As COVID-10 continues to affect lives around the globe, we look forward to joining Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) for an important conversation on ways that student leaders can help help address the pandemic and support communities in need. Hope you’ll follow along.
Building on the successful model of the Clinton Global Initiative, President Bill Clinton launched the CGI U in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world.
This year, due to ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 crisis, CGI University will host a virtual program focused on how young people can lead through this crisis. All are invited to tune in!
Our Director of Development and Community Outreach, NiChel Mulstay has another guided meditation podcast episode to help bring you some moments of mindfulness this week. NicChel is a certified Practitioner/Instructor of Meditation, as well as a certified Reiki Master to help with energy healing. NiChel launched the “Calming Bells” podcast to offer our scholars guided meditation and promote personal health. With the many upheavals to our personal and professional lives resulting from the COVID-19 situation and it’s implications, we’d like to share this podcast with our extended Puksta community, as well. We hope it will bring a sense of calmness, relief, and mindful connection.
Below is a note from NiChel that accompanies the latest episode: “Lovingkindness Meditation.”
Hi Everyone,
I think it is important while we are practicing physical distancing that we make sure we are sending out thoughts of love and compassion to ourselves and others, this is why I chose to create this LovingKindness Mediation for you this week. Make sure you have at least 20 minutes to devote to this meditation.Lovingkindness meditation stems from is a Buddhist prayer (Metta Bhavana) and is a technique with which you can create feelings of love and kindness, warm feelings that make your inner world a place of compassion.
This is first practiced toward oneself since we often have difficulty loving others without first loving ourselves. Then it slowly ripples out to the world.
While you say these phrases, allow yourself to sink into the intentions they express. Loving-kindness meditation consists primarily of connecting to the intention of wishing ourselves or others happiness. However, if feelings of warmth, friendliness, or love arise in the body or mind, connect to them, allowing them to grow as you repeat the phrases. As an aid to the meditation, you might hold an image of yourself in your mind’s eye. This helps reinforce the intentions expressed in the phrases.May you be filled with lovingkindness… May you feel connected and calm… May you accept yourself just as you are… May you be happy and well… May you be safe… May you be peaceful and at ease.
We all are so deeply interconnected; we have no option but to love all. Be kind and do good for anyone and that will be reflected. The ripples of the kind heart are the highest blessings of the Universe. ― Amit Ray, Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style
I have also included Solfeggio music in the background (frequencies known to help bring our bodies, cells, and DNA back into resonance and health.) This one, in particular, is called Tender Love (639 Hz), tuned at a frequency associated with opening and healing your heart chakra. It is the Marimba Meditation Music album by Meditative Mind.
I hope you enjoy and that it may bring you some peace and comfort.
We’re celebrating Rob Hatcher and his successful defense of his MA in Communication project last week!
Rob was awarded our Puksta Foundation Fellowship at University of Colorado at Denver in 2018-19. For his project, Rob spent the spring semester of 2018 leading poetry workshops at the Community College of Aurora, where he used creative writing as a means for helping students explore voice and agency. His hope was that it would create active citizens who could harness their own voices to create change in the world.
After his fellowship was complete, Rob continued contributing his time and skills to Puksta as an intern for two consecutive semesters during the summer and fall of 2019. His talent for communication greatly benefited our community engagement. One of the Puksta Foundation’s goals has been to expand our outreach and share the stories of what our scholars are doing in the community. Rob was able to do this for us in a truly remarkable and powerful way.
Director of Development and Community Outreach, NiChel Mulstay shared the following about Rob:
It is very obvious to me and everyone who comes into contact with Rob that he is committed to helping people find their voice. With his spirit and persistence, he doesn’t stop once the requirements are met and the day is over. To this day he still is very generous with his time and artistry, as someone who is always willing to help where needed and lend a hand. We were extremely lucky to have had him in both capacities as a Puksta Fellow and our Puksta Intern.
Congratulations, Rob, and best of luck to you in your future work!
We gathered for our first virtual Puksta Family Game Night last Saturday evening! The “Pajama Party” theme had us sporting our finest cozy fashions. Before jumping into a game of Scattergories, we practiced mindfulness and wellness through guided meditation and stretches. Thank you to everyone who was able to join for bringing smiles and fun, positive energy.
Bweza Itaagi was a Puksta scholar during her last two years at the University of Denver (2012-2014). Her Puksta project focused on food access, urban agriculture, and food justice in the Denver area. She began the Puksta program after spending a quarter studying public health and development in Senegal, West Africa in the fall of 2012. In Senegal, she learned from health officials, professors, and farmers that food access is a pressing issue in global public health. Upon returning to Denver and planning out her Puksta project, she began to research more about how barriers to accessing healthy and affordable food impacted a large number of Denver residents as well. Through Puksta she was able to connect with Denver leaders who were committed to growing fresh food in the city for the residents who needed it most. As a result, she was hired by the GrowHaus for the summer of 2013 to co-lead a program for Denver high school students. In the program she taught classes focused on personal nutrition, urban agriculture, and community activism.
The Puksta program was foundational in her career path post college. It was a catalyst for sparking her passion in addressing health through food. While developing her Puksta project, she realized that she wanted to focus her work and life on addressing food access issues through urban agriculture. She moved to Chicago in 2015 to pursue a master’s degree in Sustainable Urban Development from DePaul University. After finishing her master’s, she met with several organizations focused on urban agriculture, community empowerment and food justice and ultimately was hired by a non-profit organization called Grow Greater Englewood (GGE). GGE works with Englewood residents and developers to create profitable community owned farms to promote community health and economic development. In her role as the Sustainable Program Steward/Program Manager, she co-leads a network of Black, Brown and Indigenous urban farmers on the south and southwest sides of Chicago. The network works as a collective to create and support initiatives that address inequities in Chicago’s food system.
Outside of her non-profit work, she owns a pop-up shop for houseplants and succulents called Ebimera Vines (follow them on Facebook and Instagram! – @ebimeravines). She grows plants and sells them at various events throughout the Chicago area. She also does plant installations, hosts workshops and leads demos on various topics related to growing indoor plants.
She is forever grateful to John, NiChel, and the Puksta Foundation for enabling her to pursue her passion for food justice work and urban agriculture. She appreciates their genuine kindness and commitment to all scholars even after graduation. Some advice she has for current scholars includes the following:
First, realize that your Puksta project can continue after you finish the program. View your project as a stepping-stone to something even greater. Second, you can always reach out to your Puksta family at any point in your professional life. John and NiChel are always available to give career advice or connect you with other Puksta alumni if you move to a new city. Third, feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my work or if you’re interested in learning more about urban farming!
The Puksta Scholars Program is always close to her heart and she is very thankful to have been a part of such a great program.
We’re so greatful to Bweza for taking the time to share her updates and reflections with us! If you’d like to be featured in a future Puksta Spotlight post, email Sarah Thomas at sthomas0519@gmail.com.
In addition to being a Puksta Scholar, Kelly Stone (MSU ’23) is also a personal trainer!
To help the Puksta Community stay physically active at home while gyms are closed, Kelly recorded a video for three cross fit bootcamp-inspired workouts, including demonstrations of the correct form for each movement and different options for various levels of athleticism. Thank you for sharing this fun way to keep ourselves moving, Kelly!
Once you’ve got the moves from the video down, turn up the volume on your favorite workout jams and try out these other exercise programs provided by Kelly:
Upper Body 50-100 reps each (choose how you want to split this up) Jump Squats Step Up Lunges Tripods Donkey Kicks Clam Shell Hip trust (1 legged) Copenhagen hip adduction Crunches Leg Raises
Lower Body Do each exercise 50-100 reps Pike Pushup Pushup Tricep dips Reverse Angels Power focused punches (your choice of combos) Pseudo Pushup Door Frame Rows Elbow Lifts Plank hold as long as possible (shoulder taps, plank walk downs and wide plank)
Full Body AMRAP (as many reps as possible) #1: 10 minutes 5 (1 rep is a push up and 4 mountain climbers) 10 Pike pushups 15 Jump Squats
As some of you may know, our Director of Development and Community Outreach, NiChel Mulstay, is a certified Practitioner/Instructor of Meditation, as well as a certified Reiki Master to help with energy healing.
Recently, NiChel launched the “Calming Bells” podcast to offer our scholars guided meditation and promote personal health. With the many upheavals to our personal and professional lives resulting from the COVID-19 situation and it’s implications, we’d like to share this podcast with our extended Puksta community, as well. We hope it will bring a sense of calmness, relief, and mindful connection.
Below is a note from NiChel that accompanies the latest episode: “Immune Strengthening Meditation.”
You will want to find a nice quiet space where you will not be disturbed for at least 30-35 minutes. Feel free to get comfortable, lay down or find a comfortable chair and let your mind be open. During this meditation, I will guide you through a few different exercises/scenarios to help expand your mind to help you communicate and guide your immune system.
“Your immune system is one of the most critical, and most fascinating, aspects of the mind-body connection. For a long time, the ability of immune cells to attack invading disease organisms was considered purely physical, even though the mechanism was not completely understood. Then, in the ‘80s it was discovered that the immune system is highly intelligent; it became known as “a floating brain” because of the ability of immune cells to participate in the chemical messages sent by the brain throughout the body. This means that your thoughts, moods, sensations, and expectations are transmitted to your immune cells. When you meditate, these messages change in important ways.”
Deepak Chopra
I really hope this can help you, your friends and family to create a positive mindset, deeper relaxation, and nurture and encourage your immune system to work even better for you… So I hope you enjoy all the benefits that this session will bring you.
As a little extra, I added some Solfeggio music in the background (frequencies known to help bring our bodies, cells, and DNA back into resonance and health.)
Thank you for letting me be a part of your meditative journey.
Today’s featured Puksta Scholar is David Chiu, a member of the 2008 Puksta Scholar Cohort at CU Boulder. David’s Puksta project established a water quality monitoring program in Left Hand Canyon, Boulder County, to aid in environmental restoration of areas impacted by historic mining activity. His goals in the program were to meet similar like-minded people that shared a passion for helping others and improving our communities. Another goal of David identified was to learn tools and strategies for implementing sustainable and measurable civic service projects.
David is currently living in Bothell, Washington and works as an analytical scientist for Seattle Genetics, a pharmaceutical company focused on cancer therapies. Regarding his Puksta experience and how it connects to his current work, David shared his reflections on how the Puksta program gave him the confidence to lead a large project outside of the confines of the classroom. The scholars, staff, and advisors, he added, provided him with a positive and supportive network of individuals that helped him through challenging times. Through his Puksta experience, David says, “I was able to improve my mental fortitude, empathy, organizational skills, and had doors opened for me that continue to benefit me throughout my life.”
We also asked David to share any advice for current scholars or alumni. He offered these words of wisdom:
Identify your dream that you are passionate about. Develop a plan to achieve that dream. You will encounter setbacks, but have the self-confidence to believe in yourself and the determination to achieve those goals. We all change as people and our dreams change as well so stay true to yourself and focus on things that you are passionate about.
Life has a strange way of working out. Maybe you interview for a job and don’t get it, but then you see a new posting for the job of your dreams. Maybe you buy a shiny new car, but end up crashing it and hurting yourself. Live in the moment, don’t dwell on the past and don’t try to predict the future. If you carry yourself with humility, respect, and integrity, good things will happen.
Thank you for taking the time to share this update with us, as well as your reflections on your Puksta experience, David!
We love hearing from our scholars, past and present! If you have an update to share or a recent accomplishment to celebrate, let us know! Email Sarah Thomas at sthomas0519@gmail.com with your news!
20 years ago today, John Mulstay, fulfilled a wish and a promise to Harry and Eva Puksta and founded the Puksta Foundation! How Harry and Eva had the amazing foresight to chose John for this incredible task, we may never know. But, 20 years later it is clear they knew what they were doing.
The Puksta Foundation has come to be an incredible part of so many lives across this world, from the current scholars now, the alumni who carry the spirit of Puksta within them wherever they go, the coordinators that were willing to breathe their magic into our programs across all of our campuses, to the volunteers and anyone who has met one of our amazing scholars/alumni and everyone that has been touched by one of their Puksta Projects.
This foundation has definitely found the “Good Kids of the Community and given them the opportunity to get a college education” and so much more.
Thank you John, for founding this amazing foundation on the wishes of Harry and Eva! You have created a place of love and support to foster learning, community, and growth!
And thank you to everyone who has been a part of Puksta over the last 20 years! You have all touched and left your mark on this foundation and it would not be what it is without all of you! Let’s celebrate each other and keep the ripple going!
In celebration of of International Women’s Day, the Denver Girls Athletic Leadership School (GALS) hosted a panel event on Wednesday March 4 exploring struggles, identity, and attending college from a woman of color’s point of view.
The following is a brief synopsis of the event from Metro State University Puksta Scholar and event panelist Betty Tewodros:
The panel was a discussion with GALS students on gender equality, work-life balance, personal improvement, and mainly the differences between white feminism and what feminism means for women of color. Feminism is the opposite of sexism: it is a right to be yourself, it is a right to choose and live your life the way you deserve, and it is about equality. We also talked about how men can be feminist too, and it doesn’t have to be gender-divided because people identify as different genders.
MSU Puksta Scholars Karen Nunez and Ari Gibson, as well as Puksta Director of Development and Community Outreach NiChel Mulstay, were also in attendance at the lunch succession to meet with some of the high school students who are interested in going college and looking to find more resources and advice.
Jessica Matthews, Founder and CEO of Uncharted Power, participated as a guest speaker at the event. She developed soccer balls that produce energy when played with to help the energy crisis in undeveloped countries. Learn more here: https://www.u-pwr.co/company
Check out the photos of the event below!
Thanks to Betty, Karen, and Ari for sharing this experience with us!
📣 Convivir Colorado is looking for Board Members - apply by Oct. 25th! 📣 Karen Nuñes Sifuentes, `21 MSU Puksta Alumni, is the programs contractor for this amazing organization that creates leadership opportunities for immigrant, refugee, and first-generation 6th – 12th-grade youth. They help students channel their leadership through the lens of their migrant journey so they can strengthen their sense of self and continue practicing agency as they make a positive impact on their Colorado communities....
Puksta Scholars from all five campuses gathered for our annual Fall Intercollegiate Retreat last Saturday! We practiced one to one relational meeting skills, shared public narratives, played games, and enjoyed a fantastic lunch from EHijole tacos! We truly enjoy this community building time with you all and can`t wait for more fun at the winter retreat with this group! 😍😜🎉...
Ciera Blehm, University of Denver Puksta Alum 2019, is helping to give power back to victims of campus sexual assault. We hope you`ll read her story in the Her Campus Media interview and spread the word about the valuable resources she`s established: https://loom.ly/5u5czeQ
Ciera co-founded the University of Denver`s CAPE Survivor Fund, which provides sexual assault survivors at the University of Denver with direct cash assistance. Then, she brought her project beyond DU to create the Survivor Fund Hub, where any college students who have experienced sexual assault can apply for financial assistance on the fund’s website. To date, The Survivor Fund, in combination with the University of Denver’s CAPE Survivor Fund, has distributed more than $21,000 to survivors of sexual violence since 2017.
Ciera, you are making an incredible difference in the lives of survivors. Thank you!...
✨🎓BOOM💥🤯The Puksta Foundation 2023-24 Annual Report is Here!!✨🎓
This year has been marked by significant milestones. We celebrated the memories of Harry and Eva Puksta, increased our Puksta Scholar award amounts at MSU and CSU, welcomed 22 new Puksta Scholars into our community, and celebrated the achievements of 13 Puksta Graduates who completed their degrees across a diverse range of disciplines! Read the full report here: https://loom.ly/kA6f91s!...
We had an incredible evening at the MSU Puksta Scholar Welcome Dinner, where we focused on building connections, setting intentions, and starting the academic year on the right foot. 🌟
Our new scholars were warmly welcomed into the Puksta community, and the night was all about creating meaningful cohort connections. Together, we explored our personal purpose and intentions through powerful writing and expressive art. ✍️🎨
We’re also thrilled to introduce our brand-new Puksta Scholar Social Media Ambassador position! This exciting role will give one of our scholars the opportunity to lead our digital presence and share the amazing work being done across our community. 📲✨
As we move forward into the academic year, we’re excited to see how our scholars grow, connect, and make a lasting impact. Welcome to the Puksta family—we can’t wait to see what you’ll achieve!
We recently went on a trip to Chicago and were thrilled to schedule sometime with our Puksta alumni, Ian and Bweza, who now live out there! We embarked on an architecture tour by boat and caught up over delicious deep-dish pizza at Giordano’s! 🍕🚤 We were so inspired to hear of amazing work they’re doing post-Puksta.
🎻 Ian’s Story: Ian has taken his love for music and discovered his lifelong passion for crafting violins, a journey that has been as intricate and beautiful as the instruments he’s learning to create. His dedication to this art form is nothing short of inspiring, and we can’t wait to see where this passion takes him. We also got to meet his beautiful wife Morgan!!!
🌱 Bweza’s Journey: From her days working with Growhaus in Denver on her Puksta project, Bweza has taken her love for plants and passion for food justice to new heights. She’s now co-founded Sistas in the Village, a local farm in Englewood, Chicago, that’s making a significant impact on the community. At Sistas in the Village, they’re reclaiming farming as a source of cultural pride and spiritual resilience. Their vision? A community where everyone is fed spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
They not only sell and donate the food they grow, but they also host workshops for community members of all generations and partner with like-minded Black-owned organizations and brands. Bweza’s commitment to food justice is transforming her community and empowering others to join the movement. https://loom.ly/LoOc1Ow
We are beyond proud of Ian and Bweza for their incredible contributions and the lasting impact they’re making. Keep shining, and thank you for continuing to embody the Puksta spirit wherever you go!
Alumni don`t forget to update you profile in the Puksta Online Community Portal https://loom.ly/zF3L4jg so we can be sure to visit you next time John and I are off on our next adventure! ❤️, NiChel
Maria Kahn, University of Denver Puksta Alumni 2013, is now being represented by Grassports LLC, the only sustainability and inclusivity focused publicity agency in the UAE! 🎉 👟⚽
As the Captain of the Pakistan Women`s National Team and the first Pakistani female athlete to be endorsed by PUMA Middle East, Maria consistently breaks barriers and sets new standards. She has played football at the highest levels in the USA, UAE, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, earning numerous accolades. Including the Player of the Tournament Award in Saudi Arabia’s first ever Women’s International Competition, which comprised of 4 different nations. 🏅
Congratulations, Maria! We hope ya`ll will keep up with her journey and check out the article: https://loom.ly/tnZtHTU...
Just another day at the office 🤩 Puksta Scholars Program 24-25!! can`t wait to start this next year and welcome in our new scholars! Big thanks to our Puksta Coordinators and our special guest for lunch, Puksta Scholar Cristal De La Torre! #planning #planningcommunity #makingmoves #pukstascholars...
🎓🌟 Proud of our now Puksta Alumni and DU Alumni Christy Vo🌟🎓
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! 🎉 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! 🌟 We look forward to seeing the continued impact you will make in your community and beyond.
🌟🎓 Josie Duenas Tapia... Proud Puksta Scholar and now a Graduate of Colorado State University! 🎓🌟
I am thrilled to share that Josie has graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Computer Science 🎉 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! 🌟
Congratulations to Marissa Alejandra Martinez Suarez, a 2024 Puksta Scholar graduating from the University of Denver! 🎉🎉 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. 🌟
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. 🍎📚
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.
Marissa’s journey doesn’t stop here. She aims to continue supporting students and becoming the representation she wished she had growing up. Here’s to Marissa’s bright future and the positive change she will bring! 🌟👩🏫
A huge congratulations to Joel Ibarra, a 2024 Graduate from Colorado State University! Joel has earned his degree in Construction Management. 🌟
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. 🤝
Joel’s 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! 🌟🎉
🎓🎉 Celebrating Our CSU Puksta Graduate, Anh Bui! 🎉🎓
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.
As we celebrate today, the 💙🩶 Puksta Foundation 💙🩶 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 💗 love lives on through the 🎓 346 Puksta Alumni and 66 Puksta Scholars 🎓 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.
🎓🎉 Celebrating Our CU Boulder Puksta Graduate, Fernanda Cerros! 🎉🎓
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!
🎓🎉 Celebrating Our CSU Puksta Graduate, Pastor Niyogusengwa! 🎉🎓
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.
Pastor’s 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!
🎓🎉 Congratulations to our DU Puksta Grad, Sunjoi Gandhi! 🎉🎓
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 Sunjoi’s 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!"
🎓✨ 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. 🌟
🏙️ 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.
🚀 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.
👏 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...
