On July 29, 2023, a reckless driver hit and killed 17-year-old Magnus White, a U.S. National Team Cyclist, on the Diagonal Highway outside of Boulder. To raise awareness of thousands of pedestrians and cyclists killed annually by drivers, White’s parents, Michael (EnvDes’00) and Jill White (Mktg’99; MOrgMgmt’23), created a nonprofit called . 

In November 2024, the Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠKA) fraternity — known as ”Pike” — held a fundraiser on ����������’s campus for The White Line and to honor Magnus White, who was a friend of several of the fraternity members. For six days, Pike members traded shifts riding outside on a stationary bike, even through a snowstorm. They rode near a memorial of more than 8,400 candles that represented each pedestrian or cyclist killed by a driver in 2023. 

“Looking out at the 8,423 candles was a true reminder of how valuable every single moment was,” said Graydon Abel (Fin’27), who helped create the fundraiser with his brother Gavin (Fin’27) and their fraternity brother Sebastian Edwards (Econ’27). “Change is needed, and we hope this effort makes a difference.” 

Start: 

Nov. 2, 5:05 p.m.

Finish: 

Nov. 8, 12:28 p.m.*  

(*12:28 p.m. was the exact time Magnus White was struck in 2023.) 

$51,007

Money raised

2,100 

Miles ridden, the equivalent of biking from Boulder to Miami, New York City or Mexico City. 

8,423 

Total minutes, representing the number of pedestrians and cyclists killed by drivers in 2023.

23 

Degrees: Coldest temperature during the fundraiser.

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"I don’t know what I would have done if my brother was not recruiting Chicano students to the University of Colorado."

As a teenager growing up in Trinidad, Colorado, during the early 1970s, attending the ���������� seemed out of the question for Bernal Baca (A&S’75). Instead, he planned to follow the advice of his high school guidance counselor and enter an auto mechanics program after graduation. But his older brother Richard Baca (Edu’71) intervened. 

Richard, a student at ���������� at the time, was back home visiting his former high school. As a United Mexican American Students (UMAS) member, he was recruiting Hispanic students like Bernal to attend the university. Bernal was hesitant, insisting he wanted to become an auto mechanic — but Richard wouldn’t take no for an answer. Bernal heeded his brother's advice and applied to the school, where he was accepted and enrolled.

In retrospect, following in his brother’s footsteps to an education on the Front Range turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to Bernal — and future generations of Baca family members. 

“I don’t know what I would have done if my brother was not recruiting Chicano students to the University of Colorado. That signaled to me that we had a chance,” Bernal said. “So I took that chance, and I’m glad.”

Deep Roots

Richard and Bernal earned degrees from ���������� and went on to achieve doctoral degrees in psychology and education, respectively. According to Richard, these feats were considered improbable at the time, given the siblings’ humble upbringing. 

The Baca family’s history in the United States dates back to the 1600s, when a settlement from Spain’s Oñate Expeditionary Group landed in northern New Mexico. Eventually, the family migrated to the southern Colorado city of Trinidad, whose establishment in the 1870s by Felipe Baca and his wife, Dolores, was a catalyst for Hispanics to settle in the area. 

“In essence, [Bacas] have been here for a long time,” Richard said. “We often hear the notion that ‘America came to us’ because our family was here long before the United States was founded.” 

The Bacas, a family of farmers, ranchers and entrepreneurs, were influential in southern Colorado. However, after Richard graduated from Trinidad State College in 1969, he thought his only two choices in the rural town were to work in the coal mines or join the military. An unlikely opportunity arose, though: Richard was selected with a cadre of other Latino students to apply to ���������� under what was then called the Educational Opportunity Program, which was established in the 1960s to recruit young Latinos who might not have met all the established admissions criteria at the time.

"My brother was the one who showed me the way, and he was able to teach his own son and granddaughter the same thing. I love it." 

Without this program, the thought of attending the university would have been as unlikely as eating “frijoles sin tortillas” (beans without tortillas), Richard said. “Formal admission to the university opened an educational dimension immeasurable by traditional means and inexplicable to [my] mother who had all of a third-grade education,” he wrote in a letter about his family to the Coloradan this past August.

Boulder or Bust

When Richard told his mother he was accepted to ����������, she replied, “Ah, que bueno jito. ¿Dónde está Boulder?” which translates to, “That’s good news, my son. Where is Boulder?” 

Over the next few years, Boulder evolved from what Richard called “a strange land” into his second home. He credits his success to living of campus with a group of graduate students and to his participation in student groups and campus activities. Richard’s tenure at CU coincided with the Chicano movement of the 1960s and 1970s. 

“At that time, the movement was really becoming strong, so I just became involved in campus activities related to Chicano students and learned more about my roots, my heritage and the importance of trying to advance ourselves as a grouping,” Richard said. 

"I got my spark at [����������] because I was mentored by one of the best professors I think I’ve ever met."

As a result of initiatives such as the Educational Opportunity Program that supported Richard, ���������� began recruiting hundreds of students from new communities — including Native American, Mexican American, Black/African American and Asian American communities — to attend the university. Some of these students formed organizations inspired by broader civil rights movements, including UMAS. 

Bernal also became involved with the Chicano Movement, joined UMAS and studied under Salvador Ramírez — who taught Chicano studies. When Ramírez moved to the Pacific Northwest, Bernal followed to help him establish the first Chicano studies program at Washington State University. After a long career as a college professor, Bernal now serves as executive director at a nonprofit called , which provides social, cultural and educational services to the Latino community in the greater Tacoma area.

“I got my spark at [����������] because I was mentored by one of the best professors I think I’ve ever met,” Bernal said. “I feel really honored to be bestowed that university bachelor’s degree because it was the most important degree I have received.”

Passing the Torch

While Richard is now retired, his career in higher education, mental health, consulting and politics spanned over 40 years. He even ran for University of Colorado regent in 1994 and served as the assistant vice president of student affairs and enrollment management at Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University) in Grand Junction. Richard raised his family on the Western Slope, and his son Ryan (Bus’96) was admitted to ���������� in the 1990s, continuing the legacy started by his father and uncle nearly three decades prior.

Ryan’s daughter, Alexandra (Bus’28), is the latest Baca family member to become a Buff. She moved into student housing at ����������’s Cheyenne Arapaho Hall in fall 2024. Like her father, Alexandra was admitted to the Presidents Leadership Class, which Ryan said was key to his success as a student and later as a management professional. The university also offered her scholarships from the Latinx Association and the Business and Engineering Women in Leadership program. 

“I don’t know another place I would want to go to for a university experience,” Bernal said. “My brother was the one who showed me the way, and he was able to teach his own son and granddaughter the same thing. I love it.” 

While Richard, Ryan and Alexandra each experienced the university in different eras, they’re united by their love for the beautiful campus, Boulder’s ever-evolving cultural scene and their love for Colorado Buffaloes football. 

The legacy they continue to nurture is one we know Alexandra’s late abuela would definitely be proud of.

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Have a ���������� family legacy to share? Email us at editor@colorado.edu with your story.

���������� is involved in several programs in Trinidad, Colorado. Visit the  for more information. 

Illustration by Emiliano Ponzi; Photo courtesy Richard Baca

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Lauren Elbert (Mktg’27) loves the traditions of student life — from color guard to singing the alma mater.

A Day as a Buff

“As a resident advisor, it’s super convenient to go to class next door in the Koelbel building. After class, I usually head to my barista job. It is the best part of my day, because I get to make coffee and talk to people who come in from around Boulder. Then, I normally hit up The Rec to run or take a cycle class. After that, I go to color guard practice and usually have meetings for the Leeds Scholars Program, Herd Leadership Council or a residence hall staff meeting, depending on the day. Later, I head back to my room, get some homework done, read a bit and go to bed. It’s a busy life, but it’s a good one!”

Favorite CU Tradition

“The Golden Buffaloes Marching Band is steeped in tradition and spirit for the campus. After each game, we sing the alma mater together, regardless of the turnout or how tired we are.”

CU’s Influence

“���������� has shown me how creativity and business can intersect. The collaborative projects in my classes and my involvement in the Leeds Scholars Program have helped me develop a vision for combining marketing, technology and sustainability. I’m inspired to pursue a career focused on impactful storytelling and responsible innovation.”

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Photo courtesy Lauren Elbert

Quick Facts

Studying marketing, with a minor in creative technology and design.

Expected Graduation May 2027

From Franktown, Colorado

Works at 

Color guard in the Golden Buffaloes Marching Band

Resident advisor in Kittredge Central

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At the age of 81, Alan Cohen (PhDHist’24) defended his dissertation and received his doctorate in history from ����������. His work focused on the early years of commercial jet aviation and the Boeing 707. Before returning to school, Cohen spent many years working in government and running a Denver-based scrap metal business, Iron & Metals, Inc.

Talk about your career. 

I received my undergraduate degree from University of California, Berkeley, then went to graduate school for economics at Yale. Afterward, I got a job working with USAID in South America and spent nine years in Guatemala and Columbia before becoming an economic consultant on natural resource issues in Washington, D.C. Later, I took over as manager at the family scrap metal business in Denver. When I approached retirement myself, my son took it over from me. 

What was your experience pursuing a PhD? 

Economic history interested me, particularly in the American West. When living in Colorado, I met CU professors Ann Carlos and Patty Limerick and took their courses as an auditor and eventually decided to take the courses for credit. I figured I would learn more by actually doing the work. I took the first course about 15 years ago. It took me six years to do all of the coursework before I passed the oral exam. My wife and I moved to Palm Springs because she was sick, and that slowed my research down. When she died, I moved back to Denver to be near my two sons. After another long break during COVID, I finally finished my dissertation in about two years. 

What was it like going to school in your 70s? 

Going back to graduate school was a wonderful experience — learning from younger people and this generation of teachers. One of my biggest takeaways has been political: I think of myself as progressive, but I’m actually a lot more conservative than some of the younger generation. 

Will you take any more classes? 

I think I will start another research project. I’m fascinated by Singapore and its modern history, especially how it managed to break away from colonialism successfully. 

What else should we know about you? 

I started out as a young person learning about the American Civil War, and my interest grew out of that. Also, when I went to Berkeley, it was free — California didn’t charge tuition to in-state students at the time. Right now, I’m helping a couple of other students go to college by paying their tuition. It’s payback for my free education. 

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Photo courtesy Alan Cohen

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When it comes to getting to class at ����������, “not having a car” would be a tough sell for tardiness — the university prefers students not to have one at all. 

“We have a whole toolbox of programs to prevent students from needing to bring a car to campus,” said Brandon Smith, ���������� assistant director of sustainable transportation. 

Most of these offerings are free. All students receive  (RTD) bus passes and also have access to the university’s electric Buff Buses, , CU NightRide, bike repairs on campus and summer bike storage. A CU ski bus even offers students trips to several ski resorts for $25 round trip.

And Buffs take advantage. In an average week, Buff Buses log about 30,000 boardings, 90% of which are students. In 2023, students rode RTD more than a million times. From January 2023 to November 2024, students took more than 1.3 million trips on BCycle bikes. 

The payoffs for sustainable transportation are big. 

“More than 60,000 commuters travel into Boulder per day, and 80% of these are single occupancy vehicles,” said Smith. “However, less than 12% of students drive solo to campus. Imagine what Boulder and campus parking, traffic and air quality would be like if we didn’t have programs that got most students out of single-occupancy cars.”

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Photo by Casey A. Cass

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Last fall’s Día de los Muertos “Altar Crawl” invited the ���������� community to engage with several altars honoring the lives of deceased loved ones. Altars were located across campus, including in the Guggenheim Building, the Koenig Alumni Center, the CU Museum of Natural History, the Center for Community and the Miramontes Baca Education Building. The crawl — hosted by the Forever Buffs Latinx group, the BUENO Center, the Latin American and Latinx Studies Center, UMAS y MECHA, Sigma Lambda Beta and the Center for Inclusion and Social Change, among others — highlighted the cultural significance of the day with moments of remembrance and celebration. 

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Photo courtesy Daniela Martinez Carpizo; Nelson R. Castro; Karla Rosete Nunez

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On April 27, 2024, Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (Soc’25) made a welcome return to Folsom Field for the team’s annual Black and Gold Game. Sanders finished 10-14 for 116 yards and a touchdown in the rain-shortened scrimmage.

“We were comfortable, seeing everything eye-to-eye. Everybody got to showcase their talents today,” said Sanders.

Sanders was one of 57 transfers to join the Buffs in 2023. While this offseason has had similar turnover with more than 40 transfers, the difference is elevated personnel.

“We have a plethora of receivers, and I cannot wait to see them work together this summer. Shedeur is going to be the happiest man in the building,” said head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders.

Four months stand between the Spring Game and August 29 opener against North Dakota State, giving Shedeur Sanders the opportunity to connect with new receivers and a revamped offensive line.

“I talk a lot to the receivers about the reads and progressions. I hang out with my offensive linemen. We go eat. We cook. We do everything together. That’s where we build our bond,” said Sanders.

Sanders, projected to be ranked as high as No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft after throwing for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2023, is intent on improving his off-the-field leadership. 

“I can become more vocal. On the field, they know what they’re getting. But off the field, you need to let guys know they’re always valued,” said Sanders.

With Colorado returning to the Big 12 this season, Coach Prime has promised a talent overhaul and a bowl game to famed CU superfan Peggy Coppom (��&������;��’46).&�Բ�����;

"[We have] another caliber of player, a player that truly expects to go to the next level," Coach Prime said. “They want the physicality, they want all the smoke.”

But the offseason is far from over.

"This summer is definitely going to be a grind," said Sanders.

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Photo courtesy University of Colorado

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Radio 1190 KVCU, ����������’s volunteer-based student radio station, has been broadcasting on campus since November 1998. Recently, it’s been gaining attention on a national scale. 

In less than two years, Jack Armstrong (StComm’25), news director for Radio 1190, has grown the student radio team from three people to 40 active volunteers, amping up the broadcast from weekly to daily. The station now features daily news programming, in addition to shows, music and podcasts. 

“I had a drive to make something much larger than what we currently had at the station,” said Armstrong, who will be a senior in the fall. 

In March, the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System honored the radio station with two national awards: Best Public Affairs Program and the 2024 Best News Director. 

“It was validating that the program I put together worked,” Armstrong said. “I want working for Radio 1190 to be a coveted learning experience for students — and one that employers will see and value.”

When he graduates, Armstrong plans to continue in a new capacity with the station, which is located in the University Memorial Center on campus. 

“I will consult with the second news director to make sure they’re beginning on the right path,” he said. “After that, I’m choosing to promote myself to the role of listener.” 

Listen to the station at 1190 AM or at . 

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Photo by Patrick Campbell

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NOW

March 21, 2024

In March, several ���������� students who are Dalai Lama Fellows, a program hosted by the university’s Renée Crown Institute, had the honor of meeting directly with His Holiness in Dharamsala, India, to discuss the topic of compassionate leadership. The group also included faculty and staff associated with the Crown Institute and Leeds School of Business, as well as others from the University of Virginia and Dalai Lama Fellows from around the world. 

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Photo by Glenn Asakawa

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To help alleviate health issues caused by pathogens in water, a team of ���������� mechanical engineering students collaborated on a senior capstone project last spring to create PureSip, a prototype for a water purification system.

Housed inside a bottle lid, PureSip uses ultraviolet LED technology to purify water through a straw as the user drinks — killing 99.9% of germs and eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles.

To support product adaptability, the bottle lid can be used with common reusable water bottle brands such as Nalgene and Hydro Flask. 

The purification process begins when the spout of the bottle lid is flipped open and can continue purifying for a total of 40 minutes before the batteries need to be recharged. With the assumption a user drinks at a certain pace, the team calculated that amount of time to equal 30 liters of water. On average, this would equate to 60 disposable plastic water bottles. 

The PureSip team members — Jack Figueirinhas (�ѱ𳦳󷡲Բ���’23), Jack Isenhart (�ѱ𳦳󷡲Բ���’23), Mackenzie Lamoureux (�ѱ𳦳󷡲Բ���’23), Ella McQuaid (�ѱ𳦳󷡲Բ���’23), Marie Resman (MechEngr’23) and Carlos Yosten (MechEngr’23) — made a point of using lithium-ion polymer batteries because they’re rechargeable, have a long battery life and are more compact than other battery options. 

The PureSip team pitched their idea at the 2023 New Venture Challenge, a cross-campus program and competition that gives aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to win money to fund a startup. The product received third place in the climate-focused section.

Lamoureux, PureSip’s product manager, said last spring, “We hope that our product can help reduce plastic pollution, and more particularly help eliminate the need for single-use plastic bottles.”

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Photo courtesy College of Engineering and Applied Science

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