Students Soar with Support from Faculty and Staff

PUEBLO, Colo. – Colorado State University-Pueblo is proud to recognize outstanding students and the staff and faculty who support them.   These students embody the best and brightest in higher education and have worked hard to enhance their education through enrichment experiences.  CSU-Pueblo faculty and staff members continue to display commitment to student success and to identifying appropriate opportunities and helping facilitate student participation. 

First generation students, Victoria Perez and Armando Denova, supported by faculty member, Sendi Estrada, recently participated in the GlobalMindEd Conference in Denver.  The GlobalMindEd conference was created to connect first generation college students with their peers, professionals and mentors to support academic achievement and career readiness, especially surrounding STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) careers and majors. 

Assistant Director of the STEM Center for Education and Engagement (SCEE) Sendi Estrada was a panelist for "Girls & STEAM: Equity, Inclusion, and Excellence. "I am very grateful to be sharing the great work that CBASE, an HSI STEM grant, is doing to support more women in STEM, “says Estrada, “As the advisor of the Society of Women in Engineers and an advocate for my students, I feel that it is important that women know that they are being heard and supported in STEM. "

Victoria Perez is a CBASE Research Intern in the Biology Research Community and a STEM major. She says, “At this conference, I was able to practice my networking skills, meet people with similar mindsets, and learn about diversity within the STEM field, financial aid for first-generation college students, and other related workshops.”

Aspiring law enforcement professional, Armando Denova, a Criminal Justice major says, “I had an incredible experience at GlobalMindEd. I met people of all kinds of background, strengthened my confidence, gained networking skills, and grew as an individual."

Michael Lovette, a Bachelor of Social Work major, has been placed as the first field placement with the Chicago Center for Urban Life and Culture. Through a unique partnership with the University of Chicago, CSU-Pueblo is the first public state university in the nation to offer this opportunity for students interested in urban social work. The placement will allow Lovette to pursue his interest in hospice work in an urban environment.  “As a military veteran,” Lovette says, “I deployed young and spent time in combat zones. This field of study allows me to utilize my military experience to help others.” 

The placement allows a substantial discount from regular tuition at the University of Chicago and covers all student expenses for 448 hours of experience and study.  Lovette’s expenses for the placement  are covered by the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

CSU-Pueblo Biology graduate, Alliyah Gifford has earned a prestigious internship with The Mosaics in Science Diversity Program through the National Parks Service.  The program focuses on persons that are under-represented in STEM field and offers an entry level natural resource science internship that focuses on career exploration and building fundamental natural resource science skills. Each Mosaics Intern will receive a weekly stipend of $400, park-provided housing or a housing allowance and paid travel expenses. Ms. Gifford will complete her internship at Rocky Mountain National Park. 

ABOUT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY-PUEBLO  

Colorado State University-Pueblo is committed to excellence, setting the standard for regional comprehensive universities in teaching, research and service by providing leadership and access for its region while maintaining its commitment to diversity.

As a premier comprehensive regional university, Colorado State University-Pueblo offers a wide range of undergraduate degrees as well as specialized graduate degrees. As a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, CSU-Pueblo is committed to maintaining university accessibility which reflects southern Colorado’s culturally and ethnically diverse student body, including first generation students. The University is committed to high-quality academics, affordable education, transformative opportunities, and supportive student life. CSU-Pueblo strives to be distinguished by the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparations as well as an emphasis on experiential education that reflects skills and competencies needed in a global society.

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