COSLI Newsletter December 2023

Mar 6

COSLI December 2023 Newsletter

COSLI December Newsletter

The COSLI newsletter is written and edited by students on the COSLI Student Advisory Board and is released the first week of each month. Enjoy student perspectives and updates on events and opportunities!

Letter from the Student Advisory Board President

Dear Friends of COSLI,

As the Colorado Student Leaders Institute President, I warmly greet each community member. Today, I am reaching out to shed light on recent discussions between the Biden administration and Israeli officials regarding the welfare of civilians in southern Gaza. With countless individuals seeking refuge in this area, there are valid concerns about their safety as the temporary ceasefire with Hamas has come to an end. The humanitarian challenge of relocating these civilians from the north to the south after the conclusion of military operations is significant. As revealed through satellite analysis, the documented structural damage in northern Gaza adds to the complexity.

The Colorado Student Leaders Institute (COSLI) ideals are oriented on cultivating a culture of understanding, compassion, and shared intellectual advancement. It is especially important in times of adversity for our community to join together in support. COSLI’s aim is to provide students with a safe and enriching atmosphere that fosters their personal and academic growth. As we negotiate these complexities, we must understand the significance of our own community’s thoughts and viewpoints. Our common responsibility is to develop leaders who are marked by resilience, empathy, and global understanding. We represent compassion, leadership, and positive change as a group, unified by a common goal. Through this collaborative effort, we face obstacles with grit and emerge stronger and more resilient.

Finally, it is critical to understand the immense worth of our community’s thoughts and viewpoints. We can overcome the problems that lie ahead by banding together as a community that represents empathy, leadership, and positive change. I am truly grateful for COSLI’s steadfast commitment to the ideas that guide it, as well as the passion of our community members who work to make the world a better and more enlightened place. Let us face these problems with courage, emerging as more resilient individuals and community members, ready to effectively impact our global society.

Sincerely,
Dhruv Shajikumar

Letter from the Founding Executive Director

Happy holidays! It's a favorite time of year for so many of us. COSLI alum are being selected for scholarships, admitted to colleges and thinking about next steps on so many levels. You read Dhruv say above how we are also all thinking about what is happening in the land where three of the world's major religions, whose holidays are among those being celebrated now, have their beginnings and where their differences seem to be accentuated more than the similarities that should push us all to listen and to hear more intently. I'm sure many of those who are reading my words have recently sent cards and communications that end in the word "Peace." There are few times in our globe's history when a true understanding of that word and its meaning has been more important.

You'll read about Deajane Morgan (2021), seeking to learn more about a culture different, but the same, than the one she knows in our country - she is seeking a way to bring lessons learned there with her to benefit and inform the world that surrounds her in Colorado. I hope you will think about supporting her.

I'm going to finish with some words from a very dear friend, in his nineties, who has been unwittingly part of this conflict since 1948. It is a call for what this season is supposed to demand; and I'm going to share a photo of my son, who you learn more about below, when he joined me on a trip as a young child, working to begin to understand and see the work of reconciliation in practice. First the words:

"Peace is absolute and is based on truth and justice. It is not based on power. One nation cannot prevail over another nation and expect to have peace. Today we are at a crossroads. We must ask the difficult question, 'Do we have the courage to recognize each other and bring justice to our sufferings, or do we continue to take the arrogant position of dehumanizing one another?'...Agreements with Authorities do not make peace. It is only people who are able and capable to make peace. The time to begin is today."
Hamzi Moghrabi, 2001

From my family to yours, Peace.
Celeste

Student Accomplishments

By Alyson Font

Kenia Hansen Guzman (2022): is a Coca-Cola scholarship semi-finalist! Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. Learn more here

Isabella Garwood-Ledesma, Vanessa Tao, Lauren Angleo, Monroe Castle, Brecken Craft, Grace Melberg, Aisha O’Neil, Jude Ropp, Dhruv Shajikumart, and Jaylynn Warren: All are on the student board for One Chance to Grow Up. This organization focuses on keeping kids safe from all the dangers of marijuana commercialization. They do this through educating kids as well as family on the harmful impacts.

Colorado History: December 2023

By Izzy Garwood

12/03/2020 - TIME names 15-year-old Gitanjali Rao of Lone Tree its first-ever, “Kid of the Year”.
12/10/2020 - Elizabeth Ann, a female black-footed ferret, is born at the National Black-footed
Ferret Conservation Center in Wellington. Elizabeth Ann becomes the first U.S. endangered
species to be successfully cloned.
12/10/2012 - David J. Wineland of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the
University of Colorado Boulder and Serge Haroche received the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics.
12/10/2005 - Professor John L. Hall of the University of Colorado Boulder, Theodor W. Hänsch,
and Roy J. Glauber received the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physics.
12/10/2002 - U.S. President George W. Bush signs An Act to amend the National Trails System
Act to designate the Old Spanish Trail as a National Historic Trail, creating the Old Spanish
National Historic Trail.
12/10/2001 - Professor Eric Allin Cornell of the University of Colorado Boulder, Carl Wieman,
and Wolfgang Ketterle received the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics.
12/28/1995 - EchoStar Communications Corporation of Englewood successfully launches its
first satellite, EchoStar I.
12/10/1989 - Professor Thomas Cech of the University of Colorado Boulder and Sidney Altman
receive the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Letter for Africa

As this newsletter has presented several times before, COSLI has partnered with Global Livingston Institute (https://www.globallivingston.org/) to see that our alumni have the opportunity for a global experience. Deajane (2021), was scheduled to go on the Rwanda/Ghana trip last summer. Family health concerns prevented her from doing so, but we are able to get her on a trip in January. She needs support - financial support - that she will meet with great gratitude and communication. We will follow her on this trip and she will share very generously the lessons she learns with her community, with her donors and with you. See her ask below. To donate to a fund that will help Deajane make this journey, you may do so through here.

In the notes section, please type Deajane so we know your intentions. Thank you - hear her words and see her family below.

By Deajane Jackson Morgan

My paternal grandparents are from Liberia. They moved here in the 1990s, fleeing war in Freetown. Undoubtedly, my grandparents spoil me with stories of a different life where people climb trees and take fresh fruits directly from the source. They talk about the strictly rain and sun seasons and constantly busy market streets. Friendly neighbors that would feed any neighbor and chastise lively, clumsy, carefree children running around. The constant stream of tasty food smells from the kitchens of the neighborhood. While West and East Africa are notably different, the same sense of community and culture are evident.

First-hand experiences with people from African countries would give me an opportunity to become versed in a part of my heritage that I haven’t had much exposure or personal experience to yet. The opportunity to meet new people and travel to another continent is special and moreover, the personal connection of going to Africa as a child from an immigrant family and getting to have some of those first-hand experiences like my family is incomparable. All things considered, I immensely appreciate anyone who takes the time to hear my story and donate to my trip!

Happy Birthday to our COSLI Alumni!

If any of these alumni are from your class, take a minute and send them a birthday wish!

By Izzy Garwood

Hagan Archer - 12/3
Mohamed Ibrahim - 12/3
Isabella McCarty - 12/3
Anoushka Sarma - 12/6
Nicole Guzman - 12/7
Maddison Ahr - 12/10
Jakson Praeger - 12/11
Jacee Lawrence - 12/12
Sanyukta Lamsal - 12/13
Callie Shannahan - 12/14
Victoria DeLeon - 12/17
Daniel Pena - 12/17
Abdel Abdu - 12/19
Mandy Lieng - 12/19
Phoenix Short - 12/19
Betsy Pruznick - 12/20
Amen Tadelle - 12/21
Pragna Yalavarthy - 12/21
Elizabeth Valdez - 12/24
Jordan Appel - 12/25
Addie Ramaswamy - 12/26
Jude Ropp - 12/26
Chantelle Lewis - 12/30
Sienna Gaal - 12/31

Opportunities and Events December 2023

By Prisha Goyal

Apply soon for the FLEX Abroad and YES Abroad programs offered through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. The FLEX Abroad program aims to increase interconnectedness between the U.S. and countries of Eurasia, and YES Abroad seeks to do the same between the U.S. and countries with large Muslim populations. Through these programs, students can live with a host family, and attend a local high school for the 2024-2025 academic school year. Learn more and apply here by December 6th.

Cards Against Humanity is funding a full scholarship for women and non-binary students through the Science Ambassador Scholarship. To apply, film a short educational video explaining a STEM topic that you are passionate about. You must be a high school senior or an undergraduate student to be eligible. Learn more and apply here by the December 13th deadline.

Apply today for the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship Program! High school seniors who have taken a course containing robotics, computer science, and engineering principles are eligible for $40,000 of financial aid towards college split up within each year of college attendance, and an Amazon summer internship offer. Apply here by December 15th. Burger King’s Scholar Program is offering scholarships up to $50,000! All high school seniors with a cumulative GPA higher than 2.5, and who are planning on attending the 2024-2025 academic year at an accredited trade school or college are eligible for this scholarship. Learn more here.

Apply soon for the Denver Water Centennial Scholarship! The American Water Works Association is looking to support students in pursuit of degrees in water science, water technology, or water works. For eligibility, students must be in or have completed post-secondary education. Apply for this and other AWWA scholarships here.

Instant Checkmate is providing a Law and Legal Studies Scholarship! All undergraduate students pursuing a degree in pre-law, political science, criminal justice, or paralegal studies or graduate students working towards their J.D. are eligible for the scholarship, awarding $2,500. Learn more and apply here by December 31st.

The Amateur Radio Relay League Foundation is offering a variety of scholarships ranging from $500-$25,000. This program is for amateur radio operators who are pursuing a higher education. Applicants must be high school seniors or college undergraduate students. Learn more about the specific scholarships and apply here by January 10th.

Ford is providing scholarships through partnerships with local dealers through the Built Ford Tough Scholarship. They are offering 325, $1,000 scholarships to students in identified chapters. To be eligible, you must be a high school senior or college student in or planning to attend a trade school, two-year, or four-year post-secondary studies, and submit an official/unofficial school transcript. Learn more and apply here by January 11th.

COSLI Reads

See what your COSLI students and alumni have been reading!

By Deajane Jackson-Morgan

Here are some reading recommendations from our COSLI alumni!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Twin by Natasha Romanoff

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

Twenty Year Later by Charlie Donlea

Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart

The Last Thing Hector Told Me by Laura Dave

The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

COSLI Listens

See what your COSLI students and alumni have been listening to!

By Pragna Yalavarthy

She Won’t Go Away by Faye Webster

In the Mourning by Paramore

Superpower by Frank Ocean, Beyoncé

Say Yes by Floetry

Gold Rush by Taylor Swift

Under Cover of Darkness by The Strokes

On The Square by Mac DeMarco

Ur Name on a Grain of Rice by Runner

Alife by Slowdive

The Path by Lorde

Marjorie by Taylor Swift

COSLI Newsletter Contributors

Anjana Radha, Editor (Erie, CO)
Jessica Buser (Alamosa, CO)
Melinda Chen (Thornton, CO)
Duke Fitzgerald (Steamboat Springs, CO)
Alyson Font (Monument, CO)
Emily Fu (Lafayette, CO)
Izzy Garwood (Westminster, CO)
Prisha Goyal (Thornton, CO)
Nahia Kelley (Wiggins, CO)
JP Kerrane (Broomfield, CO)
Deajane Morgan (Aurora, CO)
Sidd Nareddy (Westminster, CO)
Aisha O’Neil (Durango, CO)
Julia Ropp (Boulder, CO)
Dhruv Shajikumar (Thornton, CO)
Amen Tadelle (Denver, CO)
Emily Wheeler (Stuttgart, DE)
Pragna Yalavarthy (Arvada, CO)
Queenie Zheng (Greeley, CO)

COSLI Alumni Feature: Hagan Archer

By Sidd Nareddy

Hagan Archer is an alumni of the COSLI class of 2018 where he had the opportunity to build connections with his peers and role models as well as learn invaluable time management skills. Hagan was an informal part of COSLI well before he joined the program, as he is Celeste's son, which gave him the unique perspective of interacting with adults involved in the execution of the program. However, these experiences did not stop him from truly embracing the epitome of the “COSLI experience,” both during his summer in the program and during his time serving on the Student Board. In fact, some of his favorite experiences from COSLI came from his first Student Board retreat because it was a place where he felt like he belonged; it was a place for connection with the alumni of COSLI. COSLI is one of those few programs out there that makes its alumni feel like they are a part of a broader community, even years after their respective summer programs, and it is these connections that Hagan has come to value.

Hagan is currently a junior attending the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
(South Dakota Mines for short) where he is pursuing a major in Mechanical Engineering and a
minor in Aerospace Engineering. Coming out of COSLI, one of his biggest takeaways from the program was its lessons on advocacy. From testifying on behalf of COSLI countless times at the State Capitol, Hagan gained invaluable experience with lobbying and effective political representation which he utilizes in his position as a Student Senator on his school's student senate. He aims to be the President of this organization in his senior year. Beyond this, COSLI inspired Hagan to step up and become a leader in his community which he does through his membership in other student organizations such as the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, a leadership-oriented organization. Looking toward the future, he aims to continue his education at the graduate level by getting a Master's in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering, with a focus on propulsion.

For many students, COSLI will be a unique program and environment and Hagan advises them to see the program as a sneak peek of what college is like where students are expected to manage their time while also navigating the social and academic spheres of college life. COSLI is inherently a living-learning program and Hagan encourages future students to embrace both sides of this by “getting their work done, but also making time to make new friends.”

Adult Governance: Dr. Darren Spreeuw

By Jessica Buser

This month focuses on the Chair of the COSLI Adult Board, Dr. Darren Spreeuw from Denver! Spending his first two years of college at the Colorado School of Mines, he “learned how to learn - a valuable tool for success throughout life.” Then moving to San Francisco, his affinity for problem-solving and all STEM focused subjects led him to pursue engineering. Through his college experience, he took a seven-month backpack trip through Europe, using this trip as a time of reflection, choosing to pursue economics. Continuing his education journey, he went to American University for graduate school, later coming back to Colorado at the University of Denver to finish his PhD dissertation. Opting to rotate into the private sector for work due to the decline of tenure-track positions, Dr. Spreeuw chose to work in portfolio management. Now working for Ratio Wealth group, he states that portfolio management “would allow for challenging quant problems while allowing me to interact on a human level with clients.”

His COSLI journey began with his good friend, Celeste Archer who presented him with an idea: Governor’s School. Dr. Spreeuw had always been a supporter of preparing highschoolers for academia and leadership success; it didn’t take him much convincing. Joining the Board from day 1, he loves being able to network with other board members, who he sees as “admirable, community pillars, who all share a love for mentoring future leaders.” He is most proud of COSLI’s growth since the beginning, because each year provides more and more opportunities for students and graduates. Crediting the dedicated efforts of Celeste, the COSLI staff, and the COSLI graduates for its continued success and growth, he hopes to continue seeing an upward trend.

Lessons Learned

By Duke Fitzgerald

As we continue to advance as a society, we must also remember that a democratic government is representative of all its people, and makes decisions on every front. Because of this great burden, it’s essential to keep in mind the importance of having representatives from every field, background, and walk of life. Currently, the most common degree held by policymakers in the US is Public Administration. However, in an age of technology and innovation, many debates in the government are centered around STEM-related issues. Thus, it is necessary to have representatives from those fields. With diverse backgrounds, our leaders can share a wide range of insights and ideas, contributing perspectives beneficial to everyone.

Senator Chris Hansen, a Colorado politician and a friend of COSLI, had a career in STEM before going into politics and continues that work as a citizen legislator. Although his doctorate is in economic geography, he also has degrees in technology policy and nuclear engineering. He utilizes his scientific background often in government, introducing and passing bills to help reduce looming problems such as climate change and emissions. Because of his experience in similar fields, can approach those problems from the perspective of scientists, easing communication. “I think there’s a big shortage of scientists and engineers in the government,” Hansen stated, “It’s one of the things I work on every year, bringing students from around Colorado to the capital to work on legislation.” He’s passed bills on fronts such as electricity system planning and replacing non-renewable energy systems with wind and solar power, and is currently working on legislation to modernize the power grid in Colorado. “It’s really important that I have colleagues of different backgrounds because we have so many different topics to work on.”

A new future needs everyone: artists, doctors, engineers, journalists, politicians, and people in fields that haven’t even been thought of yet. It is impossible to create a country where everyone prospers in which there are fields not represented in government. People like Senator Hansen are leading the way into a new age of innovation in government, tackling novel problems from unique angles. Bringing people with backgrounds in science into policy making is the first step into a future where leaders have the ability to address currently unthinkable issues with original and forward-thinking solutions. Every year at COSLI, students learn about the importance of differences in perspective while hearing from experts and working with groups of peers. Senator Hansen and other leaders like him are examples of the necessity of diversity for everyone, especially the next generation of leaders.

"What You Should Know"

By JP Kerrane

Hi everyone! I'm back with part two of my two part series of the "What You Should Know" column, dedicated to current events, technology, interesting tidbits, and other cool things I find each month!

Sleep
According to Mind, sleep is intrinsically linked to mental health. Unfortunately, close to 70% of teenagers live with a borderline to severe sleep debt. I’ve compiled some tips that are hopefully more unique approaches to addressing your own sleep debt!

Make it fun! Sleep trackers like Pokémon Sleep or Sleep Cycle “gamify” a good night’s sleep, putting the reward center in your brain on your own team to encourage you to stick to your sleep schedule.
Use a color filter on your monitors to cancel out the effects of blue light. Blue light has been proven to disrupt your natural sleep cycles, so consider using a program like f.lux or activating a night shift or red color filter on your devices at night.
Make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary. Take a mental inventory of your bedroom’s temperature, noise, light, mattress, distractions, and any other factors that can improve or harm your sleep quality. Is there anything you can change to make your sleep environment better?

Reach Out for Help

It’s a common misconception that mental health resources are only for those going through a life-threatening crisis, but mental health resources are there for you even during day-to-day challenges. These resources are professional, confidential, and run by experts:

988: In 2020, Congress created the call, text, and chat line which can connect you with a trained care specialist to help someone experiencing “grief, sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, depression, stress from a significant life change, thoughts of suicide, or day-to-day emotional distress”
Colorado Crisis Services 1-844-493-TALK (8255): Similar to 988, Colorado Crisis Services provides the same call, text, and chat support lines as well as running 24/7 walk-in centers with in-person crisis support.
Mental Health Colorado maintains an up-to-date list of suicide prevention, behavioral health, and treatment resources.

Friends of Colorado Student Leaders Institute
A Project of the Rose Community Foundation
Celeste Archer, COSLI Founding Executive Director
Itzel Reyes-Gonzalez, COSLI Associate Executive Director
University of Colorado Denver
Campus Box 182 | PO Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217
p: 303-315-1789

Celeste Archer