A Message from the President | University of Colorado

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More than a number, each graduate a unique story of success

CU-Boulder

6,237

UCCS

1,258

CU Denver

1,200

CU Anschutz Medical Campus

770

May is perhaps one of the most rewarding and exhilarating months of the year at CU. I look forward to taking part in each campus commencement as the University of Colorado confers more than 9,000 degrees to its deserving graduates. While the numbers are impressive, it is even more significant when we realize that each graduate has his or her unique success story.

Throughout their education, our graduates have proved themselves again and again as outstanding students and valued community members. Graduates such as Kate Lampkin (B.A., anthropology, CU-Denver), who struggled with health issues for several years but still maintained a 4.0 GPA. After learning she had Celiac Disease, Kate worked to bring gluten-free products to CU Denver's Auraria Campus and the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Through her quest she earned a job with a well-known gluten-free company upon her graduation today.

Terry Garrett, who is graduating May 18 from UCCS with a degree in mechanical engineering, is the first blind person in UCCS history to do so. Terry now plans to be the first blind person in space, saying he would like to be an inspiration to others. He absolutely is an inspiration to all who are striving for their dreams.

Boroka Bo, a 31-year-old senior sociology major, graduated yesterday from CU-Boulder 17 years after emigrating from the Transylvania region of Romania to the United States as a political refugee. This spring, Boroka received a prestigious Soros Fellowship, a program that provides support to students who plan to use their graduate education to contribute back to their communities.

Harmony Acker has earned her M.S. degree through the family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner option at the CU College of Nursing at CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Harmony works at Mental Health Center of Denver and will continue to work there after her graduation on May 25. She is a 12-year Navy veteran and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom.

We are proud of all the women and men for reaching this milestone, and welcome them to the ranks of CU alumni.

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