³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø alumna Rosalie Martinez, a successful business owner with a long history of community involvement in Alamosa, will deliver the 2020 Fall Commencement address to a livestream audience on Dec. 5.
Martinez, who graduated from ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø State with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1986, owns many businesses in the San Luis Valley along with her husband, Leroy, including Sierra Vista Lumber & Steel Company, Ace Hardware of Alamosa and L&M Auto Inc. and Auto Sales.
She will deliver the commencement address live from Richardson Hall Auditorium to a virtual audience. The ceremony begins at noon.
Martinez was a non-traditional student at ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø State, enrolling in classes for the first time at the age of 40. After completing her degree, she taught business classes at ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø State and earned an MBA from Colorado State University. Later, she served as associate vice president for administration at ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø State. She retired from the University in 1999, but continues to run the many businesses she owns with her husband.
Martinez is heavily involved in San Luis Valley nonprofits and organizations. She has served on the boards of: Boys and Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley, San Luis Valley Health Foundation, San Luis Valley Health, Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce, Hope for Kids Like Me, Farm Credit of Southern Colorado, Trinidad State Junior College, Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame Honorary Board and the ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø Foundation.
She was named the 2004 ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø State alumna of the year and received a president’s volunteer service award under President Barack Obama in 2009.
Visit ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø State fall commencement ceremony for more information.
