Each year, the College of Health and Human Sciences at Colorado State University recognizes recipients of the Emerging Leader Alumni Award and the Outstanding Alumni Award at the annual Scholarship and Alumni Awards event. This year’s event took place on Nov. 6. Alumni Holly Hunts, Chris Lierheimer, and Peggy Walsh received awards for 2019.
The Emerging Leader Alumni Award is awarded to alumni who have graduated in the past 10 years and have brought honor to themselves and Colorado State University in their career and volunteer efforts. Learn more about the Emerging Leader Award recipient below.
The Outstanding Alumni Award is awarded to alumni who have demonstrated distinction and accomplishment in their professional field, have provided service on a local or international scale, and have demonstrated achievements that have brought honor to CSU, CHHS, and to themselves. Learn more about the award recipients below.
Chris Lierheimer (B.S. ’15), Department of Construction Management, Emerging Leader Alumnus Award
Chris Lierheimer graduated from CSU in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. Lierheimer worked as a project engineer at PCL Construction and currently owns his own company, Aries Construction. He has been one of the pioneers of the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle technology on construction sites in Colorado. While Lierheimer was a student at CSU, he assumed many leadership roles and participated in several extracurricular activities including serving as the president for the Construction Management Association of America Student Chapter and participating in the pre-construction competition team. Lierheimer has worked with faculty to develop a case study freely available to construction management educators across the nation. In addition, he volunteers his time and talents by participating in community service opportunities with Habitat for Humanity and the Food Bank of the Rockies. Lierheimer was nominated by CM Department Head Mehmet Ozbek.
Holly Hunts (B.S. ’87), School of Education, Outstanding Alumna Award
Holly Hunts is an alumna of CSU graduating in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in vocational home economics education. After graduating from CSU, she went to New York to earn her master’s degree and Ph.D. from Cornell University. She is an associate professor at Montana State University, Bozeman, in the College of Education, Health and Human Development where she teaches personal finance and research methods. She leads a transdisciplinary research team that assesses the gaps in nutritional health in Native communities. She has spent years working for and with Native partners and communities to develop nutrition assessments and educational awareness of native foods and food production. Through her research partnerships, she has helped measure the nutritional adequacy of the Food Distribution Program on Indian reservations. She is an advocate to assure that Native foods are included in these distribution programs. Hunts has served as a group director at Montana State’s Creators and Disseminators of Agricultural Innovation and she was a co-organizer of the insects as Food and Feed Committee. Hunts was nominated by School of Education Professor Carole Makela.
Peggy Walsh (B.S. ’06, M.S. ’08), Departments of Health and Exercise Science and Food Science and Human Nutrition, Outstanding Alumna Award
Peggy Walsh graduated from CSU with a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science in 2006 and a master’s degree in food science and human nutrition in 2008. After completing her master’s degree, Walsh was accepted into the Physician Assistant program at the Baylor School of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She was the recipient of the Henry D. McIntosh Physician Assistant Award at the time of her graduation from Baylor. Walsh is now a Physician Assistant at Children’s Hospital Colorado at the Anschutz Medical Center specializing in pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery and wound care. She has also served in leadership roles with the American, Colorado, and Texas Academies of Physician Assistants. She has served on the Board of Directors, served as President-Elect, and currently serves as President. Walsh founded the Society for Early Career Physician Assistants here in Colorado. She is advocating to improve and expand access to healthcare for citizens at the state and national levels. Walsh has met with senators, congressmen and congresswomen to gain support for the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act and for the Access to Diabetic Shoes Act. Walsh was nominated by HES faculty member Wendy DeYoung.
Congratulations to all of our alumni award winners! To learn more about the CHHS Alumni awards program, read about past recipients, and nominate CHHS alumni for an award, please visit the College website.
