All64: Every corner of Colorado. CSU connects with every county.
“CSU was a bigger school that was a little bit away from home. It had everything that I needed, that I was looking for.”
During the 2022-23 academic year, we are highlighting one Colorado State University student or alum from each of Colorado’s 64 counties. The Centennial State’s land grant university has a connection to the diverse lands and people from the counties of Moffat to Baca, Montezuma to Sedgwick and everywhere in between.
Braden Wilson
Major: Hospitality Management (2015 graduate)
Why I chose CSU: It was a bigger school that was a little bit away from home. It had everything that I needed, that I was looking for.
My favorite thing about CSU: I was actually part of FarmHouse fraternity. I ended up being the fraternity and sorority president of the year before I left. Besides that, the campus and the staff and the professors were always great.
Clubs/organizations in college: FarmHouse
Career goals: Moving into leadership and be able to serve others in the roles that I’m in, usually in some leadership capacity. (Editor’s Note: Wilson is Custer County’s director of finance and human resources and may move into the county manager role. Braden also applied to get his online MBA from CSU)
Favorite instructor(s): Dr. Burton Deines. He has creativity. You had freedom to study business, leadership, management, marketing; everything all kind of rolled into one. He made it a fun class.
Favorite NOCO food and hangouts: I discovered New Belgium way too late, so Sundance was probably the hangout.
What’s your favorite CSU tradition: Aggie Day
Quirky fact about you: I grew up on an exotic game farm where we had elk, deer, ostrich, emus, llamas, goats, you name it.
What do you tell people from your Custer County about CSU: It’s a great experience, a great place to be, just to be able to plug into different resources that are available.
Something people should know about Custer County: It’s a beautiful, rural area with rural values and a strong community that cares for each other. It’s just a beautiful place to retreat. We’re nestled right between the Sangre de Cristo and the White mountains. You can’t turn any direction without seeing a beautiful view.
Biggest adversity you’ve overcome at CSU: That first semester as an engineering student, I did not make great decisions as far as going to class.
What influence did CSU Extension have in your county: I was involved in 4-H.
CSU’s All64 Project
Read about more students or alums in Colorado connected to all 64 counties. Explore all the questions and answers from every corner of the Centennial State.
