When Bryant looks back at his time at Aurora Central High School, the first thing that comes to mind is the art room. “I’ve always had a class in the art room” he says, “It’s been a place where I can express myself.” Bryant notes that he particularly enjoys working with watercolor, pastels, and graphite. One other meaningful experience from his high school experience was volunteering with the Assistance League as a part of his Hope Ignites Colorado community service. Bryant shared that they collected clothes and then distributed the clothing for students in need at Aurora Central High School. “I was able to see students wearing the clothes that we had collected” he said, “I could directly see the impact of our efforts.”

Bryant really lights up, however, when he talks about his experience with MC^2, the Medical Career Collaborative at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus for high school students. “It’s been my favorite experience in high school and I wouldn’t have even known it existed without Hope Ignites Colorado.” Bryant spoke to how Hope Ignites Colorado Program Managers told him about the internship program and then supported him through the application process. He shared that once he was accepted into the program, they used surveys he completed and his specific interests to place him into a focus area. Bryant spent his time interning on a Radiology Unit looking at x-rays alongside Radiology Techs and said he really appreciated the ability to have such a hands-on experience. 

When asked about what comes next, Bryant is holding out hope for his applications to come together, “The University of Washington is my top choice. I’ve been accepted, but I’m waiting to see the financial aid packages that I’m offered before I make a decision.” Even if Bryant ends up at a school other than the University of Washington, he said he is looking forward to spreading his wings and seeing more of the world. As for what Bryant wants to study? “Something in the Biological Sciences. I’m thinking perhaps marine or environmental science.”  

Wherever he lands, Bryant is carrying forward the same curiosity that’s guided him from the art room to the hospital—paired with a commitment to show up for others. With Hope Ignites Colorado in his corner, he’s ready to turn that passion into a future that makes a real difference. 

Celebrating Excellence

The team returned home with a Performance Management Tool Excellence Award.

This is the third year in a row that we have received this award which is determined across six core organizational domains (Leadership, Governance & Learning; Human Capital Management; Business & Operations; Resource Development & Fundraising; Brand, Marketing & Communications; and Programming & Participant Outcomes.)

Mary Bartholomew

How long have you been a volunteer with Hope Ignites Colorado and how did you get involved with the organization?

I have been a volunteer with {Hope Ignites Colorado} for over four years. I taught chemistry at Regis Jesuit and in 2019 I had a Hope Ignites scholar as a student in my AP Chemistry Class. He had been meeting with me after school for support and asked me if I could help tutor some of his other “chemistry” friends. Since then, I have been volunteering three times a week after school with Hope Ignites. I also tutor Hope Ignites collegians who are taking college chemistry. In addition, I help with ACT prep by recruiting other retired teacher and preparing review sessions for Hope Ignites Super Saturdays. My volunteer experience provides me with a purpose. I am glad that my skill set and experience as a teacher can be utilized in these programs.

What is an Ignatian Volunteer?

As retirement approached, I investigated several volunteer programs. I was interested in a volunteer program with a spiritual component. I joined the Ignatian Volunteers Corps. This program is based on the spiritual teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It emphasizes the importance of finding God in all things and using one’s gifts and talent to grow spiritually while making a meaningful impact on the community. Hope Ignites Colorado was one of my options for service and it is a perfect match!

What do you like most about volunteering with Hope Ignites Colorado?

I treasure the personal connections I have made with students. These young people have such great potential. My role is to be another supportive adult to help them achieve their dream. I share the scholar’s excitement when they are accepted into college or become scholarship finalist. I am thrilled when college freshmen tell me that they are prepared and thriving. The conversation about their journeys inspire me and give me hope for the future.

Why is Hope Ignites Colorado a good fit for you?

I continue volunteering for Hope Ignites Colorado because I believe in their mission, “to nurture and guide motivated young people in need to become well educated, career-ready men and women for others.” The Hope Ignites Colorado staff and board are outstanding. I am treated as a cohesive team member, and I enjoy supporting the fundraising events. This past Martini Party was so much fun!

As the Artemis II rocket heads off towards the moon, Hope Ignites Colorado scholar, Blessing, is thinking about how her future is about to take off in its own way. “I’m nervous, but excited” she said about reaching the end of her high school career and looking towards college. Blessing is planning to attend Washington University in Saint Louis and her interest in Bio-Astronautics has her planning to major in Mechanical Engineering and Pre-Med.

As Blessing looks back at her experiences in high school, she points to several that made an impact on her plans. “Well, I wouldn’t have even known about Washington University if we hadn’t gone to Saint Louis for EnvisionU,” Blessing shared. EnvisionU is an annual gathering of rising high school seniors from across the Hope Ignites Network. It meets on the campus of a Hope Ignites partner school and offers college prep related seminars, a partner-school college fair, and a variety of opportunities to get to know other scholars from across the network.

Blessing notes that building model rockets in a Rocket Science class at Regis Jesuit High School led to her interest in engineering. Her interest in the biology side, however, came from her experience interning in the Pathology department through the MC^2 program. She credits Hope Ignites Colorado with helping her access this internship program that has allowed her to examine real tissue in a hands-on medical setting. It’s the combination of these two interests that has her eyes set on Bio-Astronautics which she described as “the engineering that supports life in space.”

Blessing may not have known about Washington University in Saint Louis a year ago, but today she excitedly speaks about the strength of their research program and how much she is looking forward to pursuing her passions on their campus. “I’m ready to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people,” she says.

Hope Ignites Colorado is looking forward to seeing Blessing and all 16 other seniors launch into their next phase of life.

What is a fun fact you can share about yourself?

I have climbed 34 of Colorado’s 54 fourteeners—mountains over 14,000 feet tall! And my older daughter Jiselle completed her first 14er with me when she was just 7 years old. She’s gone on to do many more with me and my other daughter, Gretchen. They have proven age is never a barrier to reaching the summit!

If you could share one piece of advice with scholars, what would it be?

Every big goal is just a series of small, intentional steps. When I’m climbing a 14er, I’m not thinking about the entire mountain—I’m thinking about the next step, then the next. The same is true for your education and your future. Some days will be hard, the journey will be brutal, and you may feel overwhelmed and want to give up. But if you keep moving forward—one class, one assignment, one opportunity at a time—you will reach the top. And the view from there makes every hard step worth it!

The transition from Junior year to Senior year happens quickly for Hope Ignites Colorado Scholars. Each year we host a College Application Bootcamp with our rising seniors during the first week of their summer break. Over the course of the week, each scholar fully completes their Common Application, including a personal statement essay.

To make this happen, we work with volunteer writing coaches to work one-on-one with our scholars over the course of several days as they outline, write, and revise their essays.

 Senior year is also the first time that scholars must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as FAFSA. The Hope Ignites Colorado program team hosts an financial educational session for our Senior Scholars and their family members to ensure that they have all the resources needed to complete the application and understand the financial aid packages they go on to receive. The team also follows up with families as they navigate the process to provide support as needed.

Keily’s Martini Party & Fundraiser Speech

Good evening everyone.

First, I want to say thank you. Events like this are the reason students like me get to stand here today, not just as college students, but as future professionals, researchers, and leaders. I’m currently a Senior at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, with a minor in Spanish and a certificate in Cognitive Science.

As I prepare to graduate, I’ve been intentional about pursuing experiences that help me both academically and professionally. Over the past years, I’ve worked as a medical interpreter, using my bilingual abilities to support patients and families. I’ve also worked in acute care, supporting elderly patients. I’ve gained hands-on experience through school- and community-based programs across the Boulder and Denver areas. Outside of clinical work, I love being involved on campus. I’ve taken on leadership roles within the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, stayed active in the American Sign Language Club, and been involved in several first-generation and Latin student organizations. These experiences have prepared me not just to graduate but to enter post-undergrad ready to lead, collaborate, and advocate.

If you looked at my resume, you might think, “How does she have time for anything?” —I would say the answer to that is… a lot of Google Calendar reminders and caffeine!

After my graduation in May, I plan to attend graduate school in speech-language pathology and eventually pursue a PhD. I truly love being in school and learning. For me, education isn’t just a step; it’s how I create change. My long-term goal is to support bilingual and neurodivergent children and their families, helping ensure every child has access to the opportunities they deserve.

None of this would have been possible without Hope Ignites. Hope Ignites didn’t just provide financial support; it opened doors. It gave me mentorship, stability, and a community that expected me to succeed. Being a Hope Ignites scholar gave me access to college, study abroad opportunities, professional experiences, and the confidence to aim higher than I ever thought possible.

As the daughter of immigrant parents, college once felt like a dream that belonged to someone else. Now, I’m preparing for graduate school and a future in research and clinical care. That transformation didn’t happen by accident; it happened because people invested in students like me. So tonight, I want you to know: when you support Hope Ignites, you are not just funding scholarships. You are creating doctors, researchers, clinicians, and advocates. You are changing families.

And I am living proof of what happens when you invest in potential. Thank you

“I have only been a part of Hope Ignites Colorado for a short time, but they truly want me to succeed now and in the future. They see us as people with potential and I like that I am part of that.”

High School Sophomore Shines Through Opportunity and Service

Jasmine, a sophomore at Regis Jesuit High School, was accepted into Hope Ignites Colorado this last fall semester. “It took a lot of hard work and perseverance, but I really wanted to get into Hope Ignites Colorado. I knew all the benefits that would come with the program and all the people that would help me along the way. I come from a low-income family and really wanted help with the scholarship piece,” Jasmine stated.

Hope Ignites Colorado is a college-readiness non-profit designed to support first-generation and low-income students throughout high school, college, and into their careers. Hope Ignites Colorado works to bridge the opportunity gap that at-risk youth face when entering high school by providing academic and personal support in an inclusive environment. The application and acceptance process is rigorous, as the organization requires scholars and families to commit to the program from ages 14 to 21 to ensure success and positive outcomes for individuals, their families and their communities. “I love being part of the Hope Ignites Colorado community and I want to be able to contribute to it just as well,” Jasmine shared.

And contributing she is. Not only does Jasmine attend weekly programming with Hope Ignites Colorado, but she is involved in over ten different clubs and organizations at Regis Jesuit High School, including Paws for Cause, Art Club, Fashion Club, Spotlight Club, Key Club, Girls Up, RJ Media, Black Student Union and the Diversity Action Group (DAG). She is soon to be starting a new Architecture Club at Regis Jesuit High School as well. In addition, she also volunteers at Habitat for Humanity, Marion Plaza, Food Bank of the Rockies and the Delores Project. All this, while still maintaining a 4.09 GPA.

Jasmine’s talents in art and graphic design, have not gone unnoticed. She was featured as a contest winner in the spring 2025 edition of the “Impressions” literacy arts magazine, produced at Regis Jesuit High School, which features original student writing, artwork and photography. She received an honorable mention for her art piece depicting wine and fruits. “I have a strong passion for art and the sciences and would love to find a way to combine both of these subjects into something that I can pursue in college,” Jasmine said. Until then, Jasmine is concentrating on enjoying her sophomore year at Regis Jesuit High School.

Jasmine’s Honorable Mention piece found in Regis Jesuit High School’s “Impressions” magazine pictured here.

This fall, scholars from both our Aurora Central and Regis Jesuit academy programs spent time over their fall break to make several College Campus Visits. Supporting our scholars in making college campus visits is an essential part of Hope Ignites Colorado programming as it begins to give scholars a glimpse at what college life will look like and allows them to make more informed choices when they themselves are applying to and selecting a college or university for themselves.

What did you do prior to joining Hope Ignites Colorado?

Prior to joining Hope Ignites Colorado, I worked as a Registered Behavior Technician, providing services and behavioral therapy for children with Autism. I also worked for education / child policy nonprofits as a grant writer.

If you could share one piece of advice with scholars, what would it be?

One piece of advice that I would share with scholars is to value your interpersonal interactions. Deep/active listening is a powerful skill in supporting others. The three A’s guide how I approach my social communications; many people want to be Acknowledged, Appreciated, and Accepted.

What is a fun fact you can share about yourself?

One fun fact about me is that I taught English in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for 6 months in between classes in college. This was my first time working in education, and helped me realize that I wanted to work with and for youth throughout my career.