Student / Staff / Alumni Spotlights
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Student Spotlights
Wyn Parney, 11th Grade, Band
Wyn is a hardworking, intelligent person with so much potential. He may seem quiet at first, but he has a lot of interesting things to say. His observations about the world can be both comedic and profound. Additionally despite the…
Izzy Buhler, 11th Grade, Video Cinema Arts
Izzy has really helped me out of my depression recently. She has been there for me and been a huge help in my life and many other people’s lives. She also has started to film her junior project before everyone…
Maddie Flory, 12th Grade, Dance
Maddie is the most amazing person. She always gives 100% and deserves all the success in the future. She’s always making people laugh with her hilarious humor. Maddie is definitely a great person to talk to, no matter how you’re…
Emerson Barnes, 8th Grade, Creative Writing
Emerson is just an overall great student and wonderful person – she works so hard in and out of class and I’m always impressed with the effort she puts in to the work she produces.
Simon Byrom, 9th Grade, Dance
No matter how much Simon has going on, they always bring energy to school and do whatever they can to make people laugh. He truly is a really meaningful friend to me and am so grateful of how he can…
Esme Watkins, 12th Grade, Orchestra
I have had Esme as an orchestra student for seven years. The amount of progress she has made on the viola is incredible. I had the pleasure of hearing her senior recital recently. I was amazed by the musicality and…
Oliver Hasselkus, 8th Grade, Video Cinema Arts
Oliver is a great friend, and his singing skills are spectacular. I feel he deserves more credit than what he gets for the amount of talent he possesses. In addition, he always puts a big smile on my face, as…
Sade Houston, 6th Grade, Theatre
Sade consistently exemplifies responsible and dedicated actions as a new student at DSA. She works incredibly hard to be well-prepared for anything, whether it is related to her major or in her general education classes. She is thoughtful and considerate…
Staff Spotlights
Dave Hammond, Band Director
Mr. Hammond delivers passion into the work that he puts in as a Band teacher. It’s crazy how quickly and efficiently he is able to get a band to sound while making his classes fun to be in. If there…
Mike Fink, Math Instructor
On some mornings, I catch Mr. Fink arriving to school on his bike, like he does everyday. Everyday he treks the 10 miles (!) on his bike to come here and share his passion and knowledge with students. Moreover, he…
Ari Umoji, School Psychologist
Ms. Ari has been invaluable to DSA since she arrived. She consistently goes out of her way to talk to everyone and make sure we all feel welcomed (from students to all staff), and her mental health support in the…
Whitney Ballantine, 6th Grade Science Teacher
Ms. Ballantine works tirelessly in and out of school to develop high-quality curriculum for her students, in addition to spreading positivity everywhere she goes. One of her students describes her as someone who “is always there for you and never…
Alumni Spotlights
Harry Plymell, Class of 2019
Harry has been an invaluable asset to DSA ever since he was a student here. After graduating from the CW department, he came back to work as a guest artist for CW. He presently oversees the Calliope Literary Journal, in…
Jon Shockness, Class of 2008
Jon Shockness is better known in the music scene as Kid Astronaut. Graduating from DSA in the aughts, he has taken his artistic prowess to empower the Denver arts scene. He has his own podcast and is involved in a…
Carley Carter, Class of 2008
Carley graduated DSA in 2008, as a Visual Arts major. She took some time away from Colorado but has returned to the Denver area. Carley took her eye for beautiful things and turned it into a successful real estate business….
Sydney Mayes, Class of 2019
Sydney was a constant voice for change throughout her time in DSA. She continues this work at the University of Iowa, where she became editor-in-chief for Lit Ink Mag as a freshman and works to share poetry with the community…