If you’ve ever summited a 14er, you know how fulfilling and gratifying it can feel. There’s a sense of accomplishment, maybe a little pain, but most of all a feeling of rising to a challenge. Many people find similar satisfaction in giving to and helping others, as did the faculty and staff members who participated in this year’s LYNX UP Challenge, CU Denver’s annual faculty and staff giving campaign. 

The LYNX UP Challenge ran from October 30 to February 14, and during that period nearly 240 faculty and staff made gifts for an impressive total of $91,000 for scholarships, student support, and other funds near and dear to CU Denver employees. 

Spearheaded by an enthusiastic group of faculty, staff, and students, LYNX UP first launched in 2018 in an effort to unite the campus community in raising funds for scholarships. The university surpassed it’s original 3-year, $15 million goal, raising more than $18 million since start of LYNX UP thanks to gifts from many generous donors across the country as well as our own faculty and staff. 

The goal of the LYNX UP Challenge was to encourage the most participation among our own faculty and staff making gifts. This year, in the spirit of camaraderie, schools, colleges, and units across campus united into four teams, named after four of the 14ers in Colorado. Members of the LYNX UP steering committee served as team captains and advocates for the campaign among their colleagues. 

While each of the teams showed impressive participation, Team Pikes and Team Quandary reached the top together as both teams had equal participation of faculty and staff making gifts. 

Rest assured this support can make all the difference to CU Denver students. Ellie McTigue, a Human Development and Family Relations major, notes how receiving scholarships is both a game-changer and personally inspiring. “You have certainly made my life better, and you are also helping the community,” she says. “I would love to be in a position to do the same some day.”

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated.