The Student Spotlight segment of each Board meeting celebrates a student or a group of students who are living out the Portrait of an LPS Graduate, which highlights the life skills each LPS graduate should have. Tomorrow’s workers will succeed by constantly adapting to the changing world around them, and today’s students must begin by learning and developing life skills - where every student should be well-adjusted, thriving, and balanced.

Additionally, students will develop skills in:

• Communication
• Global/Cultural Awareness
• Character
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Adaptability
• Creativity
• Risk-Taking
• Resiliency
• Collaboration
• Self Advocacy
• All surrounding Rigorous and Relevant Academic Skills

LPS strives to implement opportunities to grow these skills at every level of education and recognize students of all ages. At their regularly scheduled meeting on February 22, 2024, the Board recognized groups of students from Heritage High School, EPIC Campus, and Options High School during the Student Spotlight.

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Heritage High School

Heritage High School students in the culinary arts program were responsible for providing dinner for the Board of Education and Superintendent’s Staff between their workshop and the regular Board of Education meeting. They did an excellent job preparing and serving chicken enchiladas, guacamole, salsa, and rice.

Dylan Dickson embodies the Portrait of a Graduate trait of Collaboration. He is a junior at Heritage who loves culinary arts. He is quiet and sweet, and he often goes above and beyond to help others. He works very well with a variety of personalities and is able to showcase his leadership in a subtle way everyday during culinary arts. He was able to showcase knife skills, flavor development and measurement calculations in his creation of the guacamole and salsas.

Leo Curic is an excellent model of the Portrait of a Graduate trait of Global and Cultural Awareness. Leo comes from a family who instilled a passion for cooking and baking. Leo loves to learn about culture through food and culinary experiences. He has been cooking and baking from a young age with his family and was excited to take a culinary arts class in high school. Leo uses his love for culinary arts as a means to destress and relax. In class, Leo worked collaboratively with his peers to create the Mexican rice dish which showcased their knife skills and math skills as they tripled the recipe.

Brooklyn Abraham showcases the Portrait of a Graduate trait of Risk-Taking. Brooklyn is a sophomore at Heritage who loves cooking and cosmetology. Her favorite part of culinary arts is the opportunity to taste all of the foods and try new things. She was especially excited to make chicken enchiladas because she loves Mexican food. A few skills that Brooklyn and her team demonstrated in this recipe are knife skills, teamwork, and working on creating a balanced flavor profile.

Finley Hart is a shining example of the Portrait of a Graduate trait of Creativity. Finley is a freshman at Heritage who took culinary arts because she loves cooking and grew up cooking with her dad. Her favorite part is the freedom to add extra details or ingredients to showcase her Creativity through food, and tonight she created dynamic flavors as she helped prepare the chicken enchiladas.

Shane Swihart is a freshman at Heritage who is very interested in science and health topics. Her favorite part about taking culinary arts is the opportunity to make food and be creative in the process. Her favorite part about making chicken enchiladas for all of us is that she was able to work with a group of her friends and showcase her Portrait of a Graduate trait of Collaboration.

Brooklyn Terry is a freshman who really enjoys music and culinary arts. She loves making food and seeing people’s reactions to different dishes. Brooklyn is interested in going to culinary school to study baking and pastry, which makes a lot of sense when you know that Brooklyn embodies the Portrait of a Graduate trait of Creativity. The chicken enchiladas enabled Brookly and her peers to showcase their knife skills.

EPIC Campus

EPIC Campus work-based learning students encompass many of the characteristics from Portrait of a Graduate.  EPIC's Workforce Readiness Rubric focuses on critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and professionalism, which help students to be well-adjusted, thriving and balanced.

Bee Chafee is a proactive and ambitious junior at Littleton High School, immersing themself in the rigorous IB program while also interning at EPIC Campus's Coffee Shop. Through their internship, they are mastering customer service, restaurant cleanliness, beverage preparation, and point-of-sale skills, all while nurturing their passion for real-world experience. With aspirations to double major in psychology and communications in college, Bee is a great example of the Portrait of a Graduate characteristic of having Academic Skills. Bee also finds fulfillment in their role at the coffee shop, where they thrive on Collaboration with EPIC students, staff, and industry partners.

Adalia Garrison is a thoughtful and kind senior from Littleton High School, and she is currently interning at EPIC Campus's Coffee Shop, honing her skills in customer service, restaurant cleanliness, beverage preparation, and point-of-sale operations. After graduation, she is committed to joining the US Navy to explore new horizons, travel, and push her boundaries, exemplifying the trait of Risk Taking, while she figures out her career path and expands her knowledge. Despite her impending departure, Adalia cherishes her time in the EPIC Campus coffee shop, relishing the opportunity to learn the art of coffee-making and interact with her fellow EPIC students.

Hayden Habitz is a friendly and positive senior at Littleton High School, and he is currently interning at the Denver Aquarium as an aquarist through the EPIC Campus work-based learning program. Within this role, he is gaining hands-on experience in aquatic animal care, exhibit maintenance, water quality management, and equipment maintenance, among other responsibilities. With aspirations to study Marine Science in college, Hayden's passion for Problem-Solving is evident, and he finds particular joy in feeding sharks (how’s that for Risk-Taking) and diving alongside the diverse marine life in the aquarium tanks, making his internship experience truly exhilarating.

Jacob Parsons is a quick learner and motivated senior at Heritage High School, and he is actively pursuing his entrepreneurial ambitions by participating in internships at both the LPS Operations and Maintenance department and EMJD, a local sheet metal fabrication company, through the EPIC Campus work-based learning program. With a vision of owning his own welding company, Jacob has been accepted to Emily Griffith Technical College in the fall to attain professional welding credentials and certification, solidifying his trajectory in the welding industry. Concurrently, Jacob has obtained OSHA 10 and Home Builders Institute certifications through EPIC Campus's Construction Trades classes, underscoring his commitment to acquiring vital skills within his chosen field. He embodies the Portrait of a Graduate traits of Character and being Well-Adjusted, Thriving, and Balanced.

Hollan Thornburgh is a curious and dedicated senior at Heritage High School set to graduate in May 2024, and he excels as an EPIC Campus intern in the LPS IT department, bolstered by two years of experience at Domino's Pizza. He not only demonstrates exceptional skills in technical support, troubleshooting, and inventory management but also showcases his expertise in web design and cell phone repair, illustrating his diverse skill set and readiness for a career in computer science. With a strong aptitude for the trait of Critical Thinking, Hollan enthusiastically pursues opportunities to broaden his expertise in diverse domains.

Noah Orcutt is a senior at Littleton High school and is involved in the EPIC Campus Aerospace pathway. He exemplifies Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Communication. As a motivated student, he’s earned an internship with Lockheed Martin this summer.

Options High School

Amber Calderon Martinez embodies several traits of the Portrait of a Graduate, but especially Self-Advocacy and Resiliency. Using her skills with these two traits, as well as her work ethic, she has overcome personal and academic challenges. Amber is engaged in class, she works through challenges, and she treats everyone with kindness and respect. Amber has had a definite positive effect on Options.

Kimberli Solis Medina joined the Options community in 8th grade and has been part of the LPS community since she started preschool at The Village. Kimberli has found her footing and demonstrates the traits of Resiliency and Adaptability. Furthermore, she has grown into a young adult who is authentic, unique and unapologetically herself. She also attends the cosmetology program through our partnership with Colorado’s Finest.

Gabriella Cannata is wise beyond her years, possibly as a result of all that she has experienced in her life. Since being a student at Options, Gabby was quickly seen as a leader from her peers and the staff. Gabby exemplifies the Portrait of a Graduate by demonstrating Resilience, Self-Advocacy, and Adaptability. Gabby has a quiet presence, high standards for herself, strong connection with others, and a smile that lights up a room.

Leah Clearwater exemplifies the Portrait of a Graduate by demonstrating tremendous Resiliency, Self-Advocacy, Character, and Problem-Solving. Leah has overcome significant challenges in her life and continues to stay focused on creating a bright future for herself. She is a leader on campus, and many other students seek out her advice and friendship.

Isaiah Dawson has been a student at Options since he was a 7th grader. Isaiah is a walking example of the Portrait of a Graduate through his repeated demonstrations of Resiliency, Self-Advocacy, Character, hard work and perseverance. Isaiah is a leader at Options and is excelling in the automotive program through Arapahoe Community College. We are proud of Isaiah and excited to continue watching him shine.

Ian Nelson has been a gift to the Options community since the first time school staff met him as a 6th grader. He is a friendly person who embodies the Portrait of a Graduate through his Creativity, Critical-Thinking skills, and Character. Ian is pursuing his love of science through the Natural Resources pathway at EPIC Campus.

Kevin Williams is a quiet student who Self-Advocated to attend Options High School in 10th grade, and the school staff are grateful he did. Kevin demonstrates strong Character and Critical Thinking skills – while maintaining consistent friendships on campus. Kevin excels in classes at Options and is part of the Construction Trades pathway at EPIC Campus.

Kyle Cottrill is one of the most pleasant students you’ll ever be around. Kyle embodies the Portrait of a Graduate traits of Character and Adaptability. Kyle is kind to everyone at school.He has developed Resiliency skills, always has a positive attitude, and has grown tremendously in his confidence since he’s been at Options.

Ty Collins is a kind and hardworking student. He is Resilient, Creative, and a Risk-Taker. He excels on the Options campus and the EPIC Campus. Ty is also working for LPS in the Operations and Maintenance department.