April Social Responsibility Spotlight

Each year, Kent Denver students make a meaningful impact in their communities through service and volunteer work. This month, we recognize Mia Rubin ‘26 and Henry Ray ‘28 for their dedication to creating lasting change through the organizations they serve.

Mia has completed over 300 hours of service—nearly four times the school’s 80-hour graduation requirement—through three very different organizations: the Lone Tree Student Leadership Board’s Teen Court program, Global Health Initiative trips in Peru and Adam’s Camp, a summer camp for individuals with disabilities. As a freshman, Henry is already halfway to meeting his service requirement thanks to his involvement with the Cairn Program at Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, where he contributes to improving parks, trails and natural habitats across the Denver metro area.

 

Driven by Tangible Impact

Mia’s commitment to service spans a wide range—from criminal justice to global health to supporting individuals with disabilities. 

As a volunteer with the Teen Court Program, a restorative justice initiative for youth under 18, Mia helps teens complete applications and fulfill community service requirements to have their charges expunged. 

“It’s been really cool to oversee all of these cases,” Mia said. “I like working with kids my age and knowing that someone can correct the mistakes they’ve made.”

Last summer, Mia traveled to Peru as part of a Global Health Initiative trip, spending time in a hospital in Iquitos and remote villages in the Amazon. There, she supported doctors and healthcare workers at clinics and helped maintain water filtration systems in the villages to provide clean drinking water. The most meaningful part of the experience was seeing the lasting impact of her work, which is motivating her to return to Peru this summer.

“It wasn't like we were doing one thing and then leaving,” she said. “There are five trips a year, so the organization keeps following up to make sure everything we implemented is still working, and the people we helped are still being cared for.”

At Adam’s Camp in Winter Park, CO, Mia helped campers participate in rafting, rock climbing, ropes courses and other camp activities. As part of the Falcon Leadership program, she also took on new responsibilities that deepened her experience. 

“I've been to camps before,” she said. “Being able to give these kids that same experience feels really meaningful.”

Overall, what motivates Mia is seeing the direct, positive results of her work. 

“With all of the organizations I’m involved with, there’s a possibility for immediate impact,” she said. “With Adam's camp, your work immediately makes the campers happy. In Peru, the care we provided helped make patients feel better right away. And with Teen Court, it’s so meaningful to help these kids change their records and improve their futures.”

 

Combining Passion with Purpose

Henry’s work with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) reflects his passion for the outdoors and the environment. 

Through monthly commitments, he helps to build and restore trails, construct animal habitats, plant native vegetation and implement fire mitigation strategies. As part of the Cairin Program, his group is also working on a project to provide environmental learning opportunities to kids in the city.

“These kids come from neighborhoods where there aren’t a lot of outdoor parks,” said Henry. “We’re working to improve these backyard park areas for them so they can learn more about the outdoors and environment.”

Henry’s favorite part of working with VOC is meeting other people who share his passion for the outdoors. 

“It's so fun to go outside and spend time with people that care about the environment as much as you do,” he said. 

He is proud of the difference VOC projects make in local communities. 

“Our work has a big impact on the small communities we serve,” he said. “We help make the parks more beautiful and easier to get around. And this helps improve the community.”

Thank you to Mia, Henry and all our students for making a difference in the greater community! Visit our website to learn more about Social Responsibility and Impact at Kent Denver.