‘One of Many’: COSI scholars thrive in and outside the classroom

By Brandon Lowry

Editors Note: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, affectionately known as COSI, matches community-raised dollars one-to-one to provide students financial and academic support along their higher education journey. Brandon Lowry, our student speaker for the 2019 COSI Day at the Capitol, explained how the program empowers him as a scholar and citizen. We are honored to publish his remarks in full.

Hello, my name is Brandon Lowry. I am a student at the Community College of Aurora (CCA) pursuing my associate of science degree in biology. It’s so meaningful to represent the many unique, determined, talented and exceptional individuals who are also COSI scholarship recipients.

Brandon Lowry, a student at Community College of Aurora and COSI scholar, addresses fellow students and supporters at COSI Day at the Capitol, held March 8, 2019.

My COSI scholarship has provided me with the ability to focus in two specific areas: my classroom performance and my personal development.

Full-time schedules require a great amount of time, energy and persistence. When you factor in the daily doings so many of us share, like work and family, it becomes a juggling act that many struggle to navigate. Thankfully, COSI has benefited me by giving me time to focus, to choose to study over work, and not have to worry about my financial situation. That focus helped me achieve and maintain a 4.0 while pursuing full-time course load.

I’ve also been able to devote extra time to thoughtful projects through the CCA’s Honors program, with my learning goals centered in environmental and social justice. I participate in school initiatives like the Inclusive Excellence Student Council and serve as the vice president of the student government association and the president of LGBT+ Student Alliance.

Student Jacob Leavitt, left, and Brandon represent STEM+, a student led organization they co-founded.

But what I think most accurately conveys the value of COSI are the humbling opportunities I have had to lift up and amplify the voices of those at my school who need a little extra help. One example is with my friend, Deserea, a Native American student who shared with me how she felt absolutely invisible on our campus. She said so often she felt responsible to share the history of the Native men and women who originally tended this land and the significance of our two- and three-spirited individuals. Together, we cultivated, developed and implemented No Longer Invisible, an event striving to bring Native Americans to the forefront of CCA’s quest for social justice and inclusive excellence.

Brandon and Deserea organized an event called “No Longer Invisible” to celebrate Native American culture on the CCA campus.

My honors projects also allowed me to uncover other potential areas on my campus that need extra focus, such as the hunger and housing disparities within our student body. I have been privileged enough to never go hungry. Not one day in my life. That sadly, is not the case for so many of my fellow students.

Through thoughtful collaboration with Dr. Tanya Cook, a sociology professor at CCA, and research with the College and University Food Bank Alliance, I know that before I leave CCA in 2020, I will have successfully created and implemented a student-led food bank.

With each passing day, and each class completed, my horizon seemingly draws closer — my finish lines becomes a bit clearer. But with each experience and each opportunity that COSI affords, my path is shaped and changed, influenced and molded in a unique and exciting way.

Brandon, Bibian, center, and Gabriella take a selfie during the Transcend Social Justice Retreat 2019 in Estes Park, where more than 60 students from four Colorado public universities came together to discuss privilege, marginalization, systems of oppression and social justice advocacy.

I know I want to help people — I always have. And I know I specifically want to help the people who are being pushed to and kept in the margins of our healthcare system.

What my office will look like, or what my uniform will be may be unclear today. What is clear, steadfast, and sharply in focus are my ideals, my commitment to social justice and my determination to create meaningful and lasting change.

My hope is that you take away more than just my story, and that you remember I am one of many.

One of many, unique, determined, talented and exceptional COSI scholarship recipients. One of many students fostering meaningful change on their campus. One of many pursuing better opportunities for themselves and those around them. One of many who benefit daily from the COSI initiative.

I am COSI — we are COSI.

The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative was created to increase the attainment of postsecondary credentials and degrees for underserved students in Colorado. The project addresses this challenge in two ways: accessibility and affordability. To increase accessibility, the Scholarship Initiative funds programs that will help prepare students for postsecondary education, as well as support them through completion. To increase affordability, the Scholarship Initiative will provide tuition support via matching funds for community scholarships.