Charter Champions: Student Advocacy Training Program
Empowering Charter School Student Leaders in Colorado
What is the Charter Champions advocacy training program?
Charter Champions is a leadership and advocacy training program designed to equip Colorado charter high school students with the tools, confidence, and experience they need to raise their voices for public charter schools. Students connect classroom learning to real-world civic engagement, developing the skills they need to advocate, influence policy, and lead with purpose. Whether you’re a student ready to lead, or an educator ready to elevate a young leader, this is your opportunity to spark change.
The program offers:
- Leadership development through hands-on advocacy experiences
- Public speaking and strategic communication training
- Understanding of public policy and how it impacts education
- Real-world interactions with policymakers and decision-makers
- Opportunities to represent their school community with confidence and purpose
By the end of the program, students emerge as better advocates and bold leaders ready to shape the future of education in Colorado and beyond.
Who should participate in the Charter Champions?
We are seeking dynamic student leaders who are:
- Passionate about their charter school community
- Ready to grow as communicators, collaborators, and changemakers
- Interested in civic engagement, education policy, and leadership
- Eager to gain practical experience that will support their future in college, careers, and community leadership
Why should you nominate a student for Charter Champions?
Because student voices matter. The Charter Champions program seeks to empower charter student leaders to become the next generation of advocates for high-quality public education.
Charter Champions gives students the opportunity to:
- Identify and powerfully share their personal stories
- Build coalitions and lead with purpose
- Understand Colorado’s legislative process and how policy is shaped
- Engage directly with elected officials, media, and community stakeholders
- Strengthen their public speaking and advocacy skills
- Represent the voice of charter students in the halls of government
Advocacy Day: The Capstone Experience
We encourage teachers, coaches and school leaders to nominate students who demonstrate:
- Emerging leadership
- Strong communication
- A desire to make a difference
Nominations for the Class of 2026 will open September 1st, 2025.
Let’s build the next generation of charter school advocates.
Note to Nominators: All nominators will serve as sponsors to the student(s) they nominate. Nominators must be willing to relay important information and ensure winners can be present at key events, including Advocacy Day.
If you have any questions or would like further information, send an email to [email protected].
"When students find their voice—they become powerful advocates for themselves, their peers, and their schools."
Meet the Charter Champions of previous cohorts
Charter Champions Class of 2025
- Danica Cooper ─ Colorado Early Colleges Windsor
- Svet Medina ─ 5280 High School
- Emma Torres ─ HOPE Online
- Siddarth Vellingiri ─ Peak to Peak Charter School
- Fama Dia ─ Colorado Early Colleges Douglas County North
- Isis Fox ─ Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School
- Margaret Nelson ─ STEM School Highlands Ranch
- Addison McLain ─ STEM School Highlands Ranch
- Hannah Luziette ─ Animas High School
- Cassidy Hayden ─ Animas High School
- Rosie LeCompte ─ Animas High School
- Sriharsha Chundru ─ Prospect Ridge Academy
- Charlotte Manke ─ SkyView Academy
- Brayden Sands ─ The STEAD School
- Cricket Shima ─ Vision Charter Academy
- Felicity Lim ─ Colorado Early Colleges Douglas County North
- Jonathan Barnes ─ Colorado Early Colleges Online Campus
Charter Champions Class of 2024
- Aislin Bate ─ Twin Peaks Classical Academy
- Isis Busey ─ Colorado Early Colleges
- Avery Bridgham ─ SkyView Academy
- Christian Chandler ─ Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy
- Isabella Dent ─ Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy
- Lars Esping ─ Prospect Ridge Academy
- Giovanni Falbo ─ Colorado Early Colleges
- John Jacobs ─ Southwest Open School
- Danelly Hashani Jimenez Nunez ─ Atlas Prep Charter School
- Lizania N Hernandez Alvarado ─ Early College of Arvada
- Elizabeth Leeder ─ Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy
- Ethan Majchrowski ─ Windsor Charter Academy Middle School
- Hansini Mudumala ─ SkyView Academy
- Nashi Mason ─ GALS Denver High School
- Siena Negron ─ SkyView Academy
- Viola Ortiz ─ Chavez Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy
- Griffin Schafer ─ Stargate School
- Sadie Schafer ─ The STEAD School
- Hanna Shoemaker ─ Prospect Ridge Academy
Charter Champions Class of 2023
- Carter Atwell ─ SkyView Academy
- Kalaiah Cherry ─ DSST: Elevate Northeast High School
- Cori Dove ─ SkyView Academy
- Logan Haugestuen ─ Liberty Common High School
- Alexander Hernandez-Gonzalez ─ Strive Prep-RISE
- Yuna Kim ─ Academy of Arts and Knowledge
- Vidhura Kumar ─ Prospect Ridge Academy
- Abigail LaBue ─ Colorado Early Colleges Windsor
- Zoell Lhomi Nuppa ─ Animas High School
- Spencer Lynch ─ Liberty Common High School
- Fatima Najar ─ Aurora Science and Tech High School
- Ashley Natalia Valdez Barraza ─ Hope Online Learning Academy
- Ariana Nungaray-Arias ─ STRIVE Prep-RISE
- Kendall Powell ─ SkyView Academy
- Alessandro Romero: Global Village Academy North
- Marlene Sanchez De La Cruz ─ HOPE Online Learning Academy
- Brayden Short ─ SkyView Academy
- Mikah Sickau ─ Twin Peaks Classical Academy
- Noah Stadler ─ Twin Peaks Classical Academy
- Chelsea Thompson ─ The STEAD School
- Emmett Tuttle ─ Rocky Mountain Deaf School
- Kaylee Weickert ─ Windsor Charter Academy Early College High School
- Ethan Wolfe ─ CEC Parker