Students in Focus

Aaron Rogers remembers one of his first experiences at CU-Boulder vividly...walking onto Farrand Field on his first Saturday night as a freshman during the Welcome Fest concert. Thinking back, he says the moment helped propel his interest in music first, and then the music industry.

Mackenzie Belden is this year's College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Graduate for Service. Learn how she is turning her mechanical engineering major into a force for good in developing nations.

Aaron Rogers remembers one of his first experiences at CU-Boulder vividly...walking onto Farrand Field on his first Saturday night as a freshman during the Welcome Fest concert. Thinking back, he says the moment helped propel his interest in music first, and then the music industry.

Graduating senior Brian Newsom has made the most of his time at CU-Boulder by joining a growing "hacker" community, participating in competitions such as SXSW and New Venture Challenge and cementing a well-rounded education that capitalizes on his love of music and math.

Emily Schaldach’s college experience is not quite what she expected. She is on a tight schedule, trains hard and goes to bed early. And she is taking calculus. As a competitive racer for the CU-Boulder Cycling Team and Ridebiker Alliance, Schaldach spends time on her bike every single day.

One plans to inspire teens in music. Another aims to change the world through physics. Still another is cooking up snappy advertising slogans sure to be remembered. This winter’s outstanding graduates reflect the best of CU-Boulder, from their passion for a field of study to their desire to share their knowledge and make the world a better place.

While interning at the Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Longmont, Colorado, over the summer of 2013, Wendy Duran realized what she really wanted to do with the rest of her life.