Happy Valentine's Day
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,
The month of January was a very action-packed beginning to 2021. We experienced the end of one of the most monumental elections in American history, the inauguration of a new administration, and a failed insurrection on our capitol. This is one of the most divisive times since the Civil War, and this divisiveness has trickled through each crack of our nation’s foundation. The challenges we currently face emphasize the importance of seeking common ground and common interest with the “opposing side.” On that note, I would like to reflect on a recent experience I had with a fellow student from my school.
My classmate and I were engaging in a difficult discussion on the topic of climate change and government regulation of the oil and gas industry. It did not take long before the conversation became heated and eventually evolved into something similar to a shouting match, as if years of friendship up to this moment had not been, or at least didn’t matter. At this point, I figured it was best to simply end the “debate” and enjoy lunch. This allowed time for me to reflect on what that divisiveness meant to me and other students who have gone through polarizing discussions where their opinions and moral grounds were shadowed by social stereotypes and false representation. My experience and many prior to it illustrate the importance for us, as a nation and society, to seek unity in all aspects of our lives, be it in the political discussions we have or the solutions we make to address challenges. This also demonstrates that opposition is not division unless it is treated like so. Instead, we must use opposition to foster innovation and create systemic change incrementally.
Thank you and all the best,
Mohamed Ibrahim
COSLI 2019
Wiggins High School
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Letter from the Founding Executive Director
Friends of COSLI is proud to be a Project of the Rose Community Foundation
Happy month of love--and the official celebration of Black History! This is a month when we are given the opportunity to consciously celebrate and honor the many contributions of black Americans and the rich culture that represents. In 2012, I was awarded a grant from the National Park Service where I served as a Teacher Ranger Teacher at The Little Rock Central High School National Park headquarters. It culminated with an oral history booklet, with stories and recipes, to illustrate just how much the story of Little Rock Central High School is not so black and white.
As part of that year of service, I met most of the Little Rock Nine, all recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal. One of the most impactful parts of that grant was participation in a civil rights pilgrimage with a group of educators. We traveled from Little Rock to Memphis, visiting many of the iconic places in this ongoing struggle. Our facilitators were two of the Nine, Dr. Terrance Roberts, now an acclaimed psychologist in California, and Minnie Jean Brown, famous for the movement-changing dump of chili onto a white classmate. Their reporting, as primary sources, about the many things they were saying and showing us felt austere and demanding. Participants were being called to carry the message of these 1957 teens to our various audiences, to understand the struggle more deeply and to acknowledge that part of history that puts our great nation in what sometimes feels like an unsolvable conundrum. Branded in my mind is standing in the hotel, now a premier museum documenting the civil rights struggle, where Dr. MLK, Jr. was assassinated, and having Dr. Roberts walk up to me to ask how I was feeling. I’m not certain I remember the answer as much as I do the face of the person asking. How I wish there had been time to have him answer that same question deeply and completely.
Equally daunting is to be sandwiched between Mohamed and Elizabeth’s letters. They are both asking us to live thoughtfully and with civility--listening to multiple sides and diverse ideas--before we make our own choices and decisions. Mohamed is participating, as an administrator, in a study of student mental health and depression. Read about that study here. Elizabeth Felix wrote a letter to her college community, Western Colorado University, when she felt the president of her school wasn’t being heard appropriately. You can read Elizabeth's letter posted on our facebook page. How proud we are that both have learned to listen and respond more deeply. That’s what seems to have been missing in 1957 and is certainly not evident today. I’ll join them in asking the same. That is the foundation of what COSLI does. We teach all sides of any controversy, any conclusion, any story--expecting our students to come to their own fully educated stance. It’s called critical thinking.
So, here’s to a month of thoughtfully considering how we, citizens and residents of this great experiment of a nation, heal--how do we love again? Our nation and our neighbor.
Happy February!
Celeste
P.S. One of the best ways you can spread the love is with COSLI’s Valentine cards! We would love for you to use our student’s art as your way of spreading a little love...see below. <3
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Civil Discourse
By Elizabeth Felix, COSLI 2017
Americans are divided by just about everything under the sun. This should be what makes our country so exciting to live in--it should be a good thing that we all have different ideas about how to be better. It should allow for productive debates and conversations that lead everyone to greater understanding. However, a recent condemnation of violence that should have been uncontroversial instead sparked an outcry on one side of my campus and nothing from the other. While this event occurred on the grounds of Western Colorado University, I am compelled to believe that the problem demonstrated here lies in the heart of every institution from schools and businesses to government agencies to the kitchen table.
The problem is the lack of civil discourse and the failure to give every individual respect. Far too many times I have heard someone say, “Of course, I respect everyone, except for those who believe…” Shouldn’t we respect everyone and treat them with dignity even if we do not agree with their opinions? If we fail to do so, some people will end up shouting their beliefs and others will be too afraid to speak up.
All of this begs the question: how do we practice and promote civil discourse? First, there needs to be intellectual humility – the understanding that we can all learn from each other. This might seem like a tall order for academia, but it is necessary for us to get anything accomplished. Intellectual humility and honest discussion allow us to give people with opposing opinions the chance to speak and be heard. We may or may not change each other’s minds, but the ability to respectfully “agree to disagree” has been lost, and with that, so has the opportunity to deepen our own understanding. We all seem to avoid any discussion, perhaps for fear of being “incorrect” or somehow embarrassing ourselves. This dogmatism is inherently dangerous for everyone and for the greater good.
Additionally, we need a willingness to listen attentively to those who challenge us. We need to practice an openness of mind for everyone, even those whose opinions we’ve already deemed reprehensible. We need to oppose any action that silences the voice of another, even if we disagree with what they have to say. We would be outraged if our voice was silenced, so we should not silence others. “Cancel Culture” only encourages groupthink and censorship. Our academic institutions should be the first to embrace what our society cannot seem to: listening and truth-seeking.
There is truth in the expression, “As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another” (Proverbs 27:17). We have so much to learn from each other, so why don’t we start listening? Too often we jump to the “hot topics” and decide we dislike someone for their opinion without ever knowing who they are. It is easier to attack under the mask of anonymity than to disregard someone we truly know. So here’s the challenge: get to know people. As simple as this may sound, this is the foundation of civil discourse. And--bonus--you might have something in common.
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Support a COSLI Student
You can support our students by making a donation of any amount through the Rose Community Foundation here. For every donation of $25 or more, you will receive a COSLI face mask!
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Student Features
Sartaj Singh (2019) made Colorado’s all-state band. Congratulations Sartaj!
Leticia Madrigal (2019) and Marisol Guzman (2018) are finalists for the Daniels Fund Scholarship. Fantastic work and all of our congratulations!
Elizabeth Felix (2017) took a stand for civil discourse in her campus community, calling for change and discussion among her peers and professors in an incredibly articulate letter. We are very proud of her willingness to fight for what she believes in and her commitment to bettering her community. Great work Elizabeth!
Sophia Truex (2018) made the final four in Colorado for the United States Youth Senate Program. Nice job, Sophia!
Camilla Rodriguez (2017) has been accepted to the Graduate Program of Social Work at the University of Denver, working in a dual degree program that will have her graduate with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees within two years. Great work, Camilla!
Hagan Archer (2018) is part of the team that placed first in the state for the We The People Constitutional Law Competition. His team from Denver East High School will be headed to Nationals in April!
Grace Schulte (2020) was inducted into The National Honor Society. Good work, Grace! She will also be taking on the project of the first COSLI yearbook. Yikes!
Elena Dunn (2019) placed in the top five in the state for a speech submitted in the VFW’s Voice of Democracy competition! We hope to share that with you in our next newsletter.
Caleb Smith (2016) who is attending BYU-Idaho after completing a two year mission, will be getting married on February 20 in a virtual celebration, something that our times have made way too common. Best wishes to Caleb and his bride-to-be!
Happy Birthday to our COSLI Alumni! May your day be full of smiles!
Love, your COSLI Family.
Giuliana Chavez - 2/2
Honey Zin - 2/7
Benjamin Berry - 2/8
Brin Riley - 2/12
Andrea Espinosa Torres - 2/14
Clark Wilson - 2/15
Tallie Geshow - 2/16
Verenice Ballesteros - 2/18
Jaclyn Villareal - 2/19
Sonya Ralstin - 2/20
Kendric Chen - 2/24
Kent Hernandez - 2/24
Kevin Hernandez - 2/24
Mikayla Crouse - 2/24
Alex Dao - 2/25
Kenneth Huyn - 2/27
Kayla Hawkes - 2/28
Michael Hernandez - 2/28
Sartaj Singh - 2/28
Colorado History
What else happened in February?
Did you know these historical events occurred in February?
February 19, 2015 - U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill preserving Browns Canyon National Monument.
February 2, 1848 - The signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo between the United States and Mexico marked the end of the Mexican-American War. Colorado and other northern territories of Mexico were given to the United States.
February 3, 1870 - The 15th Amendment was ratified, starting the United States on the path of universal suffrage.
We are so proud of our COSLI alumni! Contact Izzy McCarty (imccarty2021@esdk12.org) or Sheila Ta (sheilata93@gmail.com) with college acceptances as they start rolling in and any other cool projects or successes!
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COSLI Alumni Feature: Winta Gonye
Winta Gonye was a member of the COSLI class of 2018. Winta was introduced to COSLI through her participation with Minds Matter Colorado (MMC), a college-prep program intended to help low-income students achieve their college dreams. As a requirement for the program, Winta had to attend a summer program. She chose COSLI because it allowed her to engage with her passions and explore her interests through the many speakers, trips, and hands-on experiences. Winta’s favorite aspects of the COSLI experience were the friends she made, the discussions, the camping trip to Noah’s Ark, the explorations into different religions, and the culture fostered at COSLI.
Winta is now pursuing a degree in Public Policy and International Studies with a concentration in Human Rights at the University of Denver. She was influenced by COSLI through her experience in the International Social Science track, which allowed her to ensure the path she chose for herself was the right one and to expand upon her confidence and leadership skills. Winta’s advice is to not be afraid to introduce yourself to your peers, to form connections with others, to use opportunities to explore your interests, and to participate in National History Day Colorado because “the lessons you learn make you a better global citizen.”
In the future, Winta wants to study abroad and become involved with different volunteering and advocacy work organizations. She is also interested in volunteering for the Peace Corps. She hopes to return to COSLI as a residential assistant soon.
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Lessons Learned
By Time Kola-Abiola and Bryce Li
The topic of mental health is still widely considered a taboo and not frequently discussed in most families. Nonetheless, it is something that everyone grapples with throughout their lives. Fortunately, this viewpoint of mental health being a taboo subject changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing reduced the interconnectivity within our communities and massively disrupted our personal lives. The Washington Post reported that in November of 2020, 40% of Americans were grappling with at least one mental health or drug-related problem and that young adults were struggling even more (their percentage was nearly 75%).
This problem has only gotten worse without proper funding for mental health services in the United States. During the last government stimulus, mental health organizations received 10 times the amount of money they received before the pandemic; however, that amount ($4.5 billion) was only about 9% of what mental health organizations requested from the government to keep their services operational during the pandemic. This perceived unimportance of mental health services seems to still hold public opinion even with this mental health crisis. With such gloom prospects, how can an individual keep their mental health from dropping during such stressful times?
Several mental health specialists and community leaders who are passionate about this issue offer some advice for individuals or families to stay mentally healthy through the pandemic. The suggestions include taking breaks from news, taking care of one’s physical health, making time to unwind, and reaching out to your friends and family.
At the end of the day, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a harsh toll on the lives of youth both across Colorado and nationally. That said, there is always time to take a step back and focus on the good in the world. Sometimes that is all we need to live healthier, happier lives.
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COSLI Mental-Health Student Survey
The COSLI Student Advisory Board, in collaboration with the National History Day Colorado Student Advisory Board, are collecting voices and experiences of students during "COVID Times." Students across Colorado are feeling unheard. The result of this has been an upswing in teen suicides and mental health crises. The Colorado Sun ran an article talking about the impacts this was having, especially on small rural communities in our state and among our best and brightest students.
NHDC is seeking to collect primary source documents to use in projects fifteen to twenty years from now. With all of this as a driving force, these student boards are sharing a survey created by Hagan Archer for the groups. The survey will create a document of record. The goal is to collect as many answers as possible, from students age 12-21, in 6th grade through undergraduate school. These documents will be collected into what both boards expect to be a profound documentation of the state of the state of Colorado's secondary and postsecondary students. Please feel free to share the link widely. The resulting information will be shared in the spring. The survey can be accessed here.
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COSLI Reads
Need book recommendations? Well here’s a list of what the COSLI alumni are reading- take a look, you might find one you like! Enjoy!
See what your COSLI alumni have been reading!
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
Circe by Madeline Miller
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden
The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris
Auschwitz #34207: The Joe Rubinstein Story by Nancy Geise
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COSLI Will Help You Show Some Love!
This year we will unveil the first annual COSLI Valentine Card Collection, designed by COSLI seniors and offered in packs of twelve for $10. COSLI’s project was inspired by the Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship by Gallery Collection. Student-created greeting cards are submitted to Gallery Collection to compete for a $10,000 annual scholarship. Card designs are chosen by judges with the Gallery Collection who then put the cards up for voting by the public--the winning card designer wins the scholarship. You will be the first to know if one of our students is a winning designer! In the meantime, support COSLI by purchasing a pack and help us build The COSLI Outstanding Alumni Scholarship. Each year’s designers will be awarded an annual COSLI Designer Scholarship, with half of net sales divided between the year’s designers.
Order Now!
$10 + taxes and fees
Valentine Designs:
by Hagan Archer
by Sophia Truex
by Fareed Ahamad
Inside Design:
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Statement on January 6 Capitol Breach
Dear Friends of COSLI,
It’s clear that we’ve all been witness to immense historical events throughout 2020 and 2021. The next paragraph of this history textbook we’re living in began abominably on Wednesday, January 6th with the storming of The United States Capitol in protest of Congress’ confirmation of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
Common ground is a rarity in today’s polarizing political climate, rarely reached in even the most dire of circumstances. The absence of understanding perspective is leading our representatives and ourselves down a path of further division, personal attacks, and ostracization of those who do not agree with us. One commonality that we all share, though, as Americans and civic participants, is faith in the democratic institutions that allow us to have such disagreements and allow diverse opinions. On January 6th we saw those democratic institutions violated. We saw the people to whom we have entrusted our civil liberties, our best interests, and our government confronted by violence in a sacred space meant to maintain American Democracy. We saw the vulnerability of our Democratic process when a symbol of self-government in the United States of America was attacked. These are most troubling times.
However, we cannot allow this incident to make us falter, to make us downplay the need for change and progress. We need to use this day as motivation for us, as Americans, to do better. We need to have the hard conversations, not for the sake of getting it over with, but to listen, learn, grow, and bridge the gap between ideologies. With all of our love for our Democratic Republic, we often neglect the most integral ingredient of the democratic progress: cooperation. Moving forward, we need to demand cooperation from our representatives and prioritize it in our own lives. The building of walls along partisan lines does not lend itself to unity or to any resolution to the issue that presented itself on January 6th.
In this current messy entanglement of politics and personal dedication, we need to remember what our government is all about: cooperation. It is not our job as Americans to make excuses for politicians’ delays or mistakes just because they are on our side of the aisle. It is not our job as Americans to follow our party leaders to the ends of the Earth. It is our job to hold our representatives accountable to the commitment they made to us as their constituents. It is our job to follow our own personal morality to the polls and to the streets. Simply put, progress is power. It is our responsibility as the leaders of our communities to harness that power and work toward a better, more amicable future for all.
Thank you and all the best,
Izzy McCarty (2018) and Riley Cooper (2020)
COSLI Student Advisory Board
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2021 NCoGS Logo Design Competition
Following the events of last year and the need for increased logo recognition, the National Conference of Governor’s Schools (NCoGS) is pleased to announce the 2021 Logo Design Competition. Click here to enter your design for the new logo and to read more about the expectations. Below is the current logo; enter and make yours the next one! All designers receive a prize and the winning logo’s designer will be awarded $500!
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Opportunities and Events: October 2020
The National History Day Colorado Youth Advisory Board is launching a new Speaker Series for students to take part in! The first event was January 28th, with Terrance Carroll and Dr. Patty Limerick. The next is planned for the 25th of February and will commemorate Black History Month.
Submissions to the 2021 Minoru Yasui Student Contest are now open! Students are encouraged to submit an original and thoughtful essay exploring the theme of refugee or immigrant experiences. The Junior division (grades 6-8) offers a cash prize of $200 and the Senior division (grades 9-12) offers a cash prize of $500. Submissions are due on March 12th. More information can be found here.
The MoneyWi$er Awards recognizes distinguished districts, schools, educators, and students that have prioritized personal finance education in their community. The 2021 awards are the third and final year of this initiative to promote financial literacy education in Colorado. Student Scholarship Honorees receive $1,500, Educator Honorees receive $3,500, the School Honoree receives $10,000, and the District Honoree receives $15,000. The 2021 application for MoneyWi$er Financial Innovation Awards is open until March 1, 2021. More information here.
The Western Governor’s Celebrate the West 2021 regional art competition is now open to high school students! The competition challenges high school students in the Western United States to create artwork inspired by their state. More information here.
WorldDenver is a non-profit organization which organizes exchange programs with the US State Department to bring international visitors to Denver. These programs are currently on hold due to the pandemic, but they are seeking individuals interested in hosting visitors when these exchanges restart in 2021. This program allows hosts to engage as citizen diplomats and participate in a unique cultural exchange from the comfort of their home. Visit WorldDenver’s website to learn more about these programs and others or sign up as a potential homestay host here.
The National WWII Museum runs the Billy Michal Student Leadership Award and the Student Leadership Academy each year, both of which celebrate student leadership and give amazing opportunities for youth leaders. They are currently looking for nominees for the award (more information here) and applicants for the academy (more information here). Applications are due February 15th.
Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is a national program that encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. The 2020-21 Colorado Poetry Out Loud State Finals will be held virtually as a video submission competition and streamed live in early March 2021. You can email the state coordinator at roxanne@lighthousewriters.org or visit this link for more information.
The Denver Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. 2021 Scholarship Application is now open! The scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors each year. The goal is to attract African-American male high school seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence, positive leadership and dedication to service. They will be honoring deserving students with cash awards ranging from $1,000 to $6,000, and expects to recognize nearly two dozen seniors. More info here.
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COSLI Newsletter Contributors
Sophia Truex, Editor (Crested Butte, CO)
Tobin Wheeler, Editor (Salida, CO)
Hagan Archer (Denver, CO)
Kaya Crawford (Crawford, CO)
Emma Davis (Aurora, CO)
Mohamed Ibrahim (Wiggins, CO)
Timi Kola-Abiola (Denver, CO)
Bryce Li (Broomfield, CO)
Izzy McCarty (Elizabeth, CO)
Sheila Ta (Pueblo, CO)
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