Helix Feed

Feature Friday: Chad Heltzel knows what words can do (Clone)

There's a poem Chad Heltzel wrote more than 15 years ago that almost never saw the light of day. It sat in a dissertation, then in a manuscript, then in a drawer - revised, resubmitted, rejected and nearly abandoned. Last September, it was finally published. The collection, Recording of Dead Languages, arrived quietly, without fanfare, after years of what Heltzel describes with characteristic honesty as "largely failing" to get it out into the world. And then, it was recognized as a finalist for the Society of Midland Authors Award for Poetry.

Born on the Ranch, Built at The Ranch: Jayden Gamboa is Ready for the Future

"It's not a hobby, it's my life.” — Jayden Gamboa, DSST: Green Valley Ranch Senior

Opening a New Chapter: Celebrating the Student‑Led Creation of the DSST: Elevate Northeast Library (Clone)

On a bright afternoon filled with pride, gratitude and a whole lot of joy, the DSST: Elevate Northeast community gathered to celebrate something truly extraordinary - the official opening of the Elevate Library, a space imagined, shaped and championed by students.

A Purpose Fostered by Maternal Love: One DSST: Conservatory Green senior’s path to study medicine

  Taking the Risk — and Watching It Pay Off

  Emily didn't arrive at interest in midwifery by accident. She traces it back to something she noticed as a little girl: the long, curved scar on her mother's abdomen.

Her mother had two C-sections — one for Emily, one for her younger sister. Both children were breech, and with the second birth, the C-section scar was reopened.

“My mom  went through so much struggle to bring me into the world,” Emily reflects.  “And I just want to pay that gratitude back — by giving women, other moms, the opportunity to have a more relaxing birth."  

Teacher Feature Friday: Savianna Gonzales-Wagner knows that belonging is the foundation of learning (Clone)

There's a question that sits at the heart of Savianna Gonzales-Wagner's work at DSST: Elevate High School:Do my students know they're wanted here?It sounds simple. It isn't. And for Gonzales-Wagner, an Apprentice Teacher in her first year at Elevate, answering that question - every single day, for every single student - is the whole job.

DSST Students Inspire and Awe at the STEM & Creative Core Showcase 2026

On Saturday, March 21, DSST students lit up CSU Spur with their brilliance at our third annual STEM & Creative Core Showcase! The event brought together students, educators, families, and industry partners for a day filled with curiosity, creativity, and hands‑on STEM exploration.

From 6th Grade to College-Bound: How Gracie Orenday-Ortiz Found Her Passions at DSST: Montview

Taking the Risk — and Watching It Pay Off

She walked through the doors of DSST: Montview as a 6th grader with a love of art and a dream of a career in New York City. Seven years later, she's walking out as a Gates Scholarship finalist, a Northwestern University admit, and one of the most community-rooted students at DSST: Montview.

DSST and Colorado School of Mines Launch Guaranteed Admission Pathway for STEM‑Driven Students (Clone)

DSST Public Schools and Colorado School of Mines have taken a major step forward in expanding STEM opportunities for Colorado students. The two institutions have announced a new guaranteed admission pathway that will give qualifying DSST graduates a direct route into one of the nation’s top STEM universities.

Carried by community: DSST alumna Dr. Analisse Nava earns her doctorate - and honors her roots (Clone)

She grew up in Green Valley Ranch (GVR), the same neighborhood where she would one day teach. She sat in the same kinds of classrooms where she would later stand at the front. And when she crossed the stage to receive her doctoral degree, she did it knowing she wasn't walking alone. She was carried by every person who had believed in her along the way.

From unsure 6th grader  to college-bound musician & engineer : One DSST: Cole High School Senior’s Story

Taking the Risk — and Watching It Pay Off

When Irvin Gonzalez first walked through the doors of DSST: Cole Middle School in sixth grade, he didn't know a single person. He was nervous, unsure, and stepping into something completely new.