With a job lined up with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Denver this fall, Deisy is currently studying for her CPA license. She’s also enjoying some well-earned time off traveling to California and Utah, taking in concerts, learning paddle boarding, and even going skydiving. But her future is uncertain.
In the summer of 2013, Deisy DeLuna interned with the Boulder County Latino History Project – a collaborative, grassroots initiative supported in part by Community Foundation Boulder County to document and describe the history of Latinos in our area over the past century.
“That’s when I first became aware of the foundation,” says the bilingual “Dreamer” who came to the United States as an 11-year-old. “A lot of our meetings and introductions took place at the foundation…
“Fast forward a few years to 2016, Community Foundation Boulder County had an internship available, for which I applied. As a foundation intern, I learned so much about the ins and outs of nonprofits, in general – and about the work of the foundation and its grantees, in particular.”
Deisy remembers working with then-foundation President Josie Heath, as well as CFO Jennifer Kilpatrick, and Vice President of Programs and Inclusive Leadership Elvira Ramos. “With everyone I worked – mostly helping out Elvira on 15 Forever grants and other foundation grants – I discovered how much I enjoy working as part of a team.”
At the time, Deisy was an undergrad, having started her academic journey at Front Range Community College where she completed an Associate of Arts degree in business; this spring, she graduated with a master’s in accounting from CU Boulder.
Along the way, Deisy garnered an impressive list of honors, awards, scholarships, and other recognitions – from being named on the Leeds School of Business Dean’s List to receiving a Platinum Scholarship and appearing on the President’s List and Vice President’s List at CU Boulder. She also earned memberships in Beta Alpha Psi, an international honor organization for accounting, finance and information systems students; and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for two-year college students.
With a job lined up with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Denver this fall, Deisy is currently studying for her CPA license. She’s also enjoying some well-earned time off traveling to California and Utah, taking in concerts, learning paddle boarding, and even going skydiving.
But her future is uncertain.
“Every two years, I have to renew my DACA status,” she explains. “I went through a background check and the fees we pay, and I’m confident in having a permit for the next two years, until 2020. But with a very different administration in the White House, I don’t know what’s going to happen after that. Things can always change.
“I wish there was something permanent, and that I didn’t have to reapply every two years.”
Still, Deisy isn’t allowing such ambiguity to slow her down. “During my time at CU, I became part of a sorority. Through Community Foundation Boulder County and my sorority – two experiences that really impacted me – I learned that people are a lot more aware about issues than I thought. As a result, I become more socially aware myself, better understanding the strengths and opportunities of my community, and how I can be a part of my community.”
Indeed, named a Rising Star in 2014 by the State Student Advisory Council – an honor recognizing the outstanding contributions of students and staff across the Colorado Community College System to college activities and community service – Deisy remains a star among our foundation family.
