COSLI January Newsletter
The COSLI newsletter is written and edited by students on the COSLI Student Advisory Board.
Enjoy student updates, perspectives, events, and opportunities.
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Letter from the Student Advisory Board President
Dear Friends of COSLI,
As I put the finishing touches on my personal essay and college applications, I have the opportunity to understand how impactful an identity and the social constructs that mold it are. I have spent the past few months reflecting on my time as an elementary student, my changing of passions, and the significant moments in my life that have prompted the most personal growth and development. These experiences were most memorable, with long-lasting adversity and triumph, fostering skills and teaching new ideas that I have carried on for years.
It seems our nation is in exactly the same predicament as I am, regarding finding my purpose and identity in a constantly evolving world. The Omicron variant has spread far and wide, revitalizing lockdowns and mask requirements; both chambers of Congress are as polarized as they have been in the past few years; violence is devastating our country. It is overwhelming for our news feed to be filled with new stories on school shootings, gun violence, and economic deficiencies. However, this country has pushed past these very tests and countless struggles before. Nonetheless, in my opinion, it is now more than ever that we as a whole have started to lose our identity as a nation. How can we band together and look beyond party lines? How do we reform to reduce the crime in this country and keep schools safe? These are questions that must be answered and should have the political platform in the coming year, but it is also up to us as individuals to better understand our communities.
Thank you and all the best,
Mohamed Ibrahim
Wiggins High School
Class of 2019
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Letter from the Founding Executive Director
Friends of COSLI is proud to be a Project of the Rose Community Foundation
Thoughts & prayers and your giggle.
Our world has been turned upside down in the last few weeks, consumed by shootings, fire, COVID, and any number of individual tragedies. Does it seem as unusually intense to others as it does to me? In response, we have seen the usual offer of thoughts & prayers, followed by the usual discounting of said thoughts & prayers. I'm here to say that we may be at a point where thoughts and prayers could be what's most important. No matter how you do either.
About 35 years ago I was involved in a near-fatal car accident. Recently, trying to make a point to the room, my brother reminded us that I was flat-line dead for 8 minutes, as the near-fatality in that accident. My release from the hospital came with all sorts of dire predictions--I wouldn't walk, I wouldn't have the same mental capacities, I wouldn't be able to have children. It was a hard list for my family to receive. All have been beaten--my naturally-born son just started his freshman year of college and I'm about to graduate with my 4th degree, two since the car accident. We all know I walk at a pretty fast clip. Re-reading the notes that my family received when that was happening make it very clear that all sorts of thoughts and prayers were being sent our way. I went from being a fatality to walking out of the hospital within two weeks, no repercussions.
It's inspiring to read the wishes that my family received during those two weeks--the thoughts and prayers that were being offered clearly made a difference. Medical professionals confirmed that their abilities only went so far and they had given up more than once. I tell you all of this to say that there is no such thing as too far gone and I have a box of notes filled with thoughts and prayers that remind me of the power of both. Don't discount them. In fact, make it a resolution to send a note of your own to a person or family who might need that spark of possibility. They DO make a difference.
Giggle. When my son was 18 months old, I felt a calling to become what is called a "compassionate listener." It meant that I would have to spend three weeks in a region of our world that is besot with conflict, two very distinct sides at war with one another for what some would say were centuries, although I would say more clearly since 1948. With that training in mind, I often tell students to do all that you can not to lose your giggle. I lost mine during those three weeks while visiting a town called Hebron. Seeing the way humans were being treated, in the conditions where they were forced to live, was just too much and I haven't been able to be truly silly or giggle since. These times we are in would seem to have that same weight. We all need to giggle. Make that a second resolution. Either help someone like me regain their giggle or create a situation where someone around you giggles, the side effect is that you'll be giggling too.
Here's to a 2022 filled with a lot of thought, plenty of whatever way you might pray, and loads of giggles.
Celeste
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NHDC Student Partnership with Colorado Women's Hall of Fame
By Allison Thomas
The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame was initially founded in 1985 with a mission to recognize and celebrate Colorado’s most remarkable women in a way that inspires others. The National History Day Colorado (NHDC) Student Board is partnering with the Hall to aid their mission. NHDC will be paying $25 for a completed biography of any of the 172 women honored in the Hall. Requirements include a submitted 350-500 word essay encapsulating the woman's life and why she was inducted to the Hall of Fame, and several pictures. This opportunity is available to any NHDC student, and there is no limit on the number of biographies that can be written. Students can sign-up to submit a biography here. Please reach out to Celeste Archer (celeste.archer@ucdenver.edu) or Allison Thomas (allison.thomas54321@gmail.com) with any questions. To learn more about our Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame and see who these 172 women are, check out this link. We look forward to your writing!
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Student Features
by Ava Warren
Riley Cooper (2020) spoke at the Eye to Eye webinar, a mentoring program for students with learning disabilities. She was also admitted to Whitman College.
Moriah Dominguez (2020) was accepted into Meredith College and received their Impact Scholarship.
Mohamed Ibrahim and Jeremy Portillo (2019) are semi-finalists for the Boettcher Foundation Scholarship this year. Congratulations to you both!
Jeremy (2019) has also been awarded a full scholarship to Rice University through QuestBridge and is a semifinalist for the Gates Scholarship.
Mohamed (2019) was selected 1st Team All State Football and League Lineman of the Year.
Isabella Duskin (2020) holds the Valedictorian Rank for her school.
Rowan Ehn (2020) was accepted to Northeastern University. She was also accepted into their study abroad program for her first semester of freshman year.
Bryce Li (2019) was admitted on early decision to the Huntsman Program at the University of Pennsylvania, a dual-degree program with Economics at Wharton and International Studies at the College of Arts and Sciences. The Huntsman Program is offered to only 50 students per year.
Ashley Solis (2020) made the President’s List at Grand Canyon University.
Sam Pausback (2019) has started an interfaith council at Colorado State University and will be working to create a more diverse religious presence on that campus.
Caley Swaim (2020) ran the Championship Race at Running Lane in Alabama and hit a 30 second personal record with a 5K time of 19:42.
Izzy Brophy (2019) was elected as a Freshman Representative in George Washington University’s Student Association.
Allison Thomas (2020) was selected for CHSAA’s Academic All-State First Team for gymnastics this season.
Myria Garcia (2018) received a Model United Nations award in November, after competing at the University of Pennsylvania. Her team from is American University is top in the nation.
Ava Warren (2020) was selected to represent the Colorado Select 2005 Girls at the 2022 West Region Olympic Development Program Championships for soccer.
We are so proud of our COSLI alumni! Contact Ava Warren (warrenav@s.dcsdk12.org) with college acceptances as they start rolling in and any other cool projects or successes!
Colorado History
What else happened in January?
by Riley Cooper
January 29th, 1906: The National Western Stock Show, Rodeo, and Horse Show premiers in Denver.
January 19th, 1952: The Denver-Boulder Turnpike opens to traffic.
January 1st, 2014: Colorado legalizes cannabis, becoming the first state to do so.
January 8th, 2019: Jared Polis assumes office as the country’s first openly LGBTQ+ governor.
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COSLI Birthdays!
by Riley Cooper
Happy Birthday to our COSLI Alumni! May your day be full of smiles!
Love, your COSLI Family.
Eyni Ali - 1/1
Winta Gonye - 1/1
Emma Field - 1/2
Angela Li - 1/3
Cayley Swaim - 1/6
Sofia Garcia - 1/7
Lizbeth Galvan-Marquez - 1/8
Myria Garcia - 1/8
Rosie Gumee - 1/8
Tyson Keller - 1/8
Shaniella Watson - 1/10
Jessica Aggrey - 1/11
Veniece Miller - 1/13
Alexis Cisneros Flores - 1/15
Madeline Yusas - 1/15
Brandon Dang - 1/16
Nyrobi Manuel - 1/17
Gisselle Loya - 1/18
Andrew Ngyuen - 1/19
Katya Scwieterman - 1/20
Mana Setayesh - 1/24
Alisha Kumari - 1/27
Aishna Kumari - 1/27
Bryce Li - 1/27
Jeremy Portillo - 1/27
Sophia Watkins - 1/28
Ariana Morales - 1/29
Siene Truex - 1/29
Nancy Hernandez - 1/31
Amira Mansur - 1/31
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COSLI Reads & Listens
Need book recommendations? Here’s a list of what the COSLI alumni are reading — take a look, you might find one you like!
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (fiction/mystery)
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (non-fiction)
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank (fiction)
Watchmen by Dave Gibbons, John Higgins, and Alan Moore (comic)
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall (non-fiction)
Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen (history)
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus (fiction/mystery)
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt (fiction)
The List of Things that Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead (fiction)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (fiction)
Night by Ellie Wiesel (memoir)
Need podcast and music recommendations? Our COSLI alumni have lots of music and podcast recommendations that they enjoy. See what your COSLI alumni have been listening to!
Crime Junkie - podcast
Don’t Get It Twisted - podcast
Invisibilia - podcast
Science Friday - podcast
Skeptics Guide to the Universe - podcast
Teenager Therapy - podcast
So Wrong, It’s Right - album by All Time Low
"Flaws" - song by Bastille
"Sports" - song by Beach Bunny
Happier Than Ever - album by Billie Eilish
The Stranger - album by Billy Joel
"Ohio Is for Lovers" - song by Hawthorne Heights
Mick Gordon - artist
HOKA - album by Nahko and Medicine for the People
The National Parks - artist
The Great Minimum - album by Tow’rs
TWICE - artist
5 Seconds of Summer - album by 5 Seconds of Summer
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For Parents: Parent Session (Virtual): Choosing the Right Charter School for your Child
Hosted by the African American Youth Leadership Conference
January 16 @ 4:00 pm
Did you know that Colorado is an open enrollment state? Do you know what that means when choosing a school? Most charter school enrollment deadlines are in January for the following school year. Join us to learn the difference between traditional schools and charter schools, explore charter school options, and review charter school enrollment processes. Bring your questions and we will bring answers!
Facilitator: Manya Whitaker, PhD., Associate Professor and Chair of Education/Director of the Crown Center at Colorado College
Register
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COSLI 2022 APPLICATION NOW OPEN!
The 2022 COSLI application is now open!
Apply here!
Application open: October 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022
Admissions Decisions: Early March 2022
2022 Program: July 10-August 6, 2022 |
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Alumni Feature: Breanne Barrett
By Anjana Radha and Allison Thomas
Breanne Barrett is an alumni from the COSLI class of 2016. She was also a resident assistant for the program in both 2017 and 2018. The program taught Breanne how to approach problems by forming opinions only after hearing multiple perspectives. Breanne loves COSLI students, and she advises them to ask as many questions as possible in order to learn from guest speakers. Her favorite experience from COSLI was the annual kickball game in which current students competed against COSLI alumni.
Breanne recently married and is pursuing a BA degree with an emphasis on illustration at Brigham Young University Idaho (BYUI). She also attended Brigham Young University Hawaii before serving an 18 month service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and transferring to resume her education at BYUI. After she finishes her bachelor’s degree, Breanne will pursue a master’s degree in art therapy.
Here is a piece that Breanne shared with some of those who follow her on social media. It speaks to the hard work that Breanne is doing, "I’ve been wanting to share this story for a while and I’m excited I finally found an opportunity for it. A couple weeks ago I was listening to a report on what the world is doing to accommodate evacuees from Afghanistan. As I was listening to the report something caught my attention and made my eyes a little sweaty. The story was on what a group of women in Germany were doing to serve these people. The report explained, “Some of the Relief Society sisters noticed that many Afghan women were using their husbands’ shirts to cover their heads because their traditional head coverings had been ripped off in the frenzy at the Kabul airport. In an act of friendship that crossed any religious or cultural boundaries, the sisters of the Ramstein First Ward gathered to sew traditional Muslim clothing for Afghan women. Sister Bethani Halls said, 'We heard that women were in need of prayer garments, and we are sewing so that they can be [comfortable] for prayer' (Sharon Eubank).
This story touched me because it was a beautiful example of not only accepting people that believe differently than you, but going beyond that by loving others through heart felt service. I hope this inspires you like it did with me!”
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Opportunities & Events January 2022
By Mo Dominguez
Women in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame student-written biographies: This opportunity is for any student doing an NHDC project. Students can sign up and will receive $25 for each biography completed. After you sign up, a NHDC student board member will email you to confirm your signup. Signup here.
The Walden Woods Project Live Deliberately Essay Contest invites youth ages 14-18 around the world to consider a selected Henry David Thoreau quotation and accompanying prompt. Contestants are asked to write a thoughtful essay that uses personal experience and observation to demonstrate how that year’s quotation and prompt relate to their own lives and the world around them. Each participating student is required to have an adult sponsor to assist them with their essay. Winners will receive a $500 prize. The deadline for submission is February 21st at 10:00 AM EST. More information and submission here.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Denver Failure Fair Scholarships are opportunities for high school seniors planning to attend four year undergraduate schooling who submit a risk-taking, innovative project. Applicants are asked to present a drawing, painting, sculpture, dance, theatrical production, or musical composition with a 500-word essay description of their fantastical idea. Proposals are received from February 17th through March 20th. Finalists will receive $500 to $10,000 scholarships. More information here.
The 350 Colorado Youth Action Committee is a committee for the 350 Colorado climate organization dedicated to promoting youth activism and interest in climate action. The committee is run by youth for youth. The youth action committee is for any youth living inside or outside of Colorado who has interest in having a say in the future of climate action or wants to be involved in climate action and climate strikes. More information on the Youth Action Committee and 350 Colorado here. Join the committee here.
The Coolidge Scholarship is an annually awarded full-ride presidential scholarship for four years of undergraduate study at any accredited college or university in the United States. Coolidge Scholars are academically driven students with background interests in service and public policy. The application is open to all high school juniors and closes on January 15th, 2022. More information here, and apply here.
The National Scholarship is available to eligible high school juniors in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. 106 $25,000 scholarships are awarded each year to students who exhibit integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity. National Scholars receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. during the spring of their senior year to participate in the National Scholars Conference. The application closes on March 15, 2022. More information and application here.
The Cottonwood Institute is a non-profit educational institution based in Denver, Colorado. It has many opportunities and classes for students interested in the outdoors and sustainability. Classes and programs connect students to the outdoors and inspire them to take action to improve their schools, their community, and the environment. More information here.
Denver Mayor’s Youth Council provides Denver youth with the opportunity to develop leadership skills and advise the director of the Office of Children's Affairs on issues impacting youth in Denver. Youth commissioners work together with adult commissioners to make adjustments to goals, citywide programs, and procedures, as well as to ensure equal rights are maintained in legislative action. Applications are open, and interviews will be held in April 2022. More information here.
The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program is a hands-on learning experience for high school students across the country and globe at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Students will have the opportunity to dive deep into a field of study with access to world-class faculty, researchers, and industry professionals. More information and application here.
The Colorado Young Leaders Program is for high school students wanting to be involved with their community. The program provides the framework to help students get involved and find what they want to do. CYL students want to learn more about the world around them, discover their own gifts, and make a real impact. More information here, and register here.
Rampart Search and Rescue Cadet Program is for those between the ages of 10 and 20 interested in the field of search and rescue or emergency medical services. Rampart Search and Rescue is a volunteer organization for people in the Adams County area who are interested in the outdoors and emergency medical assistance. Applications for the program are open year-round. More information and application here.
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