Highlights From 2025: A Look Back at 5 Popular Stories

In 2025, the Newsroom shared stories that captured life at DU. From the triumphs of athletes and memorable performances to student services and scientific discoveries, these stories reflected the people, ideas, and moments that shaped our community.

Here are a few highlights—the five Newsroom stories that readers engaged with most. Enjoy this look back or discover some new information you may have missed when it was first published.

Cocina Libre: A Place Where Food, Storytelling, and Immigrant Empowerment Meet 

For Julia Roncoroni, an associate professor of counseling psychology in the Morgridge College of Education who immigrated to the United States from Argentina, cooking has become a mission of connection, storytelling, and grit. 

After decades of working with immigrants as a clinician, Roncoroni co-founded Cocina Libre with her husband, Delio Figueroa. Cocina Libre is a Denver-based community outreach organization where food is more than sustenance; it’s a bridge between cultures and a tool for empowerment. 

The duo released a cookbook titled “Cocina Libre: Immigrant Resistance Recipes.” It shares immigrants’ stories paired with cherished recipes from their cultures. For all 29 immigrant chefs featured in the book, some of whom have professional culinary backgrounds, cooking is an essential part of who they are.

The Best Hot Springs Near Denver

Like many places in the western U.S., Colorado is full of hot springs—naturally occurring geothermal water features that are a little like nature’s hot tubs. Soaking in hot springs isn’t just about relaxation; it may also have health benefits like pain reduction, boosted blood circulation, and more. 

We rounded up a list of five hot springs within just a couple hours’ drive of DU’s campus, located in towns like Idaho Springs, Hot Sulphur Springs, and Glenwood Springs. Visiting them is a quintessential Rocky Mountain experience and a great way to indulge in some self-care.

Five Great Places to Visit Without a Car

Getting around Denver without a car isn’t just possible—it’s part of the DU experience. Whether you’re walking, biking, or taking advantage of public transit, there’s plenty to explore beyond campus boundaries.

For great food, nature experiences, or fun entertainment, some of the top spots to check out include Washington Park and Observatory Park, downtown Denver, the neighborhood at Evans Avenue and University Boulevard, the South Pearl Street neighborhood, and the Rocky Mountains that lie just beyond the Denver metro area.

Mile-High Myths—and the Truth Behind Them

Every city has its share of local legends and partial truths, and Denver is no exception. The city is home to many misconceptions—ranging from the supernatural to the weather—so we gathered some of the most common ones and set out to discover what’s fact and what’s fable. 

From “suspicious” activity at Denver International Airport to the notion that the city is in the mountains (it actually sits just east of the foothills), we expose the truth about a few frequently told tall tales.

At the Forefront of AI: DU Researchers in Action

Artificial intelligence is reshaping research across disciplines, and University of Denver faculty are helping to lead the way in using this powerful technology for the greater good. 

This round-up highlights five DU professors whose projects showcase the many faces of AI in action—developing emotionally aware robots, studying the impact of AI on child development, predicting air pollution in real time, creating tools to nurture creativity in STEM classrooms, and analyzing social data to better understand and support youth experiencing homelessness—all with a shared commitment to thoughtful, responsible innovation that serves people first.