On an early morning in November 1994, Bob (B.S., ’75; M.S., ’80) and Nancy (B.S., ’94; M.S., ’06) Sturtevant woke up to a surprise of bright sun and clear blue sky outside. Two feet of snow was predicted overnight, and they had considered postponing their first official trip that day as a “friendship family” with a cohort of 14 CSU international students.
These students, from all parts of the world, hadn’t been outside Fort Collins since they started at CSU and were especially hungry for adventure. With the Great Sand Dunes National Park their planned destination, the idea of sitting around inside during a rare period of free time was too much to bear. Their enthusiasm melted Bob and Nancy’s caution, and they hit the road at 1 pm that day.
“Things looked good going down I-25,” Nancy explained. “Then we got off the interstate and the storm hit.”
As blinding snow pummeled the roads and made further travel precarious, Bob and Nancy pulled their two vans full of students into an Alamosa Loaf N’ Jug and considered their options.
“We called the police, and they came and opened an elementary school for us,” said Bob. “We stayed in the gymnasium overnight and switched our plans around for the rest of the trip.”
The students, with the Sturtevants as their trusted guides, marveled at the snow-covered Sand Dunes, visited museums, went on hikes, and tested their survival skills at a Forest Service cabin where they stayed the next two nights.
“The cabin had only a wood burning stove, no running water, and an outdoor toilet. The group was so proud that they survived,” said Nancy.
Although their first official journey didn’t exactly go as expected, Bob and Nancy saw the value it brought to the students – how they had fun, bonded, made lifelong friends with each other, and saw natural wonders that they could scarcely imagine in their home countries. It was the beginning of a tradition of organized four-day trips every fall and spring break in connection with CSU’s Office of International Programs.
As a stalwart “friendship family,” the Sturtevants were always there for international students throughout every semester and beyond. They answered questions, offered advice, and even gave them a place to stay if needed. And, they didn’t limit themselves to just two trips a year.
“We tried to do something every month,” said Nancy. “In the winter we would snowshoe in the mountains and they would learn how to ski, and we’d do more hikes and campouts in the warmer months. In July, we’d go to Cheyenne Rodeo Days.”
“The fun part is getting to know all the students,” said Bob. “After they graduate, many go back home and get married, and Nancy and I go to their weddings. It’s like we’re in a big, extended family around the world.”
Service in their DNA
The year 1992 started like any other for the Sturtevants. After Nancy’s 19 years at Hewlett Packard and Bob’s 33 years with the Colorado State Forest Service, little did the they suspect that the winds of change would soon guide them in unexpected and life-changing directions.
It started when Bob’s boss handed him a letter from a fellow forester in Australia, who was eager to do a yearlong work exchange with someone in the U.S. Intrigued, Bob investigated further and called the forester. The idea sparked his and Nancy’s interest; she quit her job at HP to join Bob, and before they knew it they were settled in southeast Australia in a lush, mountainous area near a ski hill.
Although Nancy didn’t have a work permit, she found plenty to do by volunteering at nonprofits, schools, and libraries. She and Bob – who had experience as Scout leaders in Colorado – volunteered with both the Australian Scouts and Girl Guides, enjoying many campouts and adventures in their free time.
“People were so gracious and friendly to us,” said Nancy. “We did lots of volunteering before, but our trip opened the world to us.”
The Australia trip inspired the Sturtevants to continue giving back when they returned to the states. Nancy started volunteering at the Fort Collins International Center through an earlier connection she made prior to the trip, which led to her and Bob’s work as a “friendship family” for CSU international students.
Fast-forward 18 years, and the Sturtevants decided to take their passion for service to a new level.
“In 2010, Nancy and I volunteered for the Peace Corps,” said Bob. “At the time, they didn’t tell you your destination until they mailed you an instruction packet. We learned we’d be going to Ethiopia.”
With a natural resources program at Hawassa University, Ethiopia was the perfect fit for the Sturtevants, who soon found ways to support the community.
“We helped build a kindergarten in the town where we were living,” said Bob. “We started with a four-room classroom building. Now, the school has expanded and has two additional buildings with another under construction.”
In 2012, the Sturtevants served as the welcoming committee for then-CSU President Tony Frank when he arrived in Ethiopia to sign an official Memorandum of Understanding – Colorado State’s first strategic partnership with Africa. During a tour of Hawassa University Library, Frank noticed a peculiar lack of books in the massive facility.
“Tony told the librarian, ‘We can get you some books,’” said Bob. “Then he looked at me.”
What followed was a vast, multi-year project for the Sturtevants after returning to the states of collecting books, storing them, individually labeling and stamping them, and packing them with the help of an immense network of volunteers. Thanks to this colossal effort, more than 20,000 books now fill the shelves of Hawassa University Library.
Whether for students, communities – or a CSU president – the Sturtevants don’t think twice about giving back. Helping others is just second nature to them.
“Even if you can’t do much, you can still be a friend and make a difference in people’s lives,” said Nancy. “We have the ability to make such an impact by doing something so simple.”
If you are interested in interacting with international students, contact the Fort Collins International Center or CSU’s Office of International Programs.
