May

Kudos to the DREAMers

TheDream.US scholarship recipients were recognized at the state Capitol.

By Cory Phare

May 16, 2017

Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Crisanta Duran welcomed four Roadrunners to the golden dome this past week, paying tribute to their successful academic journeys.

“I want to recognize a very special group of students from MSU [Denver] … who are here with us today,” she said.

The students are part of TheDream.US access and success program, which provides financial support to students eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This program and Colorado’s ASSET bill give underserved, underrepresented students an opportunity for higher education.

According to Gregor Mieder, Immigrant Services Program coordinator, programs like these are lifelines for DACA and DACA-eligible students who don’t have access to state and federal financial aid, loans or work-study.

“They almost always have to self-finance, and this scholarship is the best financial equivalent to federal financial aid in terms of its scope,” he said. “It can almost entirely fund their education.”

Prior to the announcements and welcome, the MSU Denver mariachi ensemble Los Correcaminos kicked off the morning with a performance for the legislature in honor of Cinco de Mayo and the historic Battle of Puebla.

Mieder attributes the students’ success (an average GPA of 3.02) to knowing that this is their big chance to finance an education, which is crucial for their future success.

“There are no second chances when it comes to students who have such a difficult time finding financing,” he said. “These students and their parents are keenly aware of it.”

And as Duran detailed, they were being honored for their dedication to and hard work in higher education and beyond.

“I want to thank you for being here and wish you the very best in continuing your education,” she said to the students. “Welcome to the Capitol.”