Welcome to College Summit

For Students & Alumni

Destiny Marquez, Community College of Denver Workshop, 2006  

“College Summit gives you the confidence to make it to college. For example, at our summer workshop, my counselor talked to me about what type of school I wanted to attend: big, small, rural or urban. Should I go in-state or out-state? Did I want to be around a lot of people? Did I want to live in the dorms? That counselor opened my mind to all sorts of possibilities. Now, I try to ask other seniors those exact same questions when they are thinking about colleges. I brought a friend who is a senior to the 1 + 1 rally and let her know that she has potential. I encouraged her to use all of the College Summit material because it is good for any post-secondary plan. I also tell other seniors they need to be confident in the interview process—say what is unique about them and not to dwell on their weaknesses. That will help them be successful.”

Destiny graduated from Skyview in 2007 and, as a Daniels Scholar, received a scholarship to attend Regis University (partner college) in the fall of 2007.

Bock Parkinson, Regis University Workshop, 1999

“I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it weren’t for College Summit. I knew I wanted to go to college, but I didn’t really know what steps to take. No one in my family has graduated from college.” (In 2002, received a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. Bock is a Mentor Supervisor at a partner youth agency, Save Our Youth, and serves as an Alumni Leader at the Summer Workshop.  Bock is currently getting his Masters degree in School Counseling at the University of Phoenix.)

Rudi G. Armstrong, University of Denver Workshop, 1998

Rudi is a recent first generation graduate from The Colorado College earning a B.A. in Spanish. In 1999, Rudi made a presentation on behalf of the College Summit Program to the Rockefeller Foundation. Since then, Rudi has maintained her affiliation with College Summit-Colorado as an Alumni Leader and as a reception speaker. For the past four years, Rudi has mentored low-income college bound students like herself (as well as their families) in the college application process. Rudi is currently the Director of Admissions & Student/Family Services at the Denver School of Science and Technology.

 Dontay Johnson, Community College of Denver Workshop, 2006 

“At home, I try to be a positive influence for my little sister. If she sees me doing well, she will do well. At school, when students struggle, I help them figure out their problems. I talk to underclassmen who want to drop out of school. I tell them to not give up and stay focused. I just try to speak my mind.”

Dontay graduated from Colorado High School Charter in 2007 and is attending Mesa State College in the fall of 2007.