º£½ÇÉçÇø

Meet the Changemakers

Find your future.

´¡»å±ð±ô²¹¾±»å±ðÌýBritton took advantage of the concurrentÌýenrollment program that allows high school students to take college classes, then transferred her credits toÌýº£½ÇÉçÇø.ÌýAtÌý19Ìýyears old, sheÌýwas the University’s youngest graduate that semester. From there, with a degree in Aviation and Aerospace Science,Ìý²õ³ó±ð’sÌýready and eager to step into a career as an air-traffic controller.Ìý

Turn goals into greatness.

After a terminal cancer diagnosis, Nursing student Jimena Malta Zuniga threw herself into her studies to better understand her illness and to support others. She recalled doing homework during chemotherapy and the empathy and flexibility of faculty members, which helped keep her going.ÌýShe hopes to become a pediatric oncology nurse, working with kids during their most difficult times.Ìý

Turn your dream into a degree.

Psychology major Gabriel Trujillo never dreamed of attending an out-of-state conference, much less presenting at one. Encouraged by his professor, he presented at two of psychology’s most prestigious conferences with support from the Student Travel Program fund. He also received several awards, including a two-year fellowship with the El Pomar FoundationÌýafter graduation.ÌýÌý

Create your career.

AfterÌýnearly aÌýdecade as an addiction counselor at Denver Health, Matthew Bustos was ready for the next step in his career. However, financialÌýlimitationsÌýmade pursuing aÌýMasterÌýofÌýSocial WorkÌýseem out of reach. Through the Apprenticeship Pathway program, BustosÌýapplied his work experience towardÌýdegree requirements and secured a scholarship thatÌýput him on track to earnÌýan MSW.ÌýÌý

Real work. Real impact.

OnceÌýArianaÌýRabinovichÌýrealized her passion for teaching, she pursuedÌýEnglish with a concentration in Secondary EducationÌý—Ìýand sheÌýreceived an Outstanding Student Award from her department. She plans to pursue her master’s degree before returning to the high school she attended to help shape young minds like the teacher who shaped hers.

Forge your career.

Hospitality Leadership major Ariel Vera Rivera, a New York City native, began her career working in human resources. When she moved to Denver, she transitioned to the beverage industry and gained real-world experience at º£½ÇÉçÇø. As she completes her degree,Ìý²õ³ó±ð’sÌýalso working as operations manager and bartender at a local distillery.ÌýÌý

Future-proof your career.

BrothersÌýJacob and Dylan Reed knew their way aroundÌýcomputersÌýpretty well, but itÌýtook enrollingÌýatÌýº£½ÇÉçÇøÌýtoÌýrealize their lifelong interest could become a career.ÌýAs Computer Sciences majors, theyÌýattendedÌýclasses together, supported each other and ultimately graduated together.ÌýThe experience offered an opportunity to learn more aboutÌýcomputer systems —ÌýbutÌýalsoÌýeach other.Ìý

Discover your brilliance.

Biochemistry student Zoe Ward always knew she wanted to be a researcher. When she joined ChemistryÌýProfessor AndrewÌýJ.Ìýµþ´Ç³ó²Ô²¹³¾â€™sÌýresearch lab, she set an ambitious goal of developing a groundbreaking cancer-screening test — and she achieved it. She helped develop a rapid test for HPV thatÌýrequires only a drop of blood, potentially saving many lives. 

Opportunity for all.

Luis Toscano, Business Management major, already owns andÌýoperatesÌýaÌýpart-time business detailingÌýautomobiles.Ìý±á±ð’sÌýbeen putting his knowledge to work and even won the Entrepreneurship program’s annual pitch competition. The Business program has helped him make essential connectionsÌýwhileÌýboosting his confidence, he said.

Rise above.

AsÌýmiddleÌýblocker for º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Volleyball Team,ÌýKryssa Moerman played a key role in the team’s historic national championship-winning season. The high-achieving Civil Engineering major was also honored for her academic performance two seasons in a row for achieving a GPA of at least 3.5, while also making First Team.