Cherry Creek State Park sustains major storm damage

Reservoir rises 10 feet

BY TAYLER SHAW T

Cherry Creek State Park’s roadway has closed inde nitely due to severe ooding damage, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced.

“Last week’s 6 inches of rainfall over a three-day period caused Cherry Creek Reservoir to rise 10 feet, the largest single-event increase in water levels since 1965,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife in a May 15 news release.

According to the Department of Water Resources, on May 10, the elevation at the Cherry Creek Reser- voir was 5,546 feet. By May 15, it was 5,556 feet.

As of May 19, the elevation was 5,555 feet.

According to the news release, the only roadway bisecting the park, called East Lake View Road, washed out in two places. As a result, the road is closed inde nitely as it requires long-term repairs.

O cials have to evaluate approximately 1,700 square feet of road and bank damage, per the release.

“ e high reservoir levels have submerged the east and west boat ramps,” o cials said in the release.

“ e swim beach is also underwater, as well as a few picnic areas on the

Kayla Bailey

Thunderridge High School

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memory from my high school years is most de nitely my senior year eld day. underRidge is very special in our unity and student involvement, as shown through our homecoming week events every year. My senior year eld day was incredible, lled with school spirit and pure bliss as the senior took home the eld day championship.

Paige Behrens

ROCK CANYON HIGH SCHOOL

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

I re ect on my rst day of summer cross country fairly often. It was smoking hot and I was nervous to start something entirely new as a senior. It was terrifying but sparked a love of distance running that I couldn’t seem to get enough of, and it brought me to some of my closest friends.

Lucas Bobier ROCK CANYON HIGH SCHOOL

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memory from high school is the Colorado Space Business Roundtable (CSBR) summer internship in which I was able to tour the facilities of many aerospace companies in Colorado as well as listen to some online speakers.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues

Joseph Boeglin

RENAISSANCE SECONDARY

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memories were the RSS Voyages,

Raygan Campbell

EAGLE ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that? particularly our snowshoeing and canoeing experiences. Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memory is sitting out in the lobby with my friends and just talking.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

Going forward, I plan to work in the agriculture eld. I feel that the importance of agriculture has been lost in today’s society and I plan to work towards shining a light on the value of agriculture. As of now, I am planning on attending veterinary school after graduating from Colorado State University. With future plans of becoming a veterinarian, I will help to protect and promote the livestock that makes agriculture what it is today.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years, I see myself being deeply involved in my veterinary career. I hope to be making a di erence within the equine veterinary community, therefore helping the agricultural industry as a whole.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

I have found a passion for scienti c research, and I hope to play o that and research mental health concerns including addiction, and depression. Epigenetics continues to play a sizable role in the mental health epidemic and I am excited to see what I can contribute to the scienti c conversation as I engage in tier 1 research.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

While I may not see exactly where I am, I know I am involved in biology. I love to write and have found the intricate details of scienti c writing engaging. I hope to see myself continuing research within a genetic scope and I am excited to see where I nd myself.

My role in society going forward will be that of an engineer or inventor. I hope that post-graduation I can help further the technology of our society so that we can not only understand our world and space better, but also allow us to physically go to new places.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years I can see myself having worked on many di erent projects throughout my career, those of which probably had an e ect on moon/ mars missions or the future of the low earth orbit ecosystem. If possible I would hope that in 20 years I would also have been able to spend some time as a private astronaut. According to Sierra Space, one of the companies I visited during my internship with CSBR, private astronauts would be employed by a private company rather than the government.

I want to help solve the climate crisis. I plan to do that with Computer Science by nding ways to make data systems more energy e cient.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In twenty years, I see myself on the cutting edge of Computer Science related research and development.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

I feel that my role in society going forward is to be an advocate for people with a disorder called Transverse Myelitis and help in research how it might develop.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years I see myself as a rst grade teacher helping however I can.

Deven Chen

Highlands Ranch High School

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring high school memory is adjusting to a new high school and area after my family and I moved to Colorado in November 2021. Almost everything was di erent and somewhat unfamiliar after we moved, but I learned a lot as I adapted. I will always remember the social skills I developed and experience I gained from our move.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

Going forward, I want to be an involved member in our community. I am drawn to humanitarian issues like hunger and lack of clean water, and

Kyle Donahue

Douglas County High School

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

One of my favorite memories was when I was running a 5k in Colorado Springs. I was behind a person that had beaten me at the previous meet, and it was looking like I was about to lose again. He and I were 100 feet from the nish line and he was 20 feet ahead of me, but suddenly, I summoned up my last bit of energy and broke into a sprint, passing him and beating his time.

Blakeley Dunn RENAISSANCE SECONDARY

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My favorite memory happened on the bow of a boat in Honduras. I was able to land a “Grand Slam” which is when you catch a Permit, Tarpon, and Bone sh in one day. I was able

Caden Eagle

Skyview Academy

I want to donate my time and money to organizations helping to solve those issues. For instance, I have already run food drives and sorted food for food banks, and I want to continue doing things like that in the future, though possibly in a more organizational/administrative role. I also want to volunteer in Boy Scouts as a scoutmaster or adult leader because I grew so much from Scouts and want to give back. I also just love Boy Scouts so much that I want to keep going even after I turn 18. As someone that’s into cybersecurity, I am naturally also drawn to the issues of computer insecurity and hacking. I want to help the world become a more cyber secure place in the future, though I’m not sure how exactly I will go about that yet.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years, I see myself married and with a family, working in the cybersecurity and/or computer science elds. I will be volunteering regularly and be active in my community.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

I would like to pursue research into Nuclear spacecraft propulsion to enable humanity to transition to a space-based economy via Asteroid Mining and become a multi-planetary species via extrasolar colonies. In addition, I would like to support and develop future improvements in the use of nuclear ssion and fusion to transition to a zero-carbon energy economy. Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years, I would like to have started my own company based on asteroid mining and nuclear propulsion and have captured the rst asteroid, Ryugu, by 2033 when it reaches its closest intercept to Earth. rough the resources gained from this and more asteroid captures, I would like to work with NASA and companies like SpaceX to support the lunar colonization initiative and eventually human exploration of Mars.

to travel to Honduras to y sh and meet some amazing people.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address postgraduation and how do you plan to do that?

My role in society is not going to change much now that I am graduating - my role is to be a kind person and

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

Me and my friends had a last minute 14-hour road trip to watch the boys basketball team in Cedar Ridge. We went crazy in the car, but it was worth it to support our basketball guys and see them pull out a victory.

Collin Gordon

Mountain Vista High School

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My fondest high school memory was riding for Highlands Ranch Junior Cycling (HRJC) and competing in the Colorado High School Cycling League for Mountain Vista.

work hard at everything I do. Post graduation I would like to continue to grow as a businesswoman and artist and be a good example for other young women who are starting their own companies.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In twenty years, I hope that I have lived a life full of adventure with plenty of travel (hopefully in a van), I hope I have a community around me that will push me to be a better human, and I hope that I will be able to have a thriving graphic design company.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

As an avid skier and hiker and Coloradan, I really want to support and improve on our society’s sustainability and global footprint. I plan to study Environmental Engineering, to build and nd more reliable alternative energies that can keep our world spinning for generations to come.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

Ideally I see myself doing work I can be proud of that can also take me around the world to see God’s beauty that is Earth (especially Iceland, New Zealand and Argentina).

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

I strongly believe that people do not appreciate our beautiful outdoors as much as they should. I want people to have a greater respect for our national forests, understand the phrase “It’s All Yours,” and use it to their advantage. I love the outdoors and want people to be able to enjoy them while also respecting and not harming them by littering or destroying public forests and lands.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In the next 20 years, I envision myself living in Colorado, working for an engineering rm, and spending my weekends exploring the state’s natural beauty and engaging in outdoor activities such as camping, biking, and skiing.

Angie Hargrove D.C. OAKES

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

I will always remember singing in the school talent show during Wish Week with one of my closest friends. It was exhilarating to be up on stage in front of everyone and to feel supported by my friends and peers. So many people came up to me afterward and told me that they never knew I could sing!

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

As the systems that govern our lives continue to evolve at unprec-

Cate Hensley PONDEROSA HIGH SCHOOL

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memory from high school will likely be my experience playing the drums in Ponderosa’s most recent musical theatre production, Big Fish. e content of the musical was incredibly meaningful and it was such a memorable production to be a part of.

Emma Liken

Legend High School

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most prominent memory from high school is being able to make those around me smile and laugh on a daily basis, especially being told that “You always manage to put a smile on my face” by a classmate.

Brinda Malik STEM SCHOOL HIGHLANDS RANCH

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My favorite memory from my high school career would be competing in the First Robotics Competition my senior year. is was an incredible opportunity for me to continue my academic pursuits in an environment with people that wanted to continue to push me to do better and to do more. I was able to learn so much here, but also I was really able to bond with the rest of my school

Carter McDonald ROCK CANYON HIGH SCHOOL

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memory of high school was helping to develop Rock Canyon’s Speech & Debate program from 46th in the state to a top ten program that won seventh at the CHSAA State Tournament in the team competition as President/Captain of the team.

edented rates with technology, I want to make progress in this world in a way that moves everyone forward together. I am fascinated by the increasing role of data and information in addressing the most pressing global issues, from creating more equitable systems of justice to avoiding irreversible environmental disasters. However, if misinterpreted or exploited, this powerful force could serve to our detriment. Because of this, I will explore the choices we must make in a society ruled by technology to eventually advocate for data rights, privacy, and protection in the public sector. Beyond my studies, I will continually advocate for nuance and intellectual humility so that we never lose our sense of empathy and humanity in a technical world.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years, I hope to be a meaningful member of di erent communities. While I can’t say I want to have a certain job or live in a speci c place, I hope to never have lost sight of the values I was raised with and the ones I continue to cultivate in the future.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

Although my post-graduate plans are still indeterminate, my biggest desire is to make a lasting contribution to the eld of medicine. I have had a lot of rsthand experience in the health eld as a patient with chronic illness, and I have always felt drawn to the study of medicine— not only to pursue my love for science but also to give back to the eld that has provided so much to me.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years, I see myself continuing to pursue the things that bring me joy, including STEM and performing arts. I love living in Colorado and I plan on continuing to live in the state after college as I enter my professional career.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

I plan to bring more attention to the epidemic of sexual assault on college campuses by spreading my information obtained via research for my senior project. I want those around me to know how to stay safe, but also know that if something is to happen, I will support and help them as much as I can. With this, I would also like to draw attention to mental health as it has been a struggle I have seen rsthand and want to be a resource and support system for those around me so they don’t have to feel how I once did.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years I hope to be truly happy, content, and proud of myself.

and team at the St. Louis and Denver Regionals.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

I strive to continue making the world a more open place for people of all di erent backgrounds. I want to support those who don’t see themselves being represented in the elds they want to be in, and hope to continue to make changes in representation of women in STEM elds and in sports media. By pursuing a major in Mechanical Engineering and Journalism, I want to continue to work in project management and be a leader to pave the way.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

I want to be either working for Formula 1 as a race car engineer or strategy engineer or as a publishing sports journalist for ESPN.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

I feel most drawn to helping to pave the way for other students to become involved in programs like Speech & Debate, as the skills it develops in communication, argumentation, and respect have bene tted me immeasurably and I would love to spread that beyond just my personal experience. I plan on remaining involved in Speech & Debate by volunteering in college and beyond to foster civic engagement and learning in future generations.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years I see myself in the foreign service, or elsewhere in the state department, helping to ensure the U.S. maintains its strong diplomatic ties with the rest of the world.

Madison Mears D.C. OAKES

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memory is coming to D.C. Oakes and realizing that I actually have a chance to graduate. Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address postgraduation and how do you plan to do that?

I hope to be a successful person that can be nancially stable and to have nice things in life and to have a great job in what I love to do. Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In a nice house with my wife and nancially stable and to be a successful woman.

Benjamin Morris CHAPARRAL HIGH SCHOOL

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memory is speaking at Chaparral’s Wish Week opening assembly where two thousand students and sta were gathered to learn who our Wish Kid would be. Seeing all of their faces explode into smiles when our Wish Kid was revealed is something I will never forget.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

Going forward, I want to address the issue of depleting nonrenewable natural resources by working to discover sources of renewable energy and ways to harness it. I hope to do this by becoming an engineer and working on machines that are able to utilize renewable energy sources.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In twenty years, I see myself working as an engineer and enjoying life in Colorado.

Isabel Melton EDCSD

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

Being an online student through eDCSD has enabled me to dedicate a greater amount of time to my volunteer e orts. A particularly memorable moment occurred when I was able to shadow a Transition Nurse at Sky Ridge Medical Center. I aided in six deliveries which included both natural and c-section births. is experience sparked my desire to pursue a career in Healthcare Administration due to the incredible medical professionals I had the pleasure of working with during my observation.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

Being a Second Generation Mexican American, I nd my role in society going forward is to continue nding ways in which underserved communities can receive health bene ts and opportunities. I desire to build programs to enable proper care and support for such communities as well as securing a work-life balance for the amazing healthcare workers that sel essly provide their services. e primary issues that I feel drawn to address postgraduation would be aiding underserved communities in healthcare as well as improving the overall employee happiness within healthcare professions. I plan to understand and address these issues by obtaining a higher education within Hospital Administration to create programs that aid the community at large and take my years as a volunteer to support and empathize with healthcare professionals to improve the quality of working life.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years I see myself as a highly educated woman who is part of a hospital administration team, preferably at a children’s hospital. I will have helped create programs for underserved community members to ensure that everyone has the same access to healthcare. I will ensure to be an empathetic and supportive supervisor to other healthcare workers so that the healthcare eld can be less intimidating for incoming healthcare professionals. e hospital I work at will be diverse and enable everyone to share their own opinions.

Chase Nelson

Highlands Ranch High School

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memory has been all the rivalry assemblies, and seeing how much our school cares and takes pride in all of our athletes and their sports - as well as knowing that they are behind us when we play them.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

My role in our society is for everyone to feel the need to ask me for anything they made need help with. As well, show Castle Rock, Colorado proud as I begin my new journey and make a new name for myself when I move to Nebraska in August. My goal is to show that any kid has a chance to achieve their academic and athletic careers and that no career or dream is too big, my dream came true and I know theirs will too.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

I see myself in 20 years helping former athletes and other adults to keep them as healthy as they can. As well as telling them my personal stories and hearing theirs. Lastly, keep the name for me as I am someone everyone knows and respects for how far he has come.

Gitanjali Rao STEM SCHOOL HIGHLANDS RANCH

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memory from my high school career was the talent shows in the school.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

Adam Schwartz

Skyview Academy

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

e most enduring memory from my high school career is continuing to give my best e ort even through e-learning and hybrid-learning. While I know many people who gave up trying or took an easy way out with assignments or tests, I kept my work ethic and went above and beyond. In my case, normalcy was through schooling in a time where nothing seemed normal, and that’s why I wanted to excel in my work and give 110%. Especially in biology where I remember spending hours on each diagram

Jaelyn Siegfried D.C. OAKES

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

My most enduring memory is my rst quarter at Oakes and getting to feel smart in my classes and cared for by the sta . Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address postgraduation and how do you plan to do that?

I plan to address the healthcare system and help provide care for those in need. Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years I plan to be a midwife, helping women of all ages feel safe and cared for.

Taylor Witte

Mountain Vista High School

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

I will always remember singing in the school talent show during Wish Week with one of my closest friends. It was exhilarating to be up on stage in front of everyone and to feel supported by my friends and peers. So many people came up to me afterward and told me that they never

I’ve seen the struggle with being passionate about an idea but then being dismissed by professional researchers and organizations due to my age. New problems are emerging in our world while some old ones have worsened. Our society needs more problem solvers, especially the youth, as many of these problems directly impact our future. We are passionate about our beliefs, and our ideas are not constrained by prevalent thinking. I was for virtual dissection. Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address postgraduation and how do you plan to do that? e issues I feel drawn to are with the environmental problems and Deaf awareness and connectivity. rough my AP Environmental Science class and social media, I have become more aware of how steps to improve the Earth’s condition are becoming more and more necessary. While I’m not going into the science eld, I can still do my part and plan on doing what I can to reduce my carbon footprint and help to ensure policies to help the en- fortunate to nd strong mentors and a school who believed in me and my potential early on and helped me succeed in my goals. Some people have no access, and the general inequality of resources in schools worldwide makes it even more di cult to sprout young innovators. I see my role changing this by speaking up and sharing whatever I learned with the support of educators and organizations. vironment are passed through voting, marches, petitions, etc. Also, I have become more aware of how unconnected the Deaf and hearing communities are. ere are so many stories of Deaf people being put in situations where they don’t have access to accommodations and I have seen so many instances of microaggressions or blatant ignorance towards the Deaf community. While I cannot speak for Deaf people, I can help to do what I can to interpret and spread awareness for the community.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

Innovating low cost quality health products while rolling out a problem solving curriculum world-wide.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years I see myself owning my own interpreting company for ASL and I would make interpreters available for any instance at any time. Also, I can see myself learning a couple other sign languages, maybe French sign and German sign and traveling the world. And of course I plan on adopting at least three or four cats.

Sarah Underwood

Mountain Vista High School

What is the most enduring memory from your high school career?

e most enduring memory is being a part of Yeti Leadership. I gotta make plans, make our school’s school store, plan parties, make spirit days, plan the donation drive, and make our school better.

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

After high school I am going to the University of Northern Colorado to study biochemistry and forensic science, I want to help many people in many ways. Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years I see myself as famous for nding a cure for some diseases many people aren’t focused on, having a family, and living my best life hopefully debt free.

knew I could sing!

Talk about your role in society going forward. What issues do you feel drawn to address post-graduation and how do you plan to do that?

As the systems that govern our lives continue to evolve at unprecedented rates with technology, I want to make progress in this world in a way that moves everyone forward together. I am fascinated by the increasing role of data and information in addressing the most pressing global issues, from creating more equitable systems of justice to avoiding irreversible environmental disasters. However, if misinterpreted or exploited, this powerful force could serve to our detriment. Because of this, I will explore the choices we must make in a society ruled by technology to eventually advocate for data rights, privacy, and protection in the public sector. Beyond my studies, I will continually advocate for nuance and intellectual humility so that we never lose our sense of empathy and humanity in a technical world.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

In 20 years, I hope to be a meaningful member of di erent communities. While I can’t say I want to have a certain job or live in a speci c place, I hope to never have lost sight of the values I was raised with and the ones I continue to cultivate in the future.