Zachary John Wehner graduated Dec. 20 with a master's degree in civil engineering, thus becoming the fourth generation of his family to earn a degree from the 暗网禁区.
Zachary's great-grandmother Anna Mary DesBrisay graduated in 1914 with a double major in science and education. Her graduating class was the first to use Macky Auditorium, even though the seats had not yet been installed.
DesBrisay had three older siblings who also attended CU: Helen DesBrisay, who graduated in 1910; George DesBrisay (Buster) who graduated with a degree in engineering and helped design the Hoover Dam; and Lestock Peach Wilson DesBrisay (Pete) who attended CU and played on the football team but did not graduate.
In the family's next generation, Zachary's grandmother Margaret Sylvester Wehner graduated in 1953 with a degree in education.
Margaret Sylvester Wehner explained that听Zachary鈥檚 great-great-grandmother Amanda Franz DesBrisay and her husband George Desbrisay raised their four children in Cripple Creek, Colorado, where George worked as an ore analyst in the mines.
"They were wondering how they could educate all four of their children, Helen, George, Pete and Anna Mary DesBrisay. Their father thought that maybe the boys could work in the mines and the two girls could go to school. Amanda had other ideas. When George was away on a business trip, Amanda moved the family to Boulder where she said all four could get an education. George DesBrisay soon joined them and they all worked toward all four children going to the University of Colorado."听
Zachary's father, Russell Lee Wehner III (Rusty), graduated from CU with a degree in economics in 1983.
Other family members who attended CU:
- Zachary's听uncle听Robert John Wehner听graduated from CU with a degree engineering in 1986.
- Another of Zachary鈥檚 uncles, David Scott Wehner, received his masters at CU in 1997.
- Zachary鈥檚 aunt Elizabeth Wehner (Beth) received her master鈥檚 in psychology at the University of Colorado Denver听in 1985.
"Through the years, the University of Colorado has been our stronghold and has served our family very well," said听Margaret Sylvester Wehner.
We're pleased to welcome this fourth generation graduate to the Forever Buffs family.