Meet Samantha Lobato: The 10th Anniversary Achieve Gala Student Speaker
Hear her keynote address on Tuesday, April 24th – learn more
Samantha Lobat
o is a senior at CEC Middle College. She is a lifelong DPS student, attending Centennial school for grades K-8 before going on to CEC, where she focused her studies on science and math.
Samantha is a role model within her community, serving as a youth leader for Project VOYCE (Voices of Youth Changing Education). In this role, she trains fellow students to become leaders in their school community and fosters open communication between students and school staff. Samantha also volunteers her time to tutor peers and younger students.
Samantha’s story is one full of triumph, perseverance, commitment and hard work.
Even more so when you consider this:
When was the last time you tried to tie your shoe, eat, write or type using only one hand that has partially amputated fingers? This is the everyday reality for Samantha Lobato. When you first meet Samantha you cannot help but notice her physical appearance. She is missing her right arm past the elbow and half of the fingers on her left hand.
In her younger years, Samantha viewed these differences as limitations. But in her middle school years, one particularly inspiring DPS teacher told Samantha: “Disability is physical. Ability is in the mind.”
Inspired by these words, Samantha made a decision: that she would work hard to excel in school. That she would go above and beyond to contribute to her community. And that she would become the first person in her family to graduate high school and go to college.
“My teachers set the bar so high for me,” says Samantha. “I was never given a break or an easy way out because of the challenges I was facing. By believing in me, my teachers helped me believe in myself.”
Samantha is proving to everyone that regardless of her physical appearance and disability, she is capable of changing the world around her with her poise, grace, intellect and empathetic nature.
Samantha is the definition of a “DPS Success Story.” She reminds us all that there are thousands and thousands of stories like hers in DPS. Children who are overcoming the odds thanks to the belief and support of their teachers, with the help and resources available to them in their schools.
Join us on Tuesday, April 24th to hear from Samantha about how she and the 81,000 other students in Denver Public Schools are poised to lead our community into the future. Sponsorships of all levels and individual tickets are available online now!