BRAVO! Awards

High School Outreach Team | EM

(Erin Ulrich, Hector Susano, Wyatt Kocol, Rosaisela Hernandez, Zach Colter, Paul Kubitschek, Emily Vega)

“This outstanding team represents the university with excellence every day. Despite half the team being in their first year, they’ve already made a remarkable impact on our partners. I’m incredibly proud of their dedication, and it’s a joy to hear praise from the schools they serve. Even while understaffed and covering expanded territories, they’ve navigated challenges—including a declining high school graduate population and shifting attitudes toward college—yet high school applications are on the rise. Their unwavering commitment, sensitivity, and care for students, especially in difficult situations, make all the difference.”

Nominated by Jill Schmidt

Oanh Luong (Budget Analyst) | SEW

“Oanh has dedicated over 20 years to CMEI, including her time in student activities, leaving an indelible mark on the department. She has been an invaluable guide—helping navigate budgetary decisions, set priorities, and lead discussions that strengthen our proposals to the Student Affairs Board Fee Committee.​ Her deep knowledge, openness to ideas, and ability to leverage historical financial data make her a crucial force in shaping decisions that benefit the entire department. She is widely respected across Student Affairs, overseeing fiscal management for CMEI, Met Media, and supporting TSAC’s budgetary needs. Oanh’s ability to translate departmental priorities into actionable financial plans ensures that resources are allocated where they matter most.​ Chi Oanh is the heart, mind, and backbone of CMEI. If there is one person who embodies the success of this department, its impact on students, and why Student Affairs at MSU Denver is an exceptional place for educators, it is her.”

Nominated by Stephen Cucchiara

Cande Martinez (Assistant Director of Academic Achievement) | SEW

“Cande has brought CAMP thorough data tracking and assessment skills that help our team ensure the success of our students while also being thoughtful about centering student needs. She has created a student engagement curriculum in our office that promotes the well-being of our students. She keeps students at the forefront of our decision-making process and takes the initiative to improve our procedures.”

Nominated by Diana Delacruz-Aparicio

Benjamin Cooper (Hopes Program Coordinator) | SEW

“Thank you for 5 years of dedicated service to MSU Denver. Your contributions have been instrumental in supporting students’ academic, professional, and personal growth by fostering self-advocacy, community, and intellectual development. Your impact will continue to ripple out for years to come! The MSU Denver community sends a heartfelt thank you for all you’ve done!”

Don Holtzen (Operations Coordinator for Office of Financial Aid) | EM

“Don Holtzen is a foundational member of the Office of Financial Aid, playing a vital role in keeping operations moving forward during times of change. Beginning on the scholarships team, his inquisitive nature and ​problem-solving skills quickly set him apart, making him a strong candidate for the systems team. Since joining, Don has embraced every challenge, from managing our new ticketing system to cataloging extensive tracking requirements and automated jobs. ​His dedication to improving our systems has made our work easier, and we are incredibly fortunate to have him at MSU.”

Nominated by Tori Pacheco, Brandon Terry

Leah Martinez (Associate Director for Financial Aid and Eligibility) | EM

“For nearly 25 years, Leah Martinez has exemplified MSU Denver’s commitment to community, access, and inclusive excellence, ensuring that every student has the financial support needed to achieve their educational goals. Leah’s dedication to breaking down barriers for first-generation and low-income students reflects a deep passion for equity and student success. Through unwavering leadership, integrity, and a students-first mentality, Leah has fostered trust, transparency, and innovation in financial aid services. Leah’s impact extends beyond the office, contributing to the economic and cultural well-being of the MSU Denver community and empowering Roadrunners to rise to their full potential.”​

Nominated by Jessica Kirkpatrick

Maribel Valadez-Palomino (Customer Service Manager, Office of Admissions) | EM

“Maribel Valadez Palomino is nominated for her outstanding dedication and positive impact in our Office of Admissions. In her short time with us, she has ensured our email response times remain within 24 hours, even during peak periods, ​and has kept the front desk covered with consistent, clear messaging for students and guests. ​Maribel brings a bubbly, friendly presence that creates a welcoming atmosphere in the office, while fostering strong relationships with her student staff. Her hard work and commitment make her a true asset to our team.”

Nominated by Marlynn Rocha-Vasquez

Michael Nguyen (Interim Executive Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships) | EM

“Michael has done phenomenal work with the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships in the role of Interim Executive Director. Everything from systems/process improvement/SIS implementation to building a strong positive work culture and environment. ​Michael’s strategic approach to our work has resulted in a better overall student experience and has helped improve service to the MSU Denver community greatly.”

Nominated by Nick Grissom

Andrew Sia, Ph.D. (Staff Psychologist & Associate Director of Training) | SEW

“Andrew Sia has been a total ringmaster in his role. He has taken our Advanced Doctoral Student Training Program to acrobatic heights with his thorough programming, giving our trainees the experiences they will need for applying for their doctoral internships, supporting our staff in providing (Big) top education and supervision, and increasing the visibility of the program in the psychology community. His next amazing feat is preparing to return the Counseling Center to its position as a national internship site for counseling center psychologists, which will begin in the fall of 2026.”

Nominated by Lisa Boyum, Jeanne Burkhart, Bri W. Brannigan​, Vicky Tuakoi, Randal Boldt

Alicia Montoya (Program Coordinator for Engagement and Student Belonging) | SEW

“Alicia Montoya has made a remarkable impact on student engagement since rejoining the department in September. Tasked with building a student programming board from the ground up, she successfully hired and mentored a team of six students, took them to the NACA conference, and empowered them to plan impactful, student-led events. Highlights include a week-long Spring Welcome Week—with new events like Glow Golf and Travel Bingo exceeding attendance expectations by 40%—as well as three additional programs drawing over 100 students each. With more events ahead, including Roadrunners After Dark, Alicia’s creativity, leadership, and commitment to student empowerment have reenergized campus life, transformed how we connect with students, and set a new standard for engagement.”

Nominated by Nhi Dang, Stephen Cucchiara

Rachel Quintana (Assistant to the Director of the Access Center) | SEW

“Rachel’s bright personality along with her empathy, adaptability and resourcefulness when engaging with our students and everyone else that connects with our program is outstanding.  She always does her best to get students to connect with the appropriate resources on campus and stopping the Roadrunner runaround. I know how much students appreciate her because the first thing that comes out of a student’s mouth when she is away from the front desk is “where is Rachel?”

Nominated by Greg Sullivan

Sonia Adame Tarin (Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator) | SEW

“Sonia has ensured that our services are accessible to students and families, which has led her to re-vamp our outreach and enrollment process. She also took the lead in our office to transition us into a new student database platform that will improve our data tracking information for our annual performance report for the Office of Migrant Education.”

Nominated by Diana Delacruz-Aparicio

Melissa Cleaver (Pathways to Possible Director) | C2 Hub

“Melissa’s leadership of the P2P program has been truly collaborative, student-centered, and grounded in genuine care for both her team and MSU Denver students. She consistently fosters connections to resources that support student engagement, academic success, and career development. A dedicated campus partner, Melissa actively seeks out collaboration and builds bridges across departments. Even while navigating the transition and conclusion of P2P, she has led with compassion, resilience, and a people-first approach, making a lasting impact on the campus community.”

Nominated by Bridgette Coble, Nathaniel Tuthill

Scott Bergman (Assistant Director for Scholarship Support) | C2 Hub

“Scott Bergman is student-focused, a phenomenal resource to his colleagues, and a mentor to new professionals entering the field of student affairs. This spring he is managing our standard Reisher scholars recruiting, selection, nomination, and awarding process. On top of this busy scholarship season, he is also managing co-writing grant reports, grant applications for COSI Achieve, and coordinating our Summer Bridge College Works program. Scott brings calmness, student focus, and a sense of humor to his work even as he juggles many competing processes.”

Nominated by Lauren Koppel

Katie Simonsgaard (Communications and Social Media Manager for Student Affairs) | VPSA

“Katie is paving the way of social media within our branch. This semester, she has met with dozens of student workers, who are responsible for managing their division’s social media presence. Through her expertise, ability to connect with others and lead by example, she is empowering our student workers to gain greater outreach, build community and develop new skills.”

Nominated by Jewel Midelis

Immigrant Services Program

(Gregor Mieder, Nayeli Sanchez, Victor Mata)

“The Immigrant Services Program at MSU Denver is a beacon of support for immigrant, refugee, DACA, and undocumented students. Through their intentional, student-centered work, they’ve strengthened the University’s capacity to serve over 500 students annually with empathy, knowledge, and care. Despite the challenges of shifting federal policies, the team continues to lead with consistency and compassion—supporting students directly and guiding the institution’s broader response. Their innovative initiatives, including the Inclusive Experiential Learning Fund, Undocupeers Training, and legal assistance services, have made a lasting impact on campus, in the community and across the state. Gregor and his team have built strong partnerships and fostered a culture of advocacy, collaboration, and inclusion. Their work not only transforms lives—it sets a standard for what institutional support can and should look like.”

Nominated by Loretta Wahl, Lauren Koppel

Student Care Center

(Sonia Falcon, Taryn Gawronski, Connor Kloss, Benjamin Cooper, Shelly Ann, Vian Saeid, Abbie Kell)

“The Student Care Center (SCC) has received hundreds of CARE referrals this semester and has been adept at assessing student needs, responding in a timely manner, and providing empathetic and compassionate care. This team works overtime to ensure that students are safe, healthy and have their basic needs met. With a lean team, they are able to support students effectively, collaborate to provide campus-wide and department-specific education, and problem-solve in creative ways. The SCC team deserves recognition for their dedication and commitment to supporting students holistically and for managing an increasingly large number of student referrals.”

Nominated by Andrew McGeehan