If only we could bottle the collective spirit of Denver Scholarship Foundation scholars and alumni. Without a doubt it would include essences of education, hope, possibilities, hard work and gratitude—an ideal formula for success. At this year’s annual gala, smiles were plentiful and constant throughout the evening as these special students and alums mingled with a myriad of supporters.
Bhavana Acharya, Ge’Swan Swanson, Dulce Bueno, Victoria Vdovich
On Thursday, Oct. 11, the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center was the place to be for an evening that began with a pre-dinner reception and musical entertainment provided by the Gabriel Mervine Quartet. Guests then adjourned to the Centennial Ballroom for a dinner program emceed by Denver7 news anchor Anne Trujillo. Denver Scholarship Foundation’s CEO, Lorii Rabinowitz, addressed the crowd and pointed out presenting sponsors Patty and Mike Starzer in the audience. Rabinowitz also recognized event chairs Linda and Don Childears, Toti Cadavid and Luis Colon, and board chair Linda Bowman, as well as Tom Boasberg, who is stepping away from his post as Denver Public Schools superintendent. Gov. John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock joined the VIP group onstage.
(l to r): CU Denver Chancellor Dorothy Horrell; Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Kelly Brough; Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and David Kenney, founder, The Kenney Group
An energetic procession of DSF scholars and alumni was capped with high fives from Hickenlooper and company, and the group took a moment to pose for pictures on risers at each side of the stage. Success stories were shared onstage by DSF alums Crystina and Brandon Blessing, as well as featured scholar Mena Hashim. After a short period for guests to text or hand-write donations, the evening was capped by a thoughtful talk by former U.S. Senator Hank Brown.
Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) makes college possible for thousands of Denver Public Schools graduates each year. The organization was founded in 2006 based on wide recognition that DPS students face multiple barriers to completing a postsecondary degree. Philanthropists Tim Marquez and Bernadette Marquez wanted to make a major gift to increase the level of college attainment in Denver, and they joined then-Mayor John Hickenlooper and former Superintendent Michael Bennet to examine how to make access to higher education possible for all DPS students today and for generations to come.
Gov. John Hickenlooper with group high fives
The Denver Scholarship Foundation has given more than $38 million in scholarships to students from Denver schools, who have demonstrated a 76 percent college success rate with 31 college partners. For more information, please visit DenverScholarship.org.
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- (l to r): Cam Simmons, Ashley Weatherspoon and Josiah Peters
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- (l to r): Bob Fanch, John Hanley and Neal Groff
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- (l to r): Zawadi Majaliwa, Pan Phyu, Vicki Golich and Marilyn Acevedo
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- (l to r): Murad Sawaged, Yasmih Sid-Ahmed, Abdirahman Ebiso
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- Ann Wang (left) and Margaret Choi
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- Joseph Deonaraine (left) and Keith Horstman
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- Jen Walmer and Gregory Hatcher
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- The pre-dinner reception crowd grows.
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- (l to r): Berry Soto, Jaqueline Marquez Rocha, Jasmine Villabos and Jehovana Flores
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- Leanna Clark (left) and Gloria Neal
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- (l to r): Stephen Bentfield, Kerrie Bentfield, Claire Arney, William Arney, Marisa Hudson-Arney, Ryan Arney
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- A nod to scholars with cap-and-gown attire
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- Bhavana Acharya, Ge’Swan Swanson, Dulce Bueno, Victoria Vdovich
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- The Gabriel Mervine Quartet entertains.
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- (l to r): Margot Edwards, Sarah Haradon, Helen Rogers and Kelly Cooper
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- Guests could pose with their personal DSF message
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- (l to r): CU Denver Chancellor Dorothy Horrell; Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Kelly Brough; Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and David Kenney, founder, The Kenney Group
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- Nicholas Martinez (left), with Suzanne and Lee White
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- Kristin Waters and Doug Moehle
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- (l to r): Elio Merino, Laura Steffan, Kristin Todd and Sara Sankovich
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- (l to r): Oumand Ouattara, Kai Suematsu, Samariddin Meliboev, event co-chair Linda Childears, Kelly Trang and Jamal Giornazi
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- Event co-chair Linda Childears, Samariddin Meliboev, Kelly Trang, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Jamal Giornazi
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- (l to r): Roger Bowman, DSF board chair Dr. Linda Bowman and board member Tom Wattles
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- Gregory Hatcher, (left) and DPS Supt. Tom Boasberg
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- (l to r): Davis Coombe, Annie Eastman and Dr. Nate Easley
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- Presenting sponsors Patty and Mike Starzer
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- Roger Bowman (left), with keynote speaker, former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown
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- Guests chat as they find their seats for dinner.
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- Tables are set for dinner at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center
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- Corry and Phil Doty
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- Emcee Anne Trujillo, Denver7 news anchor
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- Lorii Rabinowitz, DSF’s CEO
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- Gov. John Hickenlooper with group high fives
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- Denver Mayor Michael Hancock enters with enthusiastic low-fives for the group.
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- DPS Supt. Tom Boasberg
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- (l to r): Event co-chairs Don and Linda Childears, CEO Lorri Rabinowitz, board chair Linda Bowman, co-chairs Toti Cadavid and Luis Colon, Gov. John Hickenlooper, Mayor Michael Hancock and DPS Supt. Tom Boasberg
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- (l to r): Board chair Linda Bowman, co-chairs Toti Cadavid and Luis Colon, Gov. John Hickenlooper, Mayor Michael Hancock and DPS Supt. Tom Boasberg
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- Gov. John Hickenlooper (with mic) makes a point, to the delight of the VIP onstage panel.
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- DSF scholars and alums, stage right
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- DSF scholars and alums, stage left
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- DSF alums Crystina and Brandon Blessing
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- DSF featured scholar Mena Hashim
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- Making on-the-spot donations via text and donor card.
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- (l to r): Samantha Garcia, Melodie Koss and Samantha Comacho
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- Keynote speaker, former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown
