CSU–Pueblo student leaders focus on college preparation at East

Pueblo –Senior members of the President’s Leadership Program (PLP) at Colorado State University-Pueblo have spent this fall conducting a pilot program to promote the successful transition into higher education for high school juniors and seniors at East High School. Participating organizations included School District #60Administration, East High School principal, counselors & teachers, and the CSU-Pueblo Admissions Department.

The project is part of the students’ Applied Leadership class, a three-credit service learning course which encourages students to take their skills, talents, experience and knowledge in leadership, plus their enthusiasm and energy into the community. Last year, the PLP Scholars immersed themselves in the local migrant community, establishing a new tutoring program and housing policy and building a soccer field.

This year’s capstone project aimed to assist, encourage, and mentor junior and senior students at East High School in developing higher education goals. Eleven PLP Seniors and their advisors, PLP Community Advisory Board members Barbara Duff and Barbara Fortino, see the project as a way to increase the amount of career and higher education counseling that students receive.

High school counselors in the Pueblo area typically have a case load of more than 400 students per year, which often results in a reactive rather than proactive approach and does not allow the counselors to provide every individual with extensive career and higher education counseling. The scholars hoped to assist high school counselors by providing information to students regarding college majors, admission requirements, entrance exams and interviews, and scholarship and financial aid opportunities as well as to help the students develop important college and career skills, such as resume writing and interviewing techniques.

According to PLP Director Shelly Moreschini, the purpose of the senior capstone project is to develop and implement a leadership-focused effort where students may engage with community leaders to better the community. Students are required to develop an outline of team goals, a timeline of activities, as well as an accountability system to help determine task evaluation and self-evaluation.

“This project is not intended as a service project to provide volunteers for individual organizations, nor to engage in capacity building for external organizations. Rather, the successful project is one that encourages critical thinking and strategic planning in a leadership/mentorship opportunity,” she said. “The project focuses on program development, or community engagement in such a way that students may assist in the development of a community problem or concern, and through their strategies and activities, help to devise a solution to that problem or concern.”

The PLP Scholars have presented information to juniors and seniors during English Class times on October 21 and November 4, with their last presentation slated for Friday, November 18. The presentations include folders with a variety of relevant information for each student to take with them. Presentations are interactive, with opportunities for questions and discussion. PLP Scholars also provide contact information to those East High School students who would like to meet with them individually for more personal encouragement and advisement.

The team organized four presentations – Applications and College Choice, College Prep, Interviewing and Resume Skills, and Financial Aid – and all scholars were required to present all topics.

The PLP seniors serving on the capstone project are as follows:

Marissa Brown, Pueblo
Justin Fox, Pueblo
Christen Gower, Canon City
Leslie Haywood, Lakewood
Andrea Jennings, Walsenburg
Mark Magnone, Colorado Springs
Dustin Trimble, Bailey
Lisa Vazquez, San Antonio, TX
Troy Vigil, Leadville
Alexis Wilcox, Elizabeth
Greg Wissinger, Monument

The PLP program is a member of the Colorado Leadership Alliance, a consortium of comprehensive leadership education programs at undergraduate institutions across Colorado. Through shared resources and collaborative efforts, CLA’s focus is to develop the next generation of Colorado's leaders. PLP develops and trains emerging leaders at CSU-Pueblo through a four – year academic leadership program focused on academic and experiential learning.

For information on the President’s Leadership Program or its college preparation project, contact Moreschini at 719-549-2060 or shelly.moreschini@colostate-pueblo.edu.


 Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.