Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Alum and DSF Donor Lynn Ngo graduated from East High School and the University of Denver (DU) with a degree in Business Management. Today, she is a Commercial Lender, DSF Associate Board Member, and Mentor, and has chosen to give back to DSF and the Denver community that has supported her since high school and now as a professional. The most valuable support she received from DSF was the relationships and community.
Lynn with her family
Lynn was born and raised in Denver, and her parents immigrated to Colorado from Vietnam. She was first connected with DSF during her junior year at East High School inside her DSF Future Center, where she met Armando, her DSF College Advisor. With his support and guidance, she applied for numerous scholarships and colleges. Ultimately, she chose DU because of its proximity to home and her acceptance into DU’s prestigious Daniels College of Business. Lynn shared that DSF played a pivotal role in her high school journey because, although her older sister had gone through the college application process, Lynn still felt overwhelmed as a first-generation student. With DSF’s guidance, she felt supported every step of the way, from applying to preparing for college, which made her smooth transition into DU possible.
Lynn and a friend at her DU graduation holding their diplomas
Lynn earned her bachelor’s degree in business management, a field that had always interested her. When she was in college, the job market was uncertain, but she persevered in her search for opportunities. At a DU Career Fair, she met some representatives from FirstBank, and with her parents’ background in property investments, she found a natural connection to banking. Before graduation, Lynn had already lined up a job. She began her career in banking, which has lasted over 12 years now, and she has gained valuable experience in personal banking and commercial lending. Her career path led her to First Western Trust Bank and then Red Stone Bank, where she continues to thrive as a Commercial Lender.
Over time, Lynn’s role evolved from processing transactions to building long-lasting relationships with her customers. She’s watched clients buy their first home, open and expand business, and was even invited to celebrate milestones with them. “What started as a transactional occurrence has now developed on what I like to call financial empowerment as I got really involved in their finances,” Lynn explained. Seeing this reminds her of the importance of what community members can achieve when they know how to reach their dreams.
Nadia, Lynn’s mentee, as well as Future, and Lynn at the DSF Homecoming Gala 2025
Lynn reconnected with DSF at one of the DSF’s Homecoming Galas, where she felt like she had come full circle, reuniting with more DSF Alumni. She was inspired by other DSF Alumni and in January of 2025, she was officially voted in to join the DSF Associate Board, where she has continued to serve, helping to bring more visibility to DSF.
In addition to her board role, Lynn is also a DSF Mentor, intending to connect with other recent DSF Alumni who want to climb the corporate ladder like she did. This is her second year being paired with her mentee, Nadia, who is also a DSF Alum. Lynn enjoys seeing her mentee grow professionally. Together, they have focused on networking and personal development. Lynn proudly shared how her mentee recently competed in the Miss Colorado pageant and joined the DSF Alumni Advisory Board.
Lynn with the rest of the DSF Associate Board Members at the 2024 Colorado Gives Happy Hour
Lynn remains deeply connected to DSF because she’s seen its growth firsthand. “When I was a DSF Scholar, there were only a few of us at DU,” she recalled. “Now DSF has grown into such a strong network and awarded scholarships to over 2,500 DSF Scholars this year alone, and the Alumni Network is over 11,000 Denver Public Schools graduates. As a first-generation graduate, the support I received was very valuable, and seeing that it continues to help students get to college graduation and receive career support is very important to me.” Through her ongoing involvement, Lynn continues to impact the next generation of DSF Scholars. Fostering the importance of giving back and investing in Denver students creates a long–lasting impact across the Denver community.
