University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano will visit seven communities in southern, southwestern and western Colorado from May 27-30 as part of a showcase of CU-Boulder student achievement titled "Student Spotlight." The tour is sponsored by the Alumni Association of the University of Colorado at Boulder and the Office of the Chancellor.
DiStefano, who on May 5 was named CU-Boulder's 11th chancellor by CU President Bruce Benson, will visit La Junta, Salida, Gunnison, Durango, Montrose, Grand Junction and Basalt, where he will meet with CU alumni, stakeholders, community leaders, lawmakers and current and prospective CU students and parents.
"I am eager to meet with the members of these valued communities," said DiStefano. "I want to hear about how CU continues to serve their needs, and I am eager to showcase the marvelous work of our students, who are transforming CU-Boulder and communities all over Colorado and the nation with an ethic of scholarship and service."
The tour kicks off Wednesday, May 27, with a 12 p.m. luncheon with the La Junta Rotary Club at the First Christian Church at 421 Santa Fe. The group then travels to Salida for a dinner with area alumni and CU supporters. On Thursday, the group begins the day with a breakfast meeting at the Aspinall Wilson Center at Western State College in Gunnison, then travels to Durango for a meeting with CU supporters and stakeholders at the Strater Hotel, then travels on to end the day in Montrose.
On Friday, the tour will host a breakfast in Montrose at the Ute Indian Museum, then travels to Grand Junction for a luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel. The tour winds up with an all-campus "Buffalo Stampede" event in Basalt at which CU head coach Dan Hawkins will speak.
Throughout the tour, CU students Razan Naqeeb and Bryant Mason will give presentations on their experiences as CU-Boulder undergraduate students and Puksta scholars. Naqeeb is a junior economics major minoring in political science, and Mason is a junior environmental studies major. CU-Boulder's Puksta Scholars program provides a scholarship to students who demonstrate both academic excellence and a strong commitment to social and civic engagement. Mason is active in environmental and food sustainability programs at CU-Boulder, and Naqeeb volunteers as a math tutor for the I Have a Dream Foundation.
"These two individual scholars typify the excellence and commitment of our student body," said DiStefano. "There are thousands like them at CU-Boulder working every day to make our world a better place. I am delighted to introduce them to our friends on the Student Spotlight Tour, and to invite other prospective students to join this fellowship of engaged, active learners at CU-Boulder."