Inspiration came, and Susan and Vernon Casias acted. The couple realize the importance of Adams State and recently bequeathed their entire estate to the University to support scholarships, even though they have no direct ties to the University.
“Setting up a scholarship fund through Adams State University is very important to us because of our own personal experiences,” Vernon Casias said.
The Casiases spent a lot of time searching for a college that would provide a higher education to underserved people primarily living in the San Luis Valley. Their interest is to help those who are unable to attend college due to the cost of tuition and fees. “We were impressed with the knowledge, loyalty and dedication of the staff in carrying out the mission of ASU,” Vernon Casias added.
Because of their experiences, they understand the value of higher education and both value keeping higher education accessible, especially in rural areas and for underserved students. “We encourage others to establish a scholarship fund through ASU to help students succeed and contribute to their communities,” Susan Casias added.
Vernon grew up in Del Norte and has relatives who attended Adams State. “We learned the University designed a plan to help students meet their goals, which we believe is an excellent idea,” he said. “College can be difficult without some support and there are students who are the first in their family to work on a college degree.”
Vernon and Susan Casias encourage today’s youth to pursue careers in demand, including health care, environmental specialists, space engineers/technicians and scientists, teachers, machinists or welders. “All these areas require additional educational degrees or vocational training,” Susan Casias said. “ASU is a good resource for individuals seeking to expand their knowledge and/or training for employment in the future.”
She added that attending college may be challenging for students from rural, isolated communities or from a village or neighborhood of people from the same ethnic ancestry. “Adams State’s efforts to reach out and encourage and continue to provide support to students from rural communities or villages are commendable, and seeing students fulfill their academic goals is outstanding.”
After high school Vernon joined the United States Air Force. Without the GI Bill he could never have attended college. He also worked his way through college as a laborer for CF&I Steel, in Pueblo. “Adams State is very important to us because it offers valuable opportunities to people in the San Luis Valley with similar experiences as ours.”
Susan grew up on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in northeastern Arizona. She received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz., and her master’s in social work from Portland State University, in Oregon. As a Native American she learned getting an education and training has long-term rewards. She was employed with Indian Health Service until she retired after 31 years of government service.
