ALAMOSA – Adams State University will present Millie Hamner with its most prestigious honor, The Billy Adams Award at the Adams State University Alumni Banquet and Awards Ceremony during Homecoming, on October 5.

Hamner, an alumna and former instructor at Adams State, now represents House District 61 at the Colorado Legislature, which includes Pitkin, Lake and Summit counties and parts of Delta and Gunnison counties. She currently serves as chairwoman of the Joint Budget Committee, a six-member group charged with drafting the state’s annual budget bill.

“It is such an honor to receive the Billy Adams award and to be recognized for my service to education in Colorado,” Hamner said. “I applaud the efforts of Adams State University in keeping the great accomplishments of Governor Billy Adams alive through the annual award and I am proud to be recognized in his memory.”

Established in 1971, the Billy Adams Award recognizes those who exhibit the dedication to education shown by the college’s founder and namesake. Billy Adams worked for 30 years to establish the college in Alamosa. Adams State Teachers College opened in 1925 to educate teachers for remote, rural areas of Colorado, such as the San Luis Valley.

“Dr. Hamner has been an outstanding higher education advocate in the legislature, and she keenly understands the need for public support of rural institutions like Adams State,” said Dr. Cheryl Lovell, ASU president. “She knows our mission and appreciates the fact that we serve students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to earn a college degree. We are proud to honor her with Adams State’s most prestigious award.”

“Most of the jobs of the future will require education beyond a high school diploma,” Hamner said. “It is critically important that we have small, rural universities like Adams State to offer opportunities for students who live great distances from the metro area and who are willing to step up into these jobs to support their families and Colorado’s economy.”

Hamner previously served as chairwoman of the House Education Committee and continues to be involved in education policy, carrying various pieces of education and school finance related legislation, and currently serves on the Governor’s Education Leadership Council and the Interim Committee on School Finance. Her passion for education stems from over 35 years of service as a teacher and administrator in Eagle and Summit counties, including six years as superintendent of Summit School District.

Hamner earned her master’s degree from Adams State in elementary education in 1987 and her Ph.D. in educational leadership from the University of Denver in 1996. As an adjunct professor at both Adams State and the University of Denver, she was involved in the planning and delivery of advanced degree programs for teachers and school administrators throughout Colorado.