Pioneer Family Lands a Perfect 10

The connection grows

Tina says her parents never pushed any of their children to continue their Pioneer legacy, but when the time came to pursue higher education, each found their own path to campus. For Tina, the draw was an excellent gymnastics team, which she walked onto in 1984. Her older sister Beverly (BSBA ’82) also had briefly been a part of the team as she pursued an economics degree. After two years of college elsewhere, her older brother Brian (BSBA ’88) transferred to DU, where the self-described “wandering kid” found his place and a passion for playing music at his sister’s meets — a duty he still performs for the gymnastics team 30 years later.

By the time she received her diploma, Tina had earned a scholarship, was twice named the team’s MVP and in her senior year captured Female Athlete of the Year honors. But it was during her freshman year that a friend introduced her to the man who would extend her Pioneer family.

Darin Good (BSBA ’03) was a member of the swimming and diving team whose own parents, Leland Good (BSBA ’57) and Janis Clark (who earned an associate degree from the Women’s College in 1957) had met on campus. Seven years later, Tina and Darin wed and began to realize the literal Pioneer family they had created.

“We never even really thought of it until we had kids of our own,” Tina recalls, “and then you start dreaming together and you go, ‘wow! Oh my goodness. DU really has a presence in our life, doesn’t it?’”

The next generation

When the time came for Nicole Good to select a school, she says she felt no pressure from her parents.

“I’m glad to hear that!” Tina laughs, “because [Darin and I] we were both secretly going ‘pick DU, pick DU.’” The family tradition is one thing, but Tina and Darin, a regular guest lecturer at the Daniels College of Business, say they knew their daughter would emerge with the skills required to lasso a job in a competitive market. The University’s alumni network and community connections are tremendous advantages, Tina adds.

“Every single one of us in the [family] have had very, very different experiences at DU,” she says. “But [they’ve all been] very positive.” Adds Nicole: “I think we’ve had pretty different experiences, but we share that pride of the amazing education we got and the things we can do with that.”

Nicole prefers to downplay her family’s long association with DU. She has never felt the need to “carry the torch” and is much more content describing the tight-knit community and her close relationships with her professors.

But she can’t ignore what her Uncle Brian describes as the “overflowing pride” that comes with the legacy. It’s the way her parents carry themselves when they return to campus.

The Goods say they have never been prouder to be graduates. They delight in the fact that Nicole has sat in some of the same lecture halls as her parents, but they also beam at the way the campus has evolved.

“It’s part of our history,” Tina says. “And to see that continue to grow and become what it is today, you’re proud of your alma mater. It just makes you feel like you want to stay super connected.”