DSF 8th Annual Scholar Summit and Gathering of Gratitude

The Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) held our 8th Annual Scholar Summit for DSF Scholars and Alumni on Friday, February 24. The Scholar Summit is designed to help DSF Scholars and Alumni to create connections with other peers while growing their personal and professional skills.    

DSF creates opportunities for DSF Scholars and Alumni to grow in their leadership journeys and networks by inviting community members to connect. This year’s theme was Celebrating Leadership. Some sessions equipped DSF Scholars and Alumni to help them celebrate their personal stories, brands, and values, while others helped identify leadership types and the mindset behind leadership.   

More than 120 DSF Scholars and Alumni attended the conference. The day’s highlight was listening to our keynote speaker Jennifer Samuel of Perseverance, who shared her story and different paths to success. DSF Scholars and Alumni were inspired and related to Jennifer’s story.  

We appreciate our sponsors, KeyBank, and the Colorado Trust, for supporting our leaders at DSF’s Scholar Summit. Thank you to all our volunteers and panelists for making this event a remarkable success!    

On this day, we also celebrated Gathering of Gratitude, a breakfast that allows us to celebrate our DSF Named Scholarship supporters and DSF Scholar recipients. DSF Named Scholarships support need-and promise-based scholarships for DSF Scholars, opening doors for students to believe, see, and experience that college is possible. We had the opportunity and privilege to hear from Tally Fox, DSF Scholar, attending the University of Colorado Boulder majoring in Evolutionary Biology and Dance.  

As STEM fields are predominantly male-represented, Tally feels empowered to find a community of people that supports her dreams. As a DSF Scholar, Tally has seen incredible opportunities to get involved on campus. Fox is part of the McNeill Program at CU Boulder, a multicultural learning community that supports scholars’ academic, personal, and professional development. Her future goal is to focus on diversifying STEM fields by working in higher education.   

We also heard from Elissa Banker, director of community development and partnerships, from BOA, DSF Named Scholarship Donor. Elissa discussed the importance of why BOA is investing in DSF, including their shared value of increasing community partners to create opportunities for Denver students.  

Thank you to all our DSF Named Scholarships donors who support and invest in DSF and build a comprehensive platform of continued student support, beginning in Denver Public School high school through educational pathways that lead to a life of freedom and choice.