Joing Our Mailing List

Uriel Aguilar Gutierrez

Mentors: Ellie Browne, Bri Dobson

Bio: Uriel is a first-generation student from Greeley, Colorado where he studied at Aims Community College. He plans to attend the Colorado School of Mines in the fall to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. After college, Uriel plans to create sustainable solutions for underrepresented communities.

Uriel enjoys learning new things especially in STEM, listening to music, spending time with friends, being active in his community, and staying fit. Uriel hopes to gain valuable research skills from the RECCS program.

Natalie Aguilera

Mentors: Liam Toney, Elaine Collins, Kate Allstadt

Bio: Natalie Aguilera is an alumni of Red Rocks Community College. After completing her two-year program at RRCC, she plans to transfer to the University of Colorado Boulder to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. From a young age, Natalie has been passionate about STEM and eager to learn and innovate in the technology field, especially after discovering her potential for a career in Computer Science. Growing up as a Mexican-American woman in an underrepresented community, she is determined to inspire others from her background to pursue higher education and careers in the sciences. Outside of her academic life, she enjoys trying new foods, exploring new places, and seeking out new experiences. She also places a high value on health and fitness and enjoys spending time with her friends. Natalie's future goals include earning her Bachelor's degree and pursuing a career as a software engineer, while remaining open to the opportunities that may follow.

Hannah Bell

Mentors: Manuela Mejia, Amy Dunbar-Wallis

Bio: Hannah is an artist and scientist from Aurora, Colorado. She is passionate about the environment, the earth sciences, and uses visual mediums like painting and illustration to bridge the gap between the two. Hannah comes from a multicultural background, bringing a unique perspective and experience to the field. Growing up in African American, Mexican American, and Native American communities, she is passionate about intersectional environmentalism and looks to connecting her communities back to nature. She wants to advocate for the awareness and change necessary as these communities are more vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis. Her familial roots continue to motivate and inspire her in her love for people, plants, and the environment.

Sebastian Chavez-Ortega

Mentor: Scott Taylor

Bio: Sebastian Chavez-Ortega earned his Associate of Science degree in Biology from the Community College of Denver in May 2025. He is continuing his academic journey at Colorado State University, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a focus on the human dimensions of nature.Sebastian is passionate about science communication and has a particular interest in ornithology. His goal is to bridge the gap between communities and nature by combining scientific knowledge with effective communication strategies.During his time at CCD, Sebastian participated in a field research experience for community college students hosted at New Mexico Highlands University. He began as a student conducting an independent research project and later returned as a field research assistant, where he led a bird identification workshop. In the summer of 2023, he volunteered with the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, conducting bird surveys and participating in a black-footed ferret survey.In his free time, Sebastian enjoys engaging the public through outreach events with the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, where he continues to share his love for birds and nature.

Paulina Guzman Tinoco

Mentors: Katie Gannon, Bella Olesky, Abby Ross

Bio: Paulina Guzman Tinoco is a student at the Community College of Denver and will be transferring to the University of Colorado Denver in Fall 2025. With a deep passion for animals, nature, and science, Paulina aspires to pursue a career that bridges both the medical field and scientific research. She is especially interested in disease (including areas like epidemiology) and hopes to explore how human health connects with the environment. Her scientific interests span from botany and aquatic ecosystems to entomology. She is also fascinated by the roles that invertebrates play in ecological balance.

Paulina participated in a biology research course at the University of New Mexico Highlands University, where she conducted a handful of fieldwork involving ant behavior, bird identification, and water conservation. As part of a collaborative project, she studied the effects of pollution and human activity on macro and micro invertebrate populations. She has been actively involved in STEM Blazers, the Community Service Club, and the Dance Club, and has held multiple roles that demonstrate her commitment to civic engagement and education, including serving as an intern and election worker with Denver Votes, working as an orthodontic assistant at Silvas Orthodontics, supporting students at the Student Planning and Resource Center at the Community College of Denver, interning with the Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, and caring for children at Tiny Toes Academy.

Paulina is excited to continue her academic journey, seeking opportunities where science, health, and a love of the natural world intersect.

Bradley Harz

Mentor: Nicole Hemming-Schroeder

Bio: Bradley T. Harz loves life and has many interests; he enjoys experiencing the many facets of the world. He is pursuing a career as an environmental scientist committed to ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, and using technology to address environmental challenges. Bradley is currently in the Engineering program at Red Rocks Community College and plans to pursue a Bachelor's in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Computational Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Growing up in challenging urban environments in Muskegon County, Michigan, he developed a passion for helping communities affected by environmental issues. Bradley uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and drone-based monitoring to assess ecosystem health. Beyond academics, he enjoys fieldwork, exploring diverse terrains, and just connecting with nature. He was a member of the NASA Space Grant Robotics team, where he led the coding sub-team for two years and contributed to awards in robotics navigation and lunar agriculture research. Now, he is focused on sharpening his knowledge of Earth Systems and Data Science. Bradley’s long-term goal is to travel the world with ecologically and environmentally integrated technology to improve ecosystem health & resilience, support humanitarian missions, and aid disaster relief efforts.

Katherine Hoerauf

Mentors: Jon Henn, Advyth Ramachandran

Bio: Katherine Hoerauf is a dedicated student at Front Range Community College, majoring in Horticulture Business Management. She has a lifelong love of plants, which has inspired her to explore both the business and scientific sides of horticulture through hands-on work and academic programs. With a strong foundation in practical and people-centered roles, Katherine brings valuable experience from the landscaping industry and elder care work that has deepened her appreciation for nurturing both plants and people.

Through their coursework and involvement in programs like RECCS, Katherine is exploring more scientific avenues within horticulture. They are deepening their understanding of plant systems, sustainability, and research practices. Katherine is especially interested in connecting the business side of horticulture with science-based innovation and environmental responsibility.

Outside of class, Katherine enjoys hobbies such as crochet, gardening, and attending concerts. They are passionate about building a career that merges creativity, science, and care, and they hope to contribute to teams that value collaboration, curiosity, and long-term impact.

Alex Marquez

Mentor: Toby Minear

Bio: Alex is a dedicated and inquisitive researcher with a strong interest in computer science and environmental sciences. With a background in sciences and software engineering, he has developed a solid foundation in both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experimentation. This summer he will be focusing on looking into NASA’s SWOT satellite and its algorithms. He will be bringing to the team a commitment to scientific integrity, collaborative problem-solving, and innovative thinking. Outside of research, he actively engages in tutoring math, programming his own projects, and enjoys hiking, further enriching his perspective as a scientist and team member.

Teddy McCormack

Mentors: Emma Galofré García, Karen Bailey

Bio: Teddy McCormack has graduated with her Associate of Science in Biology from Red Rocks Community College and is excited to continue her education at Colorado State University in the fall, where she will major in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Teddy discovered her interest in the natural sciences after taking a Field Biology course and during her time as a lab assistant for General College Biology I & II. She is passionate about finding creative ways to upcycle and thrift items to reduce waste. She hopes to pursue research as an ecologist and use her studies to help others meet their sustainability goals. Teddy enjoys trail running, long camping trips, reading fantasy series, and spending peaceful moments at the creek.

Chloe Rampersad

Mentors: Rich Briggs, Alexandra Hatem

Bio: Chloe Rampersad is a geology student at Red Rocks Community College with a strong interest in glacial processes, coastal geology, and landscape evolution. She is especially drawn to the ways climate and geologic forces shape dynamic environments like coastlines and glacial systems. After beginning college at the Colorado School of Mines studying Environmental Engineering, she eventually found a better fit in geology, drawn to the way it combines fieldwork, science, and real world relevance. Her academic work reflects a growing focus on long term Earth processes and how they interact with environmental change. With a self motivated approach to learning and a deep curiosity about the natural world, Chloe hopes to contribute to research that supports both scientific understanding and environmental resilience. Outside of school, she enjoys reading fantasy fiction, hiking, and gaming.

Anton Rybakin

Mentor: Sarah Elizabeth Stockman

Bio: Anton Rybakin is a second-year meteorology student at Front Range Community College, completing his math and physics requirements to transfer to CU Boulder’s Atmospheric & Oceanic Science program. After several years in the high-pressure environment of the Colorado DMV, Anton realized that a genuine intellectual challenge was necessary for him and working hard for a passion is far more sustaining than working hard without one. Stepping away from that career at age 30, he redirected his discipline and customer-focus toward his passion for watching and interpreting the skies.

On the rare occasions he ventured outdoors as a kid, Anton would pocket rock specimens for later inspection and sketch elaborate weather maps that swept imaginary cold fronts across Denver—quiet rituals that, in hindsight, revealed the budding scientist. As he grew older and began hiking and camping in earnest, the intricate balance of each ecosystem captured his imagination; the more time he spent outside, the more he grasped their complexity and fragility that deserved his full attention. Grounded in a faith that calls for ecocentric stewardship, and equipped with the quantitative rigor of mathematics, Anton now channels that lifelong curiosity into confronting climate change, ensuring nature receives the stewardship it needs to flourish for generations to come.

Alia Valdovinos

Mentors: Lise St. Denis, Luca Palasti

Bio: Alia Valdovinos is a first-generation college student set to graduate this summer with dual associate degrees. She plans to transfer to Colorado State University in Fort Collins to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, with an emphasis in microbiology and infectious disease, on a pre-medical track. Alia’s passion for medicine began while working in a pediatric optometry clinic, where she discovered the impact of compassionate healthcare. Her interest in microbiology was solidified after an inspiring experience in her microbiology course, confirming her desire to explore infectious diseases at a deeper level.

Beyond academics, Alia brings a thoughtful and well-rounded perspective to her projects, drawing on a range of interests. She enjoys hiking, reading thriller novels, and shopping in her free time. Alia is eager to contribute her curiosity, work ethic, and insight to any opportunity that supports scientific exploration and community health.

Emma Vencer

Mentors: Andrew Blakney, Nick Dragone, Noah Fierer

Bio: Emma (she/they/he) is a biology student at Red Rocks Community College with plans to transfer to CU Boulder for Molecular Biology and Biomedical Engineering. Originally, Emma started as a nursing major at RRCC, but after taking their prerequisite classes Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology, they rediscovered their love for science and switched to the Biology track. When they are not in the lab, Emma enjoys cosplay, art, and community service. With a background in Healthcare, Science, and Art, Emma loves finding ways to interweave all three disciplines, finding artistic solutions for scientific problems and vice versa. They hope that they can use these skills to give back to their community in some way, shape or form. In the future, Emma is interested in exploring dual MD-PhD programs after they graduate. 

Cece Weaver

Mentor: Nicole Hemming-Schroeder

Bio: Cece Weaver is finishing up her last semester at the Community College of Denver and will be transferring to the University of Colorado Boulder to study for a bachelor's in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC). Cece's fascination with weather and climate goes back as far as she can recall. Cece grew up watching the television meteorologists, replicating their forecasts, and hoping someday to predict storms herself. This initial enthusiasm has manifested itself in a strong academic interest in the behavior of the atmosphere, extreme weather, and oceanic climate science. Outside of academics, Cece has a long-standing passion for the environment. An avid adventurer, she has traveled to more than ten countries—and counting—driven by a curiosity to explore their local cultures and environments. Locally, she enjoys paddleboarding, kayaking, and going to national parks. These outdoor experiences fuel her desire to study the intricate systems of our atmosphere and oceans through science. Some of her future goals involve working with NOAA on research that aids in the improvement of weather forecasting, strengthens climate resilience, and enhances public literacy about the systems on this planet—for travelers and communities alike.