β¨π Congratulations to our incredible 2025 University of Colorado graduate, Anahi Sarmiento Garcia! β¨π
π This year Anahi had the opportunity to return to her high school with a group of Puksta peers to talk to students about college and answer any questions they had. As part of this effort, she created a prototype app designed to help students stay on track with scholarship and college application deadlines, and provide a space for them to reach out to us with questions. She noticed an increase in the number of students who were interested in going to college after realizing they had someone who understood their challenges and was there to support them.
π Moving forward, Anahi plans to pursue a full-time career in real estate while also continuing to build her skills in data science. She`s excited to grow within the industry and gain experience, while also using data to inform smarter business decisions.
Here`s to Anahi`s amazing achievements and bright future ahead! Congratulations π
β¨π A huge congratulations to Jay Keodonexay, a 2025 Graduate at University of Denver! πβ¨
π This year, Jay facilitated over 10 workshops with Envision You, an organization that seeks to improve LGBTQ+ mental health through community programming, advocacy, and evidence-based training. Jay was also a mentor for a 5th grade mentee through joy as resistance, and created art that he sold to donate over $200 to non-profit organizations!
π When asked about his favorite aspect of the Puksta program, he said it is "our meetings and getting to know the scholars in and outside of my school." He also shared, "The Puksta program has meant a lot to me. Sometimes I find it hard to stay motivated and the program and other scholars always are able to help re-light the fire to keep doing what i`m doing."
π Here`s to Jay`s accomplishments and bright future ahead!!
#PukstaProud #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #CUBoulder #CommunityImpact #LBGTQ #QTBIPOC #joyasresistance
β¨π Congratulations to Samantha Rodriguez, a 2025 Puksta Scholar graduating from the University of Denver! πβ¨
π This year, Samantha worked with DAWN Clinic, which sees more than 35 patients Monday-Thursday every week to provide medical necessities that include primary care, rheumatology, dermatology, OBGYN, and optometry services to the community members of Aurora. She was on a year-long team of individuals to build a list of resources to help provide to their patients that included rent, utilities, food, and employment resources, and many more to support their patients in their everyday life activities. She worked diligently with 2 physicians to build monthly schedules of Rheumatology patients to be seen and assisted in filling out forms to assist patients in getting expensive medications for discounted prices and within their price range to continue getting the care they needed.
π Future plans: Samantha will be pursuing her CNA certification and then working before applying to physician assistant school next spring!
π Join us in celebrating Samantha`s incredible achievements and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors!
#PukstaProud #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #CUBoulder #CommunityImpact #HealthcareAccess
β¨π Congratulations to our amazing 2025 CU Boulder Graduate, Mariajose Baca! πβ¨
π Mariajose spent the last year collaborating with one of her peers to present to create a financial literacy basics presentation for high school seniors and University students, specifically targeting groups of underrepresented students. They covered topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, and planning for the future and created interactive videos, worksheets, and online simulations to help their students grasp the material. They were proud to be the support they needed when coming to CU Boulder.
π Moving forward, she is pursuing a career in Real Estate. Way to go Mariajose, we know you are looking at a bright future ahead! π
#PukstaProud #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #CUBoulder #CommunityImpact #FinancialLiteracy
β¨π Congratulations to our incredible 2025 University of Colorado Denver graduate, Leo Banuelos-Rivera! πβ¨
π Leo began working construction in September 2021 and was surprised when theyβd tell him, βjust throw it outβ, and it could be material that was still good for a purpose. This inspired him to dedicate his time in Puksta to find a way to reuse construction material rather than it just being thrown out. Anything from drywall, and plywood to cabinets, and more, etc.
π Leo plans to integrate what he has learned about sustainability and responsible consumption and production into his career in construction management!
π Way to go, Leo, we know you are looking at a bright future ahead!
#PukstaProud #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #CUBoulder #CommunityImpact #sustainability #ResponsibleProduction
β¨π Congratulations to our incredible 2025 MSU Puksta Graduate, Victor Delgado! β¨π
π Upon joining the Puksta program, Victor led an initiative to get an RTD bus line on campus. When the administration didn`t support his efforts, he applied for student government. In this role he served as the main connection for undocumented student support, and became the co-chair of sustainability where he managed an 8k budget, supported a menstrual product initiative, and planned both Earth Week and Homelessness & Hunger Auraria Awareness Week. Victor also sat on the Student Advisory Committee for the Auraria Board of Directors to advocate for undocumented students and participate in a selection committee for architects for a new Tivoli student union.
π This year, Victor was selected for the Boettcher Student of the Year award and Espiritu of Aztlan award at MSU!
π Moving forward, Victor plans to focus on developing his career now that he`s received his physics degree! Here`s to Victor`s remarkable achievements and his bright future ahead!
#PukstaProud #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #MSU #CommunityImpact #StudentGovernment
β¨π Congratulations to Rediet Ayanaw, a proud DU graduate and now Puksta Alumna! πβ¨
π Rediet spent the last year serving as an IT Coordinator and mentor at College Track, helping students navigate technology and build confidence in their creative abilities. She led weekly βApple Bitesβ sessions where she guided high school freshmen through the process of planning, designing, and prototyping their own mobile apps. Rediet also contributed to ScholarSprint, a new initiative that encourages students to set ambitious academic and personal goals. While the program is still in development, she has been involved in shaping its early structure and providing feedback to ensure it reflects studentsβ needs and aspirations. Her time at College Track has been rooted in community, growth, and helping students see whatβs possible for themselves.
π As Rediet embarks on her journey to pursue a masters` degree in Business Analytics at CU Boulder this fall, we celebrate all that she has achieved and look forward to her continued impact in the technology field!
#PukstaProud #Puksta Foundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #DU #CommunityImpact
β¨π We`re celebrating our amazing 2025 Metropolitan State University Puksta Graduate, Artemis Douglas! πβ¨
π Artemis aligned her Puksta project with the work of her undergraduate thesis. She worked with various mentors to create an original research study that demonstrates the risks and harms trans women face and how wide-spread those risks are. Using a methodology of "ask trans women and believe them" and a lens of harms and spaces, she successfully demonstrated transfeminized and classical precarity as something that is applied and enforced, on to trans women on the axis of their gender. No prior academic literature has done this- and her thesis is now under review at an academic journal for future peer-reviewed publishing. Artemis presented this work 4 times this year, and she`s working on a monograph which is essentially a book-version of her thesis for either self- or peer-reviewed publishing!
π After taking a well deserved break this summer, Artemis will be moving to Dublin in August for a graduate program in Gender, Politics, and International Relations. She may also consider a concurrent graduate program focusing on transfeminism from a disciplinary lens of philosophy and literature.
π Congratulations, Artemis! We look forward to seeing the continued impact you will make in your community and beyond!
@adrhetoric
#PukstaProud #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #CUBoulder #CommunityImpact #TranswomenResearch #transfeminism
β¨π Congratulations to our amazing 2025 CSU Puksta Graduate, Autumn Wilson! πβ¨
π During her journey with Puksta, Autumn created resources for the community regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and trauma healing. She developed a google site to make these resources more obtainable from anywhere in the U.S. Her resources include getting involved in the community to help aid trauma healing and supporting your local community. Autumn shared that her project "was influenced by working at the Ute Mountain Ute summer camp and seeing the children who have already faced hardship. I wanted to give resources to ensure they follow the correct path and can heal from their trauma."
π Autumn is taking time to rest after graduation before she begins her career working with animals, specifically fish! Join us in celebrating her accomplishments and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors! π @autumnspirit33
#PukstaProud #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #CSU #CommunityImpact #Indigenouswomen
β¨π Mayra Luna...proud Puksta Scholar and now Graduate of the University of Colorado Denver! π β¨
π During her last year of the Puksta program, Mayra worked with a future center counselor at the high school she graduated from to help seniors apply to colleges and utilize the future center on campus. She facilitated a workshop and promoted MSU for any senior interested in applying and learning more about the school. Mayra was excited to engage in this work, because as a first generation student, she knows how hard it is to navigate the transition to college and that it is easier with the help of a mentor.
π Join us in celebrating Mayra`s achievements and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors!
#PukstaProud #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #CUDenver #CommunityImpact #FirstGenerationMentor @mayralunamar
π John and NiChel had this year`s graduates over for a very special evening on Tuesday to celebrate their accomplishments! π Each graduate received a Puksta alumni pin and they were welcomed into our growing network of almost 400 alumni! Then, they all enjoyed dinner over laughs and lively conversation at Nana`s Dim Sum & Dumplings π₯π Congradulations graduates, we are so proud of your evolution as individuals and contributing community members!! π
@cristal_dlt.23 @victor.just.victor @sammyy.29 @redietayanaw @leonardo.banuelos.rivera @mayralunamar @anahisarmiento_
β¨π Cristal De La Torre...proud Puksta Scholar and now graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder! πβ¨
π Cristal spent the last year collaborating with one of her peers to present to create a financial literacy basics presentation for high school seniors and University students, specifically targeting groups of underrepresented individuals. They covered topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, and planning for the future while integrating interactive videos, worksheets, and online simulations to help their students grasp the material. Cristal and Mariajose are proud to be the support they needed when coming to CU Boulder. π
π Moving forward, she is pursuing a career to be a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley. We are so excited for you Cristal! π @cristal_dlt.23
#PukstaProud #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #CUBoulder #CommunityImpact #FinancialLiteracy #FirstGenerationGrad
β¨π Congratulations to Paige Perricone, a proud CSU graduate and now Puksta Alumna! πβ¨
π This year, Paige worked hard to establish programs promoting resilience and protective factors for LGBTQ+ homeless and foster youth in a Denver-based LGBTQ+ homeless shelter. She worked with Dr. Kevin Powell to develop specific programs around engagement in social services and community-building activities. They were able to give two full seminars to the support systems (parents, friends, teachers, etc) of the youth at the homeless shelter, as well as host a community picnic potluck, and an arts & crafts day for this upcoming pride month.
π Future plans: Paige plans to apply for graduate school and continue working at a crisis line for suicide prevention and sexual assault & domestic abuse survivors.
π Join us in celebrating Paige`s incredible achievements and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors!
@rampaige687
#PukstaProud #PukstaFoundation #PukstaGraduates2025 #CSU #CommunityImpact #LBGTQ+
Puksta passages concluded this year with a fabulous celebration at DU π
Congratulations to our graduates, π Jay Keodonexay, π Zoe Stelzer, π Rediet Ayanaw, and π Samantha Rodriguez! We are rooting for you as you transition out of your undergraduate experience!
We also had the lovely opportunity to hear some words of wisdom from Zoe Grisez, 2023 DU Puksta Alumni. Thank you for sharing your insightful reflections with our new and current scholars π
The event was bittersweet this year as we also said goodbye to John Macikas, our DU Puksta Coordinator. John, you`ve made such an impact on our scholars and the program - thank you for dedicating your time and talents to Puksta these last few years. π Congratulations on your promotion, we will certainly miss you and wish you the best!
The MSU Puksta Passage is always a special event as we get to hear from each scholar about their civic engagement experiences. This year, scholars provided social and academic support at Thomas Jefferson High School, offered financial education, engaged in research to create new literature and improve the discourse involving trans women, participated in student government, and supported first-generation students, undocumented students, and veterans!
We also got to welcome our incoming scholars, celebrate our fabulous graduates, π Artemis Douglas & π Victor Delgado π CONGRATULATIONS π, and hear some beautiful words of wisdom from Duvia Ortega, MSU 2022 Puksta alum!
Wow, we truly enjoyed hearing the insights that all of you have gained from dedicating your time and energy to your community π€©π
π£ π Graciela Leal, MSU Puksta Alumni, just graduated with her Master`s degree in Social Work from Metropolitan State University! Congratulations π We are so proud of your achievements and the ways in which you`ve continued to contribute to your community beyond your time in Puksta - and LOVE seeing you repping your Puksta cord one more time!
The CSU Puksta Passage was truly a special evening!
We celebrated our fabulous graduates, π Miguel Eduardo Lopez, π Autumn Wilson, and π Paige Perricone, as well as our continuing scholars who are addressing food insecurity on campus, supporting refugee students in higher education, bridging cultural divides, and much more! π
We also had the honor of hearing from Puksta alumni Vera Asuamuzuah! In 2011, Vera received the Puksta scholarship and set a goal to provide a clean, reliable, and convenient water source to her village of Potomu, Ghana. In 2014, Vera oversaw the installation of a bore hole well and hand pump in Potomu, thanks to her dedication and hard work to fundraise and build community around this project - WOW! π€©
Congratulations CU Denver graduates, Leo Banuelos-Rivera and Mayra Luna!! π Leo, we appreciated the heartfelt words and wisdom you shared with us at the Puksta Passage Thursday evening.
It was such a joy to spend time with this group of scholars. They are dedicating time during their undergraduate journeys to support latino immigrants in higher education, address racial disparities in advances high school programs, decrease the digital divide amongst college students, and to engage in harm reduction and substance use prevention on their campus. We loved getting to learn even more about everyone through a fun social Bingo activity!
π£ Puksta Passages commence this year with CU Boulder π
Congratulations to our graduates: Cristal de la Torre, Mariajose Baca, and Anahi Sarmiento Garcia - we are so proud of all you have accomplished!
The rest of the CU Boulder cohort shared poster presentations about their civic engagement endeavors focused on youth empowerment, creating opportunities for women in STEM, providing support for minoritized students pursuing higher education, and uniting diverse student organizations at CU. Wow, what an incredible group of scholars!
Nothing brings us more joy than seeing and celebrating you all π
