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Q&A: Senior Donna Williams-Martinez shares how she lives out the Core Value of responsibility

As we prepare to celebrate the DSST Class of 2023 at Senior Signing Day on April 27, we are featuring how this senior class lives out the six DSST Core Values (Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Courage, Curiosity and Doing Your Best) at school and beyond.

We are excited to feature Donna Williams-Martinez, senior at DSST: Byers High School for exemplifying the DSST Core Value of responsibility. 

Donna’s college counselor and basketball coach, Monica Anderson said, “Donna has played three different sports, been on an international trip with Global Leadership, led in the Pep Committee, has her own small business and has taken the lead on her college application process. I am so proud of her for her growth and determination. I cannot wait to see what she accomplishes post-high school.”

Read our conversation with Donna on responsibility, balance and her future plans below. 

Q&A: Senior Katrina Peacock shares how she lives out the Core Value of respect

As we prepare to celebrate the DSST Class of 2023 at Senior Signing Day on April 27, we are featuring how this senior class lives out the six DSST Core Values (Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Courage, Curiosity and Doing Your Best) at school and beyond.

Our first spotlight is on Katrina Peacock, senior at DSST: College View.

Her English teacher Tony Conte said, “Katrina both respects and commands the respect of everyone she encounters. Full of love and understanding, Katrina makes others feel valued and respected through her kind words, actions and positivity. CVHS will always use Katrina as a model for respect in the community.”

Read our conversation with Katrina on respect, close-knit community, and her future plans below.

A step outside of STEM: How one DSST student learned to love photography through junior internship

For DSST: Green Valley Ranch junior Quinten Newbern STEM has been the main focus throughout his time at school. It has been a passion of his, and he has dedicated a lot of his time to developing those skills. 

However, when it came time to pick what he wanted to do for his junior-year internship, Newbern decided to step outside of his STEM comfort zone. 

“I have a lot of afterschool activities related to engineering, so I wanted to explore art through my internship," said Newbern.

Through the school’s College Success program, Newbern was placed at Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (DAVA), where he began to learn how to work with ceramics, developed skills in photo printing and more.

DSST: College View student finds perfect-fit internship at Bluff Lake Nature Center

On any given Wednesday afternoon, you can find Tara Peña, junior at DSST: College View High School, muddying up her Converse shoes walking the Bluff Lake property completing her internship assignments. And she loves every second of it. 

11 DSST students earn full-ride scholarships through Questbridge match

Recently, 11 DSST seniors across the network were named QuestBridge Match Scholars. This is the most matches ever received in DSST history. These students were matched with their college choice and will attend on a full four-year scholarship.

College doesn't have to mean debt: What to know about DSST's partnership with AdvanceEDU

One of DSST’s driving factors is making sure all students have an equal opportunity for their post-secondary education. We offer many resources designed to help students get to and thrive in a higher-education setting, including a partnership with AdvanceEDU.

Senior Highlight: CG senior shares how DSST helped him find the right path

DSST: Conservatory Green senior CJ Jones plans to join the US Navy. We sat down to ask him about his time at DSST, his goal to make a career in the Armed Forces and more:

Senior Highlight: Byers Senior Rana Abdellatif is using her voice to make an impact in her community

DSST: Byers Senior Rana Abdellatif is a true leader and advocate! We sat down to ask her a few questions about her time at DSST, her role as a young leader and more:

2022 Ariel Berryman scholarship winner, Sarah Portillo-Enriquez, hopes to one day pave the way for other women of color

Jim and Teresa Berryman launched the Ariel Berryman Memorial Scholarship Fund after the passing of their daughter, Ariel. Ariel’s passion for helping people reach their full potential inspired the creation of this scholarship, which helps eliminate barriers to higher education for young women graduating from DSST Public Schools by providing financial assistance to attend the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver).

Senior Highlight: College View classmates, friends talk about why they are proud of each other

DSST: College View seniors Leslie Cesta and Marissa Montoya are classmates, teammates and friends. We sat down to ask them a few questions about their friendship and their time at DSST: