The best of RED 2023

Our writers, photographers and editors pick their 10 favorite stories from the past year.

Laura Miller

December 14, 2023

The best of RED 2023 — Photo illustration: Shutterstock

It’s been a memorable year. We saw the pandemic slow to a crawl, with the World Health Organization transitioning Covid-19 out of the public-health emergency phase. This past summer, the Nuggets brought the NBA championship to Denver as global temperatures soared to new heights. In the tech world, we saw the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and generative artificial intelligence make waves in higher education.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan State University of Denver hosted the mayoral debates with a record-setting 13 candidates. The University launched the Charlie Papazian Brewing Education Lab and broke ground on the Health Institute Simulation Labs. We expanded partnerships with Lockheed Martin, the National Renewable Energy Lab, the Environmental Protection Agency, Amazon and Food for Thought, to name a few.

And for its exceptional storytelling in 2022, the RED newsroom took home 11 awards from PR Daily, the Public Relations Society of America Colorado and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Those award-winning RED stories are below, along with 2023’s staff favorites. And because we couldn’t choose just 10, some honorable mentions round out the list.

Top 10 staff picks

Molnar quadruplets from left: Luke, Abigail, Julia and Rachael. Photo by Alyson McClaran

Quadruplets to graduate together from MSU Denver
For the Molnar family, there’ll be four times the fun at the University’s Commencement ceremony May 12.

Rendering of planned health care skills lab — MSU Denver’s Health Institute Simulations Labs, to be completed in 2024, will more than double student capacity in the University’s Nursing Department.

Colorado needs health care workers. MSU Denver has a plan to provide them
The University is expanding its capacity to train more professionals in the field, and it’s asking the state legislature to help.

Illustration of AI robot with student studying — Illustration by Lisa Ortiz, professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Production at MSU Denver, using generative artificial intelligence.

Higher ed’s next big test
AI returns to campus for another semester. Are universities ready?

Jonathan and Jordan Duran — Jonathan (#1961) and Jordan Duran (#1962) warm up with teammates before competing in the men’s cross country race at Washington Park in Denver on Sept. 16, 2023. Photo by Amanda Schwengel

Student-athletes with autism set sights on Paralympics
How neurodiverse twins at MSU Denver found the support they needed to exceed expectations.

Sand Dunes National Park. Photo by Polina Saran

Denver After Dawn: best scenic views
Celebrate the longer days by taking in some of the magnificent sights available near Denver and across Colorado.

Stage combat class — The stage combat class practices on the Auraria Campus. Photo by Polina Saran

VIDEO: ‘Fight club’ teaches the art of dueling
MSU Denver Theatre professor helps students tell stories and build confidence through stage combat.

The final product of the pozole rojo and the ingredients — Chef Paula Thomas’ pozole rojo spread includes tostadas, pickled radishes, cilantro and marigold quesadillas. Photo by Alyson McClaran

Recipe: pozole rojo
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with this traditional Mexican dish.

MSU Denver Hospitality alumni and Amtrak Winter Park Express train conductor Brad Swartzwelter (’94) welcomes skiers to the train — MSU Denver Hospitality alumnus and Amtrak Winter Park Express train conductor Brad Swartzwelter welcomes skiers to the train on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Photo by Amanda Schwengel

The Winter Park Express is a runaway success story
Meet the man who helped revitalize the one-of-a-kind ski train.

MSU Denver’s Public Health major, Angelica Marley, works at Sprout City Farms harvesting vegetables — MSU Denver Public Health major Angelica Marley works at Sprout City Farms harvesting vegetables. Photo by Alyson McClaran

Changemaker: Angelica Marley cooks up partnership with local farms
How a student makes fresh food more accessible by bringing leftover produce to the MSU Denver community.

MSU Denver art professor Carlos Fresquez laughs with students Micah Ramirez, left, and Morgan DeVillier in his class on April 26, 2023. Photo by Amanda Schwengel

VIDEO: Celebrated artist Carlos Frésquez leaves the classroom and a legacy
His students’ murals appear on buildings all over the city. The legend in Denver’s Chicano art movement reflects on 33 years of inspiring others as he plans to retire from teaching this spring.

Award-winning stories from 2022

Emergency Fund keeps dreams in focus (CASE Best Writing; PRSA Colorado Gold Award for Feature Writing)
About $150,000 has been disbursed to Dreamers who are concentrating on work and school while facing an uncertain future.

With inflation soaring, more college students struggle with food insecurity (CASE Best Writing)
MSU Denver expands food-pantry access as meal costs rise and the pandemic drags on.

RELATED: The best of RED 2022

Mom on a mission (CASE Best Writing)
Alumna Nikki Brooker’s nonprofit supports new mothers through the perils of postpartum depression.

VIDEO: Students get a taste of the cannabis industry (CASE Best Video; PRSA Colorado Gold Award for Video)
Professor of CBD cooking course teaches much more than recipes.

Denver After Dark (CASE Best Series)
Throughout the summer, RED’s Denver After Dark series looked at fun nocturnal activities in and around the Mile High City.

Honorable mention

VIDEO: Interns aid quadriplegic man on his remarkable road to recovery
Exercise Science students at MSU Denver have helped Tyler Wesley defy the odds through physical therapy.

Mentorship program places more Black teachers in the classroom
Call Me MISTER offers a support system for future leaders in education.

Astronomers have discovered ambient ‘noise’ in the universe. Here’s what that means.
A Physics professor breaks down the news that NANOGrav scientists have detected a low-frequency hum passing through our galaxy.