Outstanding Alumni Awards: This year's "Distinguished Alumnus" award goes to Edward Jacobs Jr. and Shannon Webber

Each year, Metro State College of Denver’s Office of Alumni Relations celebrates the successes of some of its outstanding graduates by presenting awards at its semi-annual Alumni Recognition Evening. This year’s Outstanding Alumni Awards recipients will be celebrated at the Blueprint for Success: 2010 Alumni Recognition Evening, Wednesday, April 21, from 5:30-7 p.m. at St. Cajetan’s on the Auraria Campus. The cost is $10 per person and includes dinner. Tickets must be purchased by Monday, April 19. Read about each individual in the days leading up the event. Today's highlighted graduates are the "Distinguished Alumnus," Edward Jacobs and Shannon Webber.

Edward Jacobs Jr.

Senior Instructional Technologist for the Education Technology Center, Edward Jacobs Jr. ('96, computer information systems) wins this year’s “Distinguished Alumnus” award because of his wholehearted love and dedication to Metro State College of Denver. Not only will you find Jacobs regularly attending and taking photos at Metro athletics games, but his office walls are covered with College paraphernalia. As well, says co-worker Manisha Pinge, he is a “tremendous individual” who is a pleasure to work with on a daily basis. “Ed inspires others to excel,” she adds. “His enthusiasm and commitment to his job demonstrates his talent and dedication on a daily basis.” More than 20 co-workers and colleagues submitted letters recommending Jacobs win this award. According to co-worker Alex McDaniel (’05, speech communication), “Ed’s dedication to the College by far surpasses that of any other employee. The College is truly privileged to have an outstanding alumnus like Ed.”

Shannon Webber

Shannon Webber ('04, political science), a Financial Aid Counselor at the Financial Aid and Scholarship Center, is our other “Distinguished Alumna” winner. Not only does Webber regularly volunteer for crisis centers and the program Girls Rock, but she consistently gives back to the Metro community through her outreach work with Denver Public Schools, the Metro State Access Center, and the Metro State Excel Program. “Shannon makes a difference in the lives of students and administrators by going out of her way to compassionately and effectively communicate on behalf of the students she serves,” says co-worker Janina Edwards. “She exhibits Metro State pride by representing Metro State to various communities across Denver and by encouraging students of all backgrounds to believe in their abilities and to attend Metro State.”

Malcolm Daly discusses surviving serious climbing accident in Alaska at D’Vine Wine Alumni Networking Event, April 7

WE APOLOGIZE. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. For more information, please contact Stefanie Carroll at 303-556-6935


Malcolm Daly may be missing most of one leg below the knee, but that doesn’t stop him from rock climbing and living life to the fullest

Founder of climbing gear company Great Trango Holdings, Malcolm Daly started climbing rocks and mountains around the world in 1968. In May 1999, he and veteran climber Jim Donini traveled to Alaska to put up a new route on Mount Hunter. Early in their trip, while on their new route, Daly began leading a pitch. He climbed out of sight of Donini, and what happened next, neither of the two men really understood. Daly took a 200-foot fall, bouncing down the ice runnel he was climbing. He ended up 70 feet below Donini, conscious but with compound fractures in the left tibia and fibula, a shattered right talus (ankle) and frostbite of both feet. “Bones were sticking out in four places,” he says.


Because the two men were in the middle of nowhere and alone, Donini chopped a ledge out in the ice, stabilized his partner and then had to descend and hike out for help. Daly was left for two days alone on a ledge, hundreds of feet off the ground. “I knew my feet were hosed,” he says, “but I was going to get off that mountain alive.”

And he did. Come listen to Daly’s incredible story on April 7. The Office of Alumni Relations is sponsoring an Alumni Networking, Wine Tasting, and featured speaker event, from 5-7 p.m. at D’Vine Wine, 1660 Champa, Denver. The cost is $10 per person and includes wine, appetizers, and a half-hour slide show. click here for more information.