The School of Education has a long-standing tradition of honoring some of our most exemplary students in the graduating class as outstanding graduates. Nominated and selected by the faculty, each graduate receives special recognition. Meet them here.
MA Graduate Silvia Ortiz is a passionate advocate for rural, bilingual learners
As a proud bilingual teacher in her school, Silvia Ortiz exemplifies excellence in teaching, leadership and advocacy for bilingual learners at her school and in her small rural district. Ortiz is a passionate advocate for her mostly Latinx bilingual students as an English Language Development Teacher at Hudson Elementary School in Weld RE-3 School District.
Diving into new opportunities | Samantha Lane, Outstanding Leadership and Community Engagement Graduate
Always with an open mind, CU Boulder graduate Samantha Lane dives into new opportunities and challenges in her life however unexpected they may be. Lane decided to major in Leadership and Community Engagement as she was interested in the community-based, hands-on experiences that the major offered, as well as making a difference in educational spaces.
MA+ Graduate Taylor Renquist believes in student-centered teaching
Growing up with numerous teachers in her family, Taylor Renquist always knew she wanted to attend CU Boulder and become a teacher to make an impact on students. After double majoring in Spanish and Mathematics at CU Boulder, she came back for a one-year intensive in the MA+ Mathematics Teacher Licensure program.
Living the dream: Hasan Elsayed found his passion for teaching science and math
Born and raised in Aurora, Colorado, Hasan Elsayed had a love of math and science from an early age. Now as a math and science teacher, he gets to live his dream of empowering students to pursue their aspirations and achieve success.
Soon-to-be social studies teacher Emma Hoeschler is ready to empower her students
From her earliest memories, Emma Hoeschler knew she wanted to be a teacher. “I've always been passionate about working with children, but it took me quite a while to decide what type of teacher I wanted to be,” she said. Hoeschler's teaching focus only began to manifest itself after a pivotal U.S. government class in her senior year provided her with a firsthand experience of the connection that can exist between classroom content and her personal life.
MA graduate Bethany Morton is modeling advocacy for her students and inclusive mathematics education
Throughout her academic journey at the CU Boulder School of Education, Bethany Morton has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to creating inclusive and supportive learning environments for her students, particularly children from marginalized backgrounds.
MA graduate Yazmine Patiño is paving the way for first-generation students to come
Yazmine Lynette Patiño is passionate about supporting first-generation college students as one herself.
“I’m the first in my family to receive a bachelor's and now a master's degree, both of which I could not have accomplished without the unwavering support of my family” she said. “Graduating from CU Boulder represents sacrifice, growth, and possibilities for myself and for my family.”
Meet Higher Education graduate Norma Marquez, a passionate mentor to first-generation students
With her own unique understanding of being a first-generation student herself, Norma Marquez is a staunch advocate for the many benefits that post-secondary education can provide. Drawing upon her roots as a second-generation American growing up in rural Texas, Marquez recalls the sacrifices, obstacles and challenges her parents and family have faced in trying to make a better life for themselves in the United States.
MA+ graduate Marcus Williams wears many hats: IT professional, education policy advocate and now teacher
After working for the CU Boulder Office of Information Technology for six years, Marcus Williams decided to switch careers and enroll in the one-year intensive MA+ Secondary Humanities Teacher Licensure program to become a teacher.
Meet Derek LeFebre, a PhD outstanding graduate and emerging educational historian shedding light on untold stories in history
As an accomplished teacher, emerging educational historian and rigorous scholar, PhD graduate Derek LeFebre demonstrates exemplary passion and commitment to his work.
A Colorado native, LeFebre taught in Greeley for over 10 years before starting his doctoral studies. He chose to pursue his PhD to work with Professor Rubén Donato, as LeFebre was familiar with Donato’s education historian research into the experiences of Mexican Americans in Colorado. Instead of Colorado, his research, however, focuses on northern New Mexico, where he and his family have deep roots.
Elizabeth Tetu, trailblazing graduate of the Teacher Learning, Research & Practice program, has more to share with new teachers
A veteran educator with nearly a decade of experience practicing as an elementary school teacher and administrator in New York City, Elizabeth Tetu is well acquainted with the common themes that affect teachers in their first years of teaching.
“Feelings of overwhelm and failure, a sense of having been inadequately prepared, and a reported lack of support to navigate these experiences,” said Tetu.
Beautiful opportunities: Jessica Valadez Fraire is reimagining her classroom for all students
Jessica Valadez Fraire will soon graduate with an Elementary Education degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, but she didn’t set out to be an elementary teacher.
Her early schooling experiences were “isolating and difficult” as a Brown, bilingual student growing up in largely white, affluent Boulder.
"(The Elementary Education major) is the perfect path for me, because I think it's super important for students to have teachers who look like them, who speak their language, and who care about their development as people. That's how I see education — a tool for students to negotiate their world and create a better world.”
MA graduate Abigail Goldberg believes teaching leads to stepping stones for change
When Abigail Goldberg graduated with her undergraduate degree in anthropology, she was set to pursue a career in death investigating. An unexpected job during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, changed her whole career course and launched her into teaching.
