2025 Outstanding Graduate Award

Link to Article: https://news.ucdenver.edu/spring-2025-outstanding-graduates-college-of-architecture-and-planning/?_gl=1*1svprad*_gcl_au*MTMxODMwNDIyNS4xNzY4NDQ4NzYw*_ga*MTg3NzQwNTUzOS4xNzM5NDA1MTUz*_ga_DS36BR332D*czE3Njg2MjAwMTUkbzI4JGcwJHQxNzY4NjIwMDE2JGo1OSRsMCRoMA..

College of Architecture and Planning News

The Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 17 at the Denver Coliseum celebrates the incredible achievements of students across the University of Colorado Denver. The completion of CU Denver degree is powerful milestone that celebrates years of dedication, paving the way for many open doors and new opportunities.

We’re excited to share that Hunter Carey (Bachelor of Science in Architecture), Irina Murphy (Master of Architecture), Kirstian Brady (Master of Urban and Regional Planning), Aidan Nowell (Master of Landscape Architecture), Jessica (Jessie) Whitney (Master of Urban Design), and Molly Rose Merkert (Master of Science in Historic Preservation) were recognized as the College of Architecture and Planning’s (CAP) Outstanding Graduates. These students received top marks in their academic performance and impactfully contributed to the life of the college.

Our Outstanding Graduates shared with us about their experiences and takeaways from their time at CAP and their anticipated next steps. From all their responses, one thing was certain, CAP students are going to make an impact on the future of the built environment and our communities.

Meet CAP’s Spring 2025 Outstanding Graduates
Hunter Carey (BS Arch)

1. How has your perspective of architecture evolved since you started the BS Arch program?

When I started my bachelor’s, I thought architecture was mainly about designing the exterior of buildings. Over time, my perspective has expanded to see it as a tool for environmental responsibility, innovation, social equity, and creating spaces that resonate with people. Architecture can shape daily lives and reflect cultural values. I have also come to appreciate the technical side as well through construction detail drawings, structural engineering, and building systems. The program challenged me to think beyond aesthetics and instead design with intention, ecological awareness, and passion.

2. What are you excited about following the commencement ceremony?

I am excited for summer and to get back in the mountains to do some mountain biking, golfing, and hiking. I will also be working at an architecture firm this summer in Denver as a student intern before moving to California in August for my Master of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley.

3. Could you share a memorable experience, project, or opportunity from your time as a CAP student?

One of the most memorable projects I worked on was a community center and trade school based in Pueblo’s Bessemer neighborhood. The project explored how sustainable architecture could drive economic revitalization in a post-industrial community. Bessemer faced economic and environmental hardship after the decline of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Steel Mill, but Pueblo aims to become net zero by 2035. My design incorporated Pueblo’s massive solar farm and recycled steel to create a school that teaches residents skills in solar panel installation and maintenance, lowering the unemployment rate of Bessemer and contributing to the net zero goal. It was a turning point in my education where my interests in climate conscious design and social impact fully aligned.

Hunter recently shared with us about his experience as a professional skier and what led him to study architecture. Read more about his path “From the Slopes to the Studio.”