Congratulations to our five amazing seniors who earned the Daniels Fund Scholarship! As Daniels Scholars, these students will have the full cost of attendance (tuition, room and board, books, etc.) covered at partner colleges and universities in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. If they choose to attend outside of the four-state region, they’ll receive up to $25,000 per year toward their college expenses. Learn more about our incredible scholars!
Chantal Safi, Aurora Central High School
As a self-described perfectionist, Chantal has ultra-high goals and the work ethic to match. She’s ranked #4 in her class and will be part of the inaugural class to graduate from the Burrell Arts pathway at Aurora Central. As a refugee from Tanzania, she came with her family to Aurora when she was just two years old. She speaks English and Swahili and is a visual artist who loves to draw and paint. Chantal serves as president for the Hope Ignites club and as captain for her school’s dance team, which qualified for nationals. She also competes as a sprinter for Central’s track team. After completing an internship at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Chantal has her sights set on a career in the medical field. She’s excited to become a first-generation college student when she attends Emory University in Atlanta this fall where she’ll study to become either an OB-GYN or an anesthesiologist.
Goundo Diarra, Aurora Central High School
With a soft-spoken voice, Goundo readily admits that she’s an introvert, but she constantly pushes herself to do things that make her uncomfortable and help her grow. She loves to learn new languages and used to study French when she attended Global Village Academy. This was to honor her father’s family who are from Mali. At Aurora Central, she earned the seal of biliteracy in Spanish even though she had absolutely no background in the language. Goundo says she believes in the power of hard work and in avoiding procrastination. As the #5 ranked student in her class, that commitment is working very well! She’s a member of the Interact club and National Honor Society and has served as a two-time captain for Central’s track team where she competes as a sprinter. After high school, she plans to attend Colorado State University in Fort Collins with a goal of becoming an FBI agent.
Lianna Lemmon, William Smith High School
One of the things Lianna is most excited about being a Daniels Scholar is the opportunity to give back. She views receiving the scholarship as a responsibility to use her college education to serve her community. That’s why she plans to go to CU Boulder and later medical school to study forensics and become a medical examiner. Ranked #5 in her graduating class, Lianna is an exemplary and well-rounded student. She has been part of William Smith’s Rudder Student Leadership program where she has facilitated 9th-grade orientation events and participated in community service initiatives. She played for her high school volleyball team and served as a captain and co-captain. Lianna absolutely loves fashion and enjoys sewing and creating her own clothes. She even did a fashion show for her final senior expedition project. She works at Goodwill and worked with a nonprofit organization to provide free school supplies to teachers.
Abesera Melaku, Rangeview High School
Becoming a Daniels Scholar has Abesera feeling ecstatic about his future. He says the scholarship will allow him to just focus on being a student and “attacking his dreams” with full energy each day. Abesera’s motivation comes from his faith as an Orthodox Christian and his parents who emigrated from Ethiopia. His family speaks Amharic at home and he loves being immersed in his parents’ culture and the culture of America where he was born and has lived all his life. Abesera is a member of the Black Student Alliance at Rangeview where he has learned about his African culture and has been able to perform traditional Ethiopian dances during Rangeview’s annual Diversity Week assembly. His plans after high school involve going to CU Boulder and studying to become a biomedical engineer. He hopes to translate his love for science into inventing new methods to restore mobility for people who have lost limbs.
Keith (Cole) Dossey, Gateway High School
When thinking about his future, it’s easy for Cole to envision his potential career because his father is already doing it. His dad is a math teacher at Gateway and Cole can easily see himself doing that too. Or maybe he’ll become a mechanical engineer (he’s still deciding). Whatever path he chooses, he credits the Daniels scholarship for unlocking some incredible new opportunities. Cole is Gateway’s valedictorian and loves the performing arts. He plays the alto saxophone in the band, sings both tenor and bass in choir and has performed in every school play or musical. He describes himself as a strong Christian who cares deeply about treating other people the best he can. He started earning college credit in math as a gifted and talented student at Aurora Quest K-8 and has completed two associate degrees at Gateway. He’s deciding between attending Colorado Christian University or Colorado School of Mines.