2023 Scholar Cohort Selected from Largest-Ever Applicant Pool
DENVER, May 1, 2023 — The Boettcher Foundation is thrilled to announce its 2023 Class of Boettcher Scholars.
“As Boettcher Scholars, these 50 dynamic thinkers and leaders have committed to attending Colorado universities where they will continue using their talents to elevate our communities right here at home,” said Katie Kramer, Boettcher Foundation president & CEO.
Since 1952, the Boettcher Scholarship Program has existed to keep Colorado’s most talented high school seniors in-state for their postsecondary years. Last fall, more than 2,000 Colorado students applied for the Boettcher Scholarship, the largest pool of applicants ever.
Scholars are selected based on academics, service, leadership, and character. In addition to receiving an $80,000 scholarship award across four years, Scholars also receive institutional, merit, and/or need-based aid from their respective campuses. As a comprehensive scholarship, the Boettcher award also includes programming and support to ensure that Scholars reach their full academic and leadership potential.
The Boettcher Scholar network includes more than 2,800 leaders who have gone on to make their marks in the sectors of business, government, nonprofits, and education.
This year’s cohort includes the following:
- A self-taught knitter and crocheter with a closet full of original clothing designs.
- A founder and officer of “Girls Like Us,” a program supporting the mental health and wellness of Black adolescent girls.
- The owner of a private pilot license.
- An accomplished vocal soloist and ballet dancer who was featured as the Nutcracker Prince for the Colorado Ballet Society.
- Co-founder of a neighborhood bee service who performs hive inspections for her community and has launched a business venture out of it.
- A student graduating high school with three associate degrees.
- Founder of a biomedical company developing a household health care device with a patent pending.
- Leader in the National FFA organization who contributes more than 650 hours to the family farm operation.
“This cohort of Scholars has a wide range of unique and impressive skills, talents, and interests,” said Vanessa Roman, director of scholarships & foundation programs. “Their commitment to leadership and service has truly enriched their communities all across the state and we are excited to see how they contribute to their college communities and beyond.”
Scholar names and photos to follow.
Contact:
Curtis L. Esquibel
Director of Communications & Community Engagement
curtis@boettcherfoundation.org
303.565.6291
About the Boettcher Foundation
We believe in the promise of Colorado and the potential of Coloradans because courageous leadership benefits every community in our state. By investing in people, programs, and organizations, we provide a foundation for transformational impact and community-building.
2023 Boettcher Scholars
Yumna Ali
CC
I am passionate about working with people because I've grown up surrounded by a cultural and religious community with morals to always give back to others.
Emma Aubert
CU Boulder
My career aspiration is to explore and find solutions to issues of individual safety and autonomy so that I can impact underdeveloped communities and ease the effects of poverty.
Joseph Brock
Mines
My favorite Colorado experience is spending my summer evenings leading tourists through the Cave of the Winds on underground expeditions.
Garrett Cannon
CSU
My career aspiration is to become a Psychiatrist so that I can impact as many people as I can who need help with their mental health.
Dalton Carroll
CU Boulder
I am passionate about the outdoors because the tranquility and peace they hold should be preserved for the next generations.
Michelle Chen
Arvada HS
CC
My proudest achievement is obtaining my private pilot's license in less than two months.
Kaviya Chidambaram
CC
My proudest achievement is helping students around the world fight for anti-racist education and meaningful representation in their communities.
Ami Diatta
CU Boulder
My proudest achievement is the creation of a research group to study and support black adolescent girls' mental health in Boulder County.
Lia Dino
CU Boulder
My career aspiration is to advocate for civil and human rights so that I can impact the power and representation of the most underserved global communities.
Hunter Donovan
Regis
My proudest achievement is serving two terms as a Colorado Future Business Leaders of America State Officer.
Avi Grope
CU Boulder
My favorite Colorado experience is the week I spent camping on Mt. Elbert and doing trail work with close friends.
Kerem Gurkan
CU Boulder
During my undergraduate career, I plan to continue refereeing soccer while studying computer science.
Yusuf Hanif
CU Boulder
My career aspiration is to enter the field of hospital administration so that I can impact the healthcare industry positively.
Jazz Hennes
CSU
A unique talent or skill I have is woodworking. I've made a chess table, a book shelf, a trophy shelf, and an Adirondack chair.
Charlotte Hoffman
CU Boulder
My proudest achievement is becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant to help make a difference in people's lives.
Lindsay Jeans
Mines
My proudest achievement is coming back from a major injury to become a two year captain and committing to become a collegiate athlete.
Jaikrit Johar
CU Boulder
During my undergraduate career, I plan to double major in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Business Administration.
Tess Johnson
CU Boulder
My favorite Colorado experience is gathering cattle on horseback while watching the sunrise.
Jhoany Juarez
CSU
My proudest achievement is running my own licensed automotive detailing business.
Kate Jordan Little
CU Boulder
My career aspiration is to become an Environmental Lawyer so that I can defend, and champion sustainability nationwide.
Katie Lockwood
CC
My proudest achievement is representing my county as the youngest member of the Colorado Climate Equity Community Advisory Council.
Caleb Loewengart
CU Boulder
My proudest achievement is co-directing a production of The Crucible wherein my school theatre company opened a conversation about queer discrimination and LGBTQ+ rights.
Brinda Malik
DU
My career aspiration is to become a Formula One Race Engineer so that I can impact representation and support of women in engineering fields.
Marissa Martinez
CSU
My favorite Colorado experience is hiking, fly-fishing, backpacking, and skiing in our beautiful mountains.
Aven McCall
DU
A unique talent or skill I have is my ability to play seven different instruments, including saxophone and flute.
Luis Mendoza Vega
CSU
My proudest achievement is overcoming a language barrier and becoming a top performer in my class.
Alina Miranda
CC
I am passionate about self-advocacy because looking out for yourself is empowering.
Emma Morgan
CU Boulder
A unique talent or skill I have is painting custom designs on shoes for my customers.
Noah Osuna
UNC
I am passionate about music because it's a universal language that allows you to express yourself in a way that nothing else can.
Luke Parker
CU Boulder
A unique talent or skill I have is teaching young trumpet players to love music through small group sectionals and community outreach concerts.
Iris Pixler
CC
My proudest achievement is co-founding a free theatre summer camp to create a positive space for youth to feel seen and valued.
Sujay Potlapelly
CU Boulder
I am passionate about computational neuroscience it allows for the integration of mathematics, computer science, and biology to study the workings of the brain.
Shruthi Rajesh
CU Boulder
My career aspiration is to go into the medical field as a physician so that I can impact marginalized groups by pushing to drastically improve the quality of their care by implementing measures to make healthcare more inclusive.
Dylan Roseman
UNC
A unique talent or skill I have is self-motivation; a personal drive to do my best and never give up.
Mariah Rosensweig
CU Boulder
I am passionate about beekeeping because it encourages me to see the patterns and connections we all have to nature.
Myles Rubin
CU Boulder
My career aspiration is to utilize my business degree in commercial aviation so that I can impact travel standards, systems and safety.
Cora Schrock
CSU
My career aspiration is to become an attorney in agricultural communities so that I can impact in a positive way, the lives of farmers and ranchers.
Cooper Seaman
UCCS
I am passionate about computational neuroscience it allows for the integration of mathematics, computer science, and biology to study the workings of the brain.
Iris Serrano
Overland HS
CU Boulder
My proudest achievement is creating the first bilingual newspaper at Overland High School.
Sam Spotts
Peak to Peak Charter School
CU Boulder
A unique talent or skill I have is being able to read Latin poetry as the authors wrote it.
Louis Stempfer
CU Boulder
My career aspiration is to work in either marketing or management in aviation so that I can impact the lives of others by growing access to the world for everyone.
Nancy Suarez-Duran
CMU
I am passionate about computational neuroscience it allows for the integration of mathematics, computer science, and biology to study the workings of the brain.
Ella Swanson
Mines
My favorite Colorado experience is watching the lunar eclipse while listening to live music at Red Rocks.
Nora Tayefeh
CSU
A unique talent or skill I have is mounted archery, AKA shooting a bow while riding a horse. I would love to compete in the future.
Joey Uyemura
DU
A unique talent or skill I have is that I can play many songs on the piano after hearing them once.
Abby Vsetecka
CU Boulder
During my undergraduate career, I plan to obtain a holistic education centered around public health so I can better connect with people and understand their medical challenges.
Brakelle Westphal
MSU
My career aspiration is to become an air ambulance pilot so that I can impact the ongoing need for critical trauma care transport that rural hospitals sometimes can't provide.
Jack Willeke
CU Boulder
A unique talent or skill I have is operating a combine to cut wheat and milo on my family's farm.
Kylee Wolfe
CU Boulder
During my undergraduate career, I plan to study journalism and sports media.
Max Zenk
CSU
I am passionate about Basketball because it promotes teamwork, builds friendly competition, and has created some of my tightest friendships throughout high school.
