CU Nursing - Commencement Spring 2021 - 6

6

G R A D U AT I O N

Continued from previous page

dedicated students to amplify underrepresented voices. Future Voices
is a group of students who stand for
diversity, equity and inclusivity at
the College of Nursing. Their goal is
to take collective action in support of
anti-racist and anti-oppressive ideals
and foster a more inclusive campus.
In just the last year, Future Voices has
begun a high school outreach program, where 18 students at Hinkley
High will be mentored by nursing
students at the College. Omarah
says the program will inform students about the many careers in the
nursing field. Another Future Voices
project is to prevent students from
dropping out of college because of
financial barriers by raising money
to pay for their computers, stethoscopes, books and other supplies. The
group is also gathering signatures to
honor and induct the university's first
Black nursing graduate in 1946 to the
Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. You
can read more about Future Voices
on page 12.

GET TO KNOW

Seiloni
Sanft

S

eiloni Sanft moved
to Colorado with
her family from Tonga

fifteen years ago. The move
from the Polynesian kingdom of
more than 170 South Pacific islands
was a bit of a culture shock for the
seven-year-old. No longer living on

The second youngest of three brothers

an island surrounded by the Pacific

and two sisters, Sanft graduated from Hinkley

whose closest neighbor is New

High School in Aurora, received an Associate

Zealand, she was transported smack

of Science degree upon her high school

dab to the middle of the U.S. Sanft

graduation, and immediately applied and

explains that the family of eight

tracked into CU Nursing's Integrated Nursing

decided to emigrate and moved to

Pathway program. Admittedly, " it was a fast

Colorado because " my mother's side

transition to nursing school. " Sanft is the first in

of the family lives here. "

her family to go into the nursing profession.

My parents raised
me to be aware of
barriers and to not make
assumptions about
others. So, I don't pass
judgment on anyone and
try to understand their
perspective. "
- Omarah Macias

Sanft (center), with her
sister, nephew and niece
CU College of Nursing | May Commencement 2021
CU Nursing - Commencement Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CU Nursing - Commencement Spring 2021
