Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and Denver Public Schools (DPS) alum TeRay Esquibel embodies the transformative power of individual action into collective change. Graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School and supported by the Daniels Fund and DSF Scholarships, he obtained a degree from the University of Denver (DU). Dedicated to break down systematic barriers to access higher education within his community, TeRay found himself advocating for and challenging what students face in attaining a higher education degree. After graduation, he worked with El Pomar Foundation Fellowship program, then returned to DU as an Admission Counselor serving Denver and Aurora Public Schools. This role allowed him to engage with DPS students and their families to continue their educational journeys, increasing enrollment and persistent rates for underrepresented communities on the DU campus. He then went on to RootED as the Partner of Community Partnerships and Advocacy where he led research, strategy and community grant making. During his time at RootED, the seed of Ednium: The Alumni Collective was planted. Currently, he is the founder and Executive Director of Ednium. Â
TeRay first visited the DU campus as a freshman in high school; at the time, his vision of college was only attainable if he was an athlete. He remembered coming back home with free ice cream and the news that each year, it cost about $50,000. When he told his mom about the cost, she said she would be unable to support him and help him pay. While college was still on his radar, he found a second home at the DSF Future Center located inside Lincoln High School, a nurturing environment where dreams were fostered, information was shared, and resources were accessible. After an injury, he was unable to play football and didn’t know if college was still an option; he also found out that he would become a father. Through mentorship and perseverance, TeRay found different avenues like the Daniels Fund Scholarship, as a ticket to college and found support and encouragement at the DSF Future Center. Â
TeRay’s DU Graduation
The lack of diversity on the DU campus initially challenged his sense of belonging, prompting thoughts of transferring. However, wise advice from his uncle encouraged him to embrace his experiences and perspectives as strengths and a competitive advantage over his peers, embracing the importance of lived experiences. TeRay also shared his college experience with his son as they were not only sharing spaces on campus, attending classes, and writing papers, but essentially jumping different generations throughout this journey. He believes college is not the finish line but the ticket to run the race. He encourages students to find spaces to share their authentic voices and stories. He has stayed true to his authenticity without the need to code-switch.  Â
Ednium:The Alumni Collective Team
Stemmed from TeRay’s desire to amplify student voices and enact systemic changes, Ednium: The Alumni Collective vision started. Collaborating with DSF, colleagues and friends, they worked with 150 students to find commonalities and define success. Ednium later presented to the DPS board to advocate and implement financial literacy and ethnic studies classes to the DPS curriculum as graduation requirements. After implementing this, they built the community they needed to keep momentum, making it easier for people to act. Ednium also partnered with DSF to expand eligibility for the Prosperity Denver Fund. Â
TeRay Esquibel 9th Annual DSF Scholar Summit Keynote Speaker
Through strategic partnerships and other efforts, Ednium blossomed into an action-focus community development organization that partners with DPS Alumni to change how our city educates and reinvests in its homegrown talent. Their focus is not only to bring the problems to light but bring the solutions. Based on alumni experience and perspectives, TeRay aims to ensure every student leaves the public school system with the knowledge, skills and advocacy that move ideas into action validating and honoring their lived experiences to support the next generations. Â
