“We would not be able to achieve the impact that we do without the involvement and engagement of the students that we have here.” – Dan Balski, Director of Student Life
On Friday, April 25, the Summit Room was abuzz with excitement as Arapahoe Community College (ACC) prepared to honor twenty-nine student leaders for their excellence at the 6th annual Student Awards Ceremony.
Each student honored was presented with an engraved award denoting their name and the achievement they earned. These awards were presented by the individual who nominated the winning student, creating a sentimental and emotional atmosphere.
Since 2019, the Student Life Office has hosted this Student Awards Ceremony in an effort to uplift outstanding students for their contributions to the classroom and/or the college community. In an interview after the event, Balski provided insight into the immense value of this particular ceremony.
“I think it’s important in pursuit of any goal, in this case students pursuing graduation, to take a moment to honor and recognize milestones along the way. This gives us an opportunity to recognize excellence both in and out of the classroom. I observe how meaningful it is to our students and to our staff who seek to recognize those students.”
Balski notes that prior to 2019, students had to apply for the Student of the Year award and be interviewed prior to the awarding committee making their decision. Upon his arrival as an employee at ACC, Balski revamped the ceremony to allow students to be nominated for this award instead of interviewing for it as he believes “we should be observing their behavior and be able to say they are deserving of that honor”.
In addition to making changes to the Student of the Year award, Balski developed the recognition categories of Academic Achievement, Student Organization Leadership, and Outstanding Engagement. His confidence that “there is so much more excellence that can be recognized than just one major student award” drove these implementations.
When asked what he hopes students take away from this ceremony, Balski shared that he wants “them to know that the work they do is valued, that their efforts are meaningful, and that we appreciate what they contribute to this environment”. Of the impact these students have on our college community, Balski states that “we are much more impactful as an institution when we have students who are helping to impact their peers.”
Below are each of ACC’s 2025 student award winners.
Academic Achievement Winners
FuMei Sorteberg was honored with the singular Service Learning Excellence award this year. Sorteberg has demonstrated a commitment to excellence by going above and beyond in her support of operations in the Colorado Gallery of the Arts.
Alexa Alexander was our first student presented with an Academic Achievement award, which was awarded for Alexander’s “strong commitment to excellence in her studies” as well as being “highly respected for her integrity, consistently making ethical choices and maintaining honesty in all her endeavors”.
Anyah Luke was then presented with an Academic Achievement award for her essential and invaluable contributions to ACC’s Math & Sciences Pathway.
Caden Witte was next honored with an Academic Achievement award as a full-time employee, part-time student, advocate, and volunteer.
Nick Miller, our final student presented with an Academic Achievement award, was recognized for his academic excellence and instrumental work as a tutor in the Tutoring and Learning Resources Center.
Though unable to attend the ceremony, Cal Keller was also selected as an Academic Achievement award winner.
Student Organization Leadership Winners
Elizabeth Coyle was presented with the first Student Organization Leadership award as an Outstanding Officer of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Coyle, recognized by her nominator as “the definition of a Mountain Mover”, led the charge in coordinating and executing the group’s Scholar Dinner.
Jakeisha Johnson earned the title of Outstanding Officer of the Puma Parents Club. Johnson single-handedly developed the Puma Parents Club and oversaw events in pursuit of connecting ACC students who are also parents.
The Phi Theta Kappa Executive Board was honored with the Program Impact Award for excellence in engaging student leaders.
Outstanding Engagement Winners
Charlie Mirkin (Studio Tech, Jewelry Metals in Art & Design), John Bradley (Peer Tutor, Physics, Math, and Computer Science), Trinity Kearns (Student Ambassador, Welcome Center), Penelope Silvia (Student Ambassador, Welcome Center), Marianna Estrada (Student Ambassador, Student Life Office), Carmel Pan (Peer Advisor, Advising and Transfer Office), Nolan Heldenbrand (Student Assistant, TRIO), and David Soto (Veteran Peer Mentor, Student Life Office) were each honored as Outstanding Student Employees in their respective departments.
Though unable to attend the ceremony, Jaime Barger (Colorado Gallery of the Arts) was also honored with an Outstanding Student Employee award.
Sean Cassidy and Remi Virgil of the Sturm Collaboration Campus were recognized with the Outstanding Community Builder awards.
Haley Evans and Jyneth Dayanna Villamizar Flores were honored as Inclusive Excellence Champions for their advocacy work in the ACC community.
Iris Everett, Sahtra Green, Robin Harch, Alejandra Ruelas Flores, and Isaac Winchester were each recognized with a Mountain Mover award for their outstanding leadership and service to the college both in and outside of the classroom.
Student of the Year Winner
Ripley Cusinato was presented with the final award of the night, the prestigious Student of the Year award. Cusinato adds this to their ever-growing list of accolades as a concurrent enrollment alum, double major in Psychology and Creative Writing, former President of both ACC’s National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapters, President of ACC’s Queer Alliance Club (QAC), Senator on ACC’s Student Government Association (SGA), winner of ACC’s 2023 Program Impact Award, winner of ACC’s Mountain Mover award (2024), Phi Theta Kappa’s Colorado-Wyoming Region Distinguished Chapter Officer (2024), member of Phi Theta Kappa’s 2024 All-Colorado Academic Team, Newman Civic Fellow (’24 – ’25), ACC’s 2025 Rollie Heath award nominee, recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award, recipient of the Heart of Service Award from National All American Miss, a soon-to-be certified Equine Gestalt Coach, CEO of Balanced Horses Healing Humans, and many more. Though they will graduate (with honors, of course) this May, Ripley Cusinato has certainly left a lasting impact on ACC’s community. A well-deserved congratulations to Ripley Cusinato and their partner-in-crime (and service dog), Rêve.
A major congratulations to each of ACC’s 2025 student award winners. Who knows? Next year, you may very well be one of them!
