Photo by: Clarion Staff
Always the activist, always ready to fight for what she believes in, Sarah Asplin established her voice on campus.
When not in the classroom, Asplin campaigned for a variety of issues on and off campus.
Asplin has served as the president of the Undergraduate Women’s Council, the national college coordinator for National Student Advocacy Alliance, chair of records for DU PRIDE, historian and community organizer for DU NARAL and worked for the VDAY campaign.
“I suppose I’m that girl who always got her panties in a knot about something,” Asplin said. “It’s true, though, that when I have seen inconsistency or injustice on cmapus or in our community I have spoken out about it. I come ready to protest at a moment’s notice.”
Asplin said she will prize the work that UWC accomplished during her tenure.
“My proudest accomplishment at DU was working with the Undergraduate Women’s Council and sending 40 of our students to Washington D.C. for the March for Women’s Lives, the nation’s largest public demonstration in history. It was a breathtaking moment to look back on our students as part of such a historic event.”
It is the academic opportunities she received while at the DU that Asplin said was her favorite aspect of DU.
“My semester in South Africa was some of the hardest times of my life, but I grew so much and look back on it with such fondness,” she said.
“I wish other universities helped students get there like ours does,” Asplin added.
After graduation, Asplin will start her master’s in international development with a certification in global health affairs at the Graduate School of International Studies.
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After transferring to the University of Denver after her second year, Charmaine Robledo quickly became involved and found her niche on campus.
This journalism major joined the staff of the Clarion as a news editor before becoming editor in chief her senior year and co-director of DU Program’s Board’s diversity and cultural committee.
Robledo said her programming experiences with DUPB are some of her proudest moments while at DU.
“I think some of the programs and events that I helped put on with my DUPB co-director Todd Martinez were memorable experiences,” she said.
“My favorite experience was helping the Hawaii Club this year with their annual luau,” she said. “Even though the process of it all was a little stressful, I found it so rewarding to see the large crowd that attended the event and how everyone was having a fun time.”
Robledo said that she also appreciates her experience at the Clarion.
“I think I will be mostly remembered for my work as editor in chief of the Clarion.”
Robledo said keeping her sense of humor helped her through her time at DU.
“Sometimes things can get so hectic and crazy that you need to take a minute and just laugh at the absurdity of it all,” she said.
“I find that life is better when you don’t take things too seriously.”
Her favorite aspect of DU was the small community and getting to know people. She added that the support of Ania Savage, adviser to the Clarion; Annemarie Vaccaro-Phillips, professor of sociology; and Carl Johnson, director of student life, helped her through her two years at DU.
After she graduates, Robledo plans to write for a publication and travel.
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After leaving the Rochester, Minn., Mustangs in the U.S. Hockey League for the University of Denver, Kevin Fredrick threw himself into DU Greek life.
Fredrick has devoted countless hours to Greek life as the president of the Interfraternity Council and the vice president of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Fredrick has held a high profile on campus and shared his experiences with donors, alumni, faculty, staff and students last fall at the Chancellor’s Dinner downtown. He discussed his experience coming from playing professional hockey to becoming a full-time, involved student.
When not busy with his work with Greek organizations, Fredrick was busy with academics.
This marketing major with a legal studies minor maintained competitive grades. He is a member of Mortar Board and the Academic Conduct Review Board. He is also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership fraternity. He has also served as an orientation intern for the SOAR program.
Of all his activities on campus, his favorite aspect of the university wasn’t an organization but the people.
“The people are what made DU so great,” Fredrick said. “Carl Johnson has been a very important part of my DU experience and the university should be proud to have someone like him around to offer a fresh perspective.”
Fredrick said that being active in the DU was pivotal during his time at DU.
“[Students need to] get involved,” Fredrick said. “And play as hard as you work. Perseverance-being able to get through the tough times made the good ones even better.”
After graduation, Fredrick plans to obtain his master’s of business at Daniels College of Business.
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Kristen Weaver has done it all while at the University of Denver.
From being a NSME senator for AUSA Senate to treasurer for DU Environmental Team to tutoring for her numerous honor societies, her list of activities stretches far.
Of all her activities, however, Weaver said she will remember most her service-learning trips to Mexico and Nepal.
“The combination of service and coursework, uniting academics with action, is challenging and enlightening.”
Though Weaver is leaving DU, she is still excited about the future of the school.
“My favorite aspect of DU is the sense that the campus is going somewhere, both in our new buildings and expanding programs, and in the increasingly active student body. That dynamism is one of the qualities that attracted me to DU in the first place,” she said.
Weaver hopes that she is remembered for involvement with the DU community.
“I hope that I’ve been able to build up in some way each of the student groups of which I’ve been a member, and to add to the overall sense of campus community,” she said. “Knowing that I’ve played even a small part in that growth would be enough for me, whether I’m remembered directly for it or not.”
The key to surviving her time at DU, Weaver thinks, has been her willingness to get involved.
“Be curious and always look for opportunities,” she said. “The university provides so many chances to both explore the wide world around us and to reflect on the inner world of the mind, if only a person is watching for them.”
After graduation, Weaver will be a student coordinator for the Vision Resource Centre’s Global Civic Development Program in Bologna, Italy.
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Forget TV, it’s all about the radio for Nic Mezger.
Mezger spent his time at the University of Denver working for KVDU, serving on Student Media Board and playing intramural soccer all four years.
“Working for the radio station has been a great experience,” Mezger said. “I’ve been working there from the beginning [of my time at DU] and have seen it grow slowly over the past three years. It’s been frustrating trying to get things done, but it’s all been a learning process.”
Though he appreciates his time and experience with the radio station, Mezger said he regrets the university’s role with student media.
“Being station manager has been a great accomplishment for me, [but] it’s unforunate that the university doesn’t pay more attention to the radio station and provide more money and support for student media. It’s a great outlet for the students to learn and experience something that can make a difference here at the university.”
He added, “I hope to be remembered for my time spent working at the radio station and being part of something that is just getting started and could really turn into something great.”
“It has been great working for the radio station and meeting so many DJs with such different styles and tastes in music.”
Aside from the radio station, Mezger said he enjoyed the people at the university the most.
“I enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and being able to see so many different cultures interact with one another,” he said. “Carl Johnson [director of student life] is a great man. He has been there for me and for many others at the university time and time again. His dedication to students is incredible.”
Mezger, a finance major said that it is often a juggling act to balance his activities with school.
The key to surviving is “lots of hard work and good time management.”
He also recommended that students “don’t follow [but] lead by example” and to experience the entire city of Denver, not just DU.
After graduation, Mezger said he will travel to Barcelona to visit his sister and then to London to seek employment.
