MELISSA DOWNING
SENIOR PROJECT DESIGNER

Involvement
Boys and Girls Club of Denver - Tutor
Larimer County Partners - Mentor to at-risk youth

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT?
One of my favorite places to visit is the Denver Art Museum.
Fun Fact: None of the 20 separate planes that make up the geometry of the Hamilton Building are parallel or perpendicular to one another.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I grew up in Littleton, CO, graduated from Littleton High School and went on to receive a BA in Technical Journalism, concentrating in Broadcast News from Colorado State University. I love Colorado and have tried, unsuccessfully, to relocate to both Indiana and Georgia. But it is hard to leave paradise!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?
“We have art in order not to die of the truth.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE AND WHY?
My favorite movie is American Beauty. I love how the movie highlights the complexities and nuances of the human condition. Every time I watch it, I try to watch it from a different characters’ point of view, and the perspective changes so dramatically. Even characters with few lines can say volumes

WHO IS THE BEST TO SEE LIVE?
I really enjoy live music and have seen many bands live. However, I do have one experience that shadows all others and that if the time I saw Prince at the Ogden Theatre. I was front row center. I also had the amazing opportunity to dance on stage with Prince! Most definitely a night to remember.

IF YOU WERE A SUPERHERO, WHAT WOULD YOUR SUPERPOWER BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT?
This is going to sound strange, but I already have a superpower. It is not a superhero superpower mind you, but a power none the less. I am a cloud buster, which is exactly what is sounds like, I bust clouds. I do not use this power often, it actually takes quite a bit of energy and concentration, and we live in a very dry state that needs the moisture, but when I do, it is usually to keep it from raining on an outdoor activity or event.