Faculty, students honored at CLAS Deans Reception

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences held its annual Dean’s Reception on April 23 to recognize and award outstanding faculty, students and an instructor retiree. Held in the Tivoli Adirondack’s Room, the turnout was excellent and the mood was celebratory. The last few weeks of the semester are hectic, and the annual reception is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the accomplishments and successes of the year.

Jon Harbor welcomed the group and shared a few words about his experience in his first year with CLAS. “I am often asked what the most impressive thing is that I have discovered about the college in my first year here,’ he said. “I almost always respond to this in terms of the amazing quality, dedication and focus of the diverse students who make up CLAS.” Many of these students were recognized at the reception, and their families were there to support and help them celebrate their honor.

More than 1,000 UCDHSC students to celebrate graduation during downtown commencement

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More than 1,000 UCDHSC students to celebrate graduation during downtown commencement

May 7, 2007 -- The University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center will confer degrees during commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 12, 9 - 11 a.m., Auraria Athletic Field, downtown Auraria Campus.

While more than 1,000 graduates plan to participate in the ceremony, nearly 1600 students have completed work to earn degrees. Masters' degrees will be awarded to 393 students, and 14 PhD students will receive diplomas during commencement.

Commencement speakers include UCDHSC Chancellor M. Roy Wilson, Provost Mark Heckler and CU-System President Hank Brown.

Stories of students participating in commencement:

Jennifer Samimi, BA-Political Science

Jennifer Samimi's drive to explain how power works in society and how politics affect power and social change guided her to earn a BA in political science with a certificate in ethnic studies.

Jennifer plans to continue her work for another year with AmeriCorps at the Volunteers of America, at the same time; she is applying to an Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy program. If accepted, she will be working toward another degree in social work law.

Jennifer's inspiration comes from her younger sister, who dropped out of high school to become a stay-at-home mom. "She is an amazing mom and is really smart, and she does so much that I could never do. At the same time, I know that I am a role model for her," says Jennifer.

As a participant in the UCDHSC Chancellors, Scholars and Leadership Program (CSL), Jennifer found her peers to be another great source of encouragement and motivation.

Urban Peak Celebrates Mavericks

Thinking Outside the Box. Urban Peak's successes over the years are due to the innovation and dedication of Maverick Thinkers, two of who were honored on Thursday, May 19 at the Donald Seawell Ballroom.

Youth Jennifer Samimi and executive Samuel Gary have demonstrated the type of outside the box thinking that drives individuals and corporations to become successful. In past years, Urban Peak has honored Frederick Mayer, Judith B. Wagner, Gail Klapper and Jim Bye.

The ballroom was dotted with local dignitaries who value and support the efforts that Urban Peak has made in helping hundreds of homeless youth make the transition from street life to becoming productive members of society.

The cost to the community to house a juvenile in detention is $55,000. In budgetary terms, Mayor John Hickenlooper pointed out that Urban Peak is one of the best investments you can imagine: $3,800 will move an at-risk teen from a life on the streets to independent living. On any given night, there are 1,000 youth living on the streets. 63% of those youth exited the streets for good last year, thanks to Urban Peak’s outreach, educational, vocational, and housing programs.

Jennifer Samimi came to Urban Peak in 1997 at the age of 16. Urban Peak was a refuge that Jennifer used from age 16 to 19, sometimes staying at the shelter in the basement of a church, at Urban Peak's old location on Clarkson Street in Capital Hill. While engaging case management with Urban Peak, Jen became involved with ACORN (The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) and learned about social justice issues in the area, which would become the drive behind her educational pursuits.

Jen exited Urban Peak programs through transitional housing and has been self sufficient for five years. Jen was a Youth Opportunity Worker with Urban Peak's Outreach team for a year where she took an active role in HIV testing at various service providers in Denver, including The Spot, and on the streets doing outreach.

Jen moved on to CHIP (Children's Hospital Immunodeficiency Clinic) in 2002 to continue her work with HIV in reaching out to youth throughout all of Colorado. Jen also received an Associate's Degree through Colorado Community College and is into her junior year at the University of Colorado pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. Jen is a very active youth advocate on campus for social justice-themed organizations at school and in the community.

Jenn was thinking outside the box when she decided to discard advice regarding her speech for this evening, to talk about her struggles and accomplishments. Although she is being honored for her triumph in overcoming adversity, Jenn moved the spotlight away from her and focused on the big picture at Urban Peak.

"To all the youth of Urban Peak and all young people who have not been lifted up the way they should: Your suffering is not your fault. The abuse, hurt, fear, anger; the cold, lonely nights and days; you did not bring this upon yourself. Rather, your oppression is the result of a long-standing tradition in our society – the tradition of ignoring those of us who live in the margins. Society, you see, likes to believe that everything is okay, and that the only people who need help are in some far off distant place. As a result, we go unnoticed, kept in the margins."

"When a young person walks through the doors of Urban Peak, we all know they have a long, difficult and painful road ahead of them. But what we often forget is the extremely long, incomprehensibly difficult and painful road they have been walking already. This is a road that most people can never understand. I am here tonight to ask that we all work together, to revoke that pain, and so that young people are lifted up, and never blame themselves again."