VIP Students
Alumni Spotlight: Tracy Gutierrez
Dorothee Stangle and Rebecca Lipman are among our most successful VIP alumni. Dorothee graduated from West High School in 1999 and then completed her undergraduate work in 2003. During her time at DU, Dorothee worked in the VIP Program as a Summer Link Coordinator where she significantly helped to develop this program. She is now working on a Masters degree in International Social Work at Boston University.
As part of an internship Dorothee began her most recent adventure in January 2008 in South Africa near the town of White River. She is working and living at AIDS Care Training and Support (ACTS) Clinic, which gives care and support to individuals and families infected with or affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. She tells us, "1/2 of the population in this area is HIV+. Many will seek help from the traditional healers. Women and children are the most vulnerable. I am encouraged to being hope and help to improve the quality of life for many patients. The clinic is in a remote area. Imagine me, the city-raised social butterfly hanging out in the dark hills of South Africa. One moment you think you are in a developed country only to go a bit further to find that you are indeed in a developing country struggling with identity, poverty and lack of infrastructure. However, the clinic is modern and well-equipped with a competent and compassionate staff." For more information you can visit her blog at http://dorotheestangle.blogspot.com/.
Rebecca graduated from West High School in 2000. She completed her undergraduate work through the 4/1 program and obtained a Masters degree in International Studies in 2005. During her time at DU, Rebecca worked in the VIP Program as a Middle School Coordinator at Rishel Middle School. She loved these young people and made an impact on their lives. Since graduating she has worked at the Denver Center for International Studies teaching International Politics, and also with a non-profit called the YESS Institute.
Currently, Rebecca is in Albania with the Peace Corps, working on Community Development. Her job involves working with local and national non-profits and local governments to improve capacity, start special projects, and facilitate the development of collaborative activities with community organizations, business and citizen's groups and provide assistance to all segments of a community in project design and management. A huge challenge will be to learn the language.
—Carole Burgess
Dorothee expressed her thoughts on the VIP Program:
"The VIP Partnership Program gave me so many opportunities to grow, learn, meet exciting people, and of course to work with and mentor other young people. VIP also taught me a great deal about empowerment and advocacy which has come in handy in the work that I have done over the last few years. VIP continuously proves there is so much potential in DPS students that deserves to be recognized."
Rebecca's thoughts on her time at VIP:
"Without the help of VIP I don't know if I would have been able to go to DU. At first, I thought VIP would just help me with the money aspect of college. However I was able to work in the VIP Program and soon realized how great it was. I was able to present workshops to middle school students or help high school students with their college applications. I felt that my job was making a difference. Over the 5 years I discovered something important about the people in the VIP Program. They weren't just my friends, they were my family. Thanks to VIP, I wouldn't change my college experience for the world."
