YaziLee Cossio grew up about 15 minutes from CU Denver, and when it came time to choose a college, the decision came down to what felt right. “I felt like CU Denver was more me, especially being so close to the house I grew up in and my family,” she says. “And also it does offer great opportunity here.”
Now a senior in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Cossio is majoring in geography with an environmental science focus and completing a GIS certificate. She is also a first-generation college student and a recipient of the Rising Sophomore scholarship, a merit-based scholarship she earned after her first year at CU Denver.
Earning the scholarship
Cossio learned about the scholarship through an email inviting her to apply. The process included an essay and a series of interviews over Zoom, and she heard back a few months later. Scholars keep the award by staying engaged with the community, including at least two community events each semester and either volunteering or a leadership role, such as serving as a club officer.
For Cossio, the scholarship has allowed for room to go deeper. “This scholarship has given me all the opportunity,” she says. “It’s allowed me to focus more on the academics and really diving into internships or building relationships with professors.”
From soil samples to storm water
That focus shows up in her coursework. Cossio recently finished a soil science and geography course built around weekly fieldwork. Each week, the class spent time in the field, visiting eight locations to collect soil samples and tour labs. The course ended at West Bijou Ranch, where students saw sustainable ranching in practice. “I love that class,” she says. “It was lovely.”
She is now a water resources intern with the City and County of Denver, working with the MS4 permit team. Her work includes storm water sampling, public outreach to meet permit requirements, and a significant amount of GIS work. She has been learning much about utility networks, a skill she says “will open a lot of doors in the future.”
She found the internship by checking LinkedIn every day and applying as soon as it was posted. She credits her GIS coursework and her involvement in the Geo Club, which built her public speaking skills, with helping her stand out.
What’s next
After graduation, Cossio plans to build a career in water resources with a focus on GIS. “I just hope to preserve what we have, keep our water clean, and help out wherever I can,” she says.