“Growing up in a refugee camp in Thailand, Redar Moo prayed every day that it would be her family’s last night in the camp. Eleven years later, her prayer was answered, but the experience had already shaped her world view. Watching her father sacrifice sleep and safety to serve as a security guard at the camp inspired Moo to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. With diploma in hand, the Reisher Scholar and first-generation student is ready to take the leap to a career in law enforcement.”
Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Scholar Redar Moo graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) in May 2023. Redar is from Thailand, grew up in a refugee camp, and moved to Colorado in 2012. She graduated from South High School in 2019 and continued her educational journey at Community College of Aurora in the fall of 2019, with all her tuition covered by financial awards, including the DSF Scholarship. Redar then transferred to MSU Denver to pursue her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and human services. Her inspiration to pursue a criminology degree was her father’s, as he was a security guard back at their refugee camp in Thailand. The way he served and protected her community gave Redar an exemplary leader to follow. As a first-generation college student and DSF Scholar, Redar relied on the guidance and support from DSF to continue to reach her dreams.
Redar Moo and Family
Redar did not want to be a financial burden to her family and looked for resources to go to college. She first attended the DSF Future Center at South High School to get help to apply for college and scholarships and visited different college campuses. After receiving the DSF Scholarship and becoming a DSF Scholar, she joined the DSF Mentorship Program. Redar was paired with her DSF Mentor and alum Jasmine Villalobos-Valles who helped her join different programs on campus, find her community, and even helped her see where all her classes were located. Jasmine has become part of Redar’s support system for school and personal guidance.
Redar works full-time at the AHEC Auraria Police Department as the neighbor community officer to respond to campus emergencies. In her free time, she volunteers at the Denver Police Department to shadow and learn more about how the police serve the community. She also joined the DSF Leadership Advisory Board, where she drafted agenda items for meetings and organized events for DSF scholars to relax and celebrate at the end of the semester. After attending DSF Leadership Alternative Break in March of 2022 in Utah as a volunteer, she learned different leadership types while working alongside her DSF Mentor, Jasmine, and other motivated DSF Scholars.
As Redar reflects on her educational journey, she advises other DSF Scholars to “Always seek opportunities and when they come, take the chance even when they might seem scary. When you are afraid to take a risk, ask for guidance. Asking for help is not a crime; instead, it will lead you to a path never imagined possible!” This summer, Redar will be traveling, volunteering, and has plans to be a police officer in the future to continue to serve her community. Watch the video below highlighting Redar’s journey by MSU Denver!
VIDEO: How living in a Thailand refugee camp helped this graduate find her path
