Slice of Pi Raises $1 Million for DSST Public Schools

On Friday, April 13, DSST Public Schools raised an outstanding $1 million at its annual celebration, Slice of Pi. Held on DSST’s Stapleton campus, the event featured hands-on student demonstrations, school theater performances, a live jazz band and the popular DSST Wishing Wall, which enabled guests to “purchase” items requested by the five DSST schools and included things like drills and screwdrivers for engineering and robotics classes, 3-D DNA models, and fees for hosting a Teach for America Corps Member for one year, among others.

Two alumni from the class of 2004, DSST’s first, returned to share their thoughts on the school and the impact it’s had on their lives. Kamaria Hakeem, who will graduate this spring with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Howard University, spoke of DSST’s diversity and the school’s strong emphasis on “self advocacy”, which she feels had a direct impact on her success.  Chris Torres, who will graduate from Stanford University this year with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, spoke of DSST’s strong focus on college readiness. He shared his experience of attending an intensive summer program at MIT between his junior and senior years at DSST. The experience was eye opening for him in many ways, but made him keenly aware of how well-prepared he was for college-level coursework already.

Documentary filmmaker Amie Knox premiered a short film featuring 2012 Slice of Pi honoree and Liberty Media Chairman John Malone. The film highlighted his enthusiasm for DSST and STEM-based education, and his hopes for a brighter future for American public education. The film was then followed by an informative question and answer session between DSST CEO Bill Kurtz and John Malone. Governor Hickenlooper presented Mr. Malone with a proclamation honoring his outstanding commitment to education in the city of Denver.

Honorary Co-Chairs Governor John Hickenlooper and Helen Thorpe were joined by 600 guests, as well as Event Co-Chairs Laura Barton, Mike and Amber Fries, Steve and Susan Halstedt, Greg Maffei, Steve and Kathy McConahey, and the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation. Additional support was provided by Anonymous, Discovery Communications, Dish Network, InterMedia Partners, L.P., Liberty Global, Balan and Joe Joe Nair, JC Sparkman, Kent Thiry and Denise O'Leary, CH2M HILL, Forest City Stapleton, Gates Family Foundation, SBSA, Inc. and Sherman & Howard.

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