CSU- Pueblo Foundation receives more than $1 million in year-end gifts

Pueblo-  More than $1 million in new gifts were received by the Colorado State University-Pueblo Foundation in the weeks leading up to the new year. Among the significant gifts were establishment of a new endowed mass communications scholarship and major additions to four existing scholarship funds.

Ted R. McEwen Memorial Scholarship
More than $795,000 was added to the Ted R. McEwen Memorial Scholarship Fund for chemistry majors thanks to an individual gift by McEwen’s widow, LaVeta Ruth McEwen. The fund was established in 1976 in honor of former University of Southern Colorado staff member Ted R. McEwen, who served for eight years as departmental assistant to the Chemistry Department beginning in 1967.

Carpet Direct/Crouch Family Scholarship
A recent $100,000 gift from Earl & Gayle Crouch and Carpet Direct Corporation represents the third such contribution to the Carpet Direct/Crouch Family Scholarship, which was established in 2005 for students with declared majors in the following areas: accounting, biomedical sciences, cellular/molecular biosciences, environmental biosciences, chemistry, civil engineering, engineering, industrial engineering, nursing, physics, and any of these pre-professional programs: chiropractic, dentistry, medicine, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatric medicine, and veterinary.

This Oklahoma couple found success in Pueblo through the floor covering industry and continues to expand the funds available to assist worthy students. Eligible students must have a 3.5 high school grade point average and maintain a 3.25 cumulative grade point average in college.

Robert K. Spratlen Endowed Scholarship
A late year gift of $25,000 by Robert K. “Skip” Spratlen supplements previous gifts of $155,000 to fund general scholarships in his name for entering freshmen who remain in good standing academically. Spratlen, a retired concrete business owner, established the scholarship in 2006 to provide at least one-half of the annual tuition and fees for a full-time CSU-Pueblo student. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years with the intent that students finish his or her degree within four years.

Kane Family Foundation
The Kane Family Foundation presented the University with a year-end gift of $15,000 to fund additional Kane Family Foundation general, merit-based scholarships. This gift supplements a previous gift of $45,000 in 2007 for a grand total of $60,000 given to the CSU-Pueblo Foundation in 2007 for general, merit-based scholarships. This figure is in addition to the multi-million dollar commitment by the Kane Family Foundation to annually allow eight high-achieving Pueblo students to have full tuition, fee, and book scholarships for up to five years to pursue bachelor’s degrees at CSU-Pueblo. Eligible students must have a 3.25 cumulative GPA at the time of award and maintain a 3.0 GPA for future consideration as a full-time student.

Alexander Kane, a Fountain native, died June 3, 2003. Wanden Kane, a two-time mayor of Fountain, died Feb. 3, 1991. The couple ran the Kane Ranch near Williams Creek. During their lifetimes, the Kanes helped many young people with the financing of their education and also contributed to research related to drug and alcohol addiction. Before his death, Kane established the Kane Family Foundation and directed the Foundation to provide funds for tuition and books for eligible students.

Douglas Hartford Scholarship in Mass Communications
A $10,000 gift from Dr. Douglas and Mrs. Patricia Hartford will be the first of several gifts over the next five years that will establish a new scholarship in Doug’s honor for mass communication majors. Hartford is a former SCSC/USC staff member who served in a variety of public relations, alumni and development roles under Presidents Hopper and Bowes. He also served as an instructor in the mass communications department and credits his experiences in Pueblo as a launching pad for a successful, 38-year career in University Advancement. He retired in 2006 as the Vice President for University Advancement at Concordia University located in St. Paul, Minn. His wife, Patricia, taught nutrition classes for several semesters in SCSC’s Home Economics Department.

Eligible students must attend full or part-time and maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 2.8 with 3.0 GPA in Mass Communications courses. The couple has fond memories of the institution and Pueblo, where they met, and see the scholarship as a way to give back. A self-professed “radio guy,” Doug prefers (but does not require) preference be given to students in the Broadcasting Emphasis area of the Mass Communications program (specifically in the Radio Production track) or the Public Relations Emphasis area.



Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.