For one Denver Public Schools (DPS) family, Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) has become a constant source of support and partnership in helping their students pursue their college and career dreams. Clarissa Fierro, mother of four children, first connected with DSF several years ago at a resource fair. There, she was introduced to the DSF Future Center at Denver North High School, a space that would soon become a central hub of information for her family’s journey.
(From left to right, Lorii Rabinowitz, Zulema Sierra, Clarissa Fierro, Michele Lopez, and Clara Fierro-Rayas)
Her oldest daughter, Clara, was the first one in the Fierro-Rayas’ family to go through the halls of North and, most importantly, visit the DSF Future Center, where she connected with her DSF College Advisor, Zulema Sierra. Ms. Sierra was her key person that helped them understand about the resources for Clara as she was figuring out what to do after high, unfortunately she did not qualify for the DSF Scholarship but found the DSF Future Center as the hub for their family and guide her siblings at a later time, she graduated from Community College of Denver (CCD) in her path in becoming a teacher, and is now pursuing a degree in education at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) majoring in Education, each day getting closer to graduation. Clara’s experience established a foundation that would share her siblings’ path.
(Clara and Diego Fierro-Rayas at the CCD graduation)
This foundation became more evident with her son Diego, who, through the DSF Future Center, not only accessed advising support, but he also qualified for the DSF Scholarship, becoming a DSF Scholar. The scholarship helped him cover tuition, but the advising he received from Ms. Sierra, especially helpful during the pandemic. When Diego applied to the University of Denver (DU), his dream school, he was initially waitlisted. With the intervention and persistence of his DSF College Advisor, an error was identified and resolved, allowing him to receive his financial aid award letter and enroll. Today, Diego graduated from DU with a major in Psychology and three minors in Chemistry, Spanish and Political Science. He has also earned a Paralegal certificate and is working at the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office while preparing to apply to Law School.
(DSF Alum, Diego Fierro-Rayas, with his parents, Clarissa and her husband, at the DU graduation)
Clarissa’s third child, Victor, followed a similar path. With the support from his DSF College Advisor, Michele Lopez, the second advisor at the DSF Future Center, he navigated applications, scholarships, and recommendations with confidence. Now he’s a DSF Scholar at Colorado State University, majoring in Agricultural Business with minors in Legal Studies and Spanish.
(Victor Fierro-Rayas graduating from North High School)
(DSF College Advisors Zulema Sierra, Victor Fierro-Rayas, and Michele Lopez are posing with a check when he received a scholarship)
The family’s youngest, Rafael, is a freshman at North on the same journey and working with his DSF College Advisor, Ms. Lopez. His plans are to pursue a career in Construction Management, continuing a family tradition of planning ahead with DSF’s support. “For Zulema and me, working with each of Clarissa’s children has been incredibly special. We often have the opportunity to support multiple students within the same family, including siblings, and that makes the work even more meaningful. Over the years, we have walked alongside their family, getting to know each of their dreams and hopes for the future, and have been a trusted resource along the way. The Fierro-Rayas family holds a special place in our hearts. Now that I’m advising Rafael, it feels like we’re continuing a tradition and I’m excited to see what the future holds for him,” said DSF College Advisor at North High School, Michele Lopez.
Rafael Fierro-Rayas and DSF College Advisor Michele Lopez
For Clarissa, the impact of DSF is clear. “Although each of my children’s paths is different, what they have in common is DSF,” she shared. “All of them are reaching their goals and fulfilling their dreams in their own unique ways. The support from DSF has been imperative in finding the information we need. I know that when students go to the DSF Future Center, they feel supported and assured that they can reach their dreams, not just graduate from high school but also from college. I can’t imagine what their lives would be if we didn’t have this great support!” said Clarissa.
DSF College Advisor Michele Lopez, Victor and Rafael Fierro-Lara posing at the DSF Future Center
Through scholarship, advising, and a trusted space at the DSF Future Center, DSF has helped Clarissa’s family turn uncertainty into opportunity, creating a lasting legacy of education, support and many possibilities.
