In addition to Faculty Citings, the Early Bird shines a spotlight each month on the accomplishments of Metropolitan State University of Denver faculty and staff members and University partners.
If we missed an award, accolade or opportunity to celebrate an accomplishment big or small, please submit the announcement by completing the Service Request Form.
Fantastic faculty
Pat Johnson was an educator, athlete and gender-equality advocate whose accomplishments earned a spotlight in MSU Denver Athletics’ 52-part tribute to Roadrunner pioneers in intercollegiate athletics. Johnson started the Roadrunner volleyball program in 1968 and coached through 1987. Along the way, she fought sex-based discrimination against athletes by filing a Title IX complaint and led her team to three top-10 national finishes in the old Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. Although she passed away in 2021, her legacy lives on in Roadrunner Athletics, as she paved the way for one of the most consistent programs in NCAA Division II. Learn more about this legendary Roadrunner and watch for further important and inspiring stories.
Superstar students
MSU Denver senior Ignacio Salas walked away from this year’s Center for Entrepreneurship pitch competition with a $2,500 prize, a first-place title and affirmation for his business concept. Salas had just seven minutes in the competition to pitch his idea for sustainable shipping pallets made from recycled and recyclable material. His business savvy paid off as the panel recognized the value of Salas’ winning concept. Hats off to this up-and-coming entrepreneur!
Congratulations are in order for seven Roadrunner student-athletes: Gala Castello, Marie Cool and Isabel Heras in women’s tennis and Billy McDermott, Jack McDermott, David Kijak and Kacey Walisumdara in men’s tennis for their second consecutive year of Academic All-PacWest recognition. The honor is awarded to students who have played competitively within the past academic year while maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. This year, student-athletes Monica Guarin, Kayla Myburgh and Lilly Stienemeier (women’s tennis) and Jeanloup Auzias, Andy Caruana and Dayton Fisher (men’s tennis) were recognized for the first time. A rowdy cheer for these exemplary athletes.