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November 1 – New 密歇根州立大学丹佛 Bird Talk podcast episode
11月11日——退伍军人节
November 21 – Mug Club Happy Hour
November 28 – Thanksgiving Day
New endowment will help 特殊教育 students thrive
文/琳恩·温特
Inspired by his late wife and a career change late in life, alumnus Eddy Reyes establishes a scholarship to help aspiring teachers make a difference.
Eddy Reyes knows it’s never too late to change careers — and lives.
Following a successful career in advertising, Reyes shifted gears in his 60s, earning a degree in 特殊教育 from Metropolitan State University of 丹佛. He taught fourth and fifth grade with 丹佛 Public Schools for 18 years. 现在他已经80多岁了, he’s putting on his philanthropist hat and giving back to the community by honoring his late wife through the 阿伦米. Selu 特殊教育 Memorial Endowment — the first scholarship at 密歇根州立大学丹佛 for students studying 特殊教育.
Born and raised in Nicaragua, Reyes came to the U.S. in 1953 to attend Loyola University of Los Angeles (now Loyola Marymount University). After college, he carved out a niche as a successful graphic designer in 丹佛’s advertising scene. When Reyes got a job working on 丹佛 Dry Goods’ first fashion catalog in the early 1970s, he knew the perfect photographer: Gus King.
Only there was no actual Gus King. Reyes created the alias from his middle name, Gustavo, and the English translation of his last name and stepped into a new phase in his career as a photographer.
When digital photography gained traction in the early ’90s, Reyes dissolved Reyes Studio Inc. 将近60岁, he wandered his empty studio “lost and confused,他的妻子说, 艾伦·玛丽·塞卢, who was a special-education teacher and 20-year veteran of 丹佛 Public Schools.
“One day, she said she thought I would make a great teacher,” he recalled. “它种下了一颗种子.”
The father of five decided to go back to school at 密歇根州立大学丹佛, 他的女儿(后来呢?, grandsons) was earning her degree. 他和他的妻子, who had retired to attend graduate school, sold their house to pay tuition, moved into the former photo studio and spent the next four years as busy students.
“I was the oldest student in my classes and enjoyed every moment,” Reyes said. “Being at 密歇根州立大学丹佛 was a rich, happy and stimulating experience. 真是一顿美餐!”
在获得学位后 小学教育 with a bilingual endorsement in 1997, Reyes taught with DPS for 18 years, primarily at Place Bridge Academy, where teachers and staff continue to serve immigrant children.
“Forty-five languages were spoken in the building, and many students hadn’t been in a classroom (prior to being there),他说. “We guided them through these new experiences.”
Two encounters inspired Reyes to establish the 阿伦米. Selu 特殊教育 Memorial Endowment.
第一个, there was a serendipitous reunion with a former student who expressed gratitude for how Reyes had changed her life. (“I wish every teacher could have that type of validating experience,他说 of the feedback.),那么, Reyes learned of a friend’s experience founding a scholarship at 密歇根州立大学丹佛 in honor of her late husband, 谁也是老师. “I wanted to do the same for Arlen,他说.
Reyes hopes the scholarship will plant seeds for the next generation of 特殊教育 students at the University.
“It takes a special person who loves kids to go into special education,他说. “I want to help eager, hardworking students receive the support they need.”