A select group of University of Colorado at Boulder students dedicated to being responsible citizens and catalysts for ethical civic engagement and positive social change have been chosen as the initial class of 20 Puksta scholars.
The scholars will each receive a $4,500 scholarship to be used on a variety of projects, many of which will have a community service orientation. They also will work closely with members of the CU-Boulder faculty and staff on their ethical and civic development projects.
"We had 188 applications and were able to award 20 scholarships for this year," said Michael Grant, associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education. "We expect that this program will become one of our most valued mechanisms for promoting civic engagement and ethical thinking."
The Puksta selection team includes Ron Stump, vice chancellor for student affairs; Elease Robbins, dean of students; Jennifer Simpson, assistant to the vice chancellor; Sara Schupp, a junior majoring in business; Peter Simons, director of parent relations; and Grant.
The students selected as Puksta scholars are Mahdi Salaheddin Abosedra of Boulder, a junior majoring in molecular, cellular and developmental biology; Sharon Schieffelin Bates of Grand Junction, a junior majoring in Spanish; Mara Chavez-Murphy of Denver, a sophomore majoring in prejournalism and mass communication; Shannon Marie Coffey of Westminster, a junior majoring in English; Sheryl Seon Cummings of Thornton, a junior majoring in marketing; Elke Gitel Goldstein of Denver, a junior majoring in advertising; Ty J. Hampton of Lincoln, Neb., a senior majoring in speech, language and hearing sciences; Jasmine Christine Hites of Aurora, a junior majoring in anthropology; Adam F. Kay of Boulder, a senior majoring in classics; and Erin Kummer of Rochester Hills, Mich., a freshman majoring in accounting.
Others are Margaret Lally of Larkspur, Calif., a sophomore majoring in sociology; Nicole Sandra Loya of Boulder, a sophomore majoring in English; Leslie McEachren of Edmunton, Alberta, a sophomore majoring in kinesiology; Amina Nawaz of Highlands Ranch, a junior majoring in molecular, cellular and developmental biology; Ageno Otii of Denver, a sophomore majoring in political science; Sarah Elizabeth Schupp of Dallas, a junior majoring in business; Alexandra Lois Taylor of Woody Creek, Colo., a junior majoring in psychology; Amy L. Weiner of Aurora, a junior majoring in sociology; Diana Marie Wick of Denver, a junior majoring in fine arts; and Christina Ann Zigler of Longmont, a senior majoring in fine arts.
The Puksta Scholars program is funded by the Puksta Educational Foundation of Denver, established by the late Harry and Eva Puksta. CU-Boulder is one of three Colorado universities to benefit from the scholarship fund, along with Colorado State University and the University of Denver.
Financial support for the program also is made possible through gifts to the CU-Boulder Parents' Fund.
For more information call Grant at (303) 492-5538 or send an e-mail to michael.grant@colorado.edu.