Featured Students

Shimshon Rapaport is a senior math major interested in applied mathematics and renewable, sustainable, energy. Since his transfer from Arapahoe Community College, Shimshon has voluntarily piloted the CU Reuse Paper Project  a service that provides reusable paper to help-rooms, faculty, and student clubs around campus. Under the supervision of the Environmental Center, and in collaboration with CU Printing Services, over 1750 pounds of reused paper have been distributed. Shimshon hopes that by the time he graduates, a maintained paper conservation project will be implemented by the University so that everyone continues to enjoy the paper service and its contributions to sustainability. Shimshon welcomes inquiries on the project, collaborative interests, or potentially supplying reused paper to your office or help-room. Shimshon further recognizes SASC's and AEP's supportive and helpful services that have empowered his efforts in developing the project and sustained his academic pursuits at CU Boulder. 

Summer West is a sophomore studying International Affairs and she just declared her minor in Business Analytics.  Currently she interns for Senator Mark Udall on Friday evenings. Summer was interested in interning for the Senator because she wanted to understand domestic politics and legislative policies first hand. Summer realized that working for the government might not be what she wants to do but she is glad that she at least received the opportunity to work for a great person. Summer also likes working for the Information Technology service on campus. Summer hopes that her international politics background takes her far to another beautiful country where she could show off her political skills with a hint of analyzing performance data in a business setting.  

I am a sophomore and a Communications major here at CU. I’m originally from Memphis, Tennessee but attended high school in Austin, Texas. I do claim Memphis as my home though! Things that I love to do are debate competitively and play sports. I am on the Mock Trial team here at CU and am involved with CUSG, INVST Community Studies, Puksta Scholars and Impact the Youth Mentoring. I also work at the CU Rec Center and the William Wise Law Library. I have a huge passion for the youth. I have been involved with numerous mentor programs in Texas and started one here in Colorado. I strongly believe that the youth are our future so I want to make sure our future stays bright. After I finish my undergraduate degree at CU-Boulder, I plan to attend law school. Once I have graduated from law school, I want to practice civil litigation and criminal defense. I would love to start out in a firm then slowly transition into nonprofit criminal defense work. After years of practicing the law, I hope to gain enough knowledge and experience to become a judge. Ultimately I want to continue my work with the youth around the nation, and build vocational centers for communities that can provide resources that are scarce to them.
My short life history can be presented through a Venn diagram. It includes different identities and cultures but at the end representing only one unique identity and representation of me. I was born in Afghanistan and immigrated to Pakistan like thousands of other refugee families. Facing difficult circumstances, I grew up in Pakistan, before moving across the world to United States. My dad never had the opportunity to attend high school and my mom never had the chance to attend any primary school. I am a first generation to complete high school and enter college. Over the past years, I have had to work hard and put in extra effort as my parents weren’t able to help me with my homework or college choices. I further plan to attend medical school or find a job in a lab as well. I hope to get my PhD and become a role model for many girls who are struggling for their basic rights such as education and having an option in their lives. I enjoy helping others therefore I am also an instructor assistant which helps me get out of my comfort zone and step out into the real world. Despite all the challenges that I face due to belonging to an ethnic and religious minority and language barriers, I have learned and maintained a positive attitude.

As a first generation student born to Vietnamese refugees, I was always ingrained with that mindset that nothing is impossible. Although my parents always planned for me to attend medical school and become a doctor, this is not the path I have chosen. I believe that you can do what you love for a living and I know that I can still make a difference in this career path. I graduated in May 2012 with a BA in Integrative Physiology and a minor in the business.  In the fall, I will be attending UCLA where I will be pursuing a Master's of Public Health focused on health management and policy. I am fortunate and humbled to attend my top choice school and to even have this amazing opportunity. My advice for everyone is take advantage of all opportunities and to learn from these experiences…you never know where it may take you!

Kaylee is currently a freshman in the Academic Excellence Student Support Services, TRiO program.  She is currently majoring in Integrative Physiology.  

Kaylee began college with aspirations to become the first doctor in her family but is now considering a career in education, perhaps as a TRiO Director.  “Culture and a thirst for knowledge have been the two most important values taught to me,” says Kaylee.  “And, not only has it been the root of many of my goals, but it is now the key to my success.”  

Kaylee was in competition with over 100 other students to win this award.  She will be publicly recognized for her achievement at the LAEF Annual Gala “Cambiando Vidas, Changing Lives” on Saturday, March 16th 2013.

I'm an avid reader and a film buff. I like storytelling in whatever form because people's experiences interest me. From music, to history, dance, math and psychology, I believe there are stories to be told everywhere in every way. I hope to continue learning and to one day be able to teach in whatever capacity.

Although born and raised in Colorado, I have and continue to consider myself a Mexican-American. As a first-generation American, there are numerous ambitions I have, primarily to succeed in life and become someone my family can be proud of. I recently graduated from CU-Boulder, majoring in International Affairs and Italian. Currently I am living in Washington, D.C. as a student at American University’s School of International Service where I am pursuing a Master’s Degree in Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs. At the moment I consider myself very fortunate to have the opportunity to be here and study what I am passionate about, mainly human rights, while being offered full financial help. This summer I hope to work abroad in Milan, Italy at the U.S. Consulate where I have been offered an internship for 8-12 weeks by the Department of State.