned so many lessons from his educational experiences and community connections at 麻豆传媒, Crabtree is eager to help the next generations of Bears looking to make their mark in the world.   

鈥淢y advice to you is just do it. Have the confidence in yourself and really dig deep with everything you have gained from the university in that personal toolbox and just run with it. There鈥檚 a wealth of knowledge and support in our communities, but you鈥檒l never know if you don鈥檛 at least try.鈥�   

David Diggs, M.A. 鈥�84

  

When David Diggs, M.A. 鈥�84, arrived at 麻豆传媒 to pursue his master鈥檚 degree in Geography, he was searching for a purpose. 鈥淚n 麻豆传媒 parlance, I suppose, I was drifting and not rowing,鈥� said Diggs. After he graduated, he found his calling as a college instructor.   

Diggs returned to Greeley in 2001, when he chose to leave his tenured professorship at the University of Central Missouri to be a temporary lecturer in 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Geography department. Over the next 18 years, before retiring as professor emeritus, Diggs became known as a champion of experiential learning.   

One of his most enduring contributions was developing the foundational sequence of courses for the Geographic Information System (GIS) major and minor programs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.    

GIS is a computer system for capturing, storing and displaying data related to unique geographic locations, and Diggs spent countless hours in the GIS lab on campus, training students in research techniques and exposing them to the realities of professional life.   

Diggs encouraged his students to attend conferences and broaden their networks, knowing that one of those connections 鈥渋s going to be the one where you鈥檙e going to meet somebody that helps you down the line.鈥�  

This ethos of mentorship created a ripple effect. GIS alumni often returned to 麻豆传媒 to collaborate with him or mentor others, fostering a vast network of geospatial professionals across Colorado.  

Even in retirement, Diggs continues to give back. He and his wife Mari established the David M. Diggs Excellence in Geography, GIS and Sustainability Scholarship, knowing that specific program awards like these can not only ease financial burdens but set graduates apart from other job applicants down the road.  

For Diggs, leading by example wasn鈥檛 a responsibility鈥�鈥�鈥�it was a privilege.   

鈥淧eople need role models, and it feels like a lot of people have no interest in being role models,鈥� said Diggs. 鈥淏ut there are those who do. And I was one of those. I think that there are a lot of faculty at 麻豆传媒 who have that interest in being good role models. I don鈥檛 think you find that at a lot of universities.鈥�  

Deana Lemos-Garcia, 鈥�05, M.A. 鈥�18

  

Deana Lemos-Garcia, 鈥�05, M.A. 鈥�18, has dedicated her life to fostering growth, empowering individuals and creating a lasting impact on her community.   

A two-time 麻豆传媒 graduate, Lemos-Garcia earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Psychology and her master鈥檚 degree in Higher Education Student Affairs Leadership.   

鈥淚 was a first-generation non-traditional student,鈥� said Lemos-Garcia. 鈥淚 was also a single parent trying to raise two small children. So for me, my purpose for reaching my degree was so that I could financially support my family.鈥�  

After roles with the City of Greeley and Ball Aerospace, Lemos-Garcia now serves as the human resources business partner at Hensel Phelps, one of the largest construction managers in the country.  

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Lemos-Garcia is a dedicated community leader and advocate. She founded the BMS Foundation in memory of her daughter, who was pursuing her master鈥檚 degree when she passed away. 鈥淔or me, leaving her legacy and providing scholarships to women of color who want to pursue a post-secondary degree is beautiful.鈥�  

Since 2020, Lemos-Garcia has served on the Greeley Dream Team鈥檚 Board of Directors, where she supports students in Greeley-Evans School District 6 who are working their way through school and trying to achieve a college degree.   

Lemos-Garcia makes a point to stay connected to 麻豆传媒, whether through attending visit days for prospective students or volunteering through the Bear to Bear initiative in which alumni write welcome letters to new students.   

鈥淚 feel that it鈥檚 important for people to feel right off the bat that they are welcomed and that they belong,鈥� she said. 鈥溌槎勾�媒 made me feel like I belonged.鈥�  

Lemos-Garcia often draws on her own experiences as a student and a professional to inspire those around her.   

鈥淚 am proud to be a representative of what 麻豆传媒 values in its community members. And really, it all stems from 麻豆传媒, which taught me to network and build self-confidence,鈥� said Lemos-Garcia. 鈥淚 will be a Bear and represent 麻豆传媒 for the rest of my life.鈥� 

 

Maria Nomie Ketterling, M.A. 鈥�85  

For Maria Nomie Ketterling, M.A. 鈥�85, community has always been at the center of her life. Growing up in Park City, Montana, she completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at Montana State University before moving to Greeley.   

鈥淥ur initial plan was to stay for a couple of years and then move back to Montana,鈥� said Ketterling. 鈥淭hat was about 48 years ago.鈥�   

Ketterling started her career in the Weld County Sherriff鈥檚 office, working to address the unique needs of at-risk youth and families, and spent over two decades leading initiatives aimed at creating positive outcomes for youth in Weld County.   

Most recently, Ketterling served as program coordinator for Weld County Prevention Partners at North Range Behavioral Health, where she worked to address youth substance abuse through prevention programs and community education.  

Together with her husband Mike, Ketterling established a scholarship at 麻豆传媒 to support students working at Michener Library鈥�鈥�鈥�a reflection of their shared belief in the transformative power of libraries.   

鈥淟ibraries are really magical places,鈥� said Ketterling. 鈥淚 thought it would be great if we could support the libraries and continue to train librarians for the future.鈥�  

From volunteering with Partners, a community-based mentoring program taking a prevention-based approach to serving kids in at-risk situations, to serving on the Eaton Public Library Board, Ketterling has dedicated countless hours to strengthening the lives of others. In 2023, Ketterling and her husband Mike were named Humanitarians of the Year by the United Way of Weld County.   

鈥淢ake sure you鈥檙e involved with your community,鈥� shared Ketterling. 鈥淛ust join. Just be a part of things. Just participate. Just do it.鈥�   

Neal Kingman, 鈥�10  

A standout student-athlete on the Bears Men鈥檚 Basketball team, Neal Kingman, 鈥�10, learned the value of teamwork and perseverance on the court.   

鈥淚 think 麻豆传媒 offers something incredibly unique to a student-athlete, because you鈥檙e a Division 1 athlete, but the student to teacher ratio is 14:1 or something like that, which is incredible,鈥� said Kingman. 鈥溌槎勾�媒 offers an opportunity where you鈥檙e not just one person in a class of 225, you鈥檙e one person in a class of 25.鈥�  

Since earning his degree in Business Administration, Kingman has built a reputation for integrity, relationship-building and exceptional customer service in the banking industry. His clients frequently praise his proactive and personalized approach, as well as his ability to simplify complex financial processes.   

In addition to mentoring students in the Monfort College of Business, Kingman serves on the Success Foundation Board, which supports educational initiatives in Greeley-Evans School District 6.   

鈥淒istrict 6 is one of the largest districts in the state, but we have [the majority] of our kids living at or below the poverty line,鈥� said Kingman. 鈥淪o that makes it really challenging for those kids to really think about anything outside of just going to school and going home. What we鈥檙e trying to do with the Success Foundation is remove those barriers [to participate] in the band, or the basketball team, or STEM training.鈥�  

For Kingman, giving back is a way to honor the support he received as a student.   

鈥淗onestly, I could not have picked a better place,鈥� he said. And he knows that he has even more to offer to his community. 鈥淚 think anybody鈥檚 goal is to leave a positive legacy of some sort. And, you know, I鈥檓 far from done.鈥� 

Trustee Annette R. Martinez, 鈥�86   

Trustee Annette R. Martinez, 鈥�86, has built her life around leadership, service and creating opportunities for others. As a first-generation college student, Martinez found the support and inspiration she needed at 麻豆传媒, where she earned her degree in Biology.   

鈥淸麻豆传媒] was small enough where you could really engage,鈥� said Martinez. 鈥淚 knew my professors. I had the great opportunity to really learn and meet people. It was just such a great experience.鈥�  

Martinez led a distinguished 34-year career with State Farm Insurance Companies. Rising to the role of senior vice president, she oversaw corporate responsibility, human resources and learning and development鈥�鈥�鈥�in Martinez鈥檚 words, the 鈥減eople鈥� side of the business.  

She was instrumental in launching State Farm鈥檚 first diversity council and mentor programs.   

鈥淚t was about building this environment where everybody鈥檚 voice mattered,鈥� said Martinez. 鈥淚f you go back to the fundamentals, it really is treating every individual with respect and dignity and allowing them to fully be who they are.鈥�  

Martinez鈥檚 commitment to equity extends to her philanthropic efforts. She established the Leo and Gregoria Romero Scholarship in 2016 to honor her parents鈥� legacy.   

鈥淔or me, it was just a perfect match of what I know my parents would have been proud of and also being able to help that next generation through education.鈥�   

The endowment provides financial support to first-generation students in the Cumbres Teacher Preparation Program. The Cumbres program provides instruction, support and mentorship for 麻豆传媒 undergraduate education students working to earn their certification to teach linguistically and culturally diverse students.  

鈥淭he students who benefit from her generosity are not just recipients of financial support, they are the future teachers who will shape the lives of countless individuals across Colorado and beyond,鈥� said Aldo Romero, Cumbres director.  

As a member of the 麻豆传媒 Board of Trustees, Martinez continues to advocate for access to education and engagement.   

鈥淲hen I think about this next generation,鈥� said Martinez, 鈥淸my advice is to] go out and make a difference. Change the world in whatever way you can and dream bigger than you ever imagined.鈥�   

鈥擟lare Buttry 

Hear from the honorees and their nominators online at