Each year, the Colorado State University Alumni Association and 50 Year Club Committee recognize alumni who graduated at least 50 years ago (this year, that’s 1972) for Career Achievement and Public Service awards. Career Achievement honors distinction in professional fields, including a lifelong history of accomplishments and activities recognized locally, nationally, or internationally, and leadership in professional organizations. Public Service acknowledges outstanding service to the community by participating in government or with charitable or religious organizations, providing humankind with medical or environmental well-being, and being of service to Colorado State University. The newest members of the 50 Year Club will be honored at a luncheon on Oct. 14 during Homecoming and Family Weekend.
Career Achievement
Len Carpenter (B.S., ’68; Ph.D., ’76)
Len Carpenter grew up on a cattle ranch in the San Luis Valley before attending CSU for a degree in wildlife biology. Following graduation, he worked as a research assistant collecting data on mule deer and their habitats in north-central Colorado, then returned to CSU to earn a Ph.D. in range science. During Len’s career, he wrote nearly 70 scientific manuscripts based on his field research on deer, elk, and moose.
He has chaired or participated in dozens of professional conferences, assisted in developing wildlife policies, directed terrestrial wildlife programs, supervised long-term research projects conducted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, as well as coordinated and reviewed wildlife programs throughout an eight-state region for the Wildlife Management Institute.
Len has the distinction of being elected president three times to serve at each level in The Wildlife Society, the international society for professional wildlife biologists: the Colorado Chapter, the Central Mountains & Plains Section, and the national/international office.
Len has earned national recognition and awards, such as the Douglas L. Gilbert Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement in Wildlife Sciences, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Management of Colorado’s Wildlife, and a Meritorious Service Award for Outstanding Contributions from the Colorado Chapter of The Wildlife Society.
In 2014, Len and his wife, Jan (B.A., ’67; CERT., ’67), received the Larry LaSasso Spirit Award in honor of their enduring and exceptional display of spirit and enthusiasm in support of CSU athletics.
Public Service
Maxine Henke Schultz (B.S., ’60) Maxine Henke was named a “Pacemaker of the Class of 1960” by the Associated Students of CSU for her many activities as a student. A day after graduation, Maxine married Robert J. Schultz (B.S., ’61), a cadet in the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. In 1961, he began serving in the Army Nuclear Defense Laboratory and then worked in the nuclear and energy industry.
After the family settled in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Maxine volunteered with the Clinch River Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross of East Tennessee, the National Red Cross Disaster Relief Team, and the Oak Ridge Ecumenical Storehouse, and taught first aid and swim classes for more than 50 years.
While her three children were in school, Maxine served in parent-teacher organizations, coached girls’ sports, and taught science, health, and physical education in three states, thanks to her CSU degree. She also served in numerous leadership positions during her more than 60 years with the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
Maxine has dedicated a large portion of her volunteer effort to church and charitable organizations. At the First United Methodist Church Oak Ridge, she started an Adult Humanitarian Missions program, which has grown to 68 teams serving in five countries and is now estimated to have improved the health and lives of more than 40,000 people worldwide. Maxine has led or participated in 64 humanitarian mission trips to seven countries, including Kenya, South Sudan, Honduras (24 times), Nicaragua, Haiti, Panama, and several U.S. states, and has visited more than 80 countries in her lifetime.