About the Pueblo Hall of Fame

The Pueblo Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to honor individuals who, by their extraordinary effort, have contributed to the betterment or enhancement of Pueblo.

Nominees are considered on the basis of contributions in the following areas: all facets of education; business and labor; arts and humanities; philanthropy; government; law; science and technology; and health and human services.

Persons selected for the Hall of Fame do not have to be Pueblo natives nor do they have to be current residents.

Posthumous nominations are accepted but date of death should not exceed five years prior to nomination.

Selections are made without regard to gender, race, religion, or national origin.

Inductees are selected in November of each year by a panel consisting of the community members and at least one trustees of the Pueblo Community College Foundation. They are honored at a banquet in the spring.

Nomination Requirements and Regulations:

Nominations may be made from the community beginning in April of each year. They must be received by the Pueblo Community College Foundation by October 31.

Nominations Must Include:

A compelling narrative on the qualifications of the nominee.
At least one (1) letter of support from persons who have pertinent information about the nominee, including friends, relatives, or business associates.
At least three (3) references with name, relationship to nominee and complete contact information.

Nomination Modification Policies

If the nominee wishes to delay their nomination due to personal or professional conflict, that nomination will be held over for one additional year and will be included into the following year’s class of inductees.

After notification of delaying or not accepting a nomination, the Foundation will proceed in notifying the alternate candidate as to their nomination for inclusion in the upcoming class of nominations for the Pueblo Hall of Fame.

Amended nominations will not be accepted after a vote of the PHOF committee.

If a nominee wishes to amend their nomination after the annual vote has taken place, that nominee will be informed that the modification is not accepted for the current year and the nominee will be encouraged to submit a new nomination packet for review in the following year.
The new nomination packet will need to be received at the PCC Foundation office by the October 31 deadline.
The new nomination will be included within the pool of all other nominations and will not receive preferential treatment in evaluation or voting.

To obtain an official nomination packet for the Pueblo Hall of Fame, contact the PCC Foundation office at 719.544.0677.

Official Induction Portraits and biographies of the Pueblo Hall of Fame inductees are located on a special kiosk that is located on the second floor of the Student Center of Pueblo Community College. In addition, a “Wall of Fame” has been constructed to pay visual tribute to all Pueblo Hall of Fame inductees and that special presentation is now located within the Fortino Ballroom at Pueblo Community College.

Although the 2021 and 2022 Pueblo Hall of Fame events had to be postponed due to COVID-19, the 2023 Pueblo Hall of Fame took place on February 18. Information on that event is below.

The 2024 Pueblo Hall of Fame will take place on Saturday, February 10!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PUEBLO HALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM

THREE OUTSTANDING WOMEN TO BE INDUCTED INTO PUEBLO HALL OF FAME ON FEBRUARY 15

Pueblo – The Pueblo Community College Foundation is most honored to announce the 2025 Class of Inductees into the Pueblo Hall of Fame. Jayne Mazur, Yanera McCulley-Sedillo and posthumously Mary Jane Volelker will be added to the other outstanding individuals who have been enshrined in this Pueblo institution.

Established in 1991 to honor individuals who, by their extraordinary effort, have contributed to the betterment or enhancement of Pueblo, the Pueblo Hall of Fame has inducted ninety-six individuals into this most-distinguished honor roll. On February 15, three more will be added onto the Wall of Fame that is located within the Pueblo Community College Fortino Ballroom.

Proceeds from the annual event benefit the Pueblo Community College Foundation and their efforts to advance student success at Pueblo Community College.

About this year’s inductees:

Jayne Mazur was born in Stratford, Connecticut but has adopted Pueblo as her true hometown. A graduate of Boston College, she went on to obtain a degree in Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco and a Masters in Social Work from Colorado State University It is her post-graduate positions with the Jesuit Volunteer Corp in Portland, Oregon and as a community organizer in Oakland, California that gave her the roots for being of assistance to her fellow men and women.

In 1986, Jayne returned to Connecticut and worked with the United Way of Stamford, advancing to serve as the associate executive director. She found her passion for nonprofit management, and this brought her and her family to Pueblo in 1993 to become the Executive Director of the Pueblo County United Way. At that time the organization was facing serious financial issues, challenging its future viability. Jayne worked with a dedicated staff, Board of Directors, United Ways’ member agency leaders and a strong volunteer network to stabilize the agency and sow the seeds for growth.

United Way began to flourish and celebrated its 75th Anniversary at the newly constructed Pueblo Convention Center.

Jayne took a position to lead Catholic Charities in 2000. She worked to raise funds and develop programs to expand services to families throughout southern Colorado. Highlights include the Family Education and Empowerment Program, the only Immigration Law Clinic in southern Colorado, expanded mental health services and utility assistance to communities throughout southern Colorado.

Jayne’s final career stop was with the St. Mary-Corwin Hospital Foundation in 2009. She had served on the hospital’s Community Board for 9 years prior to her employ and was the first laywoman to chair the Board in the history of the organization.

Under her direction, SMC Foundation was successful in raising the funds to help establish the hospital’s Breast Center of Excellence, including the funds to purchase the first digital mammography machines for the Center, funding to construct the hangar for the Flight for Life Air Ambulance helicopter, the expansion of “Cowboys Kickin’ Cancer” to support patients receiving care at the Dorcy Cancer Center, the remodel and upgrade of the hospital’s birthing center and the assistance in the Wilz Trauma Symposium for southeastern Colorado. Jayne retired from the SMC Foundation in 2018.

Jayne has volunteered her time to many organizations and community initiatives in our community. Jayne was a founding member of the Southern Colorado Community Foundation, served on the board of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, was a commissioner for the Housing Authority of Pueblo and the Colorado Energy Assistance Foundation Commission, a member of the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Non-Profit Organizations and was a guest lecturer and instructor at Colorado State University – Pueblo. She currently serves on the Board of Roselawn Cemetery Association.

When not volunteering her time, Jayne enjoys spending time with her husband John and their golden retriever Rita, traveling to see her daughter Sarah and son in law Nate, riding the river trails with her horse Whiskey, reading and dipping her hand in fabric arts.

“Jayne truly exemplifies what it is to become a member of the Pueblo Hall of Fame,” explained PCC Foundation past president and 2010 Pueblo Hall of Fame Inductee Sharon Swerdfeger. “We are delighted that she will be joining so many others who have and continue to serve to enhance our community!”

Yanera McCulley-Sedillo has made a profound and lasting impact on the Pueblo community in numerous ways. In this year’s class of inductees, Yanera is the only one who was born, raised and continues to reside in her beloved Bessemer community! She was the first of her siblings to be born in the United States and she continues to call Bessemer her home. She was educated there, raised her family there and continues to run the family business there.

At the encouragement of TG McCarthy, Charles and Petra founded Angelus Chapel in 1968. Upon their passing, Yanera and her children carry on the family legacy, making Angelus Chapel the longest family-owned funeral home in Pueblo, with 56 years of service.

In both her personal and professional life, Yanera upholds her parents’ pledge to treat every man and woman as if they were your father, your mother, your brother or your sister. She views her career not as a job but as a ministry. She loves what she does and feels fortunate to support families during their most difficult times. Those who come to her for assistance are not merely clients; they become members of her family. She emotionally invests her time and energy into each case, providing dignity and support. Her compassion is evident in both her words and actions.

Yanera has received numerous community recognitions which she often downplays by highlighting the children and families supported by those organizations, turning the focus onto personal pleas for assistance for them. As a leader in the Bessemer community, Yanera is the first person contacted for support in campaigns aimed at enhancing the area. She is a proud member of various organizations, including the Central High School Foundation, the St. Mary-Corwin Board of Trustees, CASA, the Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce, Posada, and the Pueblo Boys and Girls Club, among others. Recently, she was awarded the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and has been recognized by multiple organizations for her extensive service to the Pueblo community.

Yanera McCulley serves her community in straightforward yet meaningful ways. Whether it’s taking a child to the mall to buy socks and shoes on a snowy day, helping a high school student purchase a well-deserved letter jacket, sponsoring numerous children’s sports teams, or hosting Trunk or Treat for the children of Bessemer who might otherwise miss out on this childhood tradition, she is dedicated to serving her fellow citizens and the Pueblo community as a whole.

“Yanera McCulley-Sedillo exemplifies servant leadership, believing in the power of making the world a better place, one action at a time and for those qualities, we are thrilled to induct her into the Pueblo Hall of Fame,” exclaimed Swerdfeger.

Mary Jane Voelker is a native of Michigan but upon arriving in Pueblo in 2004 she immediately adopted pueblo as her true hometown. Upon the death of her mother, Mary Jane was encouraged to relocate from the hustle and bustle of the west coast to a local that would offer her the opportunity to mingle with people of varied interests and cultures. She found Pueblo and the rest is history. She immediately became captivated with the small, caring community and within a very short time became an integral part of organizations such as her church, Pueblo Community College (PCC), St. Mary Corwin Medical Center, and the Pueblo Historical Society.

Upon settling into her El Camino home, Mary Jane’s first call was to the PCC Foundation to inquire about the culinary arts program. As a community college graduate, she was passionate about supporting students, particularly nontraditional learners. This call led her to connect with Carol Himes, and a wonderful friendship blossomed. Mary Jane and Carol would meet regularly to discuss the needs of students, and she would continually open her heart and her checkbook to advance this

program by provided the funding for equipment, student scholarships, and travel opportunities so that the students could explore opportunities beyond Colorado.

She established a summer travel program that allowed PCC Culinary and Hospitality students to opportunities to visit San Francisco and Las Vegas, where they could experience some of the finest culinary and hospitality institutions in those cities. Additionally, she funded the entry fees and travel expenses for PCC students to participate in local, regional and national culinary competitions. One student expressed gratitude by saying, “You changed my life… I have never been outside of the city limits of Pueblo, let alone flying or staying in a hotel.”

Mary Jane became the seed funder for the PCC Nursing & Allied Health Teaching & Learning Center, which was established on the St. Mary Corwin Medical Campus in Pueblo. Alongside eighty-one other donors, she contributed to the transformation of unused hospital space into a state-of-the-art facility. Upon her passing, her estate left over $8 million to the PCC Foundation to support this center, including program needs and scholarships for students pursuing health degrees.

Mary Jane also supported her church, St. Mary Corwin Medical Center’s cancer care program, UCHealth and Parkview’s cancer care initiatives, and the Pueblo Historical Society, providing funds for program expansions and student scholarships.

“Mary Jane Voelker will be remembered for her remarkable generosity to the Pueblo community, having donated over $25 million to causes she cherished throughout her lifetime in Pueblo.,” explained Swerdfeger “During her 17 years in Pueblo, Mary Jane will rank as one of our communities’ top philanthropists. And her endowed giving will benefit our community in perpetuity!”

The banquet and induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at the Pueblo Community College Fortino Ballroom in Pueblo. Anyone wishing to attend to support this year’s inductees should contact the PCC Foundation office this week. Tickets are $150/person. Reservations may be made by calling 719.544.0677 or emailing to Martha.simmons@pueblocc.edu.

“We are looking forward to an amazing evening celebrating the community achievements of three amazing women,” explained Swerdfeger. “We hope that many will plan to attend in recognition of their accomplishments and in support of the PCC Foundation that works to enhance the higher educational endeavors for the people of southern Colorado!”

For more information on the Pueblo Hall of Fame or the Pueblo Community College Foundation, contact the PCC Office at 719.544.0677.

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