Outreach Projects
Serving the Community
Community involvement and giving back are important pillars of the Scholars Program. In the sophomore year, Leeds Scholars work on an Outreach Project-- a year-long, team-based effort to address a community need. Students identify a topic, create a project proposal, find local partners where applicable, develop a fundraising initiative and execute a culminating event or design, with checkpoints and oversight throughout the year.
CU Code
Scholars coordinate and execute a day for middle school girls to come to CU Boulder and learn more about potential careers in STEM fields. The girls hear from engineering faculty about the endless possibilities for them in these career fields and interact with women in CU’s premier engineering sorority.
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Operation Step It Up
While the Covid-19 pandemic kept many children and families at home, a group of Scholars created a program to incentivize local elementary school students to get outside and exercise, purchasing pedometers for the entire University Hill Elementary School 5th grade class and challenging those students in a gamified experience to walk the length of the state of Colorado in one week.
Outdoor Access for All
Outdoor Access for All is a step towards closing the gap in knowledge and accessibility to the outdoors in historically underserved communities as well as increasing the diversity and inclusivity in outdoor activities. This Scholars designed project aims at taking middle school-aged students on guided outdoor trips including hiking, fishing, and more.
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Women’s Empowerment
Leeds Scholars partner with in Denver to support middle school students as they navigate important years of personal growth and development. Through a series of interactive workshops on topics such as self-confidence, body image, goal setting, and empowerment, Scholars create a space for meaningful conversation, reflection, and connection while helping students build confidence in themselves and their future.
Generational Ties
Leeds Scholars work to bridge the generational gap by fostering meaningful connections between CU Boulder students and residents of The Academy at Mapleton Hill. Through activities such as games, trivia nights, and guided conversations, the project creates opportunities for learning, relationship-building, and shared experiences while strengthening community across generations.
Sea the Change
Scholars work with the Sea the Change organization (founded by Scholar alumna Emma Pearson) to consult on organizational needs and to plan and execute a middle school or elementary school trip to the Denver Aquarium.