Congratulations to the thousands of Douglas County School District graduates who are well on their way towards a bright future! We recognize your accomplishments and are proud to have been part of your educational journey.

Here is just a small sampling of what lies ahead for some of our graduates. These students are being recognized by their school principals and staff members for their outstanding academic success and personal attributes! As we receive more submissions from our DCSD principals, we will add to our graduate list below.

2023 Outstanding Graduates:

Kayla Bailey
ThunderRidge High School

I will attend Colorado State University

• Plans to study Equine Science

• Graduating with a 4.0 grade point average

• Involved in her school’s peer counseling program and National Honor Society

“My most enduring memory from my high school years is most definitely my senior year field day. ThunderRidge is very special in our unity and student involvement, as shown through our homecoming week events every year. My senior year field day was incredible, filled with school spirit and pure bliss as the senior took home the field day championship.”

Paige Behrens
Rock Canyon High School

I will attend the University of Colorado Boulder

• Plans to study Molecular and Cellular Developmental Biology

• Stockholm Junior Water Prize state winner and national representative

• AP Scholar with Distinction

“I reflect on my first day of summer cross country fairly often. It was smoking hot and I was nervous to start something entirely new as a senior. It was terrifying but sparked a love of distance running that I couldn’t seem to get enough of, and it brought me to some of my closest friends.”

Lucas Bobier
Rock Canyon High School

I will attend the University of Colorado Boulder

• Plans to study Aerospace Engineering

• Maintained a 4.0 unweighted GPA throughout high school

• AP Capstone Diploma recipient

“My most enduring memory from high school is the Colorado Space Business Roundtable (CSBR) summer internship in which I was able to tour the facilities of many aerospace companies in Colorado as well as listen to some online speakers.”

Joseph Boeglin
Renaissance Secondary

I will attend the Colorado School of Mines

• Plans to study Computer Science

• Holds officers positions in his school's Thespian Society, National Honor Society, and Student Leadership chapters

• One of only 5,000 nominees for the Presidential Scholars Award

“My most enduring memories were the RSS Voyages, particularly our snowshoeing and canoeing experiences.”

Raygan Campbell
Eagle Academy

I will attend Arapahoe Community College

• Plans to study Early Childhood Education

• DCSD Perseverance Scholarship recipient

• Honor Roll student

“My most enduring memory is sitting out in the lobby with my friends and just talking.”

Deven Chen
Highlands Ranch High School

I will attend the University of Colorado Boulder

• Plans to study Computer Science

• Achieved the rank of Eagle Scout

• National Cyber Scholar with Honors recipient

“My most enduring high school memory is adjusting to a new high school and area after my family and I moved to Colorado in November 2021. Almost everything was different and somewhat unfamiliar after we moved, but I learned a lot as I adapted. I will always remember the social skills I developed and experience I gained from our move.”

Kyle Donahue
Douglas County High School

I will attend the University of Alabama

• Plans to study Aerospace Engineering

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma recipient

• Finished third in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) entrepreneurship state competition

“One of my favorite memories was when I was running a 5k in Colorado Springs. I was behind a person that had beaten me at the previous meet, and it was looking like I was about to lose again. He and I were 100 feet from the finish line and he was 20 feet ahead of me, but suddenly, I summoned up my last bit of energy and broke into a sprint, passing him and beating his time.”

Blakeley Dunn
Renaissance Secondary

I will attend Arapahoe Community College

• Graduated a year early

• Invited to be part of the Fish for Change Board of Directors

• Started her own graphic design company

“My favorite memory happened on the bow of a boat in Honduras. I was able to land a 'Grand Slam' which is when you catch a Permit, Tarpon, and Bonefish in one day. I was able to travel to Honduras to fly fish and meet some amazing people. ”

Caden Eagle
SkyView Academy

I will attend Baylor University

• Plans to study Environmental Engineering

• Captain of the school’s first soccer team to make the playoffs

• Completed 10 14’ers over the summers

“Me and my friends had a last minute 14-hour road trip to watch the boys basketball team in Cedar Ridge. We went crazy in the car, but it was worth it to support our basketball guys and see them pull out a victory.”

Collin Gordon
Mountain Vista High School

I will attend Colorado State University

• Plans to study Engineering

• Achieved the rank of Eagle Scout

• Julie Ryburn Memorial Scholarship recipient

“My fondest high school memory was riding for Highlands Ranch Junior Cycling (HRJC) and competing in the Colorado High School Cycling League for Mountain Vista.”

Angie Hargrove
D.C. Oakes

I will attend Arizona State University

• Plans to study Forensic Psychology

• Also plans to pursue a degree in Counseling

• Will work as a Detention Specialist while in college

“I attended the Denver March Pow Wow three years in a row - each during our school field trip was a wonderful experience and taught me so much.”

Cate Hensley
Ponderosa High School

I will attend CU Boulder

• Plans to study Neuroscience

• Captain of both Ponderosa's drumline and winter percussion ensemble since 2021

• Succeeded in 10 AP classes and earned the AP Scholar with Distinction award

“My most enduring memory from high school will likely be my experience playing the drums in Ponderosa's most recent musical theatre production, Big Fish. The content of the musical was incredibly meaningful and it was such a memorable production to be a part of. ”

Emma Liken
Legend High School

I will attend the University of Denver

• Plans to study Criminology

• DCSD Perseverance Scholarship recipient

• Graduated with a 3.9 GPA

“My most prominent memory from high school is being able to make those around me smile and laugh on a daily basis, especially being told that 'You always manage to put a smile on my face' by a classmate.”

Brinda Malik
STEM School Highlands Ranch

I will attend the University of Denver

• Plans to study Mechanical Engineering and Journalism

• Boettcher Scholar

• Member of the school’s first team to qualify for state in girls soccer

“My favorite memory from my high school career would be competing in the First Robotics Competition my senior year. This was an incredible opportunity for me to continue my academic pursuits in an environment with people that wanted to continue to push me to do better and to do more. I was able to learn so much here, but also I was really able to bond with the rest of my school and team at the St. Louis and Denver Regionals.”

Carter McDonald
Rock Canyon High School

I will attend Wake Forest University

• Plans to study International Relations/Political Science and Economics

• Attained the rank of Eagle Scout, making him a fourth-generation Eagle

• State Congressional Debate Tournament winner both junior and senior year

“My most enduring memory of high school was helping to develop Rock Canyon's Speech & Debate program from 46th in the state to a top ten program that won seventh at the CHSAA State Tournament in the team competition as President/Captain of the team.”

Madison Mears
D.C. Oakes

I will attend Arapahoe Community College - Castle Rock

• Plans to study Computer Programming

• Friends of D.C. Oakes scholarship recipient

• Obtained all A’s and B’s in school

“My most enduring memory is coming to D.C. Oakes and realizing that I actually have a chance to graduate.”

Isabel Melton
eDCSD

I will attend the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs

• Plans to study Business Administration

• After volunteering at Sky Ridge Medical Center for four years, wants to become a Hospital Administrator

• As a freshman, Isabel and her team finished tenth in the Future Business Leaders of America National Competition

“Being an online student through eDCSD has enabled me to dedicate a greater amount of time to my volunteer efforts. A particularly memorable moment occurred when I was able to shadow a Transition Nurse at Sky Ridge Medical Center. I aided in six deliveries which included both natural and c-section births. This experience sparked my desire to pursue a career in Healthcare Administration due to the incredible medical professionals I had the pleasure of working with during my observation.”

Benjamin Morris
Chaparral High School

I will serve a two-year mission in Apia, Samoa

• Following the mission, plans to attend Brigham Young University

• Varsity soccer and basketball captain

• Weighted GPA of 4.3673

“My most enduring memory is speaking at Chaparral's Wish Week opening assembly where two thousand students and staff were gathered to learn who our Wish Kid would be. Seeing all of their faces explode into smiles when our Wish Kid was revealed is something I will never forget.”

Ayati Muralidar
Douglas County High School

I will attend Case Western Reserve University

• Plans to study Biomedical Engineering

• Received the top presentation score at DECA Nationals

• Two-time Huskie Award recipient

“My most enduring memory from high school is traveling to numerous hotels and states with my best friends whether it be for DECA, FBLA, or the IB CAS trip. ”

Chase Nelson
Douglas County High School

I will attend Chadron State College

• Plans to study Pre-Health to become a Physical Therapist

• Will play football in college

• State track qualifier three years in a row

“My most enduring memory has been all the rivalry assemblies, and seeing how much our school cares and takes pride in all of our athletes and their sports - as well as knowing that they are behind us when we play them.”

Gitanjali Rao
STEM School Highlands Ranch

I will attend MIT and join a biotechnology company with a focus on public policy advocating for innovation curriculum

• Conducts innovation workshops reaching approximately 75,000 students in 45 countries and counting

• Published the book, "A Young innovator's Guide to STEM", which is available in 5 languages worldwide and is a formal STEM curriculum in Kakuma refugee camp vocation centres

• Named Time Magazine’s first ever “Kid of the Year”

“My most enduring memory from my high school career was the talent shows in the school.”

Adam Schwartz
SkyView Academy

I will University of Northern Colorado

• Plans to double major in American Sign Language and Business

• Performed on Mainstage at the Colorado Thespian Convention and qualified for the National Thespian Convention

• Fundraiser for the Sacred Heart House of Denver

“The most enduring memory from my high school career is continuing to give my best effort even through e-learning and hybrid-learning. While I know many people who gave up trying or took an easy way out with assignments or tests, I kept my work ethic and went above and beyond. In my case, normalcy was through schooling in a time where nothing seemed normal, and that's why I wanted to excel in my work and give 110%. Especially in biology where I remember spending hours on each diagram for virtual dissection.”

Jaelyn Siegfried
D.C. Oakes

I will attend Arapahoe Community College to study Nursing

• Plans to become a Registered Nurse and Midwife

• Graduated a semester early

• Has 250 volunteer hours from time spent working with children

“My most enduring memory is my first quarter at Oakes and getting to feel smart in my classes and cared for by the staff.”

Sarah Underwood
eDCSD

I will attend the University of Northern Colorado

• Plans to study Biochemistry and Forensic Science

• DCSD Perseverance Scholarship recipient

• Recognized as a school leader

“The most enduring memory is being a part of Yeti Leadership. I gotta make plans, make our school's school store, plan parties, make spirit days, plan the donation drive, and make our school better.”

Taylor Witte
Mountain Vista High School

I will attend Georgia Institute of Technology

• Plans to study Economics

• President of National Honor Society, Team Captain of the Speech and Debate team, and a member of TSA and DECA

• Stamps President’s Scholarship recipient that covers a full-ride scholarship

“I will always remember singing in the school talent show during Wish Week with one of my closest friends. It was exhilarating to be up on stage in front of everyone and to feel supported by my friends and peers. So many people came up to me afterward and told me that they never knew I could sing!”