Schedule of Events · Evaluation of the Colorado Water Plan: Effectiveness in Planning for Substainable Climate Change Mitigation By Camille Cuypers (Land Use) The Colorado Water

Schedule of Events

Posters and Displays: 9:30 - 11:00 am in the SSB Mezzanine

“Dismantling the School-to-Jail Track” by Jhovani Becerra (Computer Information Systems)“Dreamers United” by David Campos-Cardenas (Accounting)“Sustainability and Urban Agriculture” by Alan Buser (Environmental Science)“Foodvocacy” by Andrea Colmenero (Political Science)“Evaluation of the Colorado Water Plan: Effectiveness in Planning for Sustainable Climate Change Mitigation” by Camille Cuypers (Land Use) “The Problem with Colorado: Human Trafficking” by Violet Gorrell (Criminal Justice)“Decolonizing the Body Through Women-of-Color Community-based Research” by Cristine de La Luna (African American Studies and Women’s Studies)“R2-D2” by Anthony Groome, Jon Ratcliffe, Ben Reis and Michael Painter (all Mechanical Engineering)“Impact Virginia - Artwork and Handouts on Human Trafficking” by Kayla Hertzog (Social Work)“Authenticity of a Vegetarian Lifestyle” by Abigail Jimenez (Biology)“eCommuter - Electric Handicap Vehicle” by Connor King, James Royce and Joel Sarjeant (all Mechanical Engineering)“Fueling Performance: One-Day 7000 Calorie Project” by Mitchell Kusick (Psychology)“The Gift of Life” by Gaby Landeros (Hospitality, Tourism and Events)“Solar Heating Community Workshop” by Mariah Master (Integrative Health Care) and Darnel Walters (Biology)“Impact Youth by Kevin McQuirk” (Biology)“Mentoring a Low-Income Student” by Mariam Mohammed (Health Care Management)“Parabolic Solar Trough Collector” by Jason Rael, Bryan Knight and Laura Decker (Mechanical Engineering) “Suicide Loss Support Groups - Facilitator Training” by Monica Simpson (Individualized Degree Plan)

Oral Presentations: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm “Confluence: The Past, Present and Future of Sustainability at Auraria” by Olivia Blumenthal (Biology)SSB 205 10:00 - 10:30 am“Ruby and Star and the Rainbow Scouts - A Novel Series for Transgender and Genderqueer Children”by Katelyn Monk-McKenzie (Licensure-Secondary Education) SSB 205 10:30 - 11:00 am“Aerobic Exercise and the Brain” by Mitchell Kusick (Psychology)SSB 205 11:00 - 11:15 am

Break 12:00-1:00 pm

“Integrative Health Care E-Portfolio Presentation” by Kate Curtis (Integrative Health Care)SSB 205 1:00 - 1:15 pm“Game and Art Concepts an E-Portfolio Presentation” by Michell “Roxis” Tagawa (IDP: 3D Animation and Concept Art in Gaming)SSB 205 1:20 - 1:35 pm“Integrative Health Care Capstone Presentations” by Ariel DeGruy, Jennifer Speight and Kendra KleidonCAVEA (SSB 420) 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Display: 1:30 - 3:30 pm in the SSB Mezzanine“Reflexiones y Reflejos” by students enrolled in Maria Rey Lopez’s SPA 2750-001 Intensive Grammar Review, SPA 3400-001 Survey of Spanish Lit. I and SPA 4110-001 Contemporary Spanish Lit.

Posters and DisplaysSSB Mezzanine 9:30 - 11:00 am Dismantling the School-to-Jail Track By Jhovani Becerra (Computer Information Systems)

Have you heard about the school-to-jail track? Students in Denver Public Schools and across the nation are disciplined harshly through exclusionary practices. Small misbehaviors like wearing the wrong dress code, being late to class and talking back to a teacher result in the student being removed from the classroom. Students often face exclusionary discipline such as detention, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspensions and drastic measures like expulsions and police involvement for breaking the lowest severity of school rules. The current discipline practices that determine the student’s consequence do not mirror the student’s misbehaviors. This national issue of discipline is referred to as zero tolerance practices because any misbehavior in any context is unacceptable and must be punished. Zero tolerance practices have demonstrated the racial disparities in school discipline whereas students of color are disproportionally disciplined compared to their white peers. Discipline in schools has become a barrier for students to obtain their education and graduate high school college ready. My Puksta project is focused on mobilizing youth in their schools and communities to dismantle this inequity that continues to remove students from the classroom. I will work with the organization Padres & Jóvenes Unidos to organize students and I will facilitate workshops for students to learn how to organize and outreach in their schools as well as simultaneously develop community leadership.

Dreamers United By David Campos-Cardenas (Accounting)

I have created a small group/organization for DACA/ASSET/UNDOCUMENTED students which helps them get to college for a cheaper price; in which they don’t have to work a full time job. I am meeting with this group 1-2 times a month with monthly scholarship assigments. I am also keeping contact with them and their parents throughout the year. In this poster, I will show the importance of applying to many scholarships, as well as the importance of not having ignorance towards other cultures.

Sustainability and Urban AgricultureBy Alan Buser (Environmental Science)

This project focuses on the issues with sustainability, specifically within urban agriculture.

FoodvocacyBy Andrea Colmenero (Political Science)

Foodvocacy is an advocacy campaign addressing the issues of food waste, food insecurity, and environmental justice in Colorado. I co-founded this advocacy campaign with two other friends whom I know through the UNICEF USA Campus Initiative program when we worked together during the 2015-16 year. We originally proposed the project to the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) 2016 and it was accepted. We got invited to CGIU 2016 at UC Berkeley in April and we got to launch it and showcase it at the conference. In August, I got the opportunity to apply to the Puksta Foundation and I proposed the same project so I could begin my advocacy work with Foodvocacy in Colorado.

Evaluation of the Colorado Water Plan: Effectiveness in Planning for Substainable Climate Change MitigationBy Camille Cuypers (Land Use)

The Colorado Water Plan is a comprehensive document released after Governor Hickenlooper’s executive order to develop a plan was made in 2013. The plan addresses water basins statewide, supply, demand, users, rights, potential for climate change impact, efforts to mitigate impacts of climate change and population growth on infrastructure and the environment. This paper looks at the water plan from a sustainability perspective analyzing the effectiveness of the plan. Using the Climate Change in Colorado study commissioned by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), ArcGIS mapping, and some voices from individuals who participated in the plans development, this paper will take a multidimensional look at the Colorado Water Plan and its effort to sustainably mitigate impacts of climate change.

The Problem with Colorado: Human TraffickingBy Violet Gorrell (Criminal Justice)

As one of the leading organized crimes across the globe, human trafficking cannot be a taboo topic. With the major interstate highways crossing through the plains, a growing capital city and mountainous areas, trafficking continues to thrive in Colorado. The focus of this project is to spread awareness and educate others about the victims rescued from sex trafficking crimes and prepare a long-term plan for Colorado to have access to vital resources to help stop this senseless crime.

Decolonizing the Body Through Women-of-Color Community-Based ResearchBy Cristine de La Luna (African American Studies and Women’s Studies)

This project is focused on subtheme three of the National Women’s Studies Association 2016 Conference “Decoloniality - Bodies and Biopolitics,” this panel addresses the object-body as it exists in its raced, classed, sexed and gendered form. These panelists critique the politics of consuming and consumable bodies that have historically been subject to exploitation. The panelists seek to identify the needs of their own communities. This practice is particularly relevant to women’s studies given that feminists have come to be some of the leading culprits of colonial, maternalist and racist feminism.

R2-D2By Anthony Groome (Mechanical Engineering Technology), Jon Ratcliffe (Mechanical Engineering Technology), Ben Reis (Mechanical Engineering Technology) and Michael Painter (Mechanical Engineering Technology and Physics)

The R2-D2 is the idea to generate lift for an aircraft without the use of an airfoil, instead by the use of a cylinder rotor lift is generated and thus flight is acquired. The aircraft design consisted of an airplane body with two cylinders that spin to generate lift, allowing for the Magnus effect to be taken advantage of. Due to this unique capability, specifically that high lift can be achieved at low air speeds, we can obtain a reliable, slow moving and mobile lifting device used in short range conditions. The weight of our plane is estimated to be around 10[lbf]. The goal of the project is to design a plane that operates under the Magnus principle and to have it carry a load with minimal airspeed. An initial assessment of these engineering characteristics will be shown. Unlike traditional airfoils, the Magnus effect allows for variable lift at a given airspeed, which is determined by the rotation of the cylinders.

Impact Virginia - Artwork and Handouts on Human TraffickingBy Kayla Hertzog (Social Work)

I am the Director of Survivor Leadership and Voices in Art, so I would love to bring in some info on our non profit. It’s based out of Virginia, I will have resources nationally and locally, and then of course info about us, as well as some unique art works I have done for them already!

Authenticity of a Vegetarian Lifestyle By Abigail Jimenez (Biology)

This poster presentation will be showcasing a Puksta project, which is the founding and maintaining of a student run group on the Auraria campus. This group is called the Student Veggie Coalition (SVC) of MSU Denver. SVC will focus on raising awareness about the benefits of adopting a plant based diet in regards to our health and uniting the vegan and vegetarian community at the Auraria campus.

eCommuter - Electric Handicap Vehicle By Connor King (Mechanical Engineering Technology, James Royce (Mechanical Engineering Technology) and Joel Sarjeant (Mechanical Engineering Technology

The basis of the eCommuter is to assist people using non-electric wheelchairs with everyday tasks. This is an electric tricycle powered by a hib motor using a lithium ion battery pack. The eCommuter is capable of 15 MPH speeds to be used along bike paths and any shared roadways. The range of the eCommuter’s battery pack is meant to allow users to travel to nearby destinations as grocery stores, local events, and day-to-day errands.

Fueling for Performance: One-Day 7000 Calorie ProjectBy Mitchell Kusick (Psychology)

Athletes competing in rigorous multi-day events require the most attention to detail to their daily nutrition. One group in particular that poses difficulties with regards to sufficient energy intake are cyclists. Often times riders compete in 21-day tours that see them expending 3000-4000 kcal/day on top of what is required for their individual metabolism. In order to perform at a high level throughout the event, elite cyclists must consume upwards of 7000 kcal/day, a tremendous feat on its own. Compounding the difficulty of consuming that amount of food daily are the dietary restrictions that many riders adhere to in order to feel the best and race well. Of particular note is the Lacto-Ovo vegetarian cyclist, who abstains from animal meat and fish. One such example of an elite rider is Dale Henderson, who additionally refrains from both gluten and milk. This presentation will highlight the diet’s nutrient content, supplements, fluids, and information pertinent to this one-day diet.

The Gift of LifeBy Gaby Landeros (Hospitality, Tourism and Events)

My sister passed away in 2013. During her passing she became an organ donor. Since then I have become active in informing and raising awareness of Organ, Eye, and Tissue donation. This semester I have started a blog where I talk about my sister’s story. I post blogs of little stories about her and I also post on the importance of saving other peoples lives. I incorporate facts and how to become a donor, such as sites and locations to register to become a donor. I use this blog as a place to share my stories and as a place to inform people of the awareness in registering and a place to show information that I have found.

Solar Heating Community WorkshopBy Mariah Master (Integrative Health Care) and Darnel Walters (Biology)

The goals for the Solar Heating Community Workshop are multifaceted as the project involves several stakeholders. For the GrowHaus, the goal is to reduce heating costs and provide an educational display (the solar heating system itself once installed), as well as workshop curriculum to share with the GrowHaus community. The objective for the Colorado High School students is to learn about renewable energy technologies, gain hands-on construction experience, and engage in service learning. After this initial workshop, the goal is to have the Elyria-Swansea residents continue the conversation on solar heating and hold subsequent workshops focused on building cost-effective systems for their community. And for me personally, I intend to gain experience in project management, build upon public speaking skills, and to learn more about the social and structural aspects of nonprofit organizations.

Impact the YouthBy Kevin McQuirk (Biology)

My potential project for the Puksta foundation is a yearlong mentorship between paired college and high school students in the Denver Public Schools. The name for my mentoring program is “Impact the Youth.” Through Impact the Youth, I will immerse high school mentees into the higher education environment on the Auraria Campus. The high school students which Impact the Youth is designed for are minorities, undocumented people, and impoverished students that are in their second, third, or last year of high school. The goal of the project is to present these students multiple options of education, work, and community activism after high school. It is also a project with the purpose of presenting students their interests and potential academic careers after high school. In Impact the Youth, I will organize mentorship relationships and have both mentors and mentees attend weekly workshops three times a month to learn about the opportunities at MSU Denver.

Mentoring a Low-Income Student By Mariam Mohammed (Health Care Management)

The Bridge Project is a non-profit organization that helps youth in Denver’s public housing neighborhoods to graduate from high school and go on to attend college. I want to help those kids because most low-income students don’t finish college because they don’t get the help they need. This is a great opportunity for me because I will give back to the community and help the student with getting ready for college and making the college process easier for them.

Parabolic Solar Trough Collector By Jason Rael, Bryan Knight and Laura Decker (all Mechanical Engineering Technology)

Our group has elected to attempt at creating a small scale parabolic trough collector that could either work as an energy source for underprivileged communities or even as a water purification source. This is not a ground breaking innovation however a potential market presents itself in less fortunate and underprivileged communities, as previously mentioned. The goal of this project was to use solely the power of the sun to generate enough heat from a reflective parabolic surface at a localized point to turn water to steam and potentially power an external source.

Suicide Loss Support Groups - Facilitator TrainingBy Monica Simpson (Individualized Degree Program)

I will spearhead the implementation of two simultaneous trainings to be held in Denver on June 8 & 9, 2017. In partnership with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), this event will prepare attendees for the unique task of leading suicide bereavement support groups for adults and adolescents. Though sponsored by the AFSP state chapters of CO, WY, and MT, the training is open to registrants nationwide. This will be the first time these teachings have been offered concurrently. AFSP works nationally in suicide prevention, education, survivor support, and research.

Oral Presentations SSB 2nd Floor Classrooms and CAVEA

Confluence: The Past, Present and Future of Sustainability at AurariaBy Olivia Blumenthal (Biology)SSB 205 10:00 - 11:30 am

“Confluence: The Past Present and Future of Sustainability at Auraria” is an exploration of the ecology and culture overtime at Auraria as it relates to sustainability using music, maps and calendars. This information will be presented in a musical album featuring 4 docu-songs with accompanying artwork.

Ruby and Star and the Rainbow Scouts - A Novel Series for Transgender and Genderqueer ChildrenBy Katelyn Monk-McKenzie (Licensure-Secondary Education) SSB 205 10:30 - 11:00 am

Transgender people are largely depicted as either comic characters or tragic figures in the mainstream media, and transgender children are not depicted at all. I am writing a novel series for my children, who are transgender and genderqueer, and for children like them everywhere, who need to see healthy images of strong caring courageous joyous transgender people that they can look up to and feel inspired by. In my novels a group of children, The Rainbow Scouts, travel magically to many different times and places to experience and confront the challenges that trans people have faced and continue to face, to build vibrant communities, express their power and passions, and confront bigotry with love. Come share the journey with them, to undersea mermaids, to the outer planets, into the American past, and into the heart of the self.

Aerobic Exercise and the BrainBy Mitchell Kusick (Psychology)SSB 205 11:05 - 11:20 am

Recent evidence suggests that certain morbid conditions, namely obesity and neurological diseases, are steadily increasing, whilst the rate that Americans engage in any type of physical activity is declining. It is difficult to deny the existence of a correlation, but this is not to say that a sedentary lifestyle is causing the array of diseases that are a byproduct of modern living. However, research in the field of neuroscience has revealed some startling findings with regards to inactivity. In addition to the substantial negative health effects on the body, a sedentary lifestyle has been shown to have

Reflexiones y ReflejosBy students enrolled in Maria Rey Lopez’s SPA 2750-001 Intensive Grammar Review, SPA 3400-001 Survey of Spanish Lit. I and SPA 4110-001 Contemporary Spanish Lit.

This proposed miscellaneous exhibit will consist of class projects that illustrate a variety of approaches to learning the cultural and literary content of the courses. For instance, using art as a reflecting tool; incorporating journals for research and analysis of materials; writing poetry as a way continued on back...

DisplaySSB Mezzanine 1:30 - 3:30 pm

detrimental effects on the brain. Complicating matters is the notion that the alterations in brain function may impede individuals from engaging in healthy behaviors. Accordingly, the intent of this presentation is to highlight some of the neurological changes that are facilitated by aerobic exercise in an effort to address the deleterious consequences that stem from modern society.

Integrative Health Care E-Portfolio Presentation By Kate Curtis (Integrative Health Care)SSB 205 1:00 - 1:15 pm

Kate has been instrumental in helping to launch portfoliums in the ITP 2000 course. Here Kate serves as a teacher assistance to Dr. Michelle Tollefson. Kate will share her e-portfolio and also her experience introducing this new concept to other Integrative Health Care students and how it is crucial for their continued success in this industry.

Game and Art Concepts an E-Portfolio Presentation By Michell “Roxis” Tagawa (IDP: 3D Animation and Concept Art in Gaming) SSB 205 1:20 - 1:35 pm

This presentation will explain what I do for my artwork, what field I want to get into and how this has been my dream since childhood.

Integrative Health Care Capstone PresentationsBy Ariel DeGruy, Jennifer Speight and Kendra Kleidon (Integrative Health Care) CAVEA (SSB 420) 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Students will present their TED-like talks as part of their capstone in Integrative Health. The event will be hosted by the ITP Professionalism students who will also provide a reception. We have three students giving their presentations as well as sharing one digital story about study abroad to India. Introduciton by Kyra DeGruy Capstone 1: “The Healing Power of Gardening” by Jennifer Speight Capstone 2: “The Transformation of Truma Lies within the Journey through the Wilderness” by Kendra Kleidon Digital Story: “IHC’s Study Abroad in Bhopal, India: A Student’s Story” by Kendra Kleindon Capstone 3: “Beauty and Gratitude” by Ariel DeGruy

of personalizing the studied topics; and creating videos to synthesize the learning experience. At the same time, the collaborative nature of these projects helped students to connect more deeply with each other and to understand the covered topics under a different light. For example:-SPA 2750 Intensive Grammar Review: The class read and researched materials related to the topic “El árbol de la vida” (“The Tree of Life”) as part of the Identity Theme that we explore throughout the semester. Students wrote poems, created individual collages and, as a group, for a final reflection, they composed a mural during one class period.-SPA 3400 Survey of Spanish Literature I: As part of the Middle Ages Unit, students pretended to be pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Their research, planning and impressions were kept in a journal, “Mi diario de peregrino.” Finally, in groups, they composed a poster during one class period to summarize their experience.-SPA 4110 Contemporary Spanish Literature: As part of the Spanish Civil War Unit, students researched and studied Picasso’s Guernica keeping their findings in a journal. Afterwards, they composed a piece of art inspired on Picasso’s work and made a video synthesizing what they have learnt about Picasso’s life and painting style and explaining their own compositions.

The ALC would like to thank all the students who participated in this year’s event and to all the faculty, staff and guests who came out to support them. This would not be possible without any of you.

Please check for photographs from this year and updates for next year’s event at tinyurl.com/MSUDenverShowcase.

Thank you