The College of Arts and Sciences celebrates the wide range of graduating students who leave their mark on the college in truly unique ways. To recognize these outstanding students for 2024,听we asked for nominations across campus to select their top students.听

Below are a few of those amazing graduating students, along with听comments from the faculty and staff who nominated them. The graduates responded to one of three questions:

  1. What is your best piece of advice for other students?
  2. What will you carry with you into the next chapter of life?
  3. What does graduating represent for you?

听

Question: What is your best piece of advice for other students?

Sedinam Biassey-Bogart

Geological sciences
Undergraduate

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and chase opportunities. You're a lot more capable than you think!

Sedinam Biassey-Bogart is an exceptional planetary geoscientist with a unique combination of research experience, academic achievements and involvement. She completed her senior honors thesis using analytic glacial isostatic adjustment models to compute Earth's viscoelastic response to loading and unloading. Sedi interned at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, performing mapping of Mars; worked in the NASA L鈥橲PACE Mission Concept Academy, designing a mission to understand polar layered deposits on Mars; and interned at the Lunar & Planetary Institute, examining models and altimetry data. She is an active volunteer, serving as an education and outreach student assistant at the CIRES, working with Ad Astra Academy at the Fiske Planetarium and participating in the Women of Color in STEM and the Black Student Alliance at CU 色吧亚洲. Overall, Sedi鈥檚 dedication to planetary science makes her a young geoscientist to watch, and we cannot wait to see what she does next.

Katelynn Wootten

Physics
Undergraduate

Stay open-minded. I came to CU with a fixed idea of my path. Yet, once I started classes, I discovered about a dozen different topics I wanted to pursue. I was able to explore each through the diverse classes and research offered at CU. Ultimately, I found a field within physics that I never envisioned myself in as a freshman.

She is a student of outstanding caliber who is self-motivated, able to teach herself about new topics, unafraid to ask questions and hard working.听听She has worked hard in my lab and shown her passion for science, and this inspired me as well as my graduate students. She was the only female student in my lab but was not intimidated, and helped me to recruit other female students for the lab!听听Her hard work has resulted in a peer-reviewed conference paper and a journal paper that is ready to be submitted.听听Her presentations are some of the best I've seen!听听She also successfully wrote and defended an honors thesis.听听These are all fantastic achievements for an undergraduate and indications of a truly amazing student!

Lily Buehler

Dance Minor in A&S, Integrated Design Engineering
Undergraduate

The best advice I can tell any student coming into the arts & sciences is to let your ego go and fail as often as you can. It's so crucial to know that failure is easiest when you鈥檙e practicing and building up your knowledge rather than the high-stress or high-stakes situations. Embrace the slip-ups, the bumps, and the major falls that come along your path; it's learning how to get up after each failure that really matters.

In the true spirit of ANDing and celebrating our A&S minors from across campus, I am nominating one of the most dedicated dance students I have worked with in my time here, Lily Buehler. Though she is from another college, she exemplifies the ampersand of A&S and is a connector at heart. She chose not only her engineering degree but also her dance minor to get a feel for the community in 色吧亚洲, because building community, to her, is a fundamental part of the engineering process. Being in a male-dominated field and major has presented many challenges during her time at CU. Through her dance minor in A&S, Lily has found time to breathe and remember her strengths. Dance, she has told me, allows her to experience a liberatory dynamic, one where she has been surrounded by female empowerment and positive energy. The duality of dance has helped her succeed in her engineering courses. Watching Lily's growth in every direction these last many semesters in my ballet classes and two repertory pieces has been magic. She has shared her wisdom with the class that her minor supported her to let go of expectations and fail constantly to learn constantly!

Emma Shaffer

Psychology and neuroscience
Undergraduate

My best advice is for students to get involved with something that interests them as soon as possible and to stick with it!

Emma came to CU with the ambition of becoming a capable and resourceful researcher and has worked tirelessly to achieve this goal while also juggling difficult courses and stressful life circumstances. She joined my research lab at the beginning of her second semester in her first year and has been with me since. She started as a meet-and-greet RA, conducted her first poster analysis in her second year, was helping me design and program studies by her third, and just completed her own successful Honors Thesis research project that she designed from the ground up about how STEM aptitude feedback tests impact student procrastination and self-efficacy. She has since secured an internship as a researcher at the Anschutz Children's Hospital and is already collaborating with future Honors Thesis students who wish to continue her procrastination work.

Meena Colbdorf

Psychology and neuroscience
Undergraduate

It might be bad to say, but don't take life too seriously. Study hard and focus on academics, but also make sure to have fun. When I first got to CU鈥攄uring a global pandemic, I might add鈥攎y plan was to focus on school and school only. Fortunately, my plans worked out for my first year, as I did not make many friends. The friends I did make, I don't really know anymore. However, my second year, I met a group of people, and I am glad to call them friends for life. I hung out with them a lot over the next three years and made so many fun and amazing memories with them that I will never forget. College is all about experiences, so make sure to go have amazing experiences with anyone you can!听

I went above and beyond in a few different ways these past couple of years. During the first week of my junior year, I lost my mother. I am an out-of-state student, so I was not able to be there when she passed, and I only went home for a weekend. I went above and beyond by keeping up with my academics, earning a 4.0 for the semester, while dealing with my grief. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by very supportive friends who helped me through the hardest time in my life. I took some of my grief and put it toward my schoolwork, doing research on cancer and physician-assisted suicide, and I wrote and illustrated a comic book describing the last two weeks of my mom鈥檚 life.听

For my senior year, I was "thrown" into the position of president for the club softball team here at CU. I was captain of my team in high school for two years, but being president was a lot more work. I was in charge of scheduling game series with other schools, arranging for umpires, running practices and every other "behind the scenes" task that was required. What made my job the hardest was how unprepared I was. I was not an officer the previous year, so I really figured everything out for myself. We also went through some coaching changes, which made the spring semester particularly difficult. Being president taught me how to be a better leader and how to communicate in a stern but also supportive way. I have never liked talking in front of groups, so this role really brought me out of my shell, as I was the first point of contact for everything.听

I also was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, a prestigious honor society throughout the United States, for my academics. Since being at CU, I have maintained a GPA of 3.991, while also keeping up with extracurriculars and maintaining a good social life. In the fall, I also did a semester-long volunteering position at the 色吧亚洲 Foothills Hospital Emergency Department. I did not do much, but I did restock all of the emergency rooms for incoming patients. I observed what goes on in an emergency department and did my best to stay out of the way of emergencies. I learned a lot and was sad to leave.

Meena is a top-performing and well-rounded student in my Quantitative Reasoning math class (MATH 1012). She is engaged while learning material, asks questions when she wants to understand deeper and assists classmates around her. She works ahead of schedule and checks in with me frequently to get feedback on her progress and understanding. There are a lot of freshmen in the class, so her inquiries and actions are great modeling for how to be a successful learner in this modern era of internet and artificial intelligence. She has also shared with me her involvement in leadership positions and volunteer work, and she demonstrated the ability to manage large class loads while suffering the loss of her mother last year. I think she will go far in life. I believe she deserves to be recognized for her hard work, perseverance and service to others.

Shelly Day

Psychology and neuroscience
Undergraduate

As clich茅 as it sounds, the best advice I could give other students is to do all you can to put yourself out there. College is such a unique time, when you have access to so many opportunities that are much harder to come by when out of school, and taking advantage of as many opportunities as you can will make your time here so full. I attended clubs alone, which was nerve-wracking, but brought me some of my closest friends. I was anxious about applying to research labs on campus because I knew how sought-after the roles were, but I applied anyway, and got the chance to work at an incredible lab doing riveting research with amazing people. I would have lost so much of what made my time at CU 色吧亚洲 as amazing as it was if I had not taken chances, so I encourage other students to quiet the anxious voice in their heads, take a risk and try to say yes to any opportunity that arises!

There is so much that makes Shelly amazing! Shelly is a double major in neuroscience and psychology, minoring in business. Despite her rigorous academic load, she has been an active member of the research team at CUChange for the past two years. In that time, we at CUChange have watched Shelly grow into an exceptionally competent associate who goes above the expectations of an undergrad. Shelly has proven herself again and again by taking initiative with data collection and participant recruitment procedures. Her work has ensured that we have a constant stream of research participants, and she has been a critical part of nearly three different studies in the lab. She has always been a very motivational and positive presence for the research team and participants alike. Her remarkable growth throughout her tenure on the team is a testament to her dedication and proactive approach. She brings a special energy to all of CUChange that everyone loves and will miss when she's graduated. We miss you already, Shelly! Congratulations!

Andrew Lawrence

Applied mathematics PhD program
Graduate

Fight to safeguard your time away from work (homework/research). A healthy work/life balance is necessary for long-term success.

Andrew Lawrence volunteered to help at every major departmental function鈥攕ocial nights, alumni talks, commencements, grad appreciation luncheons鈥攁nd thoughtfully contributed to all. He served for a whole year as our friendly neighborhood grad rep, advocating for numerous student-centered initiatives, including prelim study groups; a total revamp of our milestone structure; more Alumni Talks; and funding for Teatime, a meeting he held twice a week for all grads to gather and have tea and snacks. Andrew gave recruits 45-minute tours two years in a row and wrote a script for future tour guides. He officially and unofficially mentored many individual students and mentorship pods! He would do things like take prospective students out for coffee or show up at commencement with flower bouquets for all the staff (who does that?). Andrew passionately worked to build our applied mathematics community. I seriously plan to messy cry very loudly during his graduation ceremony.

Katie Baker

Psychology and neuroscience
Undergraduate

My advice for other students would be to take advantage of all that college has to offer! Go to clubs and events, take the classes that interest you, talk to your professors about the cool things they do and enjoy the people and nature around you!

Katie Baker started in the CUChange wet lab as part of the Uplift undergraduate research program in fall 2023. When training, she was always attentive and excited to learn new study protocols, and came prepared with insightful questions and creative solutions. Throughout her adventure with the lab, she created her own independent research project through the Uplift program looking at the cannabis expectancy effects on perceived anxiety outcomes. During the course of her project, she excelled in all areas of human research that we carry out at CUChange, including biological data collection, data management, sample processing and data presentation. In short, Katie was an extraordinary asset to our lab. She elevated the culture at CUChange and displayed first-rate leadership qualities such as problem solving, adaptability, resilience, effortless friendliness and situational awareness. We will miss Katie and are excited to see her future accomplishments!

Pearl Rael

Art practices
Undergraduate

Remember, you can achieve anything with hard work, even if you face resistance for being different. Embrace your uniqueness, push through the challenges and pursue your dreams relentlessly.

Perla鈥攁s I know Pearl Rael鈥攅nrolled in my intensive first-year Spanish class last fall. She was excited about formally studying the language she had learned at home but hadn't spoken much since her first years in elementary school, when her teachers pressured her to speak only English to 鈥渇it in鈥� with her fellow students. I have rarely seen a first-year Spanish student as dedicated to studying the language. She was always ready and willing to dive into the immersive and risky environment of our class. Little did I know she is also a gifted and inspired artist! This semester in an independent study with me, she has been writing and illustrating a children's book in Spanish for kids who feel鈥攍ike she did as a child鈥攄ifferent from their peers. Seeing her book develop during each of our weekly meetings has been a highlight of my semester. I can鈥檛 wait to see it in print!

Shaofeng Huang

Chemistry
Graduate

If you are clear about what you want to become after graduation, do your utmost to achieve it. If you are uncertain, strive to strengthen your background as much as possible, because opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared.

Since 2018, Shaofeng has focused on using dynamic alkyne metathesis reactions to construct novel molecular architectures and crystalline polymers under my supervision in the Department of Chemistry at CU 色吧亚洲. During his graduate studies, he has demonstrated exceptional achievements in multiple areas. Academically, he has received recognition from the department, university and the American Chemical Society. In teaching, he has shown phenomenal performance in mentoring students and has received the TA award from the department. In the research lab, he successfully transitioned from focusing solely on his own research to helping junior graduate students adapt to their graduate studies. Outside the lab, he has built collaborations beyond the department, university and even outside the United States.

Kotryna Obergfell

Integrative physiology
Undergraduate

One of the most valuable pieces of advice I can offer to students is to use the resources provided by the university. Whether that involves creating meaningful connections with professors, engaging in research projects on campus or immersing yourself in various clubs, these opportunities are a great way to become involved in the community and cultivate lasting connections that extend far beyond undergraduate years. These experiences not only offer invaluable insights, mentorship and guidance that enrich your academic journey, but they can also create a sense of belonging and community, which is so important to have!

Kotryna has excelled in all aspects of her education. She is always enthusiastic about the work she is doing, whether it is independently or with her peers. While on our team, she was always dependable and took initiative with the research to which she contributed. Her energy and presence have always created a comfortable and calm space for our participants. Kotryna is a great student and with no doubt will only transcend while pursuing a career in medicine.

Eleanor Gentry

Physics/women and gender studies
Undergraduate

Work hard but rest harder鈥攜ou won't actually remember anything you do on no sleep or when you're so stressed you can't focus. If you stay on top of resting, then you won't struggle to get things done.

Ellie earned magna cum laude on her honors thesis research project studying the quark-gluon plasma with Professor Nagle and Professor Perepelitsa. She worked on simulating the quark gluon plasma produced at sPHENIX, as well as hardware construction and testing for sPHENIX's event plane detector. Through efforts to build community, she also helped reinvigorate the Society of Physics Students chapter by serving as co-president.

Frances Emmeline Nettles

International affairs and Chinese
Undergraduate

Be sure to give things the 鈥渙ld college try鈥濃�攍iterally! Go to that conference, ask those questions, let your curiosity be your guide. Your time at CU is a great opportunity for discovering passions you never thought about before.

Emmeline, known as Emmy, demonstrates academic excellence as a double major in international affairs and Chinese, with a minor in creative technology and design. In my Chinese language classes, Emmy consistently earned As over four semesters through her hard work and dedication. She actively participated in many language events in our department and gained a study abroad opportunity in Taiwan with the Tang Foundation Scholarship. Emmy's achievements are numerous, but I will always remember her as an eager language learner with a polite yet beautiful smile on her face. She has also been nominated by multiple faculties as the speaker representative for undergraduate Chinese students at the 2024 spring graduation. Emmy鈥檚 exceptional leadership and teamwork skills make her an outstanding candidate for the amazing-grads recognition.

Lucas Rozell

Anthropology MA
Graduate

My best piece of advice for other students is to really get to know your professors, TAs, advisors and the staff in your department! College can absolutely be tricky to navigate at both the undergraduate and graduate level, so having a supportive network of people who will advocate for you will really benefit you in the long run.

Lucas Rozell鈥檚 MA research in anthropology focused on the playfulness with which transgender individuals engage with traditional gender norms, with special attention to how subverting these norms is explicitly eroticized. Lucas is smart, pragmatic, empathetic, funny and an incredible writer, mobilizing both autoethnographic insights and skillful engagement with secondary literature. He manages to convey complex concepts in a conversational style, a skill that will make his academic insights accessible to his interlocutors and to the public. He was a research assistant for two years for the Marshall Fire Story Project, a collaborative endeavor with the Louisville Historical Museum with the objective to document community members鈥� accounts of the devastating December 2021 fire. This work relied on compassionately holding space for people to share traumatic and emotional accounts. Lucas鈥檚 life has not always been easy, and his resilience and drive are assets to his professional and personal engagements.

Question: What will you carry with you into the next chapter of life?

Marin McCallen

Psychology and neuroscience
Undergraduate

Gaining a strong foundation in scientific principles and critical thinking is like learning a new language, and just like the learning of any language, fluency adds greater depth to life in ways that are both remarkable and poignant. I leave CU with this scientific literacy and consequently, a new way of appreciating, understanding and navigating the world.

Marin joined our CUChange research team from summer 2023 to spring 2024. Marin always showed great intuition when learning the many R01-funded research protocols and did so with diligence and efficiency. She gracefully navigated the complexities of working in the wet lab while studying as a full-time student. Marin even created her own independent research project that she used for her honors thesis, which analyzed the effects of mindfulness-based relapse prevention therapy on alcohol use and sleep disturbance and which she hopes to publish. Marin excelled in all areas of human research that we carry out at CUChange, including biological data collection, data management, sample processing and data presentation. Through her stellar academic achievements, Marin showed virtue, keen adaptability and everlasting resilience. Marin is a special human being with an immense heart, a giving nature and an even temperament. We are extremely proud of her and excited to witness her future success! Congratulations, Marin!

Benjamin O'Meara

Psychology & Neuroscience
Undergraduate

From your time at CU, what will you carry with you into the next chapter of your life?

I discovered my three core values of health, love and community while at CU through the organizations and opportunities I was involved in, the mentorship I received, and the genuine human connections that supported me along the way. Going forward, I will live by these core values as I aim to make a positive impact as a high school teacher and beyond.

Ben O鈥橫eara has continually shown himself to be a leader in the classroom, the department, and the wider community. Ben鈥檚 achievements and contributions to leadership in psychology and neuroscience are too numerous to list in full within this brief description, but highlights include serving as president of the CU Neuroscience club, head facilitator for the CU GOLD Leadership program, social coordinator for the Alpha Epsilon Delta, Prehealth Honor Society, and student representative for the department鈥檚 DEI committee. He has maintained these positions while serving as an educator within the department through the Learning Assistant Program and the CU Science Discovery neuroscience summer camp.听听He served the larger community as a Residence Life Advisor, a LEGO camp instructor, and a CU Teach for America Ambassador. Ben, you rock!

Eric Flaska

Applied Math Professional MS
Concurrent

My five years at the University of Colorado 色吧亚洲 have been the most important and wonderful years of my life. From my time at CU, I will carry with me lifelong relationships, both with peers and faculty who have entered my life and already changed it for the better. I also will carry with me the notion of curiosity, the importance of asking 鈥淲hy?鈥� and how it drives progress. This university has shown me how rewarding it can be to apply myself, and I will always be tremendously grateful for my time here.

Eric is a top student in applied mathematics. He will graduate with bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees, which took five years; you will see from his statement that during the five years he grew significantly. Eric鈥檚 aptitude toward learning, engaging with other students, their ability to ask a question and listen to an answer is impressive. There is a joyousness about data science, software, and the mathematical underpinning of their chosen course of studies. Eric had an internship at LASP, which taught him the value of interdisciplinary studies and the applicability of his data science and mathematics. I believe that this pairing bodes well for Eric鈥檚 future. He will be ready for workforce education and whatever his future brings. I believe he is an example of an outstanding student from the University of Colorado at 色吧亚洲.

Matthew Woodland

Geography
Undergraduate

CU has been instrumental in helping me discover a field of study that carries profound significance for me. My experience has been invaluable in developing my leadership skills and emphasizing the importance of individuality. I appreciate all the relationships I鈥檝e built and am excited to carry forward the knowledge and insights I gained at CU into all my future endeavors.

From the time I was first assigned as Matthew's academic advisor for the geography major, Matthew exhibited traits of an individual who was goal-driven and motivated to make the most of his time at CU. From being highly active and involved with the Golden Buffalo Marching Band, working at NSIDC and having an internship at ESRI鈥攁nd he will be starting his master's program in the geography department this upcoming fall鈥擨 am consistently in awe of his achievements in his short time as an undergraduate at CU. I strongly believe that Matthew will make many strides and positive impacts wherever he goes as he continues with his next chapter and all of his future endeavors.

Claire Savard

Physics PhD
Graduate

Live where you love! I would not have been as happy throughout graduate school if it were not for the mountains I could escape into on the weekends when I needed a break.

Claire's PhD research focused on applying machine learning techniques to high-energy physics. These applications helped in a search for dark matter and in reconstructing proton-proton collision events. She also re-optimized Fermilab's computing center for machine learning processing. Along the way to earning her PhD in physics, Claire also completed a master's degree in computer science! Throughout her time at CU, Claire was very active in departmental service. She served on the Department of Physics Representation, Recruitment and Retention (R-Cubed) Committee, played a lead role in organizing a physics graduate student association and volunteered for PISEC and CU-Prime, mentoring high school and undergraduate students.

Maya Bliss

Psychology and neuroscience/business minor, sociology minor
Undergraduate

As I enter the next chapter of my life, I feel so much gratitude for all of the people I have met and the community that will stay with me far past graduation. Looking ahead, I'm not only excited for my own adventures, but also to witness the paths unfolding for the friends I've made along the way.

Maya Bliss is a dedicated scholar, social innovator and community builder at CU 色吧亚洲 who is leaving a legacy of student leadership. First, she co-founded a popular student group called CannaBuffs and organized a series of well-attended campus events to promote emerging career paths in new entrepreneurial, political, research, medical and advocacy spaces related to cannabis. Second, she took the lead with me on coordinating a symposium with a national audience to facilitate dialogue around these issues. And third, she is finishing her degree with a focus on sustainability and environmental justice by studying abroad at a global seminar in Bali. She plans to stay in Southeast Asia for a few months afterward to conduct further ethnographic fieldwork through an internship with a local nonprofit before eventually applying to graduate school in anthropology. Maya is an inspiration to her peers and wonderful to work with!

Dana Ritterbusch

Psychology and neuroscience
Undergraduate

As a non-traditional student, I came to this campus having found and embraced a passion for neuroscience and looking for a sense of purpose to match. Not only did I find myself among truly exceptional academic peers who drove me to rise and with whom I could share my enthusiasm, I found myself warmly welcomed into an inclusive community of driven, compassionate and fearless young adults who have inspired me beyond measure. I leave my time here sad to say goodbye but with complete certainty that the world is in hands that are immensely capable, guided by clear minds and open hearts, and I am better for knowing and having been loved by them.

Dana is one of the brightest, most enthusiastic and team-oriented students with whom I have had the pleasure of working. She is a leader among her peers in both the laboratory and the classroom. Dana completed an honors thesis investigating biological sex differences in growth hormone and sleep after a preclinical model of pediatric concussion. She has a strong understanding of the importance of clinical and translational research, with the long-term commitment to advancing medicine through science. While she is highly skilled in laboratory techniques, her largest contribution to research has been her dedication to mentoring other undergraduate students at CU 色吧亚洲. Dana selflessly offers her time to other students to help them study for exams, practice presentations and complete assignments. She embodies the mission of CU 色吧亚洲, which includes excellence in education, transformative research and collaboration in the community to make a difference as a servant and partner.

Joshua Perez

Philosophy and religious studies
Undergraduate

My time at CU was not an easy one, since I had to put myself through school by working not only through the summer, but also during the school semesters and striving through all the challenges that the world had put in front of me.听

Even though it was a difficult journey, the one thing that kept me going when challenges came my way and moments of doubt saturated my mind was curiosity that colored the world with interest and wonder. That is what I will always carry.

Joshua is a double major in philosophy and religious studies. He is an amazing graduate because he is vocally curious and intellectually daring. Not only does he stand out for his excellent participation in class discussions, but he often stayed after class and came to office hours to pose serious questions and even objections to the material. Despite having to work long hours to put himself through college, he has demonstrated a rare commitment to the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, going above and beyond the assigned reading to do his own research outside of class on challenging topics. His questions, comments and written work demonstrate a higher-than-average knowledge of issues and thinkers in both Western and Eastern philosophy and religious studies. It is outstanding to be an undergraduate student who can engage with such a broad range of philosophical issues at such a deep level. We know he has a very bright future ahead!

Lucas Hendricks

Chinese/neuroscience
Undergraduate

After reflecting on my college career, I feel that one of the most valuable things I have learned throughout this process is the value of curiosity. There are a lot of things I would do differently if I were enrolling in my first semester of classes again, but what I would never change is how I pursued my curiosities and allowed space in my schedule to take that Beginning Chinese class that didn鈥檛 neatly fit my mold of the traditional college experience.

Luke is a shining example of dedication and excellence in academia. With a stellar GPA of 3.965, he has excelled in his bachelor of arts in Chinese and pursuing a certificate in neuroscience. His active involvement in events like the Chinese Speech Contest, Asian Language Nights and guest lectures on Confucian ideology demonstrated his enthusiasm for the Chinese language, as well as his leadership and communication skills. Even amid his rigorous pre-medical coursework, Luke seamlessly intertwined his passions by conducting research on the intergenerational transmission of trauma following the Cultural Revolution, drawing from his understanding of Chinese history and behavioral genetics. This really strikes me with his devotion to both subjects. His efforts were not unrecognized, as evidenced by his prestigious achievement of winning the Jacob Van Ek Scholarship in 2024. Luke鈥檚 ability to excel as both a team player and an outstanding student in every aspect makes him a standout amazing grad of 2024, poised for a future filled with continued success and impactful contributions.

Question: What does graduating represent for you?

Ashanti Cannon-Turner

Psychology and neuroscience
Undergraduate

Graduating from college is like the end of a book in a long-running series, full of wonderful stories and people who contributed to where I am today. It also represents a time of growth, curiosity and uncertainty.

Ashanti is a remarkable student who pursued her BA in psychology and neuroscience, with minors in Spanish and Chinese. Her impressive academic achievements鈥攊ncluding a GPA of 3.91, graduating summa cum laude and earning a place on the dean's list鈥攔eflect her dedication and excellence in her studies at CU 色吧亚洲. Moreover, Ashanti's ability to inspire and engage her peers is truly noteworthy. I distinctly remember her captivating language showcase in my advanced Chinese class, in which she explored topics like Chinese youth's use of emojis online and the cultural contrasts in dormitory life between U.S. and Chinese college students. Her enthusiasm in learning and insightful discussions in class make her an exceptional student to be recognized as one of our amazing grads.

David Brehm

Geography
Undergraduate

Graduating from the University of Colorado鈥攇iven the obstacles overcome, sacrifices made and dedication to hard work鈥攅mbodies a profound personal journey of resilience, determination and the ability to persevere in the face of challenges. Graduating signifies not only academic achievement but also personal growth and development marking a time of celebration and recognizing the collective efforts and contributions of all those who have supported and inspired me along the way.

David exemplifies this type of recognition and is very deserving of it. He began his college journey at a local community college in 2010 and came to CU 色吧亚洲 in 2016. He was making reasonable progress toward completing his degree in geography before experiencing a significant personal tragedy in the 2018-19 academic year. This led him to take time away from higher education. After a more than three-year break, he returned to CU 色吧亚洲 in spring 2023 and has since done very well in his coursework. He will, after beginning his college journey 13 years ago, be completing not only a bachelor鈥檚 degree but also the GIS and Computational Science Certificate. He has always been a hardworking, appreciative and respectful student who deserves nothing less than the highest praise for completing his journey here at CU 色吧亚洲 despite the difficulties he faced.

Chu May Paing

Anthropology
Graduate

As a first-generation Burmese immigrant and the first person to complete a doctoral degree in my family, this means more than just a degree; it is a constant reminder of many others who made sacrifices and who supported me throughout the process so that I could pursue this degree. I aspire to pay this forward in the near future!

Chu鈥檚 record at CU is an essential part of an amazing life course. Chu moved to the United States from Yangon, Myanmar, as a teenage recipient of the U.S. Diversity Lottery. Arriving alone and knowing no one, she chose Queens, New York, as her destination based on research that she would find a large Burmese population there. While working difficult service jobs, she also enrolled in courses at CUNY Queens College, earning a BA with high honors in linguistics in 2017. As a doctoral student at CU, she swiftly distinguished herself by winning a coveted Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation, among other competitive national research awards. Her brilliant and poetic doctoral dissertation in anthropology connects her unbreakable attachment to Myanmar with her new life abroad by analyzing the vibrant diasporic dissident movement following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar. Her scholarship and her life are courageous and inspiring.

Valerie Lombogia

Asian studies and TESOL certificate
Undergraduate

For me, graduating is the culmination of the last four years of wandering and wondering if I would ever realize what my true passions were. At one point during my undergraduate career, I lost sight of what I was working toward; all my progress to a career came to a full stop, and I felt as though I would never rediscover my sense of direction. While I am still in the process of forgiving myself for taking the years that I needed to recover and regain that sense of direction, I am beginning to embrace my new self that I have uncovered now. I am learning to bask in it. Though it does not mean I have everything figured out just yet, graduating means that I can say I am realizing the kind of person that I want to become.

Valerie is an amazing student because she has worked so hard to get to where she is鈥� graduating with academic honors and heading to Korea to spend a year teaching English and continue her language studies. She wrote a fantastic honors thesis titled "Shifting Towards Optimism: Redefining the 1980s South Korean Democracy Movement through Cinema" in her senior year, working with history Professor Sungyun Lim. She also taught natural science concepts to local elementary students across the 色吧亚洲-Denver metro area using East Asian story books, through the Program for Teaching East Asia. She is hard-working, thoughtful and so passionate about her areas of expertise. We will miss her and wish her the best on her next endeavors.

Aman Priyadarshi Kumar

Double major in astrophysical and planetary sciences and physics
Undergraduate

Graduating from college represents a profound achievement and a culmination of years of dedication and perseverance. For me, it signifies not only personal success, but also the realization of a dream that seemed distant and daunting. Coming from a background where higher education was not the norm, and with no familial or societal precedent for such ambitions, graduating from college represents breaking barriers and defying expectations. It symbolizes the courage to pursue my passion for astrophysics, even if it meant leaving behind the comforts of home and embarking on a journey to a foreign land. Throughout my undergraduate years, I have discovered my love for teaching and research, shaping my aspiration to become a professor of astrophysics. Graduating with a double major in astronomy and physics marks a significant milestone toward this goal, paving the way for future academic pursuits and contributions to the field.

Aman's ability to overcome adversity while maintaining academic excellence sets him apart as an exceptional student. He began at CU 色吧亚洲 during the COVID-19 pandemic in fall 2020. He completed his first semester in India, with classes scheduled from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA without missing a single class. Four years later, he is graduating with a double major and Latin honors. Aman will start graduate school in astrophysics in August 2024.

Danny Arjona Hau

Cinema studies and moving image arts
Undergraduate

Receiving my undergraduate degree represents a celebration of the dedicated effort and virtue that I鈥檝e placed into my education ever since the start. Graduating from college as a first-generation student furthers my ability to make my loved ones鈥� dreams come true and to shorten the educational and wealth gap that my family was forced to overcome.

Danny is an engaged, thoughtful and curious student who makes high-quality film work, collaborates well with others and constantly explores new forms and ways to express himself. His perseverance, creativity, problem solving and passion establish a tone that the students around him emulate. In a BFA Advanced Filmmaking class, not only did Danny create an intimate and urgent film for his capstone project, but also served on film crews for the majority of his classmates鈥� films. Danny has proved himself to be a talented actor and director, showing that he can wear many hats and excel in whatever he does. In a directing actors course, Danny played both the role of the actor and the director with ease. In his four years in the Department of Cinema Studies and Moving Image Arts, Danny has been an inspiration and a remarkable member of our community.

William Solorio Hernandez

Physics and mathematics
Undergraduate

Graduating from college is a monumental achievement that represents all of the hard work my family and I have done to succeed in America. My parents moved to Colorado from Mexico before I was born and never got to pursue a higher education, and yet they were able to make a living in Colorado. Their dedication and grit inspired me to pursue a degree in physics, and I would not have made it this far without their support.

William earned summa cum laude for his honors research project in Professor Heather Lewandowski's cold molecules lab. He investigated the collisions between ultracold rubidium atoms and cold OH molecules in a dual electromagnetic trap. He also served as vice president for the student group COSMOS, which aims to support and build community among marginalized students in physics and astrophysics. After graduating from CU, William will pursue a PhD in physics at MIT and plans to continue research in atomic, molecular and optical physics.