Ethiopian Teenager Earns One Of Colorado's Highest Honors

By Jeff Todd

DENVER (CBS4) - She just starting college and is only 19 years old, but Sara Gebretsadik has done enough to catch the eye of Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Gebretsadik was announced Wednesday as a recipient of the Emerging Community Leader for the Governor's Citizenship Medal.

"I'm proud of myself. Yes! I did all those things," Gebretsadik said as she read the list of her accomplishments the state had compiled.

She immigrated at the age of 10. She's volunteered for the Special Olympics and Denver Club of Humanities. She's mentored kids through the Black Student Alliance and other organizations.

"Rising Rebels is definitely my favorite accomplishment because it was very close and dear to heart. The club was dedicated to increasing people of color in higher-level courses," she said.

It's now been recognized nationally.

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Gebretsadik had only been on campus at CU Boulder for a few days when she got an unexpected phone call.

"I answered it and it's the governor, and I thought I was getting pranked. I was just awestruck. I was super honored. He said I was a key component in trying to make a better change for Colorado in terms of my involvement through community service," she said.

The governor's office says medals are awarded to citizens, "To recognize the remarkable leaders in Colorado for their impact on their community, and to honor their legacy."

"I don't know what my legacy is, I just got into college. I'm trying to figure out my life," she said. "Definitely I hope to inspire people to do more good."

Jeff Todd joined the CBS4 team in 2011 covering the Western Slope in the Mountain Newsroom. Since 2015 he's been working across the Front Range in the Denver Headquarters. Follow him on Twitter @CBS4Jeff.