✨🎓 Please join us in celebrating, Samrawit Shewanargaw CSU Graduate and now Puksta alumni! ✨🎓
Samrawit is passionate about advancing mental health awareness in the Black community—especially how mental health challenges impact Black women and how homelessness can affect mental health outcomes.
Inspired by the growing need for support and understanding in the African community, Samrawit hopes to collaborate with a mental health facility in South Africa to learn from community-based approaches and bring those insights back home. Her goal is to help build awareness, reduce stigma, and expand access to care, while honoring the religious and cultural contexts that shape how many people experience and interpret mental health.
We’re proud of you, Samrawit—congratulations on this incredible milestone and on the impact you’re already making. 💙
✨🎓 Please join us in celebrating our Puksta graduate from CU Denver, Adriana Fiero Mena! 🎓✨
🌟 During her time in Puksta, Adriana researched the gaps within AP and IB programs—highlighting how many low-income schools are not able to offer these courses. Recognizing that these disparities often begin early, she shifted her focus this year to early education as a way to address education inequities in underserved communities. Adriana also partnered with Kids In Need Foundation to organize and host a school supply drive that helped ensure local students have the tools they need to succeed academically.
🚀 As she looks ahead, Adriana plans to continue growing her business as a nail technician and build a recognizable brand. Her long-term goal is to open her own location with space for her services and stations to rent to other beauty professionals. Further down the line, she hopes to offer nail courses as well.
🎉 We’re proud of you, Adriana—congratulations on your graduation and all you’ve already accomplished!
On Wednesday evening, we enjoyed a beautiful and inspiring fifth and final Puksta Passage at the University of Denver.
We were honored to hear remarks from Elizabeth Loboa, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, who shared that during our 25-year partnership, Puksta has contributed over $1.6 million to scholarships at DU—helping welcome more than 110 scholars into DU classrooms. ✨
Our DU graduates, Nour Zouhou and Elizabeth Navarro 🎉, shared deeply insightful remarks on their experience in our program and we got to celebrate our continuing scholars and the powerful work they’re advancing in their communities, including:
• Creating pathways to college access with and for youth
• Research to support more informed, nuanced conversations about the heavily stigmatized topic of sex work
• Education equity for students in special education systems
• Food justice advocacy and partnership with local food pantries
• Compassionate behavioral health support and advocacy in underserved communities
• Writing instruction for incarcerated individuals to help reduce recidivism
• Youth development and mentorship
• Addressing inequities in health outcomes for Black women
• Working toward collective liberation across campus
• Community storytelling
We also said goodbye to longtime Coordinator John Macikas. John, thank you for your steady leadership and care—wishing you all the best in your new role as Associate Director of CCESL. We’re very excited to welcome our new coordinator (and Puksta alum) Brendan Teck. We can’t wait for what’s ahead!
And a special thank you to the DU Advancement team for planning such a meaningful event 💞
🎓✨ Today we’re celebrating CSU Puksta graduate—and now Puksta Alumni—Yoseline Rivera! ✨🎓
🌟 During her time in the Puksta program, Yoseline helped build a coalition that stood up for students’ rights through legislation, meetings with decision-makers, and powerful sit-ins. She also led food drives to support students facing hunger, reminding all of us that community care and advocacy go hand in hand.
🚀 After graduation, Yoseline is heading to Denver to begin her next chapter, with plans to one day attend law school.
🎉 We’re so proud of you, Yoseline! Thank you for the heart, leadership, and courage you bring to all you do. Wishing you all the best in everything ahead!
✨🎓 Congratulations to Hyab Tekeste, a fabulous Puksta Scholar graduating from Colorado State University! 🎓✨
🌟 During her time in Puksta, Hyab has been focusing on financial literacy support, especially for immigrant and underserved communities. She hosted engaging workshops and conversations around topics like budgeting, credit, and financial planning. She also worked on building partnerships with community organizations to help expand access to these resources.
🚀 After graduation, Hyab plans to continue working in finance while staying involved in community-focused work, as well as her photography work!
👏 Join us in celebrating Hyab`s incredible achievements and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors!
Congratulations to Puksta Scholars and MSU Denver graduates Alexis Campos & Montserrat Adame! 🎓✨
Today we celebrate not only your graduation, but the care, leadership, and commitment to community you’ve brought to our program throughout your journeys. The Puksta Foundation believes in the power of civic engagement and young people working alongside their communities to create meaningful change. Both of you embody that spirit so fully. 🌟
We are deeply inspired by your passion, the ways you show up for others, and the futures you are helping imagine and build. We can’t wait to see where your leadership takes you next. 💙
✨🎓 Congratulations Nour Zouhou, soon to be a proud DU graduate and Puksta Alumni! 🎓✨
🌟 During her time in the Puksta program, Nour focused on addressing the erasure and discrimination against BIPOC, queer people, immigrants, and women as well as broad critique of conduct by the US government through individual and community art practices. She has been researching public art as a means of rest and resistance, connecting with other artists, non profits, and galleries in Denver.
🚀 After graduation, Nour plans to do some traveling and try out new hobbies. She looks forward to hiking with friends and making zines!
🎉 Please join us in celebrating all that Nour has accomplished applying her artistic passions and talents to her civic engagement work!
✨🎓 Congratulations. to our amazing MSU graduate and now Puksta Alumni, Alexis Cardenas Campos! 🎓✨
🌟 During his time in the Puksta program, Alexi worked with high school minority students to build their emotional intelligence and personal development skills. He supported 7-10 non-English speaking immigrant students per month, talking to them about respect, stress management, identity, self-esteem, growth mindset, masculinity, and other personal life topics. He engaged in both group meeting sessions and one-on-one conversations with students.
🚀 After graduation, Alexis plans to continue emphasizing the role of design, art, and self towards the overall approach of existential balance and everyday life. He will bring more cross-disciplinary dialogue and democratization to the role of thought and expression.
🎉 We are celebrating all you have accomplished supporting your students and living your values in our program and beyond! Wishing you the best as you move forward on your journey!
This year’s Puksta Passage was filled with so much heart. Throughout the evening, our 7 graduating scholars shared personal stories, reflections, and experiences from their time in Puksta that brought many of us to tears. Congratulations Jazzy Ewing, Yoseline Rivera, Hyab Tekeste, Edna Agustin Chavez, Andrea Pereida, Lensa Wako, Samrawit Shewanargaw! 🎓💚 You are a powerful reminder of the relationships, growth, and community that make this program so meaningful.
Before dinner, we had the opportunity to learn from our continuing scholars through their poster presentations and celebrate the important work they are doing. We are so proud of all you continue to contribute to your communities and campus!
This evening was also bittersweet as we said goodbye to Sam Desta, our longtime CSU coordinator. Sam’s impact on generations of scholars and on the development of the program at CSU cannot be overstated. Thank you, Sam, for the immense care, leadership, and love you have poured into this community over the years.
At the same time, we are so excited to celebrate Michael Silvey, who has stepped into the coordinator role this year with such warmth and care already. He has quickly become beloved by scholars, and we are grateful for the future ahead.
What a beautiful night honoring past, present, and future Puksta scholars. 💫
✨🎓 Congratulations to our incredible 2026 CSU Puksta Graduate, Andrea Pereida! 🎓 ✨
🌟 During her time in Puksta, Andrea worked at the Colorado State Public Defender`s Office, an organization with a long history of providing excellent representation to persons accused in criminal cases when they cannot afford to hire counsel. She was able to meet with 30 clients and help address their needs. She served as a translator to help schedule appointments and shared resources to support them upon their release.
🚀 As Andrea embarks on a new position at New Leaf Family Law Firm as a bilingual legal assistant after graduating, we celebrate all that she has achieved and look forward to her continued impact in the technology field!
This year’s CU Denver Puksta Passage was a lovely evening in the Wright Room reflecting on where our scholars have been, celebrating where they are now, and welcoming the next chapter ahead. ✨
Congratulations to our graduates, Genessi and Adriana! 🎓💛 Thank you for the ways you have shaped this community during your time in Puksta. We cannot wait to see all that comes next for you both.
We loved hearing from our continuing scholars through thoughtful poster presentations on topics including student mentorship, supporting Latino immigrants in higher education, digital empowerment, and the importance of trees in our ecosystem.
This year also marked a meaningful coordinator transition at CU Denver. We are deeply grateful to Karina De Jesus for the steadiness, care, and organization she brought in helping get the Puksta program established on this campus. We are so excited for the work Megan O’Connor has continued this year, especially the relationships and sense of connection she has built with scholars.
A special thank you to our friends at Appaloosa for the incredible food that helped make the evening feel so warm and welcoming!
✨🎓 Congratulations to Edna Agustin Chavez, a proud CSU graduate and now Puksta Alumni! 🎓✨
🌟 During her time in Puksta, Edna developed a comprehensive resource guide and presentation focused on improving support for international students at CSU. This included creating a detailed informational toolkit addressing key challenges such as financial constraints, visa limitations, social isolation, and unfamiliar academic expectations. She also conducted informal interviews and gathered survey responses to better understand the lived experiences of international students.
🚀 After graduation, Edna plans to attend law school. She wants to pursue a career where she can advocate for individuals facing barriers in areas like immigration, education, or access to resources to create meaningful community change.
🎉 Here`s to Edna`s remarkable achievements and bright future ahead!
This year’s Puksta Passage at MSU was a beautiful celebration of community, growth, and impact! We got to congratulate Alexis Campos and Jennifer Montserrat Adame, our graduating scholars 🎉, and were especially moved to hear from MSU alumni David Campos-Cardenas, Alexis’s older brother.
David encouraged scholars: “Don’t forget about your projects when you’re out there — find a way to implement your projects in the real world.” He shared how, as a Puksta scholar, he supported high school students with college applications and FAFSA completion. Today, he owns two tax firms and continues that work of accessibility and care by creating Spanish-language tax organizing tools and helping immigrant and undocumented communities complete ITIN applications free of charge.
We also heard presentations from our continuing scholars and watched an incredible video that Alexis created about the Puksta foundation and our community!
So much pride, love, and inspiration in one room. Once Puksta, a always Puksta. ✨
👀 Here`s a fun little window into our latest Puksta First Year Experience session! 🤩 We gathered with scholars across all five campuses to celebrate and reflect on their first year in our program, while exploring the fundamentals of working ethically and responsibly in the community. 🙌 We are so excited to see where you all go from here and hope you have a fabulous summer! 🚀
✨🎓 We`re celebrating our amazing 2026 CU Boulder Puksta Graduate, Nina Patterson! 🎓✨
🌟 During her time in Puksta, Nina worked closely with a local high school and her scholar team to support first generation juniors and seniors as they prepare for the transition to college. Nina has also developed a strong understanding of business operations and has applied that knowledge by launching her own business driven by her passion for wellness and community, while starting and running her own club on campus. Through her work, she strives to break down barriers and provide practical tools and encouragement to help others overcome challenges and pursue opportunities that may once have felt out of reach.
🚀 After graduation, Nina plans on opening her own pilates studio here in boulder, continuing to engage in social impact work and make financial contributions from her own business.
🎉 Congratulations, Nina! We look forward to seeing the continued impact you will make in your community and beyond!
✨🎓 We are thrilled to celebrate the graduation of Anahi Alvarez, one of our CU Boulder Puksta Scholars!! 🎓✨
🌟 Throughout her time in Puksta, Anahi worked with a local high school and her Puksta Scholar team to support first generation juniors and seniors as they prepare for the transition to college. They engaged in personal research, guided by their background and experience, as well as student interviews to learn about challenges, goals, and needs of this community. Then, the group designed and led workshops tailored to these needs, while also building real relationships with the students. Anahi and her team helped students understand admissions, financial aid, campus resources, and what to expect during their first year of college.
🚀 After graduation, Anahi plans to get a job in financial planning or data analytics within the cosmetics or skincare industry.
Your passion for supporting others and working on your scholar team really shines through, Anahi! We wish you the best as you move forward on your journey! 🎉
✨🎓 Congratulations to our amazing CSU Puksta Graduate, Jazmyne Ewing! 🎓✨
🌟 While in the Puksta program, Jazmyne focused on addressing housing Insecurity of lower income and international students. She worked with Pastor Paul to create a video detailing the situation that Lumin Students go through surrounding the housing insecurity crisis. The video touches up on the recession that many students are facing and the lack of community/family support that these students go through.
👏 We`re proud of the impact you have made in your community, Jazmyne! Join us in celebrating her achievements and wishing her well on the next steps of her journey! 🎉
✨🎓 Congratulations to Jennifer Montserrat Adame, a proud MSU graduating senior! 🎓✨
🌟 In Puksta, Jennifer worked on the newsletter for the Immigrant Services Program (ISP) at MSU Denver. She familiarized herself with the work that ISP does for their students and was able to spend time organizing resources for their newsletter. She also gave presentations in her social work courses about Immigration which helped her educate her peers around knowing their rights. This gave her space to educate and help other social work students understand how they can support their communities and peers affected by this difficult time.
👏 Join us in celebrating Jennifer`s incredible achievements and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors!
✨🎓 Congratulations to our incredible 2026 University of Colorado graduate, José Gutierrez! ✨🎓
🌟 During his time at CU, José developed a strong foundation in visual storytelling, video production, and creative direction, with a focus on using film as a tool for community engagement and meaningful impact. He has contributed to projects focused on supporting high school juniors and seniors by promoting awareness around pursuing higher education. He and his team delivered presentations that highlight the college experience and its accessibility while he documented the process. José also served as President of Tau Psi Omega Fraternity, Inc!
🚀 After graduation, José aims to continue growing as a filmmaker while expanding opportunities for storytelling within underserved communities!
Here`s to José`s amazing achievements and bright future ahead! Congratulations 🎉
📣 Can you believe it`s that time of year again - we celebrated CU Boulder`s Puksta Passage on Thursday! 🎉
Congratulations to our graduates: Anahí Alvarez, José Gutierrez, and Nina Patterson - 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 supporting families with autistic children, increasing access to higher education, promoting diversity on campus, support and mentorship for indigenous students, and addressing education inequity. We are so impressed by this incredible group of scholars!
The event was bittersweet this year as we also said goodbye to Ana Contreras, who has served as our CU Boulder Puksta Coordinator for the past 5 years. In Ana`s words of farewell, she discussed acompañera, the practice and embodiment of walking with others. "This requires me to be with students not just as an instructor, but as a bridge, a border broker, being together in humanizing ways. Research has found that the current education system is not equipped to maintain these types of pedagogies. However, Puksta pushes back against the limiting structures of universities." Ana, you have been such a brilliant example of acompañera in our Puksta family, and we are so grateful for that. We wish you all the best 💞
