Kushmakar Baral

Twelve Aurora Public Schools students are on cloud nine after finding out that they had earned a Boettcher, Daniel’s Fund or Gates Millennium scholarship.

The Daniels Fund selects high school seniors who have demonstrated strong character and a determination to succeed in life. The scholarship covers all required tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies and a variety of other miscellaneous expenses.

The Gates Millennium Scholarship recognizes students with outstanding academic performance. It covers unmet financial need to attend any college or university. Aurora Central‘s Diego Aguilar Lupian and Rangeview’s Feyone La earned this award.

Aurora Central senior Kushmakar Baral is a Daniels Fund and Gates scholar, a feat not often accomplished. He plans to study biomedical engineering at University of Colorado at Boulder.

Hinkley student Scarlett Jimenez earned the Boettcher Scholarship, a "full-ride” merit-based financial award to attend any college or university in Colorado. More than 1,300 students apply each year. She is one of 40 statewide to receive the scholarship.

Congratulations to the following 2012-13 Daniels Fund Scholars:

Aurora Central 
Kusmakar Baral
Amos Gwa
Javier Lopez

Hinkley
Raul Amaya Barrios
Thong Phung

Lydia Sanchez

Rangeview
Marina Santiago

William Smith
JacRuelyn Howard

For more APS scholarship news, click here.

The Aurora Public Schools Education Foundation awards five $4,000 scholarships to one student at each APS high school. The scholarship is funded by the “Paving the Way to Success” campaign.

The APS community members purchase engraved bricks and glass wall panels at the Professional Learning and Conference Center to raise funds for the scholarships.

Congratulations to Jacqueline Navarez of Hinkley, Taylor Botte of William Smith, Trevor Hancock of Rangeview, Michelle McCandlish of Gateway, and Erna Lukac of Aurora Central!

Dr. Jim Wingert, center, owner of Broadview Animal Clinic, and Deanna Kline, left, Hinkley High School counselor, present a $250 scholarship to Rangeview High School student Brittany Hudson.

Submitted by Kim Wisneski
Pickens Technical College

The Aurora Public Schools and Pickens Technical College Executive Internship Program recently hosted its end of semester Sponsor Appreciation Ceremony.  More than 100 guests,  including APS Deputy Superintendent William Stuart, Board of Education President JulieMarie A. Shepard and representatives from APS high schools, attended and praised students on their progress.  Proud parents supported their sons and daughters who spoke to the audience about their internship experiences and what it meant for their future. 

Hosting the ceremony were students Ileana Flores (Gateway High School), Sara Russell (Rangeview High School) and David Lee Hernandez (Gateway). 

Twenty-three students earned the Presidential Service Award and were presented with certificates and pins.  Fourteen students earned the Bronze Award for completing 100 hours of community service, four students earne the silver award for completing 175-249 hours of community service and five students earned the gold award for 250 hours of community service.

The EIP Advisory Committee also presented $250 scholarships to Rangeview's Brittany Hudson and Aurora Central High School's Joel Eshun. The scholarships were donated on behalf of the Broadview Animal Clinic.

Wingert and Kline present a $250 scholarship to Aurora Central High School student Joel Eshun.

May 30, 2013
7:00 Check-in
7:30 Shotgun Start
Aurora Hills Golf Course
50 Peoria Street
Aurora, Colorado

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Scarlett Jimenez

Aurora Public Schools high school seniors are raking in many scholarships and other financial awards to assist with paying for college. Here are some of the highlights of the class of 2013 scholarship recipients:

• Hinkley High School senior Scarlett Jimenez  earned a 2013 Boettcher Foundation Scholarship, a "full-ride” merit-based financial award to attend any college or university in Colorado. More than 1,300 students apply each year. She is one of 40 statewide to receive the scholarship. Jimenez, who attended Elkhart Elementary School and East Middle School, is currently Hinkley's Student Council and National Honor Society President. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in political science at the University of Denver. 

• Eleven APS students earned the Daniels Fund and Gates Millennium scholarships. The Daniels Fund selects high school seniors who have demonstrated strong character and a determination to succeed in life. The scholarship covers all required tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies and a variety of other miscellaneous expenses. The Gates Millennium Scholarship recognizes students with outstanding academic performance. It covers unmet financial need to attend any college or university. To see a list of the winners, click here.

• 

  Thong Phong, third from l

  Four Aurora Public Schools students are recipients of the Comcast Foundation’s 2013-14 Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Michael Brungardt of Hinkley High School, Jonathan Delgado of Aurora Central High School, T'Hani Holt of William Smith High School, and Jasmine Koch of Rangeview High School. These students will receive their scholarship awards this summer as they prepare to begin college in the fall. The Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program provides $1,000 scholarships to students who strive to achieve their potential, are catalysts for positive change in their communities, are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students.

• The Better Business Bureau recognized Hinkley High School senior Thong Phung for his outstanding character and high ethical standards, awarding him a $10,000 Student of Integrity Scholarship. The annual scholarship program recognizes and promotes ethics and integrity among young people. The BBB awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors who personify all of the best aspects of high character in their personal choices and actions.
   
• 

  Diego Aguilar Lupan, left, and Erna Lukac

  The Aurora Public Schools Education Foundation awards five $4,000 scholarships to one student at each APS high school. The scholarship is funded by the “Paving the Way to Success” campaign. The APS community members purchase engraved bricks and glass wall panels at the Professional 
  Learning and Conference Center to raise funds for the scholarships. Congratulations to Jacqueline Navarez, Hinkley; Taylor Botte, William Smith; Trevor Hancock, Rangeview; Michelle McCandlish, Gateway; Erna Lukac, Aurora Central.

• The Greenhouse Scholarship program provides comprehensive personal and financial support to high-performing, under-resourced college students. Using their unique Whole Person© approach, which offers intellectual, academic, professional, and financial support, the program cultivates the next generation of community leaders. Congratulations to Aurora Central High School's Diego Aguilar Lupan and Erna Lukac

• Pickens Technical College students Joy Davidson and Roger Gresens each earned a $2,500 scholarship through the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, which partnered with Scholarship America to offer financial awards to students who are enrolled in a skilled trade program at a two-year college, vocational school or approved training institute. In addition, Davidson and Gresens were invited to appear alongside Mike Rowe
  
  

  Pickens Tech students Roger Grenses, left, and Joy Davidson, far right

  on the Katie Couric Show to discuss their experience with career and technical education.

**Additional college scholarships will be announced over the next few months, so please stay tuned.

Congratulations to the following students:

Erna Lukac

Aurora Central

1. Erna Lukac - V
2. Alexsis Rafael Alvarado Jacquez
3. Briant Alan Pedroza Morales
4. Melyzjah Verdell Smith
5. Beatriz Bermudez
6. Diego Aguilar Lupian
7. Amos Gwa
8. Meredith Marie Cahill
     Vadessa Nashae Camack
9. Ahmawn Rashawn Sadae Romby
10. Oyuki Gamboa

Clinton Parapat

Gateway

1. Clinton Parapat – V 
2. Sergio Ivan Berdeja Cisneros
3. Rahul Miglani
4. Miguel Mendoza Castaneda 
5. Judith Acevedo Ramos
6. Hunter Valdo
7. Alexandra Jackson
8. Heather Turner-Holmes
9. Ryan Collins
      Tyler Fitzgerald
10. Molly Blancaflor

Michael Brungardt

Hinkley

1. Michael Anthony Brungardt – V
2. Han Ngoc Tran
3. Daniel Shane Wall
4. Emily Rebekah Sutton
5. Scarlett A. Jimenez
6. America Fernanda Elias Martinez
7. Isis Aylin Rivera Lopez
8. Leonella Lopez
9. Charissa Alexandra Samaniego
10. Brianna Nicole Maldonado

Aimee Lam

Rangeview

1. Aimee Lam - V
2. Ellis Cray Arnold
3. Owen Kendall Proctor
4. Feyone Elena La
5. Christiana Beba Dedi
6. Catherine O McGowan
7. Jasmine Marie Koch
8. Hannah Noelle Terzic
9. Raina Lauren Hunt
10. Matthew Richard Feria

Congratulations to all of the 2013 winners!

Altura Elementary 
Josue Torres Madera
Jorge Herrera-Puente
Itzel Trujillo Melendez
Joselyn Rico-Sullivan
Fernando Melendez

Arkansas Elementary
Yahir Estrada Bonilla
Morgan Garst
Ariana Gomez
Ingrid Romero 
Cassidy Stiles

Aurora Academy K-8
Samuel Kingsbury
Issac Sprong
Lawrence Gonzales
Faheem Sharif
Ivan Tochimani Hernandez
Kaitlyn Thompson
Christian Wells
Ricardo Angel-Lucero

Aurora Central High School
Jasmine Carr
Brenda Sanchez
Dillon Elliott
Cesar Castaneda Hernandez

Aurora Frontier K-8
Thomas Hurtya 
James Kinney
Natasha Thornton

Aurora West College Preparatory Academy 
Meleah Bennett
Raul Vazquez Hernandez
Gabriella Casillas
Daimeon McGary
Sherlock Crockett
Andrea Gomez

AXL Learning Academy
Jordan Martinez
Evan Eimer
Avery Martinez
Kameren Kelly
Barron DeVille
Andrea Reyna
Jessica Pau
Ruby Skinner

Aurora Hills Middle School 
Kendra Leslie 
Hendrick Lopez-Beltran
EryKah Williams

Aurora Quest K-8
Kaylynn Stewart
Mimi Rai
Hannah Bonansinga
Zakary Nfaoui
Madeline Torrez
Anusha Vajrala
Trinity Stevenson
Shelby Kleinhans 

Boston K-8 
Miria Coronel
Sergio Ramirez
Juan Quintanar
Francisco Toledo
Liea Daniels
Verna Valenzuela
Stacey Zepeda
Diana Olivas Cordoba

Century Elementary
Litzy Venalonzo
Ashley Williams
Nelise Jacquart
Josie Warner
Genesis Pineda 

Columbia Middle School 
Katharina Wiegand
Jewel Brown
Sydney Comet

Clyde Miller Elementary P-8 
Brianna Arias
Carlos Lopez
Ashly Castaneda
Bryan Herrera
Ashley Madera
Indiana Cloud
Haylee Ortiz
Dylan Clayborn

Crawford Elementary
Jocelyne Lopez Pinedo
Hung Thang
Isaac Gutierrez
Nancy Hechavarias
Yadira Espinoza Ortega

Dalton Elementary 
Madalynn Dossey
Rachel Labit
Jordan Kimpson
Chloe Johnson
Danielle Arellano

Dartmouth Elementary 
Carol Escoto Llanos
Nesseem Ould-Khaled
Katerin Urias Zamora
Jose Soto Echeveste
Ashley De La Hoya Esparza

East Middle School
Brayan Macias Solis
Kimberly Nerio
Micaela Tomkins

Elkhart Elementary
Camila Cardenas
Jack Tran
Wynter Rains
Bonsitu Kebeto
Ashley Uribe

Fletcher Intermediate
Victoria Castaneda
David Lopez
Mariana Leon
Hector Galindo
Esperanza Torres

Fletcher Primary
Isaac Lopez
Yulissa Farrera
Marswella Doucett

Fulton Academy of Excellence
Antonio Guzman Colon
Ruby Rodriguez
Alexsis Angulo Duran
Stephanie Pickens
Daniel Hernandez

Gateway High School
Isidro Vargas Hernandez
Cindy Rodriquez
Zephaniah Baca
T'Aunsanae Quarles

Global Village Academy
Eve Baker
Sarah Capule
Gavin Geiger
Ashley Kidwell
Anthony Curtis Hicks II
Ariana Carmody
Jorge Flores Martinez
Ebelyn Tapia Garcia, 8th grade

Hinkley High School
Meshalay Cherry
Jacob Duke
Salamasina Fifita
Adrian Nava

Iowa Elementary 
Jayda Arbor
Presley Gordon
David Cisneros
Jonathan Seyoum
Damon Nash

Jewell Elementary 
Eman Adam,
Andrea Ursua-Garcia
Jocelyn Villanueva Loredo
Eugenie Budnik
Kristal Picazo

Kenton Elementary 
Rodrigo Quintero
Patience Graves
Erica Torres
Nickolas DeLeon
Miguel Gomez

Lansing Elementary
Margarita Dominguez Flores
Angel Aguilera
Gissele Bueno Castaneda
Jaylene Cruz

Laredo Elementary
Victoria Mancinas
Giovanni Escobar
Thomas Miller
Meja Trammell
Emily Hernandez

Lotus School for Excellence 
Samantha Crossland
Irwin Pascual
Abdullah Haji Ewaz
Sofia Carrera
Kihra Martinez
Khalillaulah Haji Ewaz
Alexandria Campbell
Samantha Shapard
Leah Galvez Valencia
Mehmet Karaoglu
Abenezer Beyene
Haneen Ziyadeh

Lyn Knoll Elementary
Guadalupe Chavez
Iris Serrano
Carlos Jimenez
Karla Agustin
Liya Seleshi

Montview Elementary 
Giezi De Leon Morales
Anahi Cruz Hernandez
Cristal Dominguez
Galilea Landa Posas
Josue Hernandez Serna

Mrachek Middle School
Tristan Workman
Laurian Quezada
Brandy Holmes

Murphy Creek P-8
Christopher Hopp
Madison Jones
Tabitha Passeretti
Chantel Williams
Kylie Severin
Avery Budny
Angelina Rivera
McKale Williams

North Middle School 
Abemelk Tadesse
Ezmarae Cardona
Hannah Dinkel

Paris Elementary 
Abner Mendez
Zulue Jimenez-Lopez
Alexander Salazar
Valerie Morales
Hebelin Alcaraz Ortiz

Park Lane Elementary 
Alison Remigio
Eduardo Soto Garduno
Alexis Romero
Eh Way Paw
Sofia Marquez Mendez

Peoria Elementary
Elizabeth Bedolla
Abigail Rios Olivan
Angel Rodriguez
Dihana Araujo
Rosaly Cosme Garcia

Rangeview High School
Lam Nguyen
Michael Lozoya
Idannya "Iraly" Salazar
Lisa Napper

Sable Elementary
Moo Ku Paw
DJ Wilcher
David Oh Win
Mara Regina Bencomo
Viviana Mercedes Segovia

Side Creek Elementary 
Lilia Juarez
Ayush Khadka
Samantha Carmona
Blessed Asare
Sheldon Lucas-McHenry

Sixth Avenue Elementary 
Dulces Montes Araujo
Maximiliano Martinez Ozuna
Takari Draper
Bianca Marquez Cortez
Ossiel Arciba Rodriguez

South Middle School 
Mykhia Johnson
Joanna Mendy
Dahlia Enriquez

Tollgate Elementary 
Adrian Pinedo Gutierrez
Adrian Solano
Diego Navarro
Karen Ramos
Kawena Johnson

Vassar Elementary 
D'Hani Fleming
Joseph Nguyen
Ruben Porras
Anthony Detweiler
Nicholas Olquin

Vaughn Elementary
Kevin Melgar
Joseph Reyes
Gustabo Fuentes
Alliyah Reynosa
Kaylee Gonzalez

Virginia Court Elementary
Abigail Estrada
Derek Acuna Garcia
Christina Becerra
Brian Sanchez
Giselle DeHaro

Vista PEAK Exploratory P-8
Ally Bohn
Joseph Farrell
Harley Zubia
Jena Crawford
Sydney Allen
Julian Robinson
Cesar Saenz

Vista PEAK Preparatory 9-12
Adriana Robinson
Hunter Vidal
Andrea Parra Banales
Miguel Lobatos

Wheeling Elementary
Aurora Sterret
Jorge Melendrez, Jr.
McKenzie Z'Dorne
Jorja Whyte
Jate'via Bailey

William Smith High School
Yonathan Fisseha
Kyle Bundy
Jai Hemmelgarn
Savana Patchen

Yale Elementary
Nataly Leon
Eli Uribe
Giovanni Flores
Elizabeth Ortega
Liseth Vargas

Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan talks to a class at Rangeview High School during the school's Career Day. Hogan outlined what it means to serve as mayor, the political process and how someone interested in politics can get involved.

Students at Rangeview High School are always encouraged to think about the future, but members of the working Aurora community recently stopped by to offer additional encouragement during the schools Career Day.

Among the guests included Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, who spoke to students about his other employment experience, his educational background and what ultimately led him to run for mayor. He gave students a snapshot of what his day typically looks like and some of the challenges that he's faced during his first term.

"It's always good to talk to kids because their questions are different than questions you get from the community at-large," Hogan said. "They're actually broader or sometimes more poignant, and that's fabulous."

Other invited guests included Parker Mayor Mike Waid as well as members of the Aurora Police Department.

Recently, more than 200 female students from Rangeview High School took advantage of an opportunity to see the film "Girl Rising."  The movie tells the stories of nine girls from different parts of the world who face arranged marriages, rape, child slavery and other heartbreaking injustices. Despite these obstacles, the brave girls offer hope and inspiration. By getting an education, they're able to break barriers and create change. Each girl's story was written by a renowned writer from her native country.  

The purpose of watching the film was to empower Rangeview students to improve their education.  Rangeview seniors, administrators, counselors and teachers led students in various activities to help enhance their learning experience and understanding of the movie’s sensitive content.  

For more information on the film and to preview the trailer, visit http://girlrising.com/.  

Student reactions to the film - 

 A counselor's perspective -

Hundreds of staff, parents and community members enjoyed a first-hand look at APS Academic and Career Pathways at a recent celebration. Student demonstrations including spine palpation, bioloid robots and aerospace engineering highlighted the annual "Pathways to Results" event.

Visual demonstrations from each pathway – plus other learning related to business/community/workforce partners – gave students the opportunity to showcase what they are learning in the classroom.

"One of the coolest things I have done in science was when we learned about electricity... we connected the wire with the battery to make a circuit to turn on the light bulb," said Park Lane Elementary School student Simon Sanchez. "We were also pharmacists for a day. We got to wear lab coats and make lotion at University of Colorado!" 

There are four Academic and Career Pathways in Aurora Public Schools:

• Arts and Communication
• Business
• Health Sciences
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

"With the APS pathways program, students are provided a map and they become aware of the potential that they posses," said Aurora Central High School student Vadessa Camack. "They use these tools to not only dream, but they use them to actually reach the destinations they have set to reach on the path that they chosen."

APS partners continue to significantly impact the development and hands-on learning opportunities related to Academic and Career Pathways and student success. Thank you for your support!