GUNDERSON OIL FUNDS UNM SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE 1978

Oct. 20, 2003

GUNDERSON OIL FUNDS UNM SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE 1978

Cheryl and Ronny Pynes, the owners of Grants-based Gunderson Oil Company, have funded University of New Mexico presidential scholarships since 1978 in memory of Cheryl's late father, Raymond Gunderson, UNM graduate, class of 1950.

"Our only requirement of UNM is that the scholarship go to a student from Grants. This is where we make our living and we want to help the people of this area," Cheryl said, adding that her mother, Connie Hale, also funds a presidential scholarship each year in memory of her late husband, who died in 1975.

Students awarded the UNM scholarships are now contributing to the fields of law, drama, medicine and business, Pynes said.

"We think the future of the world is in the hands of young people," she said.

The most recent Gunderson Oil-funded scholarship was awarded to Jamie Kitterman, daughter of James and Teresa Bearden of Grants. Now a senior at UNM, Kitterman has a career goal that will not only improves lives, but deaths. A psychology major specializing in grief counseling, she hopes to help people "die well," she said.

"It's important to die knowing you don't have any regrets and knowing that your family can let go. It's very hard to let go of somebody when you know they are going to die, especially if they are young," she said.

Kitterman speaks from experience. She survived the loss of both grandfathers and several others with whom she was close. She counsels those who face similar pain to accept early the fact that their loved ones are dying and to consider a helpful, hospice environment for the dying during their final stage of life.

She said UNM Honors program courses that deal with death and dying are among her favorites. So how does she deal with all this darkness?

"I don't take life for granted. When you see all that stuff it makes you appreciate the good things in your life so much more," she said.

Kitterman is grateful to the Pynes for funding her education.

"I wouldn't have been able to afford college without the scholarship," she said. "Even so, I had to take out loans for student housing."

A part-time employee at Sprint, Kitterman said she has always put the emphasis on being a good student.

UNM presidential scholarships are offered exclusively to New Mexico's most outstanding high school graduates, based on academic merit and leadership skills. The scholarships go above and beyond the cost of tuition - paying for textbooks and other fees. Since its inception, the scholarship program has offered tuition-free education to more than 2,250 scholars, made possible by nearly $8 million in gifts from donors.

There are approximately 410 scholars on campus this year from all across the state. This number puts UNM, and New Mexico, among the national leaders in merit scholarships.

"We are thrilled that donors like Gunderson Oil Company have supported the Presidential Scholarship Program for so many years," said Michael A. Emerson, chair of Friends of the UNM Presidential Scholarship. "The program is the cornerstone in the effort to retain the best high school students in the state of New Mexico and provide them with a world-class education at UNM. Gifts like this family's make a great institution even better."

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