Inclusive Excellence Champion

Emily Landeros

Emily Landeros is 19 years old and a First Generation Mexican American. A Colorado native, she was raised in Aurora Colorado and graduated from Aurora West High School. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and trying new foods.  Coming from a big family they are always together, she is very family oriented. Emily is a member of the young adults’ program through her church, where they have a community outreach program that helps those in need within the community.  

Emily chose to attend the Community College of Denver for multiple reasons, the first being that it is in the center of downtown where she can participate in numerous activities.  The second reason she chose CCD is because she wanted to be part of a student body that embraces diversity and inclusion. Emily is entering her third semester and is currently enrolled in the associates program for Business Administration with a minor in Marketing. She is a work study for the Solution Center – Welcome Desks where she gets to interact with students daily and help aid them in their success as college students. As a bilingual student she is able to help both English and Spanish speaking students on their educational journey. Some of Emily’s biggest inspirations are her parents. She has watched them grow as individuals and has seen how hard they work to make sure she and her siblings live good lives. They have inspired Emily to do her best not only for them, but for herself and for her future. 

Rising Star Awards

Ansley Diane Anderson

Ansley Anderson, CCD

Ansley Diane Andersen was adopted at birth by her wonderful parents and grew up with 2 younger siblings in Lancaster, CA. She has always had a huge passion for animals and has fostered close to fifty dogs and cats over many years. In addition to fostering, she has volunteered in both a dog rescue where she adopted her first dog, Spanky, and at a wild cat conservation in the community. In July of 2021, Ansley moved to Colorado with her fiancé and their 2 dogs. They have since added a third dog to their family.  

After gaining residency in Colorado, Ansley decided it was time to try again with college and this time make it count. She is now a full-time electrical engineering student planning to transfer to CU Denver to complete her bachelor’s degree in EE. After starting classes, Ansley quickly got involved in both math and robotics club at CCD in order to help further her education and to meet other students interested in STEM. She is also a member of CCD’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. In her free time, Ansley is an avid gamer, which is how her fiancé and her met in 2020. With her degree and love of gaming she would love to get a job working on video game consoles, specifically Xbox. Ansley is also interested in working on airplanes and all things space related 

Samantha Tarango

Samantha Tarango, CCD

Samantha Tarango-Rodriguez is a first-generation student at Community College of Denver pursuing an Associate of Science degree. In the following semester, she will pursue an Associate of Dental Hygiene. Samantha was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and moved to the states in 2014 when she was eleven years old. This was a momentous change in her life that contributed to her personal growth, and finding new skills and values like perseverance, adaptability, compassion, and devotion. These skills have contributed to her appreciation and love for education, hard work, and helping others. 

Off-campus, Samantha dedicates her time to the community by participating in church activities and involving herself in events like fundraising and vaccination clinics. Samantha has found great satisfaction in helping her community, and it has helped increase her participation in more events. This student is also part of the Dream US, Denver Scholarship Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa, and Puentes communities where she can connect and create relationships with other students and advisors. Samantha, through these communities and experiences, has learned the significance of learning from everyone’s backgrounds and appreciates the uniqueness of their stories.  

Some of Samantha’s hobbies include creating art where she expresses herself and addresses social problems happening in her community and around the world. Other hobbies include exercising, having quality time with her loved ones, and learning new things every day.  

Phi Theta Kappa All-Colorado Academic Team

Academic Transfer Students

Ashley Adame Jimenez

Community College of Denver

Bio and Picture not available

Nile Bratcher

Nile Bratcher, CCD

 For eighteen years Nile has dedicated his life to personal training and health coaching. Throughout his career, he has experienced many transformative moments while helping client’s improve their health, manage their chronic pain, and recover from injury. Nile’s passion for helping others gradually and progressively evolved into an intense desire to become a healthcare worker. Through his education at CCD, he is elated to have the opportunity to earn his applied science degree in surgical technology and to graduate with honors this year. Nile plans on continuing his education at MSU Denver and complete his BS in a related field.  

State Student Advisory Council

Nikul Vyas, Representative

Community College of Denver

Bio and Picture not available