Foster kids get pat on back

Recognition for young people in foster care

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published May 7, 2008 at 9:30 p.m.

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Dennis Schroeder / The Rocky

Emilio Lone Elk, front right, rides a tractor with his foster father, Rudy Briseno, as his foster brother, David Bueno, rear left, and a brother, Claudio Briseno, rear right, prepare a field for planting at their ranch west of Sterling. Another brother, Neo Briseno, far right, looks on.

Abuse. Neglect. Abandonment. Incarceration. Alcohol. Drugs.

They are among the reasons babies, children and teenagers end up in foster care.

For Emilio Lone Elk, 18, who was placed in foster care when he was 11, it wasn't any different.

"Every day I acted as if I had to survive, which I did," he said.

He did more than just survive.

Emilio excelled.

Today, he will be among 30 young men and women in Denver's foster care system who have or will be receiving a diploma, GED or educational certificate honored at a ceremony featuring Mayor John Hickenlooper as the keynote speaker.

"It's hard enough to get through high school," said Leigh Hinze, Emilio's caseworker. "If you don't have the stability or you're not sure exactly where you're going to be living, that makes it a lot harder."

Emilio said foster children have to be tenacious to make it.

"We didn't have the option to say, 'I'm just going to give up today, and I'll get back on track tomorrow,' " he said. "Every day, every minute, foster children have to face their problems."

Emilio faced his head-on and says the "spiritualness" of his culture - he's Oglala Sioux - helped guide him. But he credits his foster parents, Tammy and Rudy Briseno, who have taken in "hundreds" of children, as well as his caseworker and the foster care system, for his success.

"I'm grateful to have that kind of stable relationship," he said. "I think that's the main part of any situation in foster care or the system, is having a stable caseworker or having a foster family willing to bring you in and actually keep you."

He is graduating as valedictorian from Prairie High School in New Raymer in Weld County.

He has been awarded two college scholarships, including a $20,000 national scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, which chooses youth who have overcome hardships while maintaining good grades and remaining active in their schools and communities.

"His (application) rose to the top," said association spokeswoman Carrie Blewitt, adding that about 33,000 students applied and only about 100 were selected.

Emilio, who lives in Stoneham with the Brisenos, plans to attend the University of Colorado and double major in psychology and criminal justice.

"I hope to be a detective one day," he said.

Hinze said Emilio went through a rebellious period, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't fail.

"He wanted to fail in school and tried, and he still had a B-plus, A-minus average. That was him slacking off," she said, laughing.

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

DAVID BUENO

'We should never lose our dreams of a better life'

David Bueno, Emilio Lone Elk's foster brother, will be speaking today at a graduation ceremony for youths who have been in foster care. An excerpt from his prepared speech:

My name is David Bueno. I am 19 years old and I've been in foster care since I was 41/2 years old.

My story is not much different than other foster children.

I had no parents, and I lived through many sad and hurtful things as I was growing up.

But I am safe and secure now. I have a mom and dad and a place to call home, with lots and lots and lots and lots of siblings.

I just finished my first semester at Northeastern Junior College.

I'm an example that you don't have to be an expert in life to move forward and make a difference.

Some of us who have been in the foster care system may be going to college or technical schools, and others may be getting jobs.

But whatever choices we make, we should never lose our dreams of a better life, never think that we can't achieve them, because we can.

We have made it this far, and we have overcome obstacles that most people couldn't even imagine.

Mom and Dad, thank you for all you have done. Thank you for encouraging me and pushing me forward.

And I would like to thank my case worker, Leigh Hinze, who is my second mother, for all your help and advice.

• May 8, 2008

  3:08 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  DenverNative80 writes:

  It's about time that we hear of good foster families and not of children not being cared for by their guardians. Congrats to Emilio and bless the Brisenos for the great job they are doing helping to raise these children.

• June 18, 2008

  9:46 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  horatio01 writes:

  Emilio, Great job! To the Foster family, your love for Emilio will be an example for years to come, he'll have his own family some day, your example of how a family cares, shares and loves will touch a new generation. How do I know? I was raised in Foster Care myself, in Denver County, Jefferson County, followed my dreams of becoming a corporate excutive manager, giving back to the community all because the family that fostered my life, loved me.

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