It is hard to believe the end of the Spring semester 2025 is only a few weeks away. While most students and professors are preparing for finals and graduation, the Student Affairs office held their semi-annual Milo Awards Ceremony on April 14th at the Lawrence Street Center building.
The semi-formal event featured a live appearance by CU Denver’s official mascot, Milo, an Asian themed food buffet and a DJ providing solid music. The event was organized by the Coordinator of Student Organizations Amy Hernandez and her amazing Student Affairs team, Jodyanna Gallegos hosting the awards. It was a perfect evening to look back and reflect on the accomplishments of our fellow students and student organizations.
Steve Jobs once said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards, so you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” Jobs said this at Stanford’s 2005 commencement speech emphasizing the importance of reflecting on past experiences to gain perspective while also making connections to eventually connect those dots.
The 2025 Milo awards were no different. Awardees were nominated by their peers to honor their dedication to connecting the dots. Problem solvers, relentless work ethic, positive communicators and strong leadership are common traits each awardee demonstrated throughout the last year.
The Milo awards not only acknowledge the devotion each awardee has sacrificed but also comes the hopes of inspiring peers to strive for excellence. Organizer Amy Hernandez states “MILO awards are to celebrate our students and all the amazing and incredible things that they do throughout the school year. Our students are intelligent and capable, and they do so much for this campus that Milo Awards is honestly the least that we can do to celebrate them.” There was a total of thirty-two awards announced, two being student organizations, while the remainder are individual winners.
The full-attendance event did not disappoint. Family and friends from near and far arrived in full support of their loved one’s accomplishments. Lots of laughter and tears of joy were had for each other’s achievements. Milestones never thought were once possible, are now reality. These awards are life-long foundations for what follows post CU Denver – graduation and a career.
Another winner in the awards that went unnoticed are the CU Denver faculty and staff. Without their tireless commitment to their students, none of this would be possible. While they often go unnoticed or under the radar for their own craft, professors, and staff can sleep easy knowing they have done their job – and successfully, too!
Thank you to all the students, faculty, staff and administrators for a successful Spring 2025 semester.
Congratulations to the 2025 Milo Award Winners:
| Student Government Association Equity Serving Award | Jessica Valdez |
| Student Government Association Community Leader Award | Annarose Craig |
| Student Government Association Public Policy Award | Michael Leaser |
| Student Government Association Public Policy Award | Cesar Rodriguez Munoz |
| Ambassador of the Year | Mia Jannika Lim |
| Ambassador of the Year | Harkeen Singh |
| New Student Organization of the Year | AI Student Association |
| Returning Student Organization of the Year | Asian Student Association |
| Student Organization Advisor of the Year | Alexandria Joo |
| Student Organization Member of the Year | Cassidy Haney |
| Student Organization Officer of the Year | Van, Kim-Phung |
| Wellness & Recreation Services – Student Employee of the Year | Abdulgafar Owokoniran |
| Club Sports Member of the Year | Nicole (Nikki) Bruce |
| Sentry Outstanding Editor | Sienna Ferguson |
| Sentry Outstanding Illustrator | Celia Lafferty |
| Sentry Outstanding Photographer | John Kessler |
| Sentry Newspaper Writer of the Year | Harriet Falconetti |
| PAL of the Year | Maleeha Shah |
| PAL of the Year | Ashley Esparza |
| Rosa Parks Outstanding Organization | Black Student Union |
| Rosa Parks Outstanding Faculty/Staff | Dr. Chelynn Randolph |
| Rosa Parks Outstanding Student | Nicholas Lomax |
| Campus Activities Team’s Event of the Year | Pumpkin Palooza |
| Student Event Programmer of the Year | Nathan Ssenono |
| Social Star of the Year | Alexa Shuster |
| Outstanding Intern | Camila Lacerda |
| Outstanding Employer | Joseph Benavidez |
| Outstanding Student Employee | Anmol Singhal |
| Desk Assistant (DA) of the Year | Emily Rich |
| Resident Assistant (RA) of the Year | Hunter Gammel |
| Lynx Lifetime Achievement | Jessica Valdez |
| Nexus Award | Office of Students Conduct & Community Standards |
