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Grace has really maximized her time at CU. In terms of intellectual maturity, she is much more like a graduate student than an undergraduate. Perhaps more than anything else, I was impressed by something she said: she enjoys learning that she is wrong much more than learning that she is right. She is the best undergraduate student I have taught at CU since I arrived in 2015. - Associate Professor Aun Hasan Ali

Aya relishes her classes and her time at CU. She consistently seeks opportunities to learn, whether by participating in a professor's research project or meeting with guest speakers on campus. She is civic-minded and humanitarian-minded and has been active in advocating for Palestinians. I met Aya when she sat in the front row of my Introduction to International Relations class. In a large class of over 300 students, she stood out as a student who was willing to speak up, whether it was to ask a question or advocate for something she believed in. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn, and she does not take her education for granted. - Professor Megan Shannon

Mädchen Craig pours herself into everything she does. As an Asian Studies major, she has dedicated her senior thesis to exploring experiences of belonging, mattering and identity among Asian Americans in Denver, shining a light on communities that are too often overlooked in research. Her deep commitment to cultural understanding and building more resilient communities is inspiring. Beyond just being a student, Mädchen was selected for the Program for Teaching East Asia's competitive classroom outreach program, where she developed a lesson plan around a picture book set in Japan and brought a storybook reading and mini-lesson to Colorado K-8 classrooms. It’s wonderful to watch her light up when she talks about connecting with young students and sparking their curiosity about culture and the world. On top of all of this, Mädchen works as a substitute teacher while completing her degree. She is a talented artist, a generous mentor to her students and someone who has worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone. I have no doubt she will go on to do great things, and I couldn't be more proud to celebrate her. - Assistant Teaching Professor Lauren Collins

Lexie is a standout student whose path to CU reflects both resilience and genuine intellectual curiosity. Returning to school as a non-traditional student after years of military service and workforce experience, Lexie brought a grounded maturity and sense of purpose to her academic work that sets her apart. Earning a BA in Psychology alongside a minor in Women and Gender Studies, she has excelled across both disciplines, and is among the top students in my undergraduate Queer Theories course. What is perhaps most distinctive about Lexie, however, is her commitment to making her education matter beyond the classroom. She works thoughtfully and intentionally to bridge the frameworks she has encountered in Women and Gender Studies with the culture of her hometown community–serving as a connector between worlds that do not always speak to each other. That kind of translation work is difficult, meaningful, and exactly the sort of contribution that transforms not just a student, but everyone around them. - Associate Professor Kristie Soares

Hunter Geist Sanchez is graduating with a master’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Ecology. A sixth generation Coloradoan with roots in the San Luis Valley ranching community, Hunter brings a rare perspective shaped by lived experience, cultural heritage and a lifelong dedication to restoring semi-arid grasslands. His exceptional thesis work investigated seeding restoration in the face of drought in local rangelands. Along the way, Hunter secured six competitive awards that funded his research and a team of undergraduate trainees, built strong partnerships with local land managers and co-founded the Colorado Buffalo Collective. ÌýHunter’s curiosity, resilience and interdisciplinary approach position him to make meaningful contributions to ecological land stewardship in Colorado - Professor Katharine Suding

Casey Ringer is one of the first scholars to make intensive use of the U.S. Navy Japanese Language School Collection in the CU Library. She came to know of this collection via her undergraduate job in the archives and mined some of its most interesting materials for her senior thesis (completed in her third year). She then matriculated in our MA program with an eye toward expanding her research question, ultimately addressed in her outstanding thesis on continuities of Japanese and American occupations of the South Pacific. Casey has also been a leader of the History Graduate Association (including a role as organizer of the Rocky Mountain Interdisciplinary History Conference), a mentor for students in and beyond the department, and a dedicated TA. Her graduate studies (including learning Japanese) were supported by a prestigious FLAS fellowship. Working with her has been one of the highlights of my career at CU. - Professor Miriam Kingsberg Kadia

Gil tells me that when he was growing up, he didn’t see himself going to college. Well, here he is: a first generation student, excelling in everything he’s done. He’s been an RA, helping others, getting great grades, while writing an honors thesis using data from the MAVEN spacecraft orbiting Mars. He’s the first person on Earth to use ultraviolet light to see how Mars’s polar cap changes and evolves over the seasons. He built an astronomical spectrograph from scratch and used it at Apache Point Observatory. Next stop: nuclear fusion research on the path to a PhD from CSU. The best thing about Gil is how he’s looking for a way to turn his progress through life into ways to help and inspire others. - Professor Nick Schneider

Sean came to CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß from Yale-NUS College in Singapore and will move on to PhD studies at the University of British Columbia this fall. In ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß’s Chinese MA program, Sean has been doing brilliant academic work, while also venturing across campus: he is the first student in our program to complete CU’s graduate certificate in Digital Humanities plus a micro-credential in Research Data Foundations. Sean is highly creative in integrating what he learns in Digital Humanities with his research in Chinese literature and visual culture. As a TA, Sean has shown uncommon enthusiasm, drive and care in teaching and completing the certificate in College Teaching and the Future Faculty Development certificate. In his role as Lead TA, Sean has shown tremendous dedication to fellow graduate students, to the undergraduates he teaches and to the whole department. Sean is truly an amazing grad! - Professor Antje Richter

Asia is a creative, outstanding scientist and a fantastic communicator who makes scientific ideas accessible and exciting. Her research, supported by a prestigious USDA fellowship, is already making waves, with publications in leading journals that reveal how urban landscapes and social factors shape insect biodiversity and the ecosystem services that support food production in community gardens. She brings originality and passion to everything she does, from applying innovative methods and novel data sources to understand how urban insect biodiversity is changing, to communicating her science through dance (earning a category prize in Science magazine’s Dance Your PhD competition). She is also a thoughtful, generous mentor and peer who supports and inspires others. Her work is important, her voice carries and her enthusiasm is contagious. Exactly the kind of scholar we love to see representing CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß! -ÌýAssociate ProfessorÌýJulian Resasco

I enthusiastically nominate Joseph (Joey) Pontiff as an Amazing Graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences. While Joey's extremely strong academic performance and success in research in our demanding major is impressive in its own right, his resilience and commitment to community is profound. Joey has achieved his scholarly successes while overcoming a traumatic brain injury that demanded months of active recovery and re-learning. One of Joey's legacies is his leadership as chair of the executive board for the Quantum Scholars program. He is the leader among our 150+ scholars, spearheading the board's formation, supporting national partnerships and helping shape the program's social and intellectual framework. Beyond his own success, Joey is dedicated to building community and advancing science for the public good. Responsible, resilient and collaborative, Joey is a credit to our institution and highly deserving of the Amazing Graduate recognition. - Professor Noah FinkelsteinÌý

Vi is a talented, creative, versatile and tenacious scholar - easily the most outstanding PhD student I’ve advised in the past twenty-five years. Her fascinating and important research on gender, popular culture and the modern U.S. holds great promise, and is already making impacts in the field. But Vi stands out even more so for the full scope of her commitments to her students, her colleagues and the public. She has been a dedicated and inspiring teacher for our undergraduates as well as a generous colleague, volunteering for service both to the department and graduate student organizations. She also consistently worked to translate her academic work in history for broader conversations through op-eds or presenting at venues like ComicCon. Throughout her time at CU, Vi’s most common reply to any request was: ‘I can do that!’ She approached everything with a desire to engage and a sense of infectious joy. - Professor Phoebe Young

Regan is a high-achieving, community-focused graduate who charted a creative path to engage their passion for justice and equity. Regan will graduate with a double major in Creative Writing and Psychology and start full-time work with the Arapahoe County Public Defender’s Office after graduation, where they worked as an Investigative Intern. Regan came to CU from rural Colorado wanting to advance equity and help those experiencing wrongs and hardships, but uncertain how to manifest this drive. The combination of studying forensic psychology while writing murder mysteries helped Regan identify investigative work as a pathway to address injustices. As a peer mentor for the Miramontes Arts and Sciences Program’s summer bridge program for three summers, Regan put into practice their skill for listening, guiding and responding to others, thus playing a significant role for over 110 incoming first year students, many of whom still view Regan as a mentor and role model.
- Karen Ramirez Director and Assistant Director for Arts & Humanities, Miramontes Arts & Sciences ProgramÌý
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As Jamie’s Chinese instructor since 2023, I have witnessed her impressive growth over the past three years. She has consistently demonstrated outstanding performance in Chinese courses, often exceeding expectations through her diligence, curiosity and strong commitment to learning. She is one of the top students in my classes, with a 4.0 GPA in the Chinese Minor.

She actively challenges herself by participating in the annual campus Chinese speech competitions, showing remarkable courage and perseverance, and has grown increasingly confident each year. Her efforts culminated in an exceptional achievement. This year, she earned second place in the 2026 National Chinese Speech Competition (NCSC). I am very proud of her efforts and achievements.

Beyond the classroom, as a biology major, she is deeply committed to public service. She volunteers in hospitals, where she thoughtfully applies both her medical knowledge and foreign language skills to assist patients and contribute meaningfully to the community. - Assistant Teaching Professor Yu Zhang
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I have been teaching Marley since Fall 2025. Marley is an outstanding student and her dedication, responsibility and learning motivation are truly remarkable. With an impressive GPA of 3.99, she consistently delivers exceptional academic performance. In my Chinese classes, I was really impressed by her passion and diligence: her preview notes each time are often filled from margin to margin, a clear and lively reflection of how much she cares about learning. She has shown both strong passion and natural talent for language learning, progressing from beginning to advanced-level classes in a short time. She also participated in the 2025 CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß Chinese speech competition, where she demonstrated both her linguistic ability and growing confidence. Beyond academics, as an ROTC member, she is committed to serving society and will continue to apply her knowledge and skills with purpose and integrity in her future career. - Assistant Teaching Professor Yu Zhang
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Aspen is amazing because they unite exceptional intellect, principled leadership and a deep commitment to creating a more just world. In the classroom, Aspen stands out for their analytical depth and ability to engage difficult ideas with rigor and care. They do not simply learn theories; they challenge them, connect them across traditions and use them to imagine better futures. Their honors thesis, Consent Isn’t Enough, So What Is?, was recognized by the committee as work that exceeded expectations for undergraduate research in originality and sophistication, earning a unanimous recommendation for summa cum laude.

Beyond academics, Aspen turns ideas into action through advocacy, organizing and public engagement focused on gender equity, LGBTQ+ rights, bodily autonomy and community empowerment. They are a thoughtful collaborator and compelling communicator who elevates those around them.

In sum, Aspen’s pairing of brilliance with purpose and compassion improves every classroom, project, and community they enter. - Associate Professor Hillary Potter
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Haley is a truly extraordinary student, leader and member of the CU community. She cares deeply about her education and has taken advantage of every available opportunity to challenge herself in her studies at CU. She embodies the ideals of a liberal arts education, bringing her full self while creating space for others to feel safe to do the same. She is an absolute joy to have in class and elevates every class she takes through her passion for learning, boundless energy, and willingness to critically discuss complex ideas. Alongside her impressive academic record, she is an irreplaceable member of our campus community. She is involved in countless organizations, a leader in the Presidents Leadership Class, and unwavering in her commitment to equity, inclusion, and building community at CU. Overcoming many challenges throughout her life, she never fails to show up with a smile, with curiosity, and with endless empathy. - Associate Teaching Professor Kate Fischer
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