Reflection

A first-generation CSU graduate, Sandra Carrillo (B.S., ’17) received the Sean “Ranch” Lough Scholarship, which covered her tuition and guided her through college as the first in her family to attend. Today, she manages a Denver Public Schools Community Hub, connecting families with resources and paying forward the same opportunity that changed her life.

Jaxson Liscano-Garcia (B.S., ’25) never expected to receive the Michael Smith Elite Scholarship, but the unexpected support did more than ease financial pressure. It told him his unconventional path was valued, giving him the confidence to pursue a career blending creativity and business.

First-generation animal sciences student Emely Alvarez Maynez wrangles college with confidence thanks to support, scholarships, and a bovine friend named Benny. She hopes to work in a zoo sanctuary or rehab center where she can deeply interact with animals and see and learn from their behavior.

When a 4-month-old elephant calf wandered into a Kenyan tourist camp alone, 2026 Best Teacher Award winner and Warner College of Natural Resources Professor George Wittemyer’s decades of elephant research made a swift reunion possible.

As drought puts pressure on Colorado farmers, CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences is helping crops rise to the challenge. Through decades of research, scientists are breeding wheat, corn, and sorghum that stay strong and productive with less water, securing a hopeful future for farmers and the food supply.

Thirteen-year-old Lamar Jenkins has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal. Along with Make-A-Wish Colorado, a group of Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering students focused their senior design project on fulfilling Lamar’s wish and creating a device letting him control lights, music, and more with simple arm movements, granting him newfound independence and joy.

A rescue dog with a life-threatening heart defect got a second chance thanks to the Naniboujou’s Legacy for SAST endowment, which covers surgeries for shelter animals at CSU’s veterinary hospital.

The Chris Bachman Support Endowment fund honors a beloved CSU dietitian’s legacy of compassionate care, removing financial barriers so students battling eating disorders can access the treatment they need to recover and thrive.

Endowed funds powered CSU Theater’s ambitious immersive production, The Cherryfield Toy Company, giving students hands-on, professional-level experience they couldn’t otherwise access.

CSU’s new Majestic Access and Recovery Services Clinic offers free substance-use and mental health counseling to people re-entering the community after incarceration. Psychology students gain hands-on clinical training while helping close a critical gap in the region’s mental health workforce.

For nearly two decades, CSU has held the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, recognizing its partnerships with communities across Colorado. The honor reflects the University’s mission to co-create knowledge and solutions alongside the people it serves.

CSU’s $160 million ATLAS Facility will house some of the world’s most powerful lasers, advancing research into fusion energy, a potentially limitless, carbon-free power source. At the nexus of sustainability and innovation, ATLAS positions CSU to help shape how the world generates energy for generations to come.

Marking the College of Business’s 60th anniversary, Larry and Pat Kendall (’83) made a transformational gift naming the Kendall Center for Sales Excellence. The investment will expand experiential learning, corporate partnerships, and national competitions, positioning CSU among the country’s top sales programs.