2026 Denver Branch Shakespeare Competition
Thank you to the 15 students who participated in the Branch Shakespeare Competition, and to the teachers, family members and friends who supported them. Congratulations to the three top students: First place winner Victoria Chang from Littleton High School will compete in the National Shakespeare Competition at the Lincoln Center in New York City April 25-27; Lorena Franklin from Lakewood High School won second place and Owen Daly from Grandview High School won third place; both received cash prizes. Special thanks to Sam Wood and the crew at Denver Center for the Performing Arts and to Denver Branch Shakespeare Coordinator Ace Eggleston. See the Media Gallery for more photos!
2025 Holiday Party & Writing Competition Awards
Four students read their winning essays for the 16th Annual Dr. Howard F. Beckley Writing Competition prompt, Allegory in Art Beyond Literature, at the ESU Denver Branch Holiday Party at the Denver Woman’s Press Club on Sunday, December 7, 2025. 1st prize: Riley Irwin from Littleton High School (teacher Shelly Russell). 2nd prize: Isabella Urban from Lakewood High School (teacher Sue Stokley). 3rd prize: Evolene Kolb from East High School (teacher Todd Madison). Honorable mention: Byung-A Choi from Lakewood High School (teacher Sue Stokely). Pictured left to right: Shelly Russell, Riley Irwin, Isabella Urban, Sue Stokley, Byong-A Choi and Evolene Kolb. Congratulations to the students and teachers!
2025 TLab Dinner
The Denver Branch met at the University Club on November 13, 2025, to celebrate its 2025 TLab scholars. Manual High School teacher Ben Butler, left, and Smoky Hill High School teacher Katie Cunninham, right, both attended Teaching Shakespeare Through Performance at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. They co-presented a lively summary of their three-week study and its impact on their curriculum and in non-Shakespeare settings – with Ben’s football team and in Katie’s assignment of The Outsiders. Volunteers also participated in a small-group activity. It was a high-energy evening, enjoyed by all!
2025 ESU Denver Branch at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival
A group of ESU Denver Branch members met on Sunday, August 3, 2025, for a picnic lunch on the Norlin Quadrangle at the University of Colorado campus in Boulder. The group then attended a riveting performance of Richard II in the Roe Green Theater at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
2025 ESU Denver Branch Annual Meeting and Brunch
The ESU Denver Branch held its Annual Meeting July 12, 2025, at the Denver Country Club. 2025 Branch Shakespeare winner Nora Khalilian amazed us with her monologue and sonnet, and Cindy Poinsett eloquently spoke, ending her three-year term as President while handing the gavel over to our new President, Millicent Ambroggio. Four new Directors were elected to the Branch Board: Marcia Goldstein, Trevor Johnson, Shelly Russell and Sarah Schneider. Two Directors were elected to new terms on the Board: Polly Cox and Bruce Haefner. Congratulations and welcome to all!
2025 King’s Birthday Tea
The ESU Denver Branch returned to Babe’s Tea Room on Saturday, June 7, 2025, to celebrate the King’s Birthday with Afternoon Tea. The festive occasion included 10 Branch members and a TLab scholar soon to be in the UK!
2025 Friday Afternoon Club
The ESU Denver Branch met for a Friday Afternoon Club happy hour at Darcy’s Pub on Friday, April 4, 2025. Cheers!
2025 Founder’s Award Gala
Denver Branch President Cindy Poinsett and Treasurer Bruce Haefner attended the Founder’s Award Gala held in Winter Park FL in March, to honor ESUUS Chair Dr. E. Quinn Peeper and his commitment to the English-Speaking Union. Thanks to Susan Ferris, Portland Branch, for sharing her table with us! Left to right, Mark Poinsett, Cindy Poinsett, Bruce Haefner and Susan Ferris.
2025 TLab Scholarships Awarded
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 TLab Scholarships awarded by the ESU Denver Branch! Ben Butler teaches English, Literature and Drama and Theatre Arts at Manual High School. Katie Cunningham teaches English, Literature and AP Language and Composition at Smoky Hill High School. Both attended Teaching Shakespeare Through Performance at the Globe Theatre in London.
2025 Denver Branch Shakespeare Competition
Nine students competed in the 2025 ESU Denver Branch Shakespeare Competition, held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Logan Ambroggio, left, from Denver School of the Arts was runner-up. Winner Nora Khalilian from Grandview High School, right, will represent the Denver Branch at the National Shakespeare Competition on April 28, 2025, to be held at the Lincoln Center in New York City.
2025 Denver Branch Lunch & Denver Art Museum Tour
The ESU Denver Branch held a social gathering after its Board meeting on Saturday, January 11, 2025. We had lunch at Pint’s Pub and then enjoyed a docent-led tour of British works from the Berger Collection at the Denver Art Museum.
