Holiday Issue
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 very limited family gatherings and restricted Black Friday shopping this past Thanksgiving were difficult and didn’t settle well with me. They were grim reminders of the times we are living in and the failure of our nation to appropriately handle the virus. Within my own county, mask wearing is viewed as a “political construct” or “unnecessary burden,” and the result is that we are now in the red zone and considered at severe risk.
As we enter the December holidays and festivities, the future is uncertain, with the possibility of another shutdown and school closures. Additionally, the safety of sports is up for discussion yet again. Despite the headache and trauma we all have endured in these past nine months, every single one of us have found ways to be thankful for the blessings of family, friends, health, and the liberty to return to normalcy.
When I was counting all of my blessings, things to be thankful for, and the opportunities I had, COSLI popped into my mind. I thought of all the great experiences, friendships, and educational connections I made within my time at the program. However, as some of you may know already, the state government legislated funds we receive each year are at risk once more with the new budget plan introduced. To ensure the future of COSLI, we all must band together and reach out to our respective state legislators and Joint Budget Committee members who have the power to secure our funds for years to come. Simply writing a letter or composing an email on the importance of COSLI will be effective in this decision making process. I urge you all to take this initiative.
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
Friends,
Had you told me a year ago that anything like 2020 was possible, I would have guffawed. Yet here we are. You see in this year’s annual report just a few of the things that we and our students have accomplished in a “down” year--even then, our students are going above and beyond the fray. We are creating important citizens in all fields of study, whether they are becoming the next best engineer, the next best doctor, or the next best governor.
One of our alumni said, “The most significant experience of my high school education was attending Colorado Student Leaders Institute.” That is truth. For the vast majority of our students COSLI is the tipping point, just as something similar was the tipping point for me when I was a small town rural high school kid--the reason I am so passionate about this work.
When the success matrix was established in 2015, we knew it represented high expectations. Every year we have far exceeded those expectations. COSLI students excel in ways they did not expect or feel possible for themselves.
They are:
- Graduating from post-secondary programs on time or early,
- Remaining in Colorado for college and/or returning for careers,
- Developing strong entrepreneurial skills (our students contribute $40k to the annual budget),
- Becoming engaged leaders in their fields and their communities.
COSLI is:
- Providing 3 hours of guaranteed transfer university credit for every graduate every year;
- Attracting up to 76% students who are FRL lunch eligible or first generation college attendees;
- Financially prudent and spendthrift, remaining at or under budget every year;
- Remaining appropriately lean and nimble in staffing and overhead.
COSLI takes our role in Colorado’s economic development seriously. We also know that we provide an important educational opportunity for our best and brightest students, often the most overlooked. This overlook has caused the Colorado Paradox we know too well. COSLI is defeating it.
Our data is compelling and our results far exceed what was outlined. This year, just our 7 th year in existence and after only our 5 th summer, I was elected President-Elect for the National Conference. But it was not me, it was Colorado that was elected. No state has removed their governor’s school from their budget as a result of the pandemic--or any other historic experience--in the organization’s existence since 1963.
Even during this anomaly of a year, our 2020 students were present and engaged for online sessions, eager to be in person in the summer of 2021. Right now, we have more applicants for the class of 2021 than we have ever had at this point in the application process. Our very small budget, $80,000 of which was preemptively returned last spring too assist with COVID-19 disaster mitigation, has an impact and value significantly more than the stated bottom line. A $218K investment = a $563K return right away. We have to keep this one little bit of normal in place--our Colorado future truly depends on it.
If you are a member of an organization and would be interested in a guest speaker, we’re here for you. If you need volunteers, we’re here for you. If YOU want to volunteer, we’re here for you. And, we hope you’ll be here for us.
Here’s to a VERY uneventful 2021!
Celeste
View our complete 2020 Annual Report.
2020 Visionary Award
This year, we also launched our inaugural  Visionary Award, which will be awarded annually to an individual who has had the vision and fortitude to make COSLI a reality in the state of Colorado.
This year's recipients are Senator Nancy Todd and Representative Jim Wilson, who served as the original sponsors of the law that established COSLI. Due to term limits, they recently retired from many years of service in the State Legislature. They will be sincerely missed in the political arena.
Senator Todd and Representative Wilson will be honored in person during the Summer 2021 program.
Support COSLI!
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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 Feature: Cristina Nava Rios
By Timi Kola-Abiola and Bryce Li
Cristina Nava Rios (2020) has asked for help with an important capstone project. She is asking for responses from Colorado high school students. Her project addresses how high school students' mental health has been affected by the pandemic. She is eager to get a varied and diverse group of responses. There will be an article reporting the results in a coming newsletter. Here is a link to the survey. All responses are anonymous.
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Student Features
Sheila Ta (2018) was accepted to Regis University on a Presidential Scholarship of $20,000 per year. Good job Sheila!
Izzy McCarty (2018) was accepted to Seton Hall University’s 3+3 Political Science and Law program with a scholarship totaling $84,000 over 4 years. She was also accepted to Rockhurst University on the Breem Scholarship, covering $24,000 a year. Congratulations Izzy!
Mandy Lieng (2019) is a youth board member of YouthRoots, a leadership program that empowers youth to fundraise for the solutions to the biggest issues in our communities. Great work Mandy!
Mohamed Ibrahim (2019) was accepted to the Colorado Youth Congress Program. Congrats Mohamed!
Happy Birthday to our COSLI Alumni! May your day be full of smiles!
Love, your COSLI Family.
Eyni Ali - 12/2
Isabella McCarty - 12/3
Hagan Archer - 12/3
Mohamed Ibrahim - 12/3
Veniece Miller- 12/3
Jackson Praeger - 12/11
Sunny Lamsal - 12/13
Callie Shannahan - 12/14
Jacee Lawrence - 12/12
Daniel Pena - 12/17
Victoria DeLeon - 12/17
Mandy Lieng - 12/19
Betsy Pruznick - 12/20
Elizabeth Valdez - 12/24
Jordan Appel - 12/25
Chantelle Lewis - 12/30
Colorado History
What else happened in December?
Did you know these historical events occurred in December?
December 1, 1913 - Over the course of five days, Denver accumulates 45 inches of snow, still the largest amount of snow Denver has received since the record began.
December 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor is attacked, motivating the U.S. to enter WWII.
December 14, 1946 - The world’s longest chairlift opens in the Ajax Mountain Ski Area in Aspen.
December 21, 1974 - The first ever Telluride Film Festival commences.
December 10, 2005 - John L. Hall, a professor from CU Boulder, receives the Nobel Peace Prize in Physics.
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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Letter to the Legislature by Sophia Truex
Sophia pictured in center.
Dear Colorado Legislators,
My name is Sophia Truex and I am from Crested Butte, Colorado. 2020 has been a crazy year for everyone, and it has taken a particular toll on students. With online school, stress (emotionally, physically, and financially), canceled events, and the threat of sickness, it has been a hard year. However, with the hope that COVID-19 will be preventable soon, it is important to think of the youth’s futures.
An important part of my high school experience was the Colorado Students Leaders Institute that I attended in 2018. It was at this month long academically intensive camp where I became prepared for higher thinking and met some of the most amazing people I know. COSLI opens opportunities for kids who want diversity and want to expand their knowledge. Through funding COSLI is able to allow kids who couldn’t afford another camp the opportunity of a lifetime in which they create a business, work on social problems, and listen to lectures. COSLI takes leaders with all types of backgrounds and unites them together in a rare and incredible way.
While COSLI is still on the state budget for 2021, the Governor is planning on cutting COSLI off in 2022. That matters. That matters to all the youth that love learning and learning to become themselves through COSLI. I am forever grateful to have gone to that program, and our upcoming Colorado leaders are worth it. While attending the camp, I became best friends with a fantastic girl who is a Muslim immigrant, and our life experiences could not have been more different. In the two years since I met her, we have remained in contact and she is one of the most profoundly amazing people I have ever met. Without COSLI I would likely never had crossed paths with her, but I am ever thankful that I did. Since COSLI, I was elected to the Student Board and have gotten to continue my leadership as the editor of the monthly newsletter. I have also led discussions on racism through a book club I created with the help of COSLI. I’ve been working with COSLI for two years now, and know that I am doing important work with passionate people that care about Colorado.
Therefore, I ask you to help me fight to keep COSLI on the budget. There is a current contract between the State and CU Denver that is signed and executed to host COSLI until 2023, and it is important to the youth of Colorado that that contract is upheld. No other state is removing Governor’s Schools from their budget, and that is because these programs hold an invaluable importance for our society. COSLI works hard with only two full time staff members to keep it both low budget and an incredible experience for the kids. I understand this year is not easy, but I know that COSLI will change the lives of hundreds of kids as long as it continues.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and I hope you are well.
Sincerely,
Sophia Truex
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Alumni Feature: Mandy Lieng
Hello COSLI friends!
For the past few months, I’ve been working with an organization called YouthRoots in their virtual program called YouthCharge. Currently, I am a member of the YouthCharge Mental Health Board.
YouthRoots is a leadership program that empowers youth to raise money for the biggest issues in our communities. Within their organization, they offer an all-virtual program called YouthCharge that is 100% youth-led and youth-directed. Participants work collaboratively to complete a community needs assessment to determine the biggest issues facing youth, raise awareness and funding for those issues, and make grants to organizations they think best meet the needs of the community.
I joined YouthCharge because I wanted to be more active in helping my community create change for issues that I care about. Although YouthCharge is a virtual program, the experience I’ve had so far is amazing and I’ve learned a lot. Since it is all virtual, communication can be overwhelming and difficult to manage at times; however, I’ve been able to find the perfect balance. One of the most important things I learned in this program so far is the importance of trust when it comes to teamwork. In the beginning,
I worried a lot about not having enough control over how tasks were completed. Once I got to know my team better, I was able to let go of my desire for control and delegate tasks more. I know I can trust my team because they are all passionate about mental health and are eager to make an impact in our community.
On the YouthCharge Mental Health Board, we are currently raising money to support youth-serving organizations that meet at least one of the following needs in Adams County, CO:
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Increased accessible transportation for mental health services
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Increased access to mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth
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Increased mental health services in middle and high school
Our goal is to raise $3,000 by Jan 31, 2021.
Here is how you can support us and help us raise funds:
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Buy a t-shirt or sweatshirt that I designed from our Bonfire fundraiser campaign:
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Follow us on Instagram for more information and updates! We have a virtual 5k event launching soon to help us raise funds.
If you'd like to learn more about YouthRoots and the YouthCharge program, please contact info@youthroots.org.
Mandy Lieng (2019) (pictured in top left)
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Opportunities and Events: October 2020
The 2021 COSLI Application is now open. The application is open until January 31. Apply Now!
The New York Times is offering free access to their articles for students and teachers through September 1st, 2021, so be sure to take advantage of this opportunity! Teachers can sign up their students on this website.
The Molly Brown House Museum and the National History Day Colorado Youth Advisory Board are launching a new Speaker Series for students to take part in! There will be talks with historians, curators, NHD specialists, and other experts. They hope to begin hosting these events within a month to help with NHD projects, as well as for students to listen to experts in historical fields they may be interested in.
The MoneyWi$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. You can get 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!
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 Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting a series of virtual teen workshops about sculpture, DJ’ing and more! You can get more information here.
Juniors and Seniors interested in pursuing careers in public service are eligible for the The United States Senate Youth Program Scholarship where two participants from each state participate in a week long education/leadership program (virtually for this year). Delegates will be awarded $10,000 for their undergraduate studies, and more information can be found 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!
Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
A Time to Build by Yuval Levin
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COSLI Newsletter Contributors
Sophia Truex, Editor (Crested Butte, CO)
Tobin Wheeler, Editor (Salida, CO)
Hagan Archer (Denver, CO)
Emma Davis (Aurora, CO)
Mohamed Ibrahim (Wiggins, CO)
Timi Kola-Abiola (Denver, CO)
Bryce Li (Broomfield, CO)
Emma Logan (Denver, CO)
Izzy McCarty (Elizabeth, CO)
Sheila Ta (Pueblo, CO)
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