DU - Center for Community Engagement to advance Scholarship and Learning

We extend our congratulations to all the recipients of the 2026 Public Good and Center for Community Engagement (CCESL) Awards! This year’s honorees have demonstrated exceptional dedication to serving the community, advancing the public good, and inspiring others through their leadership and commitment.

The Public Good Student of the Year award recognizes students with exceptional commitment to the public good, demonstrated by applying their skills to address public problems, organizing others for action, or demonstrating dedication to service and critical reflection.

🌿Public Good Student of the Year Awardees:
Halcyon Levi (.levi)
Sophie Perfetto ()
Mateo Mazariego-Halpern (.Maz)
Jenna Anain ()
Jessica Jimenez

The CCESL Photo Showcase honors students whose photos best capture the pathways of Think, Connect, Act, and Reflect, using creative images to highlight meaningful community engagement.

📸Photo Showcase Awardees:
Reina Ortiz (.ortiiz)
Hannah Meisels ()
Bryanna Rodriguez Ramirez

Congratulations to our 2026 Photo Showcase Award Winners! This year, we are proud to recognize three outstanding students whose submissions exemplify community engagement and impact:

- Reina Ortiz (.ortiiz), whose first photo, taken during a large anti-ICE protest at Denver’s capitol, captures the powerful turnout and solidarity of the Latino community in the face of fear and adversity. Her image reflects the ongoing struggle for safety, dignity, and cultural preservation amidst nationwide immigration challenges.

- Hannah Miesels (), whose second photo was taken at the launch of Cocina Libre’s second cookbook, captures an immigrant chef sharing his featured story with his sons. Her work powerfully illustrates moments of pride that challenge dominant narratives and celebrate immigrant stories.

- Bryanna Rodriguez-Ramirez, whose third photo highlights her work as a program developer intern at Girl Scouts DreamLab, where she helps reimagine the space and introduce new equipment for young scouts. Her efforts, including piloting creative tools like a Cricut, foster engagement and innovation among participants.

Each winner exemplified community impact through both their visual artistry and written storytelling, helping us share powerful moments and stories that resonate throughout our organization.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make last week’s 4th Annual Public Good Celebration such a wonderful, joy-filled event!

Students, faculty, staff, and community partners came together across four events to share, recognize, and celebrate the amazing research and creative projects happening across DU. From inspiring conversations to hands-on showcases, the day was a beautiful reminder of all that’s possible when our community comes together.

We’re so grateful to everyone who showed up, shared their work, and helped make the day so full of connection, learning, and impact.

Today is the day! Join us for the Public Good Celebration! Enjoy free professional headshots at 11 am in CCOM 1100 📸, the Photo Showcase Reception at 2 pm in the Community Commons Art Gallery, and the Student Signature Work Showcase at 3 pm in CCOM 1700.

Enjoy empanadas and boba tea🧋while viewing this year's photo entries, then visit the Resource Fair and Research Showcase.

Sneak peek behind the scenes 👀

We're getting ready for tomorrow's Public Good Celebration at the Community Commons! The day will kick off at 12pm with the Student Lunch for your Future (Open to all students!) where you can drop in, get a free professional headshot, and enjoy an empanada lunch 🥙

Then stop by the Community Engagement Photo Showcase, check out the photos, and enjoy some boba tea 🧋

Finish the day by stopping by the Impact Resource Fair and the Student Signature Work Showcase, where over 100 students and their mentors will be sharing the amazing collaborative work they're doing. 📒

Go to ccesl.info/celebration or swipe to see the full schedule of events ---> no registration required to attend. We hope to see you there!

Volunteer at FloCrit on May 12th! 🌱 Join our volunteer event at Florence Critton High School, which supports parenting and pregnant mothers. This is an opportunity to support a transformational outdoor learning space that expands access to sustainability and nutrition education, as well as hands-on environmental engagement, for students and families. Be part of something meaningful!

Sign up at sustained farms.org/events

This volunteer day will start at 12:30 pm and wrap up at 4:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us at the 4th Annual Public Good Celebration for the faculty workshop, "Writing Research for a Public Audience," where you'll discover effective strategies for sharing your research with a wider audience. Editors from The Conversation and DU faculty will provide practical tips on pitching and publishing stories that resonate beyond academia.

Two sessions available on Wednesday, May 13
Session 1: 9:00–10:15am | Burwell 220
Session 2: 10:30–11:45am | Burwell 220

Learn more and register: https://airtable.com/app6KL9zMHjHUuXni/pagXtwpa1gGnMlJjE/form

What is the Public Good Celebration? Learn more: https://academicaffairs.du.edu/content/2026-public-good-celebration

Curious about the ethics of A.I.? 🤖 Join the Center for a Regenerative Future and the Center for Community Engagement to learn about the environmental and social impacts that come with the growing demand for A.I.. We will discuss ways to exercise your own agency and practice resistance. There will be multiple speakers from both du and the larger Denver community! A plant-based dinner will be available with registration. Option to zoom in is also available.

Food Provided (Plant-Based Meal Available upon registration. )

Congratulations to Zayra Saucedo, who recently received the Boren Scholarship and worked closely with Scholar Development and Fellowship Advising (SDFA).

As a proud Puksta Scholar, let's also celebrate her commitment to the Puksta community and her outstanding achievements!

The Boren Awards provide funding for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study abroad in languages critical to U.S. national security. If you’re interested in similar opportunities, connect with Scholar Development and Fellowship Advising at [email protected] to learn more.

Welcome to spring quarter! We hope classes are off to a great start so far. With Spring Quarter comes all the fun programming across campus that signals the end of the academic year, and CCESL is no exception. We have a lot planned these next few weeks that we're excited to share with you, so stay tuned!