President’s Award winner blazes his own trail

Gabriel Trujillo knows about journeys, and not just because commuting from his home in Colorado Springs to Metropolitan State University of Denver’s campus involves a four- to five-hour round-trip bus ride.

There was his childhood voyage to the United States along with his mother, searching for safety and opportunity in an unfamiliar country.

He embarked on a yearslong trek of grief and responsibility as he cared for his dying mother, then took over as his young brothers’ guardian as a college sophomore.

His path ultimately delivered him to a 4.0 GPA, student leadership and a boundless future. And he knows that wherever he goes, he is likely to blaze his own trail.

“I know that wherever I go, I may be a first for a lot of people,” said Trujillo, recipient of the Spring 2024 President’s Award.

He won’t be the last: At MSU Denver, he has found community and leadership as a queer, undocumented, low-income Latino student.

“MSU Denver truly elevates diversity on campus,” Trujillo said. “We’re supported and celebrated here.”

That support has enabled Trujillo to acquire a world-class education, majoring in Psychology and writing an honors thesis on sex education and the LGBTQ+ population.

Trujillo credits the University’s Immigrant Services Program, which aims to increase enrollment, retention and graduation of undocumented, DACA, immigrant and refugee students. The ISP helped him access his education in spite of the tangled logistical and personal challenges he faced as an undocumented student. Characteristically, he gave back, giving workshops about the program to high-schoolers and serving on a committee that helps train faculty and staff members on the needs of undocumented students.

Student government offered another path for Trujillo, who has participated in the University’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Hispanic-Serving Institution subcommittee and a variety of other student leadership roles. As a junior, he was elected student trustee; as a senior, he served on the Auraria Campus’ student advisory committee. For his advocacy, leadership and impact in such positions, Trujillo was awarded the 2024 Boettcher Student Leader of the Year Award.

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And he threw himself wholeheartedly into his studies, even when they took him far afield.

Randi Smith, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Psychology, recalls traveling with Trujillo to present research at two of the field’s most prestigious conferences with the help of Student Travel Program funds. “Prior to these trips, Gabe had never flown on a plane,” Smith said. “I was so impressed by his bravery and enthusiasm for the kinds of adventures these conferences afforded him.”

“I never thought I’d be able to go to all these big conferences and present,” Trujillo said.

Despite his long commute and his lengthy to-do list, Trujillo stays grounded with the help of his beloved brothers. “Even though we came through a tragic experience, I still feel really grateful to be their guardian,” he said. “They’re my biggest motivation.”

That motivation will carry him through his next journey as an MSU Denver graduate and a two-year fellow with the El Pomar Foundation, which specializes in grantmaking, leadership development and community engagement in support of a variety of communities and nonprofits throughout the state.

“I truly do think that everybody has the potential to be a leader,” Trujillo said. “They just need to be given that opportunity.” During the next phase of his journey, Trujillo will continue to amplify his opportunities, lifting others up along the way. “Everyone deserves respect,” he said. “Everyone has their own unique story.”