Since 2012, UCCS has honored Golden Graduates – alumni who graduated 50 years ago – and Silver Graduates – alumni who graduated 25 years ago – during Commencement ceremonies in May and December, respectively.
This year, UCCS recognizes fifteen Silver Graduates, each of whom graduated from UCCS in 2000.
Read stories from each of the Silver Grads below.
Sandra Fay Anderson – B.A., Sociology
“Obtaining two degrees from UCCS has helped me to accomplish my passion for teaching.”
Since graduating from UCCS in 2000, Sandra has helped improve students’ lives as a special education teacher. She went on to earn her master’s in special education from UCCS in 2003, with help from Pikes Peak Step 1 of the Step-Up Scholarship.
Sandra is proud to not only celebrate her own upcoming commencement this fall, but her daughter’s as well.
“My daughter is also participating in her commencement graduation ceremony on the same day as my Silver Graduation at UCCS in 2025, which is an honor.”
Bonita “Bonnie” A. Angotti – M.B.A.
Bonnie worked at Memorial Hospital while attending UCCS before earning her graduate degree from the College of Business. She continued her work in various leadership positions there, including Vice President of Ambulatory Services, then moved on to working in administration at Mountain View Medical Group and their joint venture with Colorado Springs Health Partners.
“UCCS allowed me to continue working full-time while attending in-person classes, a step that was critical in launching my career into executive leadership positions. In 2023, I began working as a hospice nurse and am currently employed full time at Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care, where I bring compassionate care and hope to patients at the end of life.”
Catrina Carrington – B.A., English
Catrina earned her B.A. from the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences at UCCS in 2000. She went on to earn a master’s in communications from Syracuse University in 2002, and has worked in education in the Colorado Springs area since then.
“I am very thankful for the UCCS experience, for it made me stronger as an individual. I was able to advance myself and receive another degree after graduating from the university.”
Kristine Caudle – B.A., Fine Arts
Kristine committed to improving the local community after graduating from UCCS. She spent time working at Colorado College with their alumni base before transitioning into roles working with those hard of hearing.
“Learning from and traveling with stellar art professors at UCCS, who later became my friends, was a fortunate experience for which I’m grateful.”
In recent years, Kristine has become a caregiver for the aging population.
Shawn M. Emery – M.S., Computer Science
Shawn learned the programming language Java during his time at the College of Engineering and Applied Science, along with new ideas that he brought to his work and taught to fellow engineers.
“My thesis advisor, Dr. Chow, had a contagious quest for knowledge that I picked up on. My education at UCCS was truly life-changing, with my newly acquired skill sets brought to the forefront for a company that allowed me to expand my impact. Thirty years later, I now have the privilege of working for the security libraries Java team at the apex of my career.”
Jennifer L. Franceschelli – B.S., Accounting
“UCCS was a transformative chapter in my life. The university not only provided a strong academic foundation, but also fostered my personal growth and professional development.”
Jennifer’s degree from the College of Business opened doors in accounting and finance, allowing her to start her career in public accounting and earn a CPA certification. She was also part of Delta Sigma Pi, a business fraternity, which provided invaluable networking opportunities, fostered a spirit of altruism and helped her form lifelong friendships. Since then, she has progressed through various roles in corporate accounting, gaining valuable experience and building a strong professional network, and spent much of her time volunteering with local organizations and mentoring young professionals.
“My post-graduation years have also been enriched by meaningful life milestones, most notably the privilege of raising our two wonderful daughters, Taylor and Gianna, with my husband Jason throughout our 26 years of marriage. Through every chapter, I’ve carried forward the lessons and relationships from UCCS, which continue to shape my outlook and aspirations. I am deeply grateful for the foundation UCCS provided and proud of the journey I’ve taken since.”
Nicole Hilbert – B.S., Information Systems
“As a student, I worked at the campus bookstore, an experience that taught me a great deal. I gained valuable insight into how a business operates, but more importantly, I learned how to work effectively as part of a team. My classes provided the knowledge I needed, and along the way, I also made lasting friendships.”
Since beginning her career in telecom engineering, Nicole has embarked on a journey first within her field, then beyond into other IT sectors, that includes experience in transport systems, video technologies, network capacity planning and infrastructure, while also working on complex technical projects and contributing to large-scale communications networks. She has since moved into leadership roles and has spent the last six years leading an IT network team.
“The move into IT leadership has allowed me to work more strategically, manage teams, and align technology with business goals. Outside of work, I’m married and a proud parent of three amazing children. As they’ve grown more independent, I’m enjoying the opportunity to rediscover and explore new personal interests.”
Juli Jean (Saiz) – B.A., Sociology
“It was my goal to graduate college without student loans. I worked full-time hours while attending, and the grant I received was really helpful in paying for school.”
Since graduating as a second-generation college student, who now has a daughter attending college herself, Juli has been a valuable part of the local community working in child welfare at the El Paso County Department of Human Services. She is currently a supervisor there, and partnered with CarePortal since its beginning in Colorado Springs in 2016, focusing on safety, prevention, kinship and community connection.
“I’ve lived in southeast Colorado Springs since 2001 and love the community and connection with Harrison District 2. I’m an advocate of keeping families safe and together.”
Heather Knight – B.A., Sociology
“UCCS wasn’t just a place for classes; it was the launching pad for my academic and professional career, shaping me through both the quality of its education and welcoming environment that encouraged even a commuter to feel completely at home.”
Like many UCCS students, Heather didn’t live on campus but still involved herself in the community and events, such as supporting athletics and spending much of her time at the library at UCCS events and with study groups.
Since graduating, Heather has worked in education in various roles. She spent thirteen years in Harrison School District 2 teaching early and upper elementary grades, then went on to join Widefield School District, teaching upper elementary, reading intervention, and now, science for sixth grade.
“UCCS played a pivotal role in my life, transforming the typical commuter experience into a rich, engaging college journey. Since then, I have actively supported new teachers and guided student teachers from institutions such as UCCS and others, helping to shape the next generation of educators.”
Gregg Marshall – M.B.A.
Gregg took advantage of virtual learning while earning his graduate degree from the College of Business.
“Because my M.B.A. was online, I was able to travel over 250,000 miles while still attending my classes. Shortly after graduation I became a consultant, pivoting back into software development and ultimately software architecture.”
Gregg boasts a wealth of experience from several organizations over the years, having worked for Accenture, Cognizant, HCLTech, IBM and Infosys, along with independent work.
Pamela McManus – M.B.A.
Pamela has lived in Colorado Springs and been involved in the local community for three decades, with experience at Deloitte, as CEO of Peak Vista Community Health Centers and as CFO of Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association. She has also served on numerous local and regional Boards of Directors, and enjoys traveling and spending time with family, which includes three children.
“During my time at UCCS, I acted as a member of the Circle K Service Club (college-age Kiwanis, a global volunteer organization), participated in International Entrepreneur competition in San Diego and made friends and contacts that have been influential over my entire career.”
Anthony Moore – B.A., History
Anthony has enjoyed a storied career in the legal system since 2000, the year he celebrated both earning his undergraduate degree and getting married. After UCCS, he attended law school at CU Boulder and celebrated a graduation again in 2003.
“My rigorous studies in history and philosophy at UCCS helped me to evaluate evidence, engage in critical analysis and communicate effectively. These skills have provided a solid foundation for my legal career.”
After law school, Anthony returned to Colorado Springs and worked as a prosecutor at the Colorado Springs City Attorney’s office, eventually becoming Chief Prosecuting Attorney. In 2013, he entered civil litigation practice with the defense law firm Retherford, Mullen, and Moore. Four years later, he joined the law firm of Childs McCune, based in Denver, to pursue more of a focus on defending healthcare professionals.
“One of my partners started Warren Law Group in 2024, and I joined that firm where I represent physicians, other healthcare professionals and healthcare entities, as well as other clients in civil litigation matters, throughout Colorado from our office in Colorado Springs. I also have two beautiful young adult daughters.”
Thomas A. Rhineberger – B.S., Computer Science
“UCCS had a profound impact on my life, especially as a non-traditional student. After spending nearly ten years in the U.S. Army, I came to UCCS looking to change career paths and build a future in engineering. The university gave me both the academic foundation and the real-world opportunities I needed to make that transition. It was the launchpad for a career that has since spanned more than two decades in software engineering and technical leadership”
Thomas was an intern at eSystems while pursuing his degree, and became a software engineer there once he graduated in 2000. Soon after that, he spent fifteen years at Critical Technologies, honing his skills in C++, C#, SQL and enterprise software development.
When GE Aviation acquired the company, he transitioned into roles at GE Aviation and later GE Digital, progressing from Staff Software Engineer to Staff Technical Project Manager and deepening his experience with agile methods, DevOps and large-scale software programs. He returned to Colorado Springs in 2023 to lead the Computer Science and Engineering Department at SARA, where he guides both software and firmware teams on projects that advance diagnostics, survivability testing and innovative technologies.
“UCCS was where I gained the confidence and direction to turn military discipline into a new professional journey. It didn’t just give me an education—it opened the door to a completely new career and lifelong impact.”
Gordon M. Stringer – M.B.A.
“UCCS didn’t just prepare me—it welcomed me back as a contributor to the next generation.”
Soon after graduating as an alumnus, Gordon rejoined the Mountain Lion family as faculty. He has been a dedicated educator on campus since 2001, first teaching undergraduate courses in Finance and Information Systems and then being appointed as a full-time Teaching Professor in the College of Business, specializing in Information Systems, Corporate Finance and Financial Modeling, showing his enduring commitment to the university and its community for over two decades.
“UCCS played a pivotal role in launching and shaping my professional journey. The education I received empowered me to excel in both business and finance, and I was honored when the university invited me back to teach undergraduate courses in Finance and Information Systems. That opportunity marked a meaningful return to the campus that helped build my foundation.”
Gordon remains actively engaged in campus governance and the broader professional sphere, holding the Certified Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis Professional (FPAC) designation and serving on the Southern Colorado Financial Planners Association. His dedication to excellence in teaching and service continues to shape future leaders in finance and technology.
Kathy M. Williams – B.S., Nursing
“Being involved in student government at UCCS, and serving as the nursing program class president for two years, laid the foundation for me to get involved and help make change over the years as a nurse and in my other duties. I had amazing instructors at UCCS who guided me to do right, keep learning and advocate for my patients.”
Kathy has had an impressive career in nursing since her graduation from UCCS, after which she joined the Air Force and traveled the world as a nurse. Though now retired from the military, she has stayed busy and involved in the nursing field, having earned a master’s in nursing and Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist. She currently works as an Advanced Practice Nurse for Defense Health Agency, has taught at Northwest Florida State College for fourteen years and is active in several national organizations, including the Society of Air Force Nurses, Honor Society of Nurses and National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.
On top of these commitments, Kathy has had eight manuscripts published in international journals, sharing her work in healthcare and improvements made across the Department of Defense, and has won several awards including National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Nurse of the year, American Nurse Credentialing Center Medical-Surgical Nurse of the year, Defense Health Agency Hero of Military Medicine and Military Health System Federal Senior Civilian Leadership in Excellence award.
“UCCS laid the foundation to my education and my career. I will always cherish my time spent at UCCS.”
About the UCCS Fall 2025 Commencement Ceremony
The UCCS Fall 2025 Commencement ceremonies will celebrate degrees conferred to more than 500 graduates. Students, friends and family will attend the ceremony at the Broadmoor World Arena on December 19, 2025. See the full Commencement program online.