Seven Colorado High Schools Win Eliza Pickrell Routt Award

Denver, June 13, 2019 – The Colorado Secretary of State awarded seven high schools with the Eliza Pickrell Routt award during the 2019 spring semester. The award was created in 2016 by the Colorado Secretary of State’s office and is given to high schools that have 85% or more of eligible seniors registered to vote.

This award is named after Eliza Pickrell Routt, the first woman registered to vote in Colorado after the state's passage of women's suffrage in 1893. Eliza served as Colorado's first First Lady; her husband John Routt was elected as Colorado's first governor in 1876. In this role, she dedicated herself to equal rights for women and the passage of women's suffrage. She was a member of the Non-Partisan Suffrage Association of Colorado and served as president of the City League of Denver. In honor of her commitment to the passage of women's suffrage, Routt was the first woman registered to vote in Colorado.

During the spring semester of 2019, seven Colorado high schools won this award:

Olathe High School

• February 1, 2019 – Award granted Jesus Gonzalez, Soledad Almanza, Cinthia Cortez, and Leif Nelson, who are students at Olathe High School and to Social Studies Teacher Kari Keller.

DSST Stapleton High School

• April 15, 2019 - Award granted to Ivan Tochimani-Hernandez, a student at DSST Stapleton, and Social Studies Teacher Leslie Hamdorf.

Peak to Peak High School

• May 3, 2019 - Award granted to Elle Triem, Lily Dunkin, Sudeepti Nareddy, Isabella Sicker, Shaan Sharma, who are students at Peak to Peak High School, and English Teacher Josh Benson.

STRIVE Prep Excel

• May 7, 2019 - Award granted to 2019 Senior Class

Strasburg High School

• May 14, 3019 - Award granted to Maleah Yates and Cody Wilson, who are students at Strasburg High School, and to Principal Jeff Rasp.

DSST Green Valley Ranch High School

• May 20, 2019 - Award granted to John Zeerak, a student at DSST Green Valley Ranch and to the Manager of College Success – Internships Bradley West.

Arrupe Jesuit High School

• May 22, 2019 - Award granted to Dianna De La Rosa Santiago, Esmeralda Solis, and Alyssa Galvan, who are students at Arrupe Jesuit High School and to English Teacher Megan Turilli.

"Congratulations to all of the highs schools and student leaders who helped register 85% of their eligible seniors. Young people have the opportunity to help shape the future of our state and our country with their vote, no matter what political party they identify with, or the issue that inspires them most. It is exciting to see student leaders organize to register their peers and participate in our democracy," said Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

To apply for the Eliza Pickrell Routt Award, fill out the award application (PDF) and mail, email, or fax it to:

Office of Colorado Secretary of State 1700 Broadway, Suite 200 Denver, CO 80290 Email: State.ElectionDivision@sos.state.co.us Fax: 303-869-4861