UCCS Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak and CU Regent Kyle Hybl lauded the UCCS response to the Waldo Canyon fire during an Aug. 8 reception for volunteers and others who supported the effort.
In addition to praising individual action, Shockley-Zalabak described the collective UCCS response to Colorado’s worst fire as “efficient, effective and highly personal.”
Shockley-Zalabak shared humorous anecdotes from the fire including helping an evacuated family check in three dogs, a rabbit and two rats into the normally “no pets allowed” housing.
“I told them they were all welcome,” Shockley-Zalabak said. “But that I was going to do a headcount when they left to make sure everyone they came with – particularly the rats – also went home.”
Shockley-Zalabak also shared informal thank you notes left by firefighters who stayed in housing as well formal congratulatory letters from CU President Bruce Benson and Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach.
By the numbers
Shockley-Zalabak thanked those who worked overtime or volunteered to do tasks ranging from traffic control to cleaning dormitory rooms. She also shared several key numbers to illustrate the UCCS response. Those stats included:
- 169 first responders housed
- 101 community and university evacuees housed
- 203 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets housed and classrooms provided
- 177 individual volunteers from the campus community
Individuals honored
Shockley-Zalabak created two categories of awards, leaning on the French phrase “Esprit de Corp” (group spirit), to recognize those campus community members who demonstrated enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for campus and the greater Colorado Springs community.
Esprit Awards Recipients
- Susan Szpyrka, senior associate vice chancellor, Administration and Finance
- Jim Spice, director, Department of Public Safety
- Ralph Giese, director, Office of Residence Life and Housing
- Megan Bell, director, University Center
- Tim Stoecklein, program manager, Emergency Management
Esprit de Corp Recipients
- Andreanna Romero, conference coordinator, University Center
- Christina Perez, conference assistant, Residence Life and Housing
- Russ Saunkeah, general manager, Sodexho
- Kirk Standley, manager, Freedom Financial Expo
- Lynn Telford, chief executive officer, Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado
- Brian McPike, police lieutenant, Department of Public Safety
Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak thanks volunteers. - Tom Hutton, executive director, University Advancement
- Mark Janssen, assistant director, Auxiliary Services Operations
- Iryse Naro, executive assistant, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance
- Andrea Cordova, professional assistant, Office of the Chancellor
- Jenny Watson Willits, assistant council, Office of the General Counsel
- Matt Gaden, director, Campus Recreation Center
- Jeff Davis, executive director, Auxiliary Services Operations
- Ron Honn, program manager, Environmental Health and Safety
- Gary Reynolds, executive director, Facilities Services
- Alejandro Dejesus, assistant director, University Center
- Cynthia Norton, chemical management, Department of Public Safety
- Jerry Wilson, executive director, Information Technology
- Kirk Moore, director, Information Technology
- Tyson Randall, audiovisual program manager, University Center
- Rob Dougherty, physical plant director, Facilities Services
For more about the UCCS response to the Waldo Canyon fire, visit
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