Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Business
Project: Working with a partner and taking the task of getting the youth in some communities out of gangs, violence, and drugs. Focus on the areas where we used to live and help with those communities.
Inspiration: I come from an area where I’ve seen a lot of youth violence and was close to being a part of it and I want to end the cycle of young kids dying. I have family members on the same path and I hope to get them out of that life.
Future Plans: I hope to get kids off the streets and give them a chance in this life without death or prison. I really want to make a difference in these kids life to know there is another way out.
Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Political Science, Education. Minors in Leadership and Spanish.
Project: This year in Puksta, I have been deeply involved in initiatives focused on immigrant rights, particularly through my work with Public Achievement. I discovered that I have a strong passion for community organizing and empowering youth to become advocates for social justice. Working closely with young people, I built meaningful relationships not only with them but also with their families, which strengthened my understanding of the community’s diverse needs and perspectives. Problem-solving often involved navigating cultural sensitivities and finding ways to effectively communicate complex legal information in an accessible manner. I developed new skills in facilitation, public speaking, and community engagement, which were crucial in driving our initiatives forward. One of the challenges I faced was balancing the emotional weight of the issues we were tackling with the need to remain positive and hopeful. Despite these challenges, I’m celebrating the progress we made in raising awareness and empowering youth to take action in their communities.
Inspiration: I chose this project because, in my personal experience, I had to commute 45 minutes every day from my community to access a quality education. Leaving my community was a daily challenge for me because I never had the opportunity to connect with fellow youth from my own community.
Future Plans: With my community engagement and social impact work, I hope to create opportunities for local youth, ensuring they don’t face the challenges I did in accessing education. My goal is to foster a supportive environment and empower them to thrive within their community.
Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Engineering
Project: Helping kids get out of gangs and better their lives.
Inspiration: Because I was once in their shoes, I used to be like that but I changed… so they can too.
Future Plans: To show kids that it is not the only option, we can break the cycle.
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: Sociology
Project: Learning how to respond to overdoses, to then continue teaching others.
Inspiration: I have seen a lot of people around me struggle with substance abuse without adequate care. It is not spoken about enough, especially in minority communities.
Future Plans: I hope to see an open dialogue about substance abuse. I want to see those struggling to receive the help they need.
Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Pre-Nursing
Project: For my putska pathway and project I want to volunteer or create a program that helps veterans’ mental health and more recourses for on-campus life that veterans have more access to and are aware of programs that can benefit their overall well-being.
Inspiration: What inspired me to choose this project was because of my dad he served in the military and I was going in and out of the hospitals with him I have seen how much the military impacted his life physically and mentally and the lack of resources he had access to he passed away from cardiac arrest which brings me interest to help others.
Future Plans: I hope to help veterans and hopefully support them with their mental health by creating a program or bringing more awareness to programs that already exist on campus.
Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Social Work and Minor in Entrepreneurship
Project: I’m planning on bringing awareness on homelessness and find a way to supply any necessities for those in need.
Inspiration: I took a social work class and homelessness is a current issue in Colorado. I want to support those who are experiencing homelessness.
Future Goals: I hope to build experiences to make myself more prepared for the social work field. Also, I hope to learn new things and expand on it
Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Sociology
Minor: Business
Project: For my Puksta Project I want to research campus safety on campus. I believe for a student to be successful they have to feel safe on campus, being in an environment that is uncomfortable can take a mental toll on students.
Inspiration: I was inspired to work on this social issue due to my not feeling safe on campus, I then started talking to other students and noticed this wasn’t only affecting me but so many other students. I want my project to not only shed light on my issues but on others as well, I want my voice to be the voice for others as well.
Future Goals: I want to create an app where students have easier access to asking for help with a press of a button. There are a few blue lights on campus but not many students are aware of them, also having it on your phone is easily more accessible. This app will also be able to use discreetly to prioritize the students’ safety without having to call anyone.
Posted on November 1, 2023
Major: Computer Science
Project: I am considering a way to give accessible and portable wifi, including computers, to students who don’t have access to these commodities. These will help students with school, work, and everyday use.
Inspiration: During high school, I didn’t have my laptop. However, I received a computer from a class program I was in called kidsTek. I did well in the class, even receiving Student of the Year, and for being a good student, they gifted me a laptop, which I still use to this day.
Future Goals: I hope that students will have easy access to technology, which will enhance their educational life- and their life in general. Especially in our modern time, low-income families who don’t have access to technology fall behind in many opportunities. I wish to give them those opportunities.
