COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO — Two individuals with outstanding ties to Colorado will be honored as part of the 31st Commencement Ceremonies for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
The individuals will be recognized by the CU Board of Regents during formal Commencement ceremonies beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Additionally, they will be honored tonight at a dinner at the Garden of the Gods Club, Colorado Springs.
Those who will be honored are: William J. Hybl, Colorado Springs, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, and Sharon Berthrong, Colorado Springs, University Medal.
The award winners and a brief summary of their contributions follow.
William J. Hybl, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters
William Hybl, chairman and CEO of El Pomar Foundation, is one of Colorado’s most notable leaders behind one of the largest and most powerful philanthropic entities in the Rocky Mountain Region. Hybl led efforts for El Pomar to pledge $4 million for El Pomar Center at UCCS as well as $1.15 million to help the university acquire a building for the Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Additionally, El Pomar has funded thousands of student scholarships as part of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class, a program of the Colorado Leadership Alliance.
In addition to supporting UCCS, Hybl has served the greater Colorado Springs community, Colorado and the nation. He is president emeritus of the U.S. Olympic Committee and serves as chairman/CEO of the U.S. Olympic Foundation, served as a representative to the United Nations, as vice chairman of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, served as special council to President Ronald Reagan and served in the Colorado House of Representatives.
Sharon Berthrong, University Medal
Sharon Berthrong, Colorado Springs, a two-time UCCS alumna, provides dedicated, well-informed service to the campus and the greater Colorado Springs community. Berthrong was an early developer of the Karen Possehl Women’s Endowment program, a scholarship program for non-traditional women students, and has served as its chair since 1998. Additionally, she served on the CU Foundation Board of Directors and currently serves as a member of a UCCS fundraising advisory board and an advisory board for the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
In addition to her campus involvement, Berthrong has served as a precinct committee woman and assisted with other community activities including the Citizens Project, the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, the Citizens Committee for Public Health and Executive Women International.
Last year, she helped form Artemis, a group for women concerned about community issues. The group now has 250 members.
UCCS, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 17 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 7,800 students annually.