Skip Navigation

2011 Puksta Retreat Group Photo

Our 2010-11 Puksta Scholar Community during our annual winter retreat at Estes Park YMCA.

 

2011 Graduates and Alumni: 

Jessica Choe, senior
Major: Finance
Issue: Financial literacy
Community Partner: Junior Achievement
Project: Financial literacy education for youth
Activities/identities: Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, Team 1864 Tour Guide

Cameron Lewis, senior
Major: Sociology
Minor: Political Science
Issue: Community empowerment through public voice
Project: Strengthening relationships between diverse communities at DU through programming and civic engagement projects
Activities/identities: Black Student Alliance (former president, 09-10)

Ericca McCutcheon, senior
Major: Business Administration
Minors: Economics and Leadership Studies
Issue: Education for young girls
Project: Connecting DU sorority women with Girls Athletic Leadership School (GALS) through the curriculum-building non-profit SmartGirl in order to create a positive mentor environment.
Activities/identities: DU Diversity Fellow in the Office of Undergraduate Admission, RA in Nagel Hall, PINS Student

 

 2011-12 Puksta Scholars:

Jennifer Armstrong, senior
Major: Public Policy and International Relations
Issue: Economic justice and poverty relief
Community Partner: The 1010 Project
Project: Helping The 1010 Project develop a rural leadership program for entrepreneurs in Western Kenya
Activities/identities: Denver Urban Gardens Education Intern, co-founder of the Social Brink student organization for social entrepreneurship


Taylor Rowe, senior
Major: Finance
Minors: Economics and Spanish
Issue: Empowerment through financial literacy
Community Partner: Community Credit Counseling Services
Project Idea: Developing a program that supports and promotes financial literacy in our community.
Activities/identities: Pahhellenic delegate and member on the Executive Council for Alpha Phi Sorority


Felipe Vieyra, senior
Majors: International Studies, Political Science, Spanish
Issues: Immigration, education and political voice
Community Partner: Padres y Jovenes Unidos
Project Idea: Create a college-access mentorship program with fellow scholar Aminta Menjivar at Lincoln High School
Activities/identities: CCESL Public Achievement Coach, DU Students for Immigration Reform, soccer player


James Lozano, junior
Major: Psychology
Minors: Sociology and Spanish
Issue: Racism
Community Partner: TBD
Project Idea: TBD
Activities/identities: CCESL’s Public Achievement Program, volunteer with non-profit Art from Ashes


Maria Khan, junior
Major: International Business
Issue: underprivileged children
Community Partner: Colorado Clash Soccer Club
Project Idea: Build a girls soccer team consisting of Muslim girls (who are culturally discouraged from playing sports) and non-Muslim girls who do not have access to team sports
Activities/identities: DU Women’s Varsity Soccer Team (goalie)

Jenni (Salazar) Talcott, junior
Majors: Criminology and Psychology
Issues: Dating violence and domestic violence
Community Partners: Safehouse Denver, Denver Mayor’s Office
Project: Awareness promotion of dating/domestic violence and support for survivors at DU and in greater the Denver community
Activities/identities: DU Rape Awareness and Gender Organization (R.A.G.E.), CCESL Service Learning Associate (SLA), RA, Mentor at Manny Martinez Middle School


Aminta Menjivar, second year
Majors: International Studies and International Business
Minor: undeclared
Issue: Equal access to college regardless of immigration status in the U.S.
Community Partner: The Chamber of the Americas
Project Idea: Mentoring high achieving, undocumented high school students to attend college
Activities/identities: DU Students for Comprehensive Immigration Reform


Brittany Morris, second year
Major: Psychology
Minor: Spanish
Issue: Educational quality for students with learning disabilities
Community Partner: International Dyslexia Association (IDA)–Rocky Mountain Branch
Project: Creating a branch of Project Eye to Eye in partnership with the IDA in order to establish a mentorship program for students with learning disabilities that is led by students with learning disabilities.
Activities/identities: Honors Program, gymnastics coach at the Ritchie Center

Mohammad Hadi, second year
Major: Natural Sciences
Issue: human trafficking
Community Partner: TBD
Project idea: To build an orphanage in Iraq or Syria


Taylor Grogan, first year
Graduating from: Chatfield Senior High School
Intended Major: Acting
Intended Social Justice Issue Area for Puksta Work: Equality issues regarding race, gender, and sexual orientation


Fatima Gul, first year
Graduating from: Denver School of Science and Technology
Intended Major: Biochemistry/International Studies
Intended Issue: Refugee and international issues


Ian Parker, first year
Graduating from: Summit County High School, Frisco
Intended Major: Music/Education
Intended Issue: Youth access to music instruction, and music as a way of bridging difference


Savanna Uland, first year
Graduating from: Early College of Arvada
Intended Major: English and Theater, teaching emphasis
Intended Issue: Religion and culture

Manuel Del Real

Manuel Del Real

DU Student, Class of 2009 and 2011

Every time I look at the murals, it gives me great pride as an alumnus to be able to see students make a change...Being a coach has also helped me realize I am the mentor that I used to look up to.

Hava Gordon

Hava Gordon

Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology

Last year, I taught a Service Learning FSEM: "Youth Cultures: Inequality, Resistance, and Empowerment." This was the first time teaching my FSEM as a service learning class, and it was an amazing experience. With the help of my wonderful Service Learning Associate, Cameron Lewis, our class partnered with "The Spot" youth center and Rainbow Alley. Both organizations work to empower teens by providing a safe and creative space for low-income, homeless, and LGBTQ youth. FSEM students joined outreach workers at The Spot on night walks around the city, distributing needed items to homeless youth. Students also participated in consciousness-raising workshops at Rainbow Alley, connecting with Rainbow Alley youth through these workshops."

Emelyne Neff

Emelyne Neff

Coach at Bruce Randolph School

PA is a chance to live outside the DU bubble and to build strong, powerful relationships with young people thirsting for truth, justice and freedom...I can't get enough of if it. The changes on an individual and group level are tangible and beautiful. I feel like I'm making a difference and am the recipient of change as much as an agent of change.