Brenda
Graduated: Abraham Lincoln High School, Denver
College:University of Denver
Career Goal: Business
Brenda is both a courageous risk-taker and a compassionate relationship-builder. She moved to the U.S. from Mexico during her junior year of high school without knowing how to speak or write a sentence of English. Her ability to pick up the language surpassed anything we have seen - and it is entirely due to her unwavering commitment and accountability to meet the high expectations she sets for herself. Brenda was the top student at her school in Mexico and wanted to continue that track record here. She amazed her teachers by volunteering to give presentations in front of the class and becoming involved in extracurricular activities immediately after arriving. Brenda graduated third in her class of 445 students, and teachers described her as one of their best students. Brenda continues to balance her passion for academics, community service, and learning of other cultures through leadership positions in the Latino Student Alliance, Black Student Alliance, Volunteers in Partnership, Pioneer Leadership Program, and the Bridge Project. In addition, she has secured opportunities and funding to study abroad in Spain, Argentina, and China. Brenda believes her commitment to make a difference amongst diverse organizations and people is her path to global leadership.
Graduated: Abraham Lincoln High School, Denver
College:University of Denver
Career Goal: Business
Brenda is both a courageous risk-taker and a compassionate relationship-builder. She moved to the U.S. from Mexico during her junior year of high school without knowing how to speak or write a sentence of English. Her ability to pick up the language surpassed anything we have seen - and it is entirely due to her unwavering commitment and accountability to meet the high expectations she sets for herself. Brenda was the top student at her school in Mexico and wanted to continue that track record here. She amazed her teachers by volunteering to give presentations in front of the class and becoming involved in extracurricular activities immediately after arriving. Brenda graduated third in her class of 445 students, and teachers described her as one of their best students. Brenda continues to balance her passion for academics, community service, and learning of other cultures through leadership positions in the Latino Student Alliance, Black Student Alliance, Volunteers in Partnership, Pioneer Leadership Program, and the Bridge Project. In addition, she has secured opportunities and funding to study abroad in Spain, Argentina, and China. Brenda believes her commitment to make a difference amongst diverse organizations and people is her path to global leadership.
Brianna
Graduated: Overland High School, Aurora
College: Colorado State University
Career Goal: Entrepreneurship / Event Planning
Passionate about her African culture and heritage, Brianna actively works to tear down racial stereotypes by organizing events and encouraging others to speak up. At Colorado State University, Brianna volunteers with College 101 and the Dream Project to mentor other African American youth to show them that they can achieve their goals, control their own destiny, and, most importantly, pursue higher education. She is active in her community and in high school served as Student Council President and Black Student Alliance President, and participated in the Interact Community Service Club, National Honor Society, and Future Business Leaders of America. One of Brianna's high school teachers wrote, "Brianna is an enormously strong individual who is not afraid to do anything to get what she wants. She works many hours outside of school and volunteers just as many, in addition to working tremendously hard each and every day to be the best student she can."
Graduated: Overland High School, Aurora
College: Colorado State University
Career Goal: Entrepreneurship / Event Planning
Passionate about her African culture and heritage, Brianna actively works to tear down racial stereotypes by organizing events and encouraging others to speak up. At Colorado State University, Brianna volunteers with College 101 and the Dream Project to mentor other African American youth to show them that they can achieve their goals, control their own destiny, and, most importantly, pursue higher education. She is active in her community and in high school served as Student Council President and Black Student Alliance President, and participated in the Interact Community Service Club, National Honor Society, and Future Business Leaders of America. One of Brianna's high school teachers wrote, "Brianna is an enormously strong individual who is not afraid to do anything to get what she wants. She works many hours outside of school and volunteers just as many, in addition to working tremendously hard each and every day to be the best student she can."
josÉ
Graduated: Arrupe Jesuit High School, Denver
College: Georgetown University
Career Goal: Business
"I am an ordinary student, but what sets me apart from anyone else is my extraordinary determination to follow my passions in life." With straight As, and as valedictorian of his high school class, we think Jose is anything but 'ordinary.' He was the clear leader for service within his high school, having recruited nearly 100 volunteers to participate in many service projects. The first generation in his family to graduate from high school, Jose spent the four years in high school working for Wells Fargo Securities in municipal finance. He is pursuing his interest in business at Georgetown University, where he works in the Office of the President and was selected for his university's highly selective Baker Scholars program to cultivate business leaders. Recognized for his outstanding achievements in high school and service to his community by General Colin Powell on MSNBC, Jose continues to be inspired by his meeting with General Powell and organizes roundtable discussions between senior government officials and Georgetown University students as an officer with student group HoyaInnovation.
Graduated: Arrupe Jesuit High School, Denver
College: Georgetown University
Career Goal: Business
"I am an ordinary student, but what sets me apart from anyone else is my extraordinary determination to follow my passions in life." With straight As, and as valedictorian of his high school class, we think Jose is anything but 'ordinary.' He was the clear leader for service within his high school, having recruited nearly 100 volunteers to participate in many service projects. The first generation in his family to graduate from high school, Jose spent the four years in high school working for Wells Fargo Securities in municipal finance. He is pursuing his interest in business at Georgetown University, where he works in the Office of the President and was selected for his university's highly selective Baker Scholars program to cultivate business leaders. Recognized for his outstanding achievements in high school and service to his community by General Colin Powell on MSNBC, Jose continues to be inspired by his meeting with General Powell and organizes roundtable discussions between senior government officials and Georgetown University students as an officer with student group HoyaInnovation.
Kyle
Graduated: Wiggins Jr-Sr High School, Wiggins
College: Stanford University
Career Goal: Civil Engineering
It is not hard to see why the Wendy's High School Heisman Committee chose Kyle as their National Male Winner in 2009. Not only was he a stellar three-sport athlete, reaching the state championship in wrestling for three consecutive years, and his high school class valedictorian, but Kyle was also a dedicated servant to his school and community through numerous service organizations. With the knowledge that he is a role model for his teammates, peers, and younger students, Kyle's high school teachers and friends explain that, "Kyle helps pull those around him up and continues to serve as an example of what can and does happen when you combine a lot of hard work and a little direction." Kyle, learning from his fulfilling and meaningful community service activities in high school, has chosen to immerse himself in the community at Stanford. He is a counselor for a week-long camp for children whose parents currently have cancer or have died from cancer, is on the leadership team for an organization that serves breakfast to a homeless shelter once a week, volunteers weekly at a church by leading a middle school bible study group, was the 2011-2012 editor for a Christian journal on campus, and interned for Ball Corporation. After college, Kyle would like to help rebuild the infrastructure of small and under-resourced communities. To help him realize this goal, Kyle plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering.
Graduated: Wiggins Jr-Sr High School, Wiggins
College: Stanford University
Career Goal: Civil Engineering
It is not hard to see why the Wendy's High School Heisman Committee chose Kyle as their National Male Winner in 2009. Not only was he a stellar three-sport athlete, reaching the state championship in wrestling for three consecutive years, and his high school class valedictorian, but Kyle was also a dedicated servant to his school and community through numerous service organizations. With the knowledge that he is a role model for his teammates, peers, and younger students, Kyle's high school teachers and friends explain that, "Kyle helps pull those around him up and continues to serve as an example of what can and does happen when you combine a lot of hard work and a little direction." Kyle, learning from his fulfilling and meaningful community service activities in high school, has chosen to immerse himself in the community at Stanford. He is a counselor for a week-long camp for children whose parents currently have cancer or have died from cancer, is on the leadership team for an organization that serves breakfast to a homeless shelter once a week, volunteers weekly at a church by leading a middle school bible study group, was the 2011-2012 editor for a Christian journal on campus, and interned for Ball Corporation. After college, Kyle would like to help rebuild the infrastructure of small and under-resourced communities. To help him realize this goal, Kyle plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering.
Kyran
Graduated: Coronado High School, Colorado Springs
College: University of Denver
Career Goal: Clinical Psychology
Kyran is the ultimate Renaissance student with interests ranging from philosophy to hiking and politics to creative writing. These wide-ranging interests are displayed in her varied experiences in high school as a sports team captain, newspaper writer, library volunteer, and member of the city's Teen Advisory Board. Additionally, as the President of her high school's Pay It Forward Club, Kyran organized numerous activities that raised funds for other school organizations, beautified local parks, and provided cars to economically disadvantaged families - encouraging the recipients to pass along the good deed. She continued to influence her peers as a mentor in the Belmont Charter mentoring in college. Kyran's infectious optimism and thirst for new experiences belies the challenges she and her family have faced in recent years, "each obstacle I overcome makes me stronger, exceedingly resilient, determined and driven."
Graduated: Coronado High School, Colorado Springs
College: University of Denver
Career Goal: Clinical Psychology
Kyran is the ultimate Renaissance student with interests ranging from philosophy to hiking and politics to creative writing. These wide-ranging interests are displayed in her varied experiences in high school as a sports team captain, newspaper writer, library volunteer, and member of the city's Teen Advisory Board. Additionally, as the President of her high school's Pay It Forward Club, Kyran organized numerous activities that raised funds for other school organizations, beautified local parks, and provided cars to economically disadvantaged families - encouraging the recipients to pass along the good deed. She continued to influence her peers as a mentor in the Belmont Charter mentoring in college. Kyran's infectious optimism and thirst for new experiences belies the challenges she and her family have faced in recent years, "each obstacle I overcome makes me stronger, exceedingly resilient, determined and driven."
Lauren
Graduated: Basalt High School, Basalt
College: Dominican University of California
Career Goal: Graphic Design and Communications
Giving back to the community is a value Lauren lives each year through her participation in Relay for Life. Since 2005, Lauren has walked and served as a team captain in the Roaring Fork Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society. Lauren successfully raised over $7,000 for the event by coordinating a silent auction and hosting a bake sale, as well as soliciting individual donations. She won the Roaring Fork Relay for Life 2009 Youth Fundraising Award for being the youth participant who raised the most money. Given that Relay for Life is a nation-wide event, Lauren has continued her leadership in the organization as Team Captain for her university's Relay for Life team. She has held a job since seventh grade and in college is active in her Living Learning Community, organized art shows on campus, and interned for Orange Collar Media. A 4.0 student, Lauren is also in her college's Honors Society. Respectful and tactful, Lauren can quietly lead and encourage those around her.
Graduated: Basalt High School, Basalt
College: Dominican University of California
Career Goal: Graphic Design and Communications
Giving back to the community is a value Lauren lives each year through her participation in Relay for Life. Since 2005, Lauren has walked and served as a team captain in the Roaring Fork Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society. Lauren successfully raised over $7,000 for the event by coordinating a silent auction and hosting a bake sale, as well as soliciting individual donations. She won the Roaring Fork Relay for Life 2009 Youth Fundraising Award for being the youth participant who raised the most money. Given that Relay for Life is a nation-wide event, Lauren has continued her leadership in the organization as Team Captain for her university's Relay for Life team. She has held a job since seventh grade and in college is active in her Living Learning Community, organized art shows on campus, and interned for Orange Collar Media. A 4.0 student, Lauren is also in her college's Honors Society. Respectful and tactful, Lauren can quietly lead and encourage those around her.
Madeline
Graduated: Centaurus High School, Lafayette
College: Colorado School of Mines
Career Goal: Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
Madeline is a recognized leader in her school and community. In high school she served as President of the National Honors Society and Engineers without Borders and also held additional leadership positions in theatre and tennis. Showcasing her ambition, Madeline organized a trip to Costa Rica, successfully navigating the difficult process of a school-sponsored trip abroad. Enthusiastic and outgoing, Madeline harnesses her positive energy and continues to help others at Mines as VIce President of Event Planning for Pi Beta Phi, Secretary for the Material Science and Engineering Club, Founder and President of the Mines Young Democrats, Summer Fellow for Organizing for America, and as a mentor for first year students at Mines. Squeezing the most out of her time, Madeline never hesitates to try new things and aims to learn as much as she can along the way.
Graduated: Centaurus High School, Lafayette
College: Colorado School of Mines
Career Goal: Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
Madeline is a recognized leader in her school and community. In high school she served as President of the National Honors Society and Engineers without Borders and also held additional leadership positions in theatre and tennis. Showcasing her ambition, Madeline organized a trip to Costa Rica, successfully navigating the difficult process of a school-sponsored trip abroad. Enthusiastic and outgoing, Madeline harnesses her positive energy and continues to help others at Mines as VIce President of Event Planning for Pi Beta Phi, Secretary for the Material Science and Engineering Club, Founder and President of the Mines Young Democrats, Summer Fellow for Organizing for America, and as a mentor for first year students at Mines. Squeezing the most out of her time, Madeline never hesitates to try new things and aims to learn as much as she can along the way.