Inclusive Excellence Champion
Heather Hall
Heather Hall is an impassioned entrepreneur and avid learner, deeply committed to integrating holistic principles into every aspect of life, including health, business, and interpersonal relationships. Her journey has been profoundly influenced by a desire for equity and inclusivity, rooted in an early awareness of the disparities that unjustly shape lives. Witnessing these inequalities firsthand ignited in her a fervent desire to stand as an advocate for those facing hidden battles and systemic barriers. Driven by a vision to serve as both a beacon of hope and a bridge to opportunity, she has devoted herself to addressing and overcoming academic,
professional, and personal challenges. Her mission is unequivocally clear: to dismantle the
obstacles that uneven the playing field, thereby enabling others to self-advocate for positive
change and transform their destinies. As a natural problem-solver with an eye towards
innovation, her ambitions go beyond mere personal achievement. She aims to leverage her
experiences as a platform to educate, motivate, and inspire others to pursue their dreams
fearlessly and with unwavering determination regardless of and in spite of barriers and obstacles. At her core lies a burning commitment to fighting for inclusivity and equality and championing the voices of the marginalized. Through compassion, mentorship, and leading by example, she strives to effect change. She is more than the sum of her experiences; she is a catalyst for positive change, dedicated to ensuring that success is attainable for everyone, regardless of the challenges they may encounter.
Rising Star Awards
Jorge Orozco
Jorge Orozco, a Colorado native, is currently completing his undergraduate degree in Economics at the Community College of Denver. Jorge is deeply involved in campus life, serving as a workstudy for the CCD Foundation and as an active member of the Student Government Association. Jorge’s academic journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Initially feeling lost and uncertain about his path, he made the difficult decision to drop out of college. However, Jorge did not let this setback define him. He embarked on a personal quest to discover his true passions and ambitions. Driven by a thirst for knowledge and personal growth, Jorge decided to pursue a degree in Economics, recognizing its broad applications and relevance to many aspects of life. This decision marked a turning point in his life, providing him with a clear direction and purpose. Throughout his time at CCD, Jorge has been inspired by the supportive community around him. He is grateful for the mentorship and encouragement he has received, which motivates him to strive for excellence and pursue his goals with determination. Looking ahead, Jorge plans to transfer to the University of Colorado Denver to study Finance, building on his foundation in Economics and working towards a successful career in the financial industry.
Decoyia Patton
Decoyia Patton was born and raised in the Curtis Park neighborhood of Denver. She graduated
from Florence Crittenton High while raising her first-born son. She now has 3 wonderful
children, and balances being a mom with being an outstanding student at CCD; making the
Dean’s List every semester! Prior to CCD Decoyia worked as a medical assistant for 2 years.
She’s always had an interest in the medical field, which led her to pursue the phlebotomy
certification program in addition to earning her Associate’s in Applied Science, Human Services,
and Social Work. After graduation this spring, Decoyia plans to pursue her Bachelor’s in Social
Work at Metro State University Denver and looks forward to earning her Master’s & eventually
a Ph.D. in Behavioral Health. Outside of being a mom and student, Decoyia volunteered at the
Gathering Place for over 2 years, as well as the Trio Educational Opportunity Center. Her
hobbies include reading and attending her children’s many extracurricular activities and events.
Phi Theta Kappa All-Colorado Academic Team
Academic Transfer Students
Madeleine Fulton
Madeleine grew up in Denver, Colorado and attended Lakewood High School as a student of the International Baccalaureate Program. Though always a voracious student of math, science and history, Madeleine loved to dance so much that she chose the performing arts over academia for her first career. Madeleine moved east, and graduated from the University of the
Arts with a B.F.A. in dance performance; hence began her life as a professional dancer. With New York as her home base, she traveled the world performing on local stages, cruise ships and in Disney resorts. Now, years later she has begun pursuing another passion: sustainability engineering. Driven by a love of nature and a sadness for the losses it has sustained, she is diligent in her studies in the hope that she can contribute to solving the problems of climate change. She is interested in reducing food insecurity in changing agricultural climates, restoring forests at scale using bioengineering, and cultivating animal-free meat to reduce humanity’s
reliance on industrial farming. Madeleine is a fitness trainer and gym enthusiast in her spare time; she is a lover of vegan food, cats, and Colorado’s great outdoors. She lives in Denver with her husband, her three beloved flat-face Persian cats, and a baby on the way!
Ivan Ramos
Coming from Miami, FL, Ivan arrived in Denver wanting to change the course of his life and
begin a career in the Graphic and Communicative Arts. He started at Community College of Denver in August of 2021 and quickly fell back in love with the learning environment. Workstudy combined with dog-sitting allowed him to juggle school and work life together. Once
learning about Phi Theta Kappa and how it could help launch his dreams further, he quickly
became fully involved. Once he graduates in the Spring, Ivan will be attending Metro State to
finish his Bachelor’s in Communication Design
State Student Advisory Council
Alaura Davis, Representative
Alaura is a sophomore at Community College of Denver. She will be graduating this Spring with an Associate of Applied Science for Pre- Social Work. She plans on transferring to MSUD in the fall of 2024 to continue getting her Bachelor’s degree for Social Work. She do plan on getting her Master degree as well once she get her license. She plans on working at Children Hospital once she becomes a Social Worker.
Carlotta Mason, Representative
Bio and Picture not available