Growth spurts. Acne. Mood swings. Social awkwardness. Without doubt, few adults would willingly return to adolescence. This critical developmental stage can be both physically and mentally painful. Without guidance, many middle school students crumple under the increasing weight of modern-day challenges. That is why UC Denver is proud to become the first higher-education institution in Denver to partner with Smart-Girl, a nonprofit, research-based organization focused on enrichment and prevention programs for adolescent girls.

Through the UCD Smart-Girl Leadership Institute, high school and college students are trained to lead small groups of younger girls in activities that focus on team-building, communication skills, mood management, overcoming peer pressure, self respect, motivation for success, conflict resolution and other burgeoning concerns specific to these young women.

This fall, six UCD students received credit for completing Smart-Girl training and internship curriculum. Throughout the year, these interns mentored 16 high school girls who in turn became Smart-Girl guides for seventh-grade girls at a local Denver middle school and girls enrolled in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.

For more information, visit www.cudenver.edu/clas/smartgirl.

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