Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Mathematics
Project: I am looking for ways to support non-traditional immigrant students in pursuing a higher education and developing their expertise in the United States.
Inspiration: As an immigrant, I have seen so many barriers or it being impossible for immigrants to pursue a higher education whether it is economically or for not having a legal status here in the United States, and also to even have the chance to develop their expertise.
Future Plans: I want to develop a method by which non-traditional immigrant students can pursue higher education and at the same time, gain a work permit to develop their expertise and eventually get legal status in the U.S.
Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Business Administration – Concentration in Finance and International Business
Project: The primary problem that my research aims to address is the complex interplay between acculturation, co-ethnic ties, and their impact on substance use among immigrant students in the United States
Inspiration: I was inspired by personal experience. As an immigrant student myself, I had trouble adjusting to life in the U.S. and turned away from my culture towards some negative influences. I’ve noticed this as a common thing in immigrant students my age and wanted to understand it a little more.
Future Plans: I hope to create more effective support programs in schools and communities so that healthcare providers can be more understanding of the unique challenges immigrant students face.
Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Internacional Studies
Project: My project is bringing awareness and acknowledgment to the immigrant community through their stories. My vision, by sharing these stories, is diverse but the ideas are set on either creating a book, publishing them somewhere, do a research question on immigration and answer it with the immigrant stories or find ways to use the stories as new defining ways to better help the immigrant community. This year, I joined the youth organizing committee with Stacie Gilmore in my community where we identified issues in our community and ways we want to work on to improve them.
Inspiration: I come from a majority immigrant community, my parents are immigrants and I have met closely with other immigrants and heard their stories on what it took to get here. Being so close to this issue and seeing how my community is impacted every day drives me to aim for education and help them.
Future Goals: With my community and social impact work I hope to make resources for health care, immigration services and more accessible and easy to approach. But as well I want to make myself a person they can approach for help. I want to make myself a resource.
Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Accounting
Project: Increasing the resources available to Latino immigrants in general and finding ways to help them gain citizenship. I hope to assist them with any injustices they have experienced due to their legal status. I will also be focusing on researching the resources provided to first-generation and minority students.
Inspiration: My parents are immigrants who have sacrificed a lot to give my sisters and me a better future. I feel strongly about this social issue because the amount of hard work and determination that the Latino immigrant community puts into having a stable future deserves to be recognized. They should have the same rights as any other group of people.
Future Goals: I hope to make the Latino immigrant community feel seen and heard. Through my social impact work, I want to find at least a start towards justice for this community.
Posted on January 18, 2023
Major: Journalism
Project: Make a documentary to showcase the struggles that first-generation and undocumented students are faced with when going to college
Inspiration: Family
Future Plans: I hope to increase the support CSU gives its first generations and undocumented students.
Posted on November 28, 2022
Major: Psychology with a Minor in Human Development and Family Relations
Project: This year I helped a counselor who works in the future center at the high school I graduated from and help seniors apply to colleges and promote the future center on campus. I facilitated a workshop and promoted MSU for any senior interested in applying and knowing more about the school at North High School during school hours.
Inspiration: I decided to do this project because as a first generation student, I know how hard it is to navigate the transition to college and that with the help of a mentor it is easier. I want to provide that to other students.
Future Plans: I hope to accomplish more awareness and people to learn how long and difficult the process of becoming a resident/citizen is. Many people don’t know the laws like I didn’t know and know the conditions of people who barely cross the border to the US.
Posted on December 31, 2021
Major: Political Science, International Affairs
Project: I am working to expand the opportunities for underrepresented members of the community to participate in community engagement.
Inspiration: I began working with an organization that focuses on resource allocation in the Latino community. This was originally what I planned on doing. I wanted to provide a resource for undocumented immigrants who couldn’t rely on government welfare programs. However, I fell in love with their model for bringing about change in their community. They focused on giving women in their community (that are passionate about change) the resources, education, and training to spearhead change initiatives. These women are women that don’t have a formal education and wouldn’t be able to bring about change if this opportunity wasn’t presented to them.
Future Goals: I think that academia is gatekeeping social change. Underrepresented members of the community without the knowledge and resources to initiate change often can’t. We are taught how to do this in college. What about people who don’t have that luxury? I want to create a permanent impact on the community. Providing a temporary service is great but change cannot be sustained that way. I want to create local leadership opportunities for those who don’t have them, creating a sustained model for social change,
Posted on December 31, 2021
Major: Computer Science
Project: My Puksta project centers around increasing the representation of Latine/Undocumented youth in institutes of higher education. The journey to college often centers on a one-size-fits-all approach to education which tends to create a sense of exclusivity against Latine and Undocumented youth. I aim to work with local organizations in order to raise awareness on the issue and aid youth populations within Northern Colorado who seeks to attain a college education.
A thesis was published as part of a research team Jose was working with during my first year in Puksta! https://mountainscholar.org/items/62a49341-1096-45d7-9621-8a57996157c9
Inspiration: During my time in High School, I have seen the deficits of the education system when it comes to helping my community attain a college education. My journey to college was filled with immense fear and uncertainty as I tried to navigate through a system that was not built to serve me. Furthermore, I have come to realize that my experience is not isolated through my work as an undergraduate research assistant studying the issue at hand within communities in Colorado. This is why it is incredibly important for me to serve as a catalyst towards change surrounding Latine/Undoc. representation in institutes of higher education. The system has disproportionately harmed my community since its inception and it is time to bring change.
Future Goals: Short term, I would like to see Latine/Undoc. individuals within my local community not only become more informed about all the components needed in achieving a college education but actually see the youth begin their journey to college. Alongside this, I would like to raise awareness of the ineffective system that plagues Latine/Undoc. youth within Northern Colorado. As I further progress through my project, I would like to see my community thriving as we aim to build a better life for ourselves and our families through education.
Posted on November 6, 2020
Major: Biochemistry
Minors: Biology, Human Health Systems and Sciences, and Medical Physics
Project: The health disparity crisis is in full effect as more individuals migrate to Colorado. It is extremely difficult for them to find access to healthcare, most times they do not have equitable access lin comparison to their neighbors. Through my work with the free clinic in Aurora, CO known as the D.A.W.N. Clinic, I have worked to assess the disparities in health care and have attempted to reduce the disparities. Through being a care coordinator at the clinic, I have assisted over 300 patients within the past 4 years gain access to free healthcare and register for other benefits including housing, transportation, food, and mental health benefits. I also do work with Red Equity to plan events to distribute period products at no cost! We distribute period packages all across the United States to help provide equal access to these products and gear towards eradicating the Pink Tax.
Inspiration: I come from a family of immigrants and I admire the sacrifices they make to build a life in the U.S. so their children can attend better schools and have larger accessibility to resources and opportunities, in comparison to what they might have had in their country of origin. The difficulties of securing jobs and houses, facing cultural and language barriers, and accessing services are not easy tasks to face, it is inspiring to me that my family and others have overcome those (and more) challenges.
Future Plans: I plan on attending Physician Assistant school to tackle this issue further. I am excited to change how people are affected by healthcare systems and help create an environment that provides equal healthcare for all.
Posted on November 6, 2020
Major: International Studies and Political Science
Project: For the upcoming academic year, my project entails creating a solid system of workshops that navigate how to make higher education accessible for senior students in ESL (English as Second Language) classes at Fort Morgan High School. The workshops will entail instruction on how to apply for higher education (technical school, community college, 4-year university, etc.) as well as different ways to help alleviate the financial burdens that come with it.
Inspiration: Working with Fort Morgan High School in my first year with Key Communities, I was made aware of the lack of certain amenities that students in the ESL classes were faced with along with the burdens that already came with being minority students (language barriers, legal status, academic history). I resonated with a majority of the students as I had also been in ESL classes before and I was better able to communicate and empathize with them. Whereas I lived in the Denver metro area and was blessed to have many opportunities easily attainable, the students of Fort Morgan lack that. This ultimately compelled me, even more, to work with them.
Future Plans: With my community engagement work, I hope to not only be a resource for the students but also help build their confidence in their abilities and demonstrate that the obstacles they face in their educational journey can serve as an advantage.
