Grade ‘A’ 2012: People and Places

STAFF PICKS

Grade A Olympian

Missy Franklin’s personality and swimming ability have been no secret to those around the Aurora/Centennial area since she was about 5 years old, and the whole world got a chance to see it at the Summer Olympics in London. The 17-year-old phenom lifted the spirits of the entire area with her performance, which included winning five medals in seven events — four golds and a bronze — in addition to setting two world records, plus leading Team USA in a viral version of “Call Me Maybe.” Since returning from across the pond, Franklin’s made appearances on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” had the Olympic rings tattooed on her hip and been honored by Gov. John Hickenlooper, all while starting her senior year at Aurora’s Regis Jesuit High School. It would be hard to find a better ambassador for the area than Franklin, who has an uncommon demeanor for a world-class athlete and is still fiercely determined to swim with a college team despite lucrative advertising money being thrown her way. Franklin has a seemingly limitless future in the pool and now has her eyes on another outstanding performance at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero.

Male Prep Athlete

Prep sports quite simply thrive in Aurora, with an abundance of top-level athletes flourishing in programs all around the city. A select handful truly stand out, especially with their ability to excel in more than just one sport, with Gateway’s Zack Golditch, Overland’s Austin Conway and Regis Jesuit’s Josh Perkins in that lofty group. Golditch has been in the headlines recently because he survived a stray bullet through the neck in the July 20 shooting at the Century Aurora 16 theater, but his athletic prowess is unquestioned.

A four-year member of the Gateway varsity football team, Golditch has grown to 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds and garnered a scholarship offer from Colorado State University, which he accepted prior to his senior year. In the spring, he became the first thrower in school history to win a state track championship when he claimed the Class 5A discus title, which he’ll have the chance to defend.

Conway has athletic genes and his maturity, poise and quickness were evident through his freshman year at Overland. Though his football season was cut short by injury, he was one of the hardest players in Aurora to handle with the basketball in his hand and continued his development over the summer, where he turned heads at AAU tournaments all across the country and received a scholarship offer from Indiana University with three years left to play. He’ll be under center for the Overland football team as a sophomore in 2012.

Perkins burst onto the scene as a freshman and helped Regis Jesuit win the 5A boys state basketball championship in the 2010-11 season and has only continued to get better. Blessed with the ability to hit shots from anywhere on the perimeter, a quick burst with the ball in his hands and a fearless demeanor, Perkins has bushels of scholarship offers coming in from highly regarded schools prior to his junior year. Perkins doesn’t play any other sports, but has the tools to be special in them if he did.

Female Prep Athlete (not named Missy Franklin)

Athletic specialization has limited the performances of many fine female athletes in Aurora, but a few have bucked the trend and have excelled in a variety of pursuits. Cherokee Trail’s Hannah Sparks, Regis Jesuit’s Kellyn Toole and Smoky Hill’s Brynell Yount are at the forefront of those who get out and represent their schools in several seasons and do it well. Sparks combines strength and speed into a strong package on the basketball floor and on the track. She is a tough-nosed guard on the Cherokee Trail basketball team and was a leader as a sophomore in the 2011-12 season as the Cougars looked to find a new identity, where she averaged 10 points per game and led the team in a variety of categories. Sparks also qualified for the Class 5A state track meet in each of her first two high school seasons in jumping events and relays. The next two years look good for Sparks in those events too, as state triple jump champion Danielle Williams of Eaglecrest has now graduated.

Toole had a well-rounded freshman season in athletics, competing in gymnastics, diving and track and field. A talented gymnast, Toole competed for the Aurora team based out of Overland and placed sixth in the all-around competition as the ‘Blazers won the 5A state championship, then placed 16th on the diving board at the 5A girls state swim meet in her first year diving and topped it off by helping Regis Jesuit’s 4×400 meter relay team to an eighth-place finish on the track.

As a freshman, Yount contributed greatly at Smoky Hill in cross country, basketball, soccer and track. She scored a goal that gave the Smoky Hill girls soccer team a very rare win over powerhouse Cherry Creek in the spring and is coming along well in all her other sports.

Civic Contributions By A High School Student

Shiva Sapkota faced plenty of hurdles when he started his freshman year at Aurora Central High School four years ago. Born in a Nepalese refugee camp after his parents were forced to flee Bhutan, Sapkota arrived in Aurora as an official refugee, a teenager who’d grown up in a house of bamboo and straw and went to school with bare feet. He made impressive progress by the time he graduated in the spring. He helped Nepalese refugees fill out green card forms or finalize their tax returns. He kept computer parts under his bed, intent on building machines for those less fortunate. He’ll start college at the University of Colorado with dreams of earning a degree in mechanical engineering, partly so he can travel to a needy community through an organization like Engineers Without Borders. We applaud Sapkota’s commitment to education and, more impressively, his constant commitment to his adopted community.

Lung Cancer Researcher

England-native Ross Camidge’s witty and amiable demeanor seems out of place in the realm of microscopes, experiments and scientific breakthroughs. The well-spoken doctor is the director of the Thoracic Oncology Clinical Program in the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and specializes in studying lung cancer, a potentially fatal disease that accounts for the most cancer deaths in the U.S. One of Camidge’s influential discoveries started in 2006, when he began working on a clinical study of a drug called Crizotinib, that would later be shown to target a specific mutation in lung cancer occurring in a molecule called ALK, or anaplastic lymphoma kinase. His peers in the medical field have recognized his efforts as well, and he was awarded this year with the 2012 Addario Lectureship Award, which recognizes researchers who make discoveries in lung cancer-related fields.

Class Act In Classical Music in Aurora

The Aurora Symphony Orchestra was a very different organization when Richard Niezen took the job as conductor in 2000. It was a community ensemble in its truest sense, a group of amateur musicians who played for the love of the craft and the art form. Niezen helped to expand the range and ability of the orchestra. In the past decade, the ASO has tackled works that run the gamut from the most challenging works of Sergei Prokofiev and Carl Orff to Christmas celebrations featuring pop tunes by John Denver. As orchestra leaders search for a new conductor to serve as the group’s public face, the legacy of Niezen will persist.

 School-To-Work Program

Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Project SEARCH program has churned out some incredibly hard-working, motivated graduates — some of whom are now employed at the hospital — since its inception in 2009. The school-to-work transition program is for high school students with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and low IQ. It promotes professionalism, independent living and self-advocacy. The graduates include 20-year-old Aurora resident Melissa Minerly, who works at the hospital’s Post Anesthesia Care Unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado, stocking drawers with medical equipment for the nurses. Her mother, Allyson Minerly, told the Aurora Sentinel that the program has taught Melissa things she thought she couldn’t do.

• Project SEARCH at Children’s Hospital Colorado, 720-777-8027; childrenscolorado.org

Place For A Speed Trap

Slow down on Alameda, slow down on Alameda, slow down on Alameda! There, you’ve been warned. The stretch of East Alameda Avenue between Potomac and Peoria streets might be one of Aurora’s most treacherous and oft-ticketed ribbons of road thanks to the non-stop police presence. In fact, it’s hard not to find a time when an officer isn’t perched in the middle, radar gunning more points onto Aurorans’ licenses. For the record, it’s 40 mph, but make it 35 to be safe.

Housing Development

Mercy Housing’s latest project is an attempt to reduce the number of homeless people in the Denver metro area. The Bluff Lake Apartments opened in June near the intersection of Havana Street and East 31st Avenue, and are specifically for homeless people seeking to get off the streets. The residences are equipped with dishwashers, patios and balconies, vinyl flooring that resembles hardwood, stylish kitchen cabinets and countertops, and bright, open interiors. To qualify for the housing program, people need to be making about 30 percent of the area’s median income, which in Arapahoe, Adams and Denver counties, is about $16,700 for one person, $19,000 for a couple, and $23,800 for a family of four. Their rent would be equal to about 30 percent of their income, and Mercy Housing officials say the development will encourage residents to become more motivated to look for stable jobs or go back to school, because they’ll have a safe, comfortable place to call home.

• Bluff Lake Apartments at 10295 East 31st Avenue, Denver, 303-800-9404; mercyhousing.org.

Dog Rescuer

Helping homeless cats and dogs find new homes is a dream job for Cheryl Conway, who grew up reading magazines like Dog World, Cat Fancy, and Bird Talk. Conway, spokeswoman for the Aurora Animal Shelter, calls herself a failure at being a foster parent to puppies — because she ended up adopting two dogs for herself. The inveterate animal lover has worked for the shelter for about two decades, and has had two “foster failure” situations during that time. The first was nine years ago, when she became a foster parent and later an adoptive parent to a chocolate Labrador puppy that had been left in the shelter parking lot in the middle of the night. The second was a year ago, when she ended up adopting a yellow Labrador named Bonny Kelani who was thrown off a bridge. As a staff member at the animal shelter, she works as hard as she can to make every animal cruelty situation have a happy ending.

Do-Gooder

For folks who are down on their luck in north Aurora, there isn’t a friendlier face than Mary Hupp. The executive director of Aurora Warms the Night has made sure thousands of people aren’t literally left in the cold in Aurora by providing motel vouchers on the winter’s coldest nights. But don’t think for a second that when the weather heats up Hupp’s help dwindles. In the summer months, AWTN has acted as a cooling place on brutally hot days, giving people with nowhere to go a comfortable place to cool off.

• Mary Hupp, Aurora Warms the Night, 1555 Dayton St., Aurora; 303-366-6806; aurorawarmsthenight.com

Bird Catchers

We all know police are here to “serve and protect.” But as Aurora police Officers Gene Colwell and Bob Benner showed last spring, they are also here to improvise. On a warm May afternoon, the officers strolled into House of Flowers only to find an unwelcome bird had flown inside the shop on East Colfax Avenue. The two officers didn’t miss a beat, sending an employee to a nearby pawn shop to borrow a fishing net, then safely netting the bird and setting it free outside. The bizarre ordeal last only a couple minutes and everyone — other than the bird — left with a smile on their face.

Devotion to a Creative Project

In May, local actor, director and drama teacher Ben Dicke took to the streets to help realize a creative dream. Dicke set up a treadmill on the 16th Street Mall and ran for a full 24 hours, all in an attempt to raise $10,000 in order to mount a production of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” at the Aurora Fox. The show explores President Andrew Jackson’s muddled and violent legacy in a decidedly rock-and-roll framework. Dicke survived the run and managed to raise more than his goal. With the show’s premiere scheduled for September, Dicke has shown that determination and cardiovascular skill can pay off in big ways.

• “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” Sept. 7-Oct. 28, Aurora Fox, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora; 303-739-1970; aurorafoxartscenter.org

Inspirational High School Student

Hinkley High School senior Scarlett Jimenez is working to make her north Aurora school and hometown a better place to grow up in for future generations. She was among the 100 students who walked out of class in April 2011 to protest the layoffs of some of her favorite teachers, she led an effort this year to photograph the problems of poverty and pollution in north Aurora, and now she’s working on a campaign to stop teen pregnancy. For years, the humble teenager has been privy to social and economic challenges of the north Aurora area like crime, drugs, poverty and homelessness. But she says she’s lucky enough to have been afforded opportunities in life that some of her friends haven’t, and she wants to be able to give back to her community. In June, she was honored with the seventh annual Courageous Citizens of Colorado award, given by the Fields-Wolfe Memorial Fund.

Heartwarming Boy and Guide Dog Story

There wasn’t a dry eye in Aurora Central Library on Jan. 31, 2011, when a mother surprised her 7-year-old handicapped son with the news that he’d be taking home a black Labrador retriever. The dog, named Pesto, first earned his claim to fame in 2011 for being a fixture at the Aurora Central Library along with his then-owner, librarian Janie Clark, a puppy raiser for guide dogs. Pesto won over the hearts of dozens of library employees and patrons including Javary Howard and his mother Kimistry, Aurora residents who frequent the library every day. Javary spent most of his time in his wheelchair until he met Pesto in January 2010, and the dog gave him a reason to start trying to walk. Just as Javary was getting emotionally attached, the dog was sent off to “puppy college” in Oregon for professional guide-dog training. The dog slipped up during his final exam, and was sent back to Colorado to find a home. The dog ended up being a perfect match for the Howard family.

Commitment to Local Education

Linda Bowman left some fairly big shoes to fill when she stepped down from her post as the president of the Community College of Aurora earlier this year. In her 12 years at the school, Bowman helped to fundamentally transform the curriculum and culture at CCA. Before leaving the school for a new post at the University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education, she helped make the school more accessible for scores of local students. She had a key role in working with local school districts to connect more high schoolers with college credits and she made an early commitment to incorporating a diverse selection of academic programs, including the internationally renowned Colorado Film School. Bowman’s imprint on the school and the wider community will last much longer than her 12-year tenure as president.

Way to Go Out  (Or Come In)

No. 9 at Saddle Rock Golf Course is a dogleg right heading into the clubhouse with water on the right and prairie on the left. The hardest hole at one of Aurora’s toughest courses is enough to make even pros sweat halfway through a round. The par 4, which is over 450 yards at the tips, plays much longer and stronger than that. The hole is worth the frustration as Saddle Rock is one of Aurora’s best-looking, best-designed courses, but beware: No. 10 isn’t any easier.

• Saddle Rock Golf Course, 21705 E. Arapahoe Road, Aurora, 303-699-3939; auroragov.org/Golf

Recreational Facility

Aurora’s serious about fun. The city delivers. The newly re-created Beck Recreation Center offers exclusive club-like amenities at everyone-can-come prices. State-of-the-art equipment, trainers, games, events, programs and more make Beck the vortex of fun and health in Aurora, readers agree. Utah Park pool is for the wet set. This huge facility offers a fun outdoor experience in an indoor setting, making it the perfect place to exercise and have fun year-round. For sheer volume and variety, Trails Rec Center in the southeast offers more of everything, creating something fun and healthy for everyone.

• Beck Rec Center, 800 Telluride St., Aurora; 303-739-6886

• Utah Park Pool, 1800 S. Peoria St., Aurora; 303-739-1530

• Trails Rec Center, 16799 East Lake Ave., Centennial; 303-269-8400

READERS PICKS

Bike Trails

Thanks to the foresight of the creators of the Colorado Lottery and the hundreds of thousands of bicycling enthusiasts that make Colorado the unique place that it is, there is no shortage of cool places to ride in Aurora and the surrounding area. The metro area is home to one of the most comprehensive biking systems that any city in the world enjoys, much of it right here in Aurora. The Cherry Creek State Park has an extensive system of paved and dirt trails that offer something for every biking enthusiast — and a view to go with it. The Highline Canal has got to be one of Colorado’s most exquisite engineering feats. Miles and miles of winding canal is surrounded by trees, lush grasses and a superb bike path. The canal running through Aurora offers a long and blissful ride through a seemingly endless oasis. And on the city’s southeastern side, bike trails at and near the Aurora Reservoir add a whole new tri and cross element to the Aurora ride. Readers agree there’s plenty to pick from and much to like.

• Cherry Creek State Park

• Highline Canal Trail

• Aurora Reservoir trails

Golf Course

Welcome to Emerald City. Thanks to generations of enthusiastic caretakers, world-class designers and a city that loves its greens, Aurora boasts some of the metro area’s favorite links. Our readers are especially fond of Murphy Creek, Meadow Hills and Aurora Hills golf courses. Those three sites illustrate the gamut of play available here. Aurora Hills is a popular place to hit a few when there are other things to do. Beginning and even veteran players enjoy a wind through a course that seems much bigger than it really is. Meadow Hills is a metro-area icon of well-kept greens, challenging places to swing and just enough hill to keep it all interesting. On the city’s eastern edge, Aurora offers world-class golf at the Murphy Creek course, a club-like setting run by the city that everyone can enjoy.

• Murphy Creek, 1700 S. Old Tom Morris Road, Aurora; 303-361-7310

• Meadow Hills, 3609 S. Dawson St., Aurora; 303-690-2500

• Aurora Hills, 50 S. Peoria St., Aurora; 303-364-6111

Fun with Kids

Readers say Thrive Rec, one of the newest entries to the competitive rec-center scene, has got it down for kids. Besides a kids club and other programs just for the younger set, Thrive offers one-time, monthly and annual memberships just for kids, or as an affordable family membership add-on. Besides stuff just for the kids, there are fitness, sports and wellness classes just for tots, youths and even teens.

• Thrive Rec Center, 15528 E. Hampden Circle, Aurora; 720-870-3332

 Way To Get Fit

Running sports are a great way to get into good shape, but add weapons and you take things to a whole new level. Mile High Lacrosse Leagues is an Aurora-based group that plays games at South High School in Denver on Sundays. Adult teams, father/son teams and masters teams are available and all are accessible for first-timers up to pros. You’d be surprised how motivating being chased by a guy with a metal stick can be.

• Mile High Lacrosse Leagues; milehighlacrosse.com

 Place to Kick Back and Watch Sports

The Aurora Sports Park has long been a crown jewel of the city and the lush, green expanse chock-full of softball diamonds and soccer fields continues to be in high demand for sports of all kinds. The summer is always packed with offerings for spectators, with massive adult and youth softball and soccer tournaments (including the Colorado Fireworks tournament that features girls softball teams from all over the country playing at the highest level) on the slate along with some non-traditional sports like rugby. Each June, the Rocky Mountain Rugby Challenge brings together top prep rugby teams from across the nation and is a perfect introduction to those new to the sport. New on the slate this year at the Sports Park were a couple of mud races, which have become the rage across the country. The offerings don’t stop with the end of summer, as prep sports make full use of the facility with the state softball tournament (three classifications, using all 12 diamonds) and a variety of spectator-friendly cross-country races.

• Aurora Sports Park, 18601 Sports Park Drive, Aurora