Article by Julie Waechter, special to Adams State
Adams State University’s Outstanding Alumna for 2025 is April McClure, Class of 1990. Now head of the Speech Communication Department and a tenured professor at Aims Community College in Greeley, CO, she credits her career success to her Adams State professors.
She will receive the award at the 2025 Alumni Homecoming Awards Ceremony, Friday, October 3, beginning at 11:30 a.m. in Vistas Grill (2nd floor Rex Stadium.) The ceremony will be followed by a reception from 2:30-4 p.m. in the Marvel House, 2nd St. and Richardson Ave. Tickets are no charge, but please RSVP by calling 719-587-8110, or ulcisneros@adams.edu.
McClure was nominated for the award by Dr. David Svaldi, Adams State Emeritus President and Emeritus Professor of Communication. He began teaching at Adams State the same semester as McClure began her freshman year and said, “What is striking about April is her determination to succeed. She had been literally on her own from a very young age, which for most people would result in a less successful career and life. She is a great example of an Adams State success story.”
McClure quickly found her place in Speech and Theatre under the tutelage of the late Dr. Carolyn Harper and Dr. Svaldi, performing in many theatre productions and participating on the Forensics and Debate Team.
“Together, Dave and Carolyn made the Speech and Theatre Department such a supportive, caring, and accepting environment where we felt at home. We could be creative and take risks without judgment. I flourished at Adams State,” McClure recalled. “Carolyn, who now has passed away, and Dave have always been there for me, through my setbacks, achievements, and growth. My gratitude for all their support, mentoring, and care throughout my life is immeasurable. I am very grateful I got my start at Adams State and humbled to be chosen the 2025 Outstanding Alumna.”
Her goal was to become a high school speech and drama teacher, “just like my high school speech and drama teacher, Sweetie Marbury (Class of 1987).” However, during her third semester, she learned the program would be discontinued.
“I was devastated. I immediately went to Dr. Harper. In her relaxed, pragmatic, and no-nonsense character, she said to me, ‘April, you’re going to become a professor. You’re going to graduate school, and I’m going to help you.’”
And that’s exactly what happened. McClure earned a Master of Fine Arts in theatre from Virgina Commonwealth University in 1993, then embarked on her teaching career. She taught at several Colorado community colleges, including Red Rocks and Front Range Community Colleges. She received FRCC’s student-nominated John Jenkins Master Teacher Award for 2008-2009. She also earned a master’s degree in communication from Denver University in 2010.
In 1997, when Dr. Svaldi moved from the faculty to administration, he called her and said, “Hey, April, do you want my job?” Of course, her answer was “yes,” and she served as visiting professor of speech and theater at Adams State for two years.
“I was thrilled about the opportunity to work for my alma mater,” McClure said.
“She performed in an outstanding fashion, teaching speech courses and directing the Forensics and Debate Team. She became a respected forensics and debate judge on the Colorado and Wyoming circuit,” Dr. Svaldi added.
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