Center for Community Engagement &
Service Learning: Student Section
Current DU Puksta Scholars (2007-08)
Click on a name below or scroll down the page to read about each scholar:
Charla Agnoletti
D.J. Close
Kim Roesch
Kali Smith
Blanca Trejo
Ally Veneris
Charla Agnoletti
Home Town: Denver, CO
Major: Sociology
Year: Junior
Project: Collaborating with Blanca Trejo on the Engaged Community Initiative (ECI), a
student group formed to bring community organizing skills to DU students. A core group of dedicated students have gone through basic trainings, and as a group we have been building relationships with our DU peers (including student, faculty and staff), while uncovering common values and issues of concern among the members of our community.
The foundation of our organizing efforts has been established and during the 2007-08 school year we are looking forward to conducting workships on communities within DU and throughout Denver, engaging in the process of direct action regarding important on- and off-campus issues, and educating the DU and Denver community to become informed, engaged and active citizens.
D.J. Close
Home Town: Durango, CO
Major: Political Science
Year: Sophomore
Project: (TBA)
Kim Roesch
Home Town: Lamar, CO
Major: Psychology; Minors: Communication, Leadership
Year: Junior
Project: As a new Puksta Scholar, I am looking forward to combining many of my passions into a project for Puksta. The two components
of my work that I am most passionate about are Public
Achievement at Bryant Webster, and my Community Change Initiative
Project at Grant Middle School. Public Achievement is a
program that has taught me about the positive things that can
come from middle school students who begin to realize their potential
through engaging in a community project. My work at Grant has been
focused on invigorating the current school curriculum with theatre
accents, and giving students a chance to channel their energy in
positive and creative ways.
Kali Smith
Home Town: Lakewood, CO
Major: Individually Structured (Pyschology, Sociology, Anthropology)
Year: Sophomore
Project: I plan to work closely with my oncology clinic or the pediatric oncology wing of
Children's Hospital to create my project.
Blanca Trejo
Home Town: Denver, CO
Major: International Business/Political Science
Year: Junior
Project: My project is focused on Youth Organizing, and revolves around a student organizing committee initiated in November 2006 called the Engaged Community Initiative (ECI). The group is working on building leadership skills among DU students and uniting around
common issues and concerns, both on the DU campus and the larger Denver
community. Projects ECI is working on include a DU TV show to help student organizations on campus
be more connected to one another, research around "student space" and the renovation of a the Driscoll Student Center, and community organizing trainings for other DU students as well as youth in the Denver/Aurora area.
Ally Veneris
Home Town: Colorado Springs, CO
Major: English; Minors: Leadership, Communication
Year: Sophomore
Project: Possibly collaborating with Cody Wiggs (see below) on DU/Big Brothers and Big Sisters mentoring initiative.
