6 ACC students Recognized at CCCS Student Excellence Awards

Arapahoe Community College (ACC) students Iris Everett, Sahtra Green, Meena Krishna Kumar, Kyle Picker, Dayanna Villamizar Florez, and Austin Watson were all honored on Wednesday afternoon, April 9, at the annual Colorado Community System (CCCS) Student Excellence Awards luncheon and ceremony.

Iris (Rising Star) began her studies at ACC (English) in January 2023 and plans to graduate in December 2026. A recipient of the COSI scholarship, she has qualified for the Dean’s List (3.50-3.74 term GPA) on multiple occasions. Iris is the editor-in-chief for Progenitor (Vol. 60) and is positioned to be the editor for the planned Creative Writing section of The Arapahoe Pinnacle. She plans to transfer into a four-year university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English and aspires to teach English at a primary or secondary school. Iris is currently employed as a Student Learning Assistant at ACC and as a barista at Stella’s Coffee House. A native of Annandale, Minnesota, and a graduate of Annandale High School, Iris enjoys walking, hiking, meandering, contemplating, tending communities, making music, photography, reading, and writing poetry, essays, letters and stories.

Sahtra (Rising Star) is pursuing her Computer Science (AS) and Associate of General Studies degrees at ACC. A member of the NSLS and Phi Theta Kappa honor societies, she is a two-time qualifier for both the President’s List (4.0 term GPA; fall 2023 and summer 2024) and the Dean’s List (3.50-3.74 term GPA; spring 2024 and fall 2024). Sahtra currently serves as the Secretary for the ACC Student Government Association and is the recipient of two scholarships (Foundation Board Scholarship, COSI Scholarship). She holds a work-study position with ACC Admissions and plans to transfer to MSU Denver to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Sahtra is interested in the Data Science and Machine Learning bachelor’s degree at MSU Denver, as well. Upon completing her education, she aspires to return to the field of software development, where she previously worked as a software engineer with Rev Intelligence. Sahtra also previously interned as a QA and App Engineer for Globe Thrivers (2024). Her long-term goal is to transition from startup companies to roles at larger tech companies, ideally at Apple’s Elk Grove campus. A native of Silicon Valley, Sahtra graduated from the Heritage Peak Charter School's Homeschool Guild Program in 2019 before relocating to Littleton in 2021. A techie at heart, Sahtra enjoys coding personal projects, 3D printing, and gaming in her leisure time. She is currently studying for the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification and plans to earn the CompTIA trifecta (A+, Network+, Security+) this summer.

Meena (PTK All-Colorado Academic Team) Meena Krishna Kumar first enrolled at ACC in the summer of 2021. She is studying Computer Networking Technology and Computer Information Systems, and has also earned a Computer Technician certificate. Meena will graduate from ACC in May 2025. A four-time qualifier for the ACC President's List (4.0 term GPA; spring 2023, fall 2023, summer 2024, fall 2024), she is a member of the NSLS and PTK honor societies. During her time at ACC, Meena earned an ACC Foundation Scholarship and the Tashiro Family Scholarship. Meena served as a Senator for the Student Government Association (fall 2021) and was also a PTK officer (2022-23). She is a member of the Creative Writing Club, the Queer Alliance, and the Puma Parents Club. Meena, who works at CommonSpirit Health, aspires to earn her certification in Information Technology Operations through CSU Global and will pursue her bachelor's degree in Information Technology. Her career goal is to complete the certification exam in Security and Network and work as an IT analyst in a healthcare job. She also hopes to work with students with special needs. A resident of Aurora, Meena is a graduate of Gateway High School. She enjoys reading, going for walks, cool breezes, listening to music, and volunteering.

Kyle (PTK All-Colorado Academic Team) began taking classes at ACC in the summer of 2022. An English transfer major, he plans to transfer to MSU Denver to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English. Kyle, who qualified for the President’s List (4.0 term GPA) in the fall of 2024, is a member of ACC’s Sigma Phi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. He aspires to teach English internationally with the hope of improving communication throughout the world. Originally from Castle Rock, Kyle is a graduate of Castle View High School. He enjoys fishing, going to the gym, photography, and hiking in his leisure time.

Dayanna (Inclusive Excellence Champion) enrolled at ACC in January 2024. A Business Transfer (AA) major, she will complete her studies at ACC in December 2025 and hopes to transfer into MSU Denver or CU Denver to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Finance. Dayanna is an active member of the NSLS and Phi Theta Kappa honor societies and was awarded the F-1 Student Merit Scholarship in the fall of 2024, a scholarship awarded specifically to international students for outstanding academic achievement. She works as a Student Learning Assistant in the ACC English department, assisting fellow international students and non-native English speakers. Dayanna is also involved in the development of a new Multi-Language Club at ACC and leads a study group for her Geology class. Dayanna aspires to attain a career where she can help individuals and businesses build strong financial foundations and improve their financial literacy. She is especially passionate about empowering Hispanic communities by providing them with opportunities for financial growth. Originally from Santander, Colombia, Dayanna attended Normal Superior - a pedagogic high school - where she developed a passion for teaching and working with children. After the pandemic, she began an internship program in the United States to learn English. Dayanna enjoys hiking in the mountains, camping, paddleboarding, skiing, painting, cooking, volunteering with her children at her church, and giving back to the community.

Austin (PTK All-Colorado Academic Team) began the Nursing AAS program at ACC in the summer of 2023. He is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa and NSLS honor societies and has qualified for the President’s List (4.0 term GPA). Austin, who is the recipient of the Quarton Family Scholarship, worked for five years as a CNA for patients with brain or spinal cord injuries at Craig Hospital in Englewood before leaving last October to focus on school. Upon graduation from ACC (May 2026), Austin aspires to earn his BSN before going on to pursue an MSN that focuses on a licensure program to become a Nursing Anesthetist. A native of Grand Junction and a graduate of Central High School, he enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.