CCCS News
CCCS Recognizes Outstanding Community College Students at Annual Awards Event
April 10, 2024 (Denver, CO) – Today the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and Aims Community College honored more than 80 community college students during the 2024 Student Excellence Awards, an annual event hosted by CCCS in partnership with the Credit Union of Colorado and the State Student Advisory Council (SSAC).
The event recognizes students for their outstanding service and scholarship within three categories:
- The Inclusive Excellence Champion award, sponsored by SSAC, recognizes students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion on their campus;
- The Rising Star award, sponsored by SSAC, recognizes students who have increased the level and quality of student engagement on campus; and
- The Phi Theta Kappa All-Colorado Academic Team award recognizes the academic accomplishments of high-achieving student members of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society from across the state of Colorado.
“Each of these scholars have demonstrated exceptional commitment to academic excellence and community leadership, and their contributions are truly commendable,” said Joe Garcia, chancellor of CCCS. “We are proud to recognize their efforts today and know they will continue to make impact wherever they go next.”
The 2024 honorees are as follows:
| Aims Community College | |
|---|---|
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | N/A |
| Rising Star Awardees | N/A |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Nicholas Guerrieri Tanner Olson Jessie Rizo Jasmen Cardona Amaya Ixel Macias |
| Arapahoe Community College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Elise Edwards |
| Rising Star Awardees | Alexa Fitzpatrick Isha Singh |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Alexander Brainerd Ripley Cusinato Isabelle Tolar |
| Colorado Northwestern Community College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Taiah Wilson |
| Rising Star Awardees | Joash Miles Emily Amick |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | N/A |
| Community College of Aurora | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Daniela Portela-Sanchez |
| Rising Star Awardees | Elmer Hernandez Zani Pessima |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Van Hoa Duong Mariem Dia Daniella Park |
| Community College of Denver | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Heather Hall |
| Rising Star Awardees | Jorge Orozco Decoyia Patton |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Madeleine Fulton Ivan Ramos |
| Front Range Community College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Deanna Olson |
| Rising Star Awardees | Will McFarland Christina Faith Vivi Nguyen |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Michaela Perez Abel Rivera Stormy Botkin Judith Goldberg Amanda Hathaway Meyer Kimera Russell-McCarty Isabel Delgado Min Ning April Purello |
| Lamar Community College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Christiana Montanez |
| Rising Star Awardees | Jami Jo Quick Destiny Morales-Forney |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Kyle Beffa Alexi Hoy Jami Jo Quick |
| Morgan Community College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Kate Acevedo Landeros |
| Rising Star Awardees | Kelsi Smits Aaron Sierra |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Raul Hernandez Robles Anai Macias Castellanos |
| Northeastern Junior College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | N/A |
| Rising Star Awardees | Kellum Carnahan Erin Williams |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Faythe Eichler Jada Thurber |
| Otero College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Brooke Harris |
| Rising Star Awardees | Rhoman Eyere Kristen Sharp |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Adam Adler |
| Pikes Peak State College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Hitcel Hernandez |
| Rising Star Awardees | Shannon Schumm Megan “Sheer” Birchfield |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Douglas Freeman Heather Hamilton Hitcel Hernandez Leslie Valeska Nakayla Fry Cosette Racine |
| Pueblo Community College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Eduardo Fontes Val Harris Meghan Maynes Emilio Ortega Natassia Rivera Sebastian Rivera Zach Smaller |
| Rising Star Awardees | Derrick Downs Dantzelle Yazzie |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Sebastian Rivera Richelle Stephens Lillian Byrne |
| Red Rocks Community College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | Xavier Bolden |
| Rising Star Awardees | Gisele Yellow Eagle Diego Saenz |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Nicholas Betz Misty Johnson |
| Trinidad State College | |
| Inclusive Excellence Champions | N/A |
| Rising Star Awardees | Zoey Stewart Dulce Trujillo |
| Phi Theta Kappa Awardees | Marissa Valenzuela |
###
About CCCS
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education and workforce development, delivering thousands of programs to over 125,000 students annually through 13 colleges and 35 locations across Colorado. The System’s open-access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to high quality, affordable higher education opportunities. The System Office provides leadership, advocacy, and support to the colleges under the direction of the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE). Join us in changing the way Colorado goes to college www.cccs.edu.
About the Credit Union of Colorado
The Credit Union of Colorado has more than 90 years of experience serving members of the Colorado community. The Credit Union of Colorado supports local businesses, creates Colorado jobs, and is an important source of financial stability in the state economy. Today, more than 170,000 people, from all walks of life, enjoy the benefits of membership in the credit union that is worth over $2.5 billion in assets.