Puksta Intercollegiate Winter Retreat 2017!!!
Our Annual Winter Retreat was full of surprises and lessons this year!
During our Annual Winter Retreats we teach scholars lessons in telling their stories. We also work with our scholars to provide them with the tools they will need to make effective change in our communities.
Ironically, the Womenβs March on Denver fell on the same weekend as our intercollegiate retreat and we thoughtβ¦ What better way to teach civic engagement than to jump right into the middle of it! So, we revised our agenda and let the scholars observe and/or participate in in the march. It was a first march for many and became a great learning tool to show how powerful community organizing can be!
Over the course of the weekend our scholars also went through many workshops to help them grow and build upon their strengths. The workshops included Public Narrative, Identity, Building Your Resume, and Self-Care General/Mindfulness.
The Mindfulness Workshop was led by one of our own Puksta Alumni, Cody Wiggs (DU β11). Cody is now serving as the Executive Director of Empowering Education. Empowering Education Inc. is a non-profit organization that offers comprehensive Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) programming, professional development, and implementation support in K-8.
We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Maggianoβs and were touched by the words and advice that was given by our graduating Puksta Scholars from each of our 5 partnering universities.
It was a wonderful weekend with many hugs, laughs, tears and sometimes deep introspection. But the most beautiful part of all was to see the family bond that forms between the scholars.
MSU Scholars Raised funds to attend the National Women’s Studies Association Conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Puksta Scholar bridges Lafayetteβs digital divide
CU-Boulder undergraduate student Balkarn (Kern) Shahi is taking his knowledge of digital and information systems back to his hometown in Lafayette, Colorado, to help close the βdigital divideβ and other educational opportunity gaps for low-income students.
According to the 2013 census, one in four Americans does not have internet access at home, and those with the lowest median income rates are most affected. The digital divide problem in Lafayette puts low-income students at a disadvantage, a reality that hit close to home for Kern, who grew up in Lafayette and attended local public schools.
βWhen I was a senior at Centaurus High School, and people started applying to universities and for scholarships and grants, two of my friends came to my house to use our internet because they didnβt have it,β said Kern. βI was like, βYo, just come over!β We stayed awake until 1 or 2 in the morning applying to schools, FAFSA and everything. Then I got to CU and realized everyone here has access to the internet. I thought, βWow, this is a serious issue about lack of opportunity and equity.ββ
Kern, a junior majoring in information systems and finance and aΒ Puksta Scholar, is strategically focused on bridging the digital divide for elementary school students at Alicia Sanchez Elementary School in Lafayette, a small neighborhood school serving some of the poorest neighborhoods in Boulder County.
βWe are focusing our program,Β ConnectME, on addressing the digital divide at the elementary school level, because itβs one concrete way to help close the achievement gap,” said Kern. “Many of these students have never used a mouse, they donβt know how to work a computer. Their school testing now is all online and this is affecting their scores.”
Eighty-three percent of students at Alicia Sanchez qualify for free and reduced lunch, and 60 percent of students are from the Latino community. Many of these students are at a disadvantage in school because they do not have access to the internet at home.
βWithout access to a device or Internet at home, our students are not able to practice at home the skills being presented at school,” said Lora De La Cruz, principal at Alicia Sanchez Elementary. “The digital divide is part of an opportunity gap, a homework gap and a learning gap. In order to close our achievement gap, we need to close our digital divide.β
Many Sanchez students also have older siblings at Centaurus high school, where 110 students β 10 percent β donβt have internet access at home. By focusing on the individual households with kids attending Alicia Sanchez Elementary, Kern believes his program will help high school students, too.
According to a recent article in theΒ New York Times, many educators are pushing for students to use resources on the internet to complete class work and turn in assignments. βThe federal government is now grappling with a stark disparity in access to technology, between students who have high-speed Internet at home and an estimatedΒ five million families who are without it and who are struggling to keep up,β the article states.
Boulder Valley School District now offers each student a Chromebook to take home and to keep after graduation.
βIn Boulder County, devices arenβt an issue, but having internet access is,β said Kern.
Kernβs participation in the Puksta Scholars Program at CU-Boulder has enabled him to devote his time and energy to the ConnectMe project. A program of CU Engage, the Puksta scholarship funds more than a dozen CU Boulder students each year to create and carry out multi-year community engagement projects that address complex public problems.
ConnectME is collaborating with the Boulder Valley School District IT Department, school officials from Alicia Sanchez Elementary, Lafayette City Council Members and internet service providers Comcast and CenturyLink. The Connect ME program β which stands for βConnect My Educationβ β also receives support from the Sister Carmen Community Center in Lafayette.
“Although we are focused on reaching elementary students at Sanchez, the digital divide is not just an issue for students, itβs also for families,” said Kern. “For example, even applying for health care is now online. But students are the ones getting seriously hurt because their classmates have access and they donβt, which is a big problem contributing to the opportunity gap.β
Kern says he always knew he wanted to go to CU-Boulder, as both of his older sisters are alums.
βBut the main reason Iβm doing this project is because it hit me close,β he said. βGrowing up in Lafayette, lots of my friends had this issue. I look back and think, βWow, I wouldnβt be where I am if I didnβt have internet.ββ
By Jennifer Ciplet,Β CU Engage Manager of Communications
Mawukle Yebuah – The Road to College as a Puksta Scholar
The Road to College as a Puksta Scholar
By: Mawukle Yebuah, Puksta Scholar
My passion for higher education access for black males started when I was a senior in high school. I was making the decision on what college I was going to attend and unfortunately, while this would have seemed like one of the happiest moments of my life, it was actually one of the most disappointing. This was around the same time when I found out that some of my black friends were not going to college and I began to notice all the obstacles that many black students and other minority students face when it comes to attending an institution of higher education. For me, this situation was very hard to understand because I always thought that everyone had the same opportunities when it came to getting a college education. Shortly after that time, I began to feel somewhat disconnected from my friends because I had this feeling that our lives were going in two different directions, and I felt that there was nothing I could do to help them.
Now, when I look at the process that took me to get to college I realize that the scholarship that I received from the Puksta Scholars program is one of the main reasons why I am even in college and specifically at DU. The Puksta program has really helped to give me the tools and the support I needed to really chase my passion and strive to make a difference for many black students. One of the main parts of our Puksta program is our projects and currently my project is working with higher education access for black males. I chose this project because the demographic of black males is a group that I identify myself as and the social justice issue area is one that I can connect to many of the experiences that I have had in my life. During my first year, I really had no idea how to start my project and I learned that if you really want to make change you have to talk to the people who you are trying to help and then you find out what they view as the underline problem. So in my first year, I went to South High School every Friday and I mentored a few of the black males. My experience with these males taught me so much about my issue area and it also taught me that there are so many problems that have to be tackled in order to see the type of change that we are all dreaming about. Another part of my project during my first year came when I got the opportunity to sit on the planning committee for the Black Male Initiative Summit (BMIS).
My involvement with BMIS gave me the chance to come into contact with more black males and it helped me to actually have a part of a program that was specifically geared toward my social justice area. While I learned so many things in that first year with BMIS I also knew that there were a few ways that the program could be expanded and improved. So now, during my second year of college, I have been able to work with BMIS to really expand the program. We have added a second day to the annual summit that is held on DUβs campus and we have begun to develop partner school relationships. By adding the second day to the summit we are now able to teach the students and their family what types of questions they should ask colleges and why it is important to actually visit colleges.
I felt that it was important for us to develop this part of the program because I had noticed that many of the black males that I mentored never actually went to visit the campus that they were going to attend.
Check out what these CSU Puksta Scholars are doing in our community!
DJ Close and United Way’s Reading Corps
DJ Close is one of our Alumni and Advisory Board members. He works with United Way as a Program Manager for their Reading Corps program. They were in the Denver Post for their extreme success that the program is having with children and literacy. Congrats DJ and keep up the great work!
http://www.denverpost.com/arvada/ci_24458992/jeffco-schools-officials-pleased-first-year-reading-corps?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com
A true inspirational for all undocumented students
Marco Dorado, a Puksta Scholar at CU, Β made it into the Colorado Daily. He is an advocate for undocumented students, and is a true inspiration.
“I think the mark I want to leave at CU is for it to be a place of inclusion,” he said. “Before I came to CU, I was just kind of living in the shadows. When I got here — people looked beyond my status. It’s not just about being a place of inclusion for people who are undocumented, but for those who come from all kinds of different backgrounds. I want this to be a place about valuing people for who they are as opposed to judging them for things that are out of their control.” |
http://www.coloradodaily.com/cu-news/ci_23835842/cu-boulder-student-leader-among-those-getting-boost?IADID=Search-www.coloradodaily.com-www.coloradodaily.com
Bryant Mason turns Puksta project into career
Bryant Mason, founder of Urban Farms, is one of our Puksta alumni from CU. His project was to help people create sustainable food through personal gardens. He now has evolved that vision into a career. Urban Farms has recently gained a contract with developers in Stapleton toΒ offer homebuyers raised-bed gardens for their front yards or backyards.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_23801660/stapleton-development-partners-urban-garden-company?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com
Thank You to The Puksta Foundation
ππ Proud of our now Puksta Alumni and DU Alumni Christy Voππ
We are thrilled to announce Puksta Scholar, Christy Vo`s, graduation from the University of Denver with a double major in Biochemistry and Computer Science not to mention a minor in Art! π Christy`s dedication over the past years has been deeply rooted in a transformative project aimed at enhancing access to higher education for underserved communities. Through collaboration with Minds Matter, a prestigious nonprofit organization, Christy has empowered individuals from low-income backgrounds by providing essential resources and guidance for their college journeys.
This experience has reinforced Christy`s commitment to equity and demonstrated the profound impact of collective efforts in creating opportunities for aspiring students. Christy`s journey highlights the importance of perseverance and the transformative power of education.
As Christy celebrates this milestone, we also recognize her growth in patience and trust in the future. She is actively pursuing opportunities, including potential roles at Denver Safe House, to further contribute to causes she deeply cares about.
Congratulations, Christy, on this incredible achievement! π We look forward to seeing the continued impact you will make in your community and beyond.
#PukstaScholar #PukstaALUMNI #UniversityOfDenver #Graduation #EquityInEducation #CommunityImpact #FutureLeaders
ππ Josie Duenas Tapia... Proud Puksta Scholar and now a Graduate of Colorado State University! ππ
I am thrilled to share that Josie has graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Computer Science π During his time at CSU in the Puksta Scholar Program, he dedicated himself to combating the underrepresentation of Latine students in higher education. Through initiatives like the Caminos mentoring program, he worked with over 50 high school students each semester, empowering their Latine identities and expanding their post-graduation opportunities.
In his first year with Puksta, he conducted impactful research on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Latine community in Eagle County and Vail, CO. This research, which Jose was proud to contribute to, has been published and can be accessed here: https://loom.ly/bkhJG1U
Looking ahead, he is excited to explore opportunities with local nonprofits like Adelante, supporting Latine businesses in Denver, and expanding his impact as an independent contractor in the area.
So proud of you Josie and we can`t wait to see what the future holds! π
#CSUPukstaGraduate #LatineLeadership #EmpoweringCommunities #HigherEducation #CSURams #PukstaALUMNI
ππ Proud moment! ππ
Congratulations to Marissa Alejandra Martinez Suarez, a 2024 Puksta Scholar graduating from the University of Denver! ππ Marissa has achieved an incredible milestone, earning at the same time her Master`s degree in Teacher Education and Bachelor`s with a Majors in History and Political Science, and a Minors in Spanish, Critical Race, and Ethnic Studies. π
Over the years, Marissa has made a tremendous impact by working with youth and fostering their identities. As a Peer Program Coordinator for the Achieving Excellence Academy, she has supported students in developing their skills as mentors. This summer, Marissa will continue her journey as an 11th-grade teacher, working closely with the LatinX affinity cohort. ππ
In Puksta, Marissa has been actively engaged in impactful projects like the P3 mentorship program, Empowering our Women of Tomorrow initiative, and organizing DACA/Undocu Week with Unity Without Borders. These experiences have enriched her perspective, enhanced her advocacy skills, and strengthened her commitment to social justice.
Marissaβs journey doesnβt stop here. She aims to continue supporting students and becoming the representation she wished she had growing up. Hereβs to Marissaβs bright future and the positive change she will bring! ππ©βπ«
#PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2024 #UniversityOfDenver #TeacherEducation #Mentorship #SocialJustice #LatinxEducation #EducationForAll #ProudGraduate #ProsperityDenverFundScholar
ππ Celebrating CSU Puksta Scholar Joel Ibarra! ππ
A huge congratulations to Joel Ibarra, a 2024 Graduate from Colorado State University! Joel has earned his degree in Construction Management. π
Joel`s journey with Puksta has been transformative. He established a mentorship program within the Construction Management department, supporting first-generation and multicultural students. This program, now in its second year, has provided invaluable mentorship and guidance, fostering a welcoming and supportive community. π€
Joelβs dedication extends beyond the classroom. He has been actively involved in social justice groups and restorative justice initiatives, channeling his passion into creating positive change within the construction industry. His work has not only connected students with industry leaders but also paved the way for future cohorts to benefit from this incredible initiative.
Join us in celebrating Joel`s achievements and his continued advocacy for diversity and inclusion! ππ
#PukstaFoundation #CSUGrad #ConstructionManagement #Mentorship #DiversityAndInclusion #FirstGenSuccess #ProudGraduate
ππ Celebrating Our CSU Puksta Graduate, Anh Bui! ππ
We are proud to announce that Puksta Scholar Anh Bui has graduated from Colorado State University with a major in Biology and a minor in Business Administration. Throughout this year, Anh has delved deeper into her project on equal access to quality education, discovering the immense support from her circle in making her vision a reality.
Anh successfully targeted the needs of two Denver Public Schools (DPS) from their advisor`s perspective, helping students get onto campus and building deeper relationships with their DSF advisor and the students. She left CSU with a lasting impact by connecting resources to the DPS advisor, ensuring continued support for students.
Anh produced a website, planned a school tour, and wrote a 20-page thesis paper. Her efforts resulted in 50 students from JFK High School touring CSU and receiving personalized mentorship connections.
Congratulations, Anh! Your dedication to education and community impact is truly inspiring.
#PukstaScholar #PukstaGraduate #CSU #Biology #BusinessAdministration #EqualAccessToEducation #CongratsGrad
πΊπΈβ¨π Happy Fourth of July, everyone!πβ¨πΊπΈ
As we celebrate today, the ππ©Ά Puksta Foundation ππ©Ά is also taking a moment to honor the memories of Harry and Eva Puksta, who we lost on July 3rd and 4th, 25 years ago.
The story of their π love lives on through the π 346 Puksta Alumni and 66 Puksta Scholars π who are working in our communities to create positive change. Their legacy of creating access to higher education continues to inspire us every day.
Let`s use this moment to honor their contributions and celebrate the difference they have made in the lives of so many.
#FourthOfJuly #PukstaFoundation #LegacyOfLove #EducationForAll #ActsOfKindness #PositiveChange #AmericatheBeautiful #pukstascholars #takingamoment #today #moment #legacy #access #education
ππ Celebrating Our CU Boulder Puksta Graduate, Fernanda Cerros! ππ
Fernanda Cerros graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a major in International Affairs and Political Science. Fernanda has been a champion for educational equity and the expansion of ethnic studies in schools.
During her time at CU Boulder, Fernanda worked with Public Achievement to mentor youth and inspire change in their schools and communities. As a youth organizer with YES4CO, she has been instrumental in expanding ethnic studies in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD). Fernanda`s dedication and hard work have earned her the prestigious President`s 2024 DEI Award.
We are incredibly proud of Fernanda and know that she will leave a mark wherever she goes! Congratulations, Fernanda!
#PukstaScholar #PukstaGraduate #CUBoulder #EducationalEquity #EthnicStudies #YouthAdvocacy #CongratsGrad #classof2024
ππ Celebrating Our CSU Puksta Graduate, Pastor Niyogusengwa! ππ
We are proud to announce that Pastor Niyogusengwa, a new Puksta Alumni, has graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Business - Marketing. Pastor has worked tirelessly on projects aimed at promoting equal access to education.
Throughout his time at CSU, Pastor focused on increasing high school student engagement. He discovered that effective planning and adaptability are crucial for teachers, and he also learned how to enhance his own skills in planning and communication. By asking his group members what they enjoyed and what helped them succeed during grade school, he was able to gather valuable insights.
Pastorβs commitment to education and his ability to adapt and plan effectively will undoubtedly contribute to his future success. Congratulations, Pastor! Thank you for bringing so much life and laughter to the program we will miss you!
#PukstaScholar #PukstaGraduate #CSU #BusinessMarketing #PukstaAlumni #EqualAccessToEducation #CongratsGrad #classof2024
ππ Congratulations to our DU Puksta Grad, Sunjoi Gandhi! ππ
Sunjoi has earned a degree in Computer Science and Socio-legal Studies with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Denver. As a Puksta Scholar, Sunjoi has been a dedicated advocate for youth and girls` access to education.
During their time at Puksta, Sunjoi worked with Girls Inc and focused on advocacy and activism.
In Sunjoiβs own words: "In my last year as a Puksta, I have begun curating a vision of what I would like my future to look like. I have felt torn between prioritizing my community work or myself and family as I move into the workforce. I have been leaning into the spiral of senior year and learning to be comfortable with the unknown. I know I will continue working with my community organization while pushing myself career-wise in my field of study. I am celebrating graduating!"
We are so proud of Sunjoi... Keep Rocking it!
Shout out to the amazing organization Girls Inc!
#PukstaScholar #PukstaGraduate #UniversityOfDenver #YouthAdvocacy #GirlsEducation #Classof2024
πβ¨ Congratulations to Madylin Kessler, a CU Denver Puksta Alumni! Madylin has earned her BS in Architecture and Planning with a minor in Landscape Architecture and Construction Management. π
ποΈ Her Puksta Project: This year, Madylin has focused on learning about resources available to those experiencing gentrification. She has been compiling various resources, definitions, explanations, and testimonies to create brochures that will be distributed to affected communities and community centers. Her goal is to provide valuable information and support to those impacted by gentrification.
π Future Plans: Madylin plans to involve politicians and local government to address gentrification and implement regulations for new companies involved in housing and commercial projects.
π Join us in celebrating Madylin`s achievements and her dedication to making a positive impact in her community! @maddsss.38 #Classof2024
#PukstaProud #ArchitectureForChange #CUGrad #CommunityAdvocate
πβ¨ Congratulations to Dhiona Carter Jaramillo, a proud University of Denver graduate and now Puksta Alumna! Dhiona majored in Biochemistry with minors in Biology, Human Health Systems and Sciences, and Medical Physics. Her passion for reducing health disparities and ensuring equal access to healthcare for all has driven her impactful work. π
π¬ Her Puksta Project: Dhiona has been tackling the health disparity crisis, especially as more individuals migrate to Colorado and face challenges accessing equitable healthcare. Through her role as a care coordinator at the D.A.W.N. Clinic in Aurora, CO, she has assisted over 300 patients in the past four years, providing free healthcare and helping them register for benefits like housing, transportation, food, and mental health services.
πͺ Dhiona also works with Red Equity to distribute period products nationwide, aiming to eradicate the Pink Tax and ensure equal access to these essential items. Her dedication extends to her research on Alzheimerβs disease prevention at DU and her new role as a full-time leasing agent at TAVA Waters, where she helps Spanish-speaking residents navigate challenges.
π Future Plans: Dhiona plans to attend Physician Assistant school to continue her mission of transforming healthcare systems and ensuring equal healthcare for all.
π Join us in celebrating Dhiona`s incredible achievements and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors! #PukstaProud #HealthcareForAll #DUGrad #ChangeMaker
πβ¨ Congratulations to our incredible 2024 CSU Puksta Graduate, Melanin Nahomi Armendariz Figueroa! β¨π
πβ¨ Congratulations to Melanin Armendariz Figueroa, our 2024 Puksta Graduate! β¨π
π Majored in Human Development & Family Studies with a concentration in Early Childhood Professions and a minor in Spanish at CSU
π Puksta project: Addressing intergenerational trauma and domestic violence
π Passionate about social justice and community change
Thank you Melanin for inspiring all of us through your dedication and your compassion, you have such a kind and beautiful heart and we know it will take you great places moving forward! ππ€
Hereβs to Melaninβs remarkable achievements and her bright future ahead! ππ
@ke
#PukstaFoundation #CSU #HumanDevelopment #Graduation2024 #SocialJustice #CommunityImpact #IntergenerationalTrauma #DomesticViolenceAwareness
π Tuesday night, we had the pleasure of hosting a special dinner for our Puksta Scholar graduates at our home in Denver. It was a wonderful evening filled with delicious food and great company! We enjoyed a delicious dinner including salmon, tri-tip, mac and cheese, and more if you can believe it... Then we had the audacity to top it off with brownies and ice cream for dessert. π½οΈπ¨
We had a fantastic time chatting about summer plans, sharing lots of laughs, and celebrating all the hard work and achievements of our scholars. Best of luck to all our newest Puksta alumni! We are going to miss having you in the program day to day, but please keep in touch now that you are alumni, and congratulations on your achievements! πβ¨ @whereispastor
#PukstaScholars #PukstaAlumni #Graduation #Congrats #StayInTouch #Denver #DeliciousDinner
πβ¨ Congratulations to our amazing 2024 MSU Puksta Graduate, Gracie Leal! β¨π
Majoring in Social Work at MSU Denver, Gracie has made significant contributions through her Puksta project. She focused on providing awareness and resources for homelessness, sustainability, policy, and victim services through social media with CO Aware Denver πβ€οΈ
As she embarks on her journey to pursue her MSW this fall, we celebrate all that she has achieved and look forward to her continued impact in the field of social work. Way to go Gracie we know you are looking at a bright future ahead! ππ
@leal.graciie
@coawaredenver
@msudenverc2hub
#PukstaFoundation #MSUDenver #SocialWork #Classof2024 #CommunityImpact #HomelessnessAwareness #Sustainability #DenverResources
πβ¨ Congratulations to our 2024 CU Denver Puksta Graduate, Guinevere Vigil-Goltermann! πβ¨
Majoring in Geography and Urban Planning at CU Denver, Guinevere worked on an incredible project focused on educational access. They created a comprehensive database of historical resources that often go overlooked in traditional history education. ππ
"Puksta has given me a community on campus I did not have before." π
Join us in celebrating Guinevere`s achievements and the impactful work they have done to bring lesser-known history to light! ππ #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2024 #EducationalAccess #HiddenHistory #CUdenver #Community #Pukstaalumni #Classof2024
@guinny.actually
Wow, the DU Puksta Passage on Wednesday night gave us a lot to celebrate:
π Christy Vo, Dhiona Carter Jaramillo, Marissa Martinez Suarez, and Sunjoi Gandhi are graduating;
π¬ DU Alumni `23, Camilla Rodriguez, joined us to share her reflections on the program and what she`s been up to since graduating;
π Several other alumni are actively involved in our community and joined our event! Great to see you @Oliver Martinez-Reyes, @Oscar Saenz, and @Aaquil Anwar!
π€© Our DU scholars are making significant contributions on and off campus addressing issues of importance to them;
π We got to meet Eva Martinez-Reyes, one of our new scholars and Oliver`s sister - welcome to our Puksta family, Eva!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful reflections seniors, we are thrilled to welcome you into our alumni community and are cheering you on as you take your next steps on your journey!
#puksta #pukstafamily #alumnicommunity #graduating #celebrate #journey #classof2024
πβ¨ Meet Fernanda Cerros, a CU Boulder Puksta Scholar `24 grad in International Affairs & Political Science! π Fernanda has dedicated her time to advocating for immigrant rights, mentoring students, and pushing for ethnic studies in schools. As a Puksta Scholar and key member of CU Engage, she won the Presidentβs Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion award this spring. Her journey is all about revolutionary love and making a real difference. Congrats, Fernanda! πͺβ€οΈ #Graduation2024 #CUBoulder #CollegeGrad #PukstaScholar #Inspiration #ChangeMaker #SocialJustice #CommunityLeader #YouthEmpowerment #Diversity #Inclusion #Education #StudentLife
We had a wonderful evening at the Metropolitan State University Puksta Passage. Not only did we congratulate π Graciela Leal on her graduation (whoo hoo! π ), we also got to hear about the fabulous ongoing community engagement endeavors of our current scholars, and meet our five incoming Puksta scholars! We are thrilled to welcome you to our community, Artemis Douglas, Alexa Madrid, Brazil McNeal, Arbay Mohammad, and Edwin Sigala-Nunez π
This event was also bittersweet as we said goodbye to our dear MSU Puksta Coordinator, Kaila Russel, who who is moving to Connecticut after spending two years with us. Thank you for the love and dedication you have put into the Puksta program, Kaila! We wish you and Graciela the best on the next steps of your journey, and remember your Puksta family is always here for you!
Wow, there were some water works at the CSU Puksta Passage, hearing the heartfelt and vulnerable reflections of our five graduating seniors - π Congratulations π Melanin Armendariz, π Ahn Bui, π Josie Duenas, π Joel Ibarra, and π Pastor Niyogusengwa! Of course, we are not actually saying goodbye, as we welcome all of these scholars into our flourishing Alumni network. Once a Puksta, always a Puksta! π
This spring, Yosii Rivera, Andrea Pereida, Josie Duenas, Miguel Lopez, Anh Bui, Lensa Wako, and Pastor Niyogusengwa (CSU Puksta Scholars) participated in the Multicultural Undergraduate Research Art and Leadership Symposium (MURALS). A special congratulations to π Anh π, who took the Rising Star Award for Service Learning and Leadership, and to π Yosii π, who took 1st place in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at this event! We hope you all felt recognized and appreciated for your amazing work. π€©π€©π€©
CSU MURALS is an undergraduate research and artistry symposium that provides a platform for undergraduate students with marginalized identities to showcase their scholarly work. MURALS is inclusive, rigorous, and culturally relevant. We highly recommend attending next year!