A Message From the President of Aurora's KOA

Hello, all!

My name is Alexandria Becks, and I am incredibly thankful to be acting as the President of the Aurora branch of J-KOA this 2026-2027 academic year.

I was lucky enough to join J-KOA two years ago as a mentor. I have always felt that scientific outreach is important; without it, I wouldn’t be in this position in my career as a PhD candidate. I am lucky enough that my family is incredibly supportive, but before me, none of my family or friends had entered science as a career. I was pushed towards medical school early on because that’s what my support system knew to recommend. Because of scientific outreach, I was able to learn about scientific research as a career. This went from an abstract idea to a distinct possibility because of the outreach I benefited from. As such, it is incredibly important for me to do my part to participate in programs that provide opportunities to learn about science to those who may not have had the experience otherwise. I joined JKOA originally because of the TEKS mentorship program. Each year, the program connects graduate students at the Anschutz campus with local middle schools with the goal of preparing them for a regional science fair. The experience left enough of an impression that I continued for a second year, this time as a part of the JKOA Aurora board as Vice President.

My decision to run for Vice President was fueled by the direct impact I could see the program was having on students. Their participation in the program did more than just teach them science; for many it helped them have a more positive relationship with school. During my term as Vice President, I was able to learn more about how JKOA works as an organization and became a more integral part in its success. Again, over the past year, I was only further emboldened to participate in this program, and this time made the choice to run for President of Aurora’s branch.

As President, my goal is to continue supporting the success of the program. In my term as Vice President, I was involved enough to recognize areas where further board support would make volunteering easier for mentors. I hope through fostering closer relationships with the parent community, creating a replicable framework for the TEKS program, and streamlining administrative duties for student participation, I can make volunteering an easy choice for interested parties. However, I am only as efficient as my board. Luckily, I have an incredible team- Sandy, Roxy, Christian, Katlynn, and Oscar- all of whom are bringing their own passion for the program to this academic year. With their help, I hope to build a branch that functions seamlessly and cooperatively. The greatest measure of achievement for me as a President will be if, at year’s end, there are returning mentors that are excited at how they can continue their participation and a rising board that feels nothing but optimism for their tenure. Here’s to looking forward to a great school year!

Madam President,

Alex Becks

She/her

President of Aurora's KOA