/alumni/ en /alumni/2025/12/08/forever-buffs-impact-story-lily-cox-intlaf-mediapd27 <span>Forever Buffs Impact Story: Lily Cox (IntlAf, MediaPd’27)</span> <span><span>Anna Tolette</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-12-08T14:10:32-07:00" title="Monday, December 8, 2025 - 14:10">Mon, 12/08/2025 - 14:10</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/alumni/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-12/1763076311189.jpeg?h=f1379da0&amp;itok=Pprigsi3" width="1200" height="800" alt="Lily Cox"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/alumni/alumni-stories"> Alumni Stories </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/alumni/taxonomy/term/1191" hreflang="en">Student Life</a> <a href="/alumni/taxonomy/term/1190" hreflang="en">Student Profile</a> <a href="/alumni/taxonomy/term/1189" hreflang="en">Student Success</a> <a href="/alumni/taxonomy/term/1166" hreflang="en">Volunteering</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><div><div> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/alumni/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2025-12/1763076311189.jpeg?itok=7ZDikvQa" width="375" height="376" alt="Lily Cox"> </div> </div> <p><span lang="EN-US">As an outreach and social media student assistant at the </span><a href="/support/basicneeds/" rel="nofollow"><span lang="EN-US">CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß Basic Needs Center,</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> Lily Cox (IntlAf, MediaPd’27) has shaped her Buff journey around a commitment to making a difference. Her passions in global affairs, media and student support fuel her drive to share meaningful stories and highlight how the CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß community supports students.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><p><span lang="EN-US">Read on to learn more about Lily, the Basic Needs Center and the many ways Forever Buffs can strengthen resources for students today.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h4><span lang="EN-US">What brought you to CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß? </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h4></div><div><p><span lang="EN-US">I wanted to challenge myself by going out of state and experiencing something completely new. I’m originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, but I have family in Colorado, which made the transition manageable and gave me a sense of support while still stepping outside my comfort zone. I also fell in love with CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß’s campus, the access to the outdoors and the opportunities that come with attending a large university.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h4><span lang="EN-US">What are you hoping to do after graduation? </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h4></div><div><p><span lang="EN-US">I’m interested in roles that will allow me to make an impact. I am passionate about global affairs, producing media and storytelling. I would love to start my career abroad — whether that’s through nonprofit work, the Peace Corps or multimedia marketing for an international company.&nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/alumni/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-12/IMG_2290.jpeg?itok=WecdLgqt" width="750" height="1000" alt="Students working for the Basic Needs Center"> </div> </div> <h4><span lang="EN-US">What is the Basic Needs Center, and what does your role entail?</span><span>&nbsp;</span></h4></div><div><p><span lang="EN-US">The Basic Needs Center (BNC) is an on-campus organization that supports students by connecting them with resources related to food, housing and overall well-being. Our mission is to provide essential services for our campus community and advocate systemic change to address barriers to access for basic needs. In my role as a social media and outreach student assistant, I manage the center’s social media presence, sharing information about campus events, programs and available resources. I also help to coordinate and execute our on-campus outreach, including tabling, event planning and building partnerships with student groups to better support students.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h4><span lang="EN-US">Why is the mission of the Basic Needs Center important to you?</span><span>&nbsp;</span></h4></div><div><p><span lang="EN-US">Three out of five students experience food or housing insecurity, yet these experiences are often stigmatized and left unaddressed. The CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß community has the resources needed to make sure no Buff ever goes hungry, without shelter or struggles in solitude. The Basic Needs Center plays an essential role in getting those resources in the right hands. </span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><h4><span lang="EN-US">How can Forever Buffs support the Basic Needs Center? </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h4></div><div><p><span lang="EN-US">There are many ways for Forever Buffs to support the basic needs of current students:</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p></div><div><ol><li><a href="/support/basicneeds/make-donation" rel="nofollow"><span lang="EN-US">Donate non-perishable food or personal care items</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> to help stock the BNC's Buff Pantry, our on-campus food pantry located in the basement of the University Memorial Center.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></li></ol></div><div><ol start="2"><li><a href="/support/basicneeds/support-center/volunteer-us" rel="nofollow"><span lang="EN-US">Volunteer</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> to help run the Buff Pantry and monthly Mobile Food Pantries.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></li></ol></div><div><ol start="3"><li><a href="https://a.co/6sZ5ATu" rel="nofollow"><span lang="EN-US">Check out the Amazon Wishlist</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> for Buff Pantry and Emergency Housing needs.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></li></ol></div><div><ol start="4"><li><span lang="EN-US">Support the BNC financially with a </span><a href="https://giveto.colorado.edu/campaigns/51484/donations/new" rel="nofollow"><span lang="EN-US">direct contribution to help support our services</span></a><span lang="EN-US">.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></li></ol></div><div><h4><span lang="EN-US">What does being a Forever Buff mean to you? </span><span>&nbsp;</span></h4></div><div><p><span lang="EN-US">Being a Forever Buff means holding a shared sense of pride in the community that is created on this campus — past, present and future.  </span><span>&nbsp;</span></p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-gold ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/support/basicneeds/support-center" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents">Support the Basic Needs Center</span></a></p></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>As an outreach and social media student assistant at the CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß Basic Needs Center, Lily Cox (IntlAf, MediaPd’27) has shaped her Buff journey around a commitment to making a difference. Her passions in global affairs, media and student support fuel her drive to share meaningful stories and highlight how the CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß community supports students.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Related Articles</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/alumni/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-12/IMG_2616.jpg?itok=SehsebiW" width="1500" height="994" alt="Lily Cox and a friend with Chip"> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:10:32 +0000 Anna Tolette 3250 at /alumni