Henry Howe ’25 served as captain of the CC Climbing Team for three semesters (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Fall 2024). In Spring 2023, he studied abroad with the School for International Training in Geneva, Switzerland, gaining valuable international experience. Starting in January 2025, he plans to begin his career in Tech Consulting with RSM in Denver.

As a first-generation Latino from Georgia and QuestBridge Match Scholar, Mauricio Erazo Jr. ’25 has excelled at CC in leadership, research, and service. Erazo Jr. earned the Gilman Scholarship, led as President of the Minority Association for Pre-Health Students, co-founded CC’s Global Brigades chapter, and mentored peers in the Bridge Scholars Program for three years. His research spans Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury at WashU and Ohio State (with a self-proposed publication on the way!), as well as cystic fibrosis and material science at CC, where he also mentored students through the Pathways to sCoRe Program.

While excelling academically, Erazo Jr. gained valuable hands-on experience as a radiology assistant and rounded out his CC journey by studying abroad in Brazil. With aspirations to attend medical school, he is on track to make a significant impact in the medical field.

Destiny Pena ’25 excelled during her time at CC, balancing academic success, extracurricular involvement, and personal growth. Taking sophomore-level courses as a first-year student, Pena completed her Biochemistry major by the end of her junior year and earned the Crecelius Family Research Award in Chemistry for her work in Dr. Habiba Vaghoo’s lab, which she presented at the ACS national conference. Pena also completed a minor in Human Biology and Kinesiology. Beyond academics, Pena was a Questbridge Scholar, active in the Health Professions Club and Minority Association for Pre-Health Students, and worked as a tutor and Weekend Digest team lead.

Outside the classroom, Pena took advantage of CC's study abroad programs in Spain and Italy, and earned certification as an NREMT with IV approval, gaining firsthand medical experience. Pena plans to take a gap year to work in a clinical setting and prepare for medical school.

Mackenzie Boyd ’25 arrived at CC with a detailed post-graduation plan but is leaving with a more open mindset—and she’s thrilled about it. Her time at CC broadened her horizons and taught her the value of exploring possibilities beyond the confines of her original plan. After graduation, Boyd will intern at the American Museum of Natural History and collaborate with her advisor on a manuscript in the spring, blending her academic passions with real-world experience.

Grateful to both CC and the Boettcher Foundation, Boyd reflects on the transformative experiences she’s had. From geology field trips across the western U.S. to classes in Hawaii, New Zealand, and Kenya, she has explored topics like science, indigenous knowledge, and philosophy, venturing beyond the U.S. for the first time. Through her experience at CC, Boyd has met people from all walks of life, discovered how science and art can create meaningful change, and embraced a world of endless possibilities.

Juliana Geronazzo ’25 contributed to groundbreaking research on fatty acid oxidation disorders in collaboration with Assistant Professor of Molecular Cellular Biology Dr. Meredith Course and fellow student Abby Heimerl ’25. Together, they developed fruit fly models with different versions of these disorders, confirmed through a partial newborn screening at Seattle Children’s Hospital. These innovative models provide a valuable tool for advancing our understanding of these conditions in humans.

Students walking to Shove Memorial Chapel for Winter Commencement on Sunday, Dec. 15. Photo by Jamie Cotten

By Megan Clancy ’07

The first graduates of CC’s Class of 2025 crossed the stage to receive their diplomas on Sunday, Dec. 15, during this year’s Winter Commencement. The ceremony took place in Shove Memorial Chapel and celebrated the achievements of 29 graduates.

In her opening remarks, CC’s Interim President Dr. Manya Whitaker praised the graduates for all they had accomplished as students. She encouraged them to take what they had experienced at CC and do good with it in the world. She also noted that, regardless of what they encounter in the future, she is certain they are prepared. “Change is a process that takes time. You’ll have bursts of quick progress, followed by another roadblock. You won’t accomplish everything in three-and-a-half weeks like you may have gotten used to here at CC,” said Whitaker. “You’ll need to make sacrifices and trade-offs along the way. Because impact happens over a lifetime… Celebrate small wins along the way, have patience, give yourself and others grace, and remember to rest. The battle is not yours alone.” 

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Photo provided by the Alanna Jackson ’23

By Julia Fennell ’21

Inspired by their experience at CC, Alanna Jackson ’23 is now working as a Denver Housing Unit Paralegal for Colorado Legal Services (CLS), a non-profit organization that offers legal services to seniors and low-income Coloradans.

“My professors, especially those in the Sociology and Feminist and Gender Studies Departments, and their patient teachings about the intersections of power, prepared me for this job,” says Jackson, who majored in Sociology and double minored in Mathematics and Feminist and Gender Studies.

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Photo provided by the FAC

Join FAC museum staff on Friday, Dec. 20 from 1-4 p.m. to discuss recent artworks that have undergone conservation and what those projects entailed, including the restoration of Frank Mechau’s mural Wild Horses, Emanuel Martinez’s mural Arte Mestiza, and Marisol Escobar’s sculpture John Wayne. View a slide show of images from before, during, and after treatment, and get an up-close look at damaged fragments removed and saved during repair. Learn how the museum prioritizes these projects, the work that goes into making them a reality, upcoming conservation needs, and long-term goals. Join us in conversation and discover how you can support this work, preserving the FAC art collection for generations to come. This event is free and open to the public.

The FAC will be closed from Dec. 23-Jan. 5, except for theater performances.

Beth Thompson ’26, Emily Bennett ’26, and Cassidy Craige ’25 in Cossitt Amphitheater. Photo provided by Emily Bennett