Lucas Carreira ’26 receives the Boettcher Scholarship, Continuing Mullen’s Tradition of Academic Excellence

For Lucas, the recognition is meaningful, but not surprising, given how he talks about the journey. “It’s been a true honor,” he said. “This would set me up for a lot of success in a state that I really love and would love to give back to one day.”

The process itself is demanding. Thousands of students begin the application, which narrows to a few hundred semifinalists, then finalists, and ultimately the 50 scholars selected after in-depth interviews. But Lucas doesn’t point to the pressure or competition. Instead, he points back to Mullen. “I think it’s a testament to Mullen,” he said. “If you really want something, you can get it. Nothing is holding you back. Mullen comes with a tremendous group of staff, administrators, and students who push you and support you.”

That balance, of challenge and support, is something Lucas has experienced far beyond the classroom. This year, he helped lead Mullen to a state championship in soccer, a moment he describes with the same energy as his academic accomplishments. “That was fun because it’s success outside of school that Mullen allows you to pursue just as much as inside the classroom,” he said.

Looking ahead, he plans to pursue a future in medicine, exploring interests in science, pre-med, and potentially neuroscience, all while continuing his love of Spanish. “I would like to be a doctor,” he shared. “I actually love Spanish, so doing something that blends Spanish with science, possibly neuroscience, would be pretty fun.”

Part of what drew him to the Boettcher Scholarship is the community that comes with it. “What’s awesome is they’re with you not just through college, but through graduate school and beyond,” he said. “To have that kind of support and that kind of family… It’s something that can’t really be put into words.”

Lucas didn’t arrive at this opportunity alone. Like many Mullen students, he was guided to it. Lucas was encouraged to apply through Mullen’s College Counseling program, where students are known, challenged, and supported as individuals. Working closely with his counselor, Mr. O’Rourke, Lucas navigated one of the most competitive scholarship processes in the state with confidence and purpose.

His achievement also continues a strong tradition at Mullen, following Lia Dino '23 as the school’s most recent recipient of the Boettcher Scholarship.

At Mullen, success like this isn’t accidental. It’s the result of a community that believes in its students, and a College Counseling team that walks with them every step of the way, helping them discover opportunities, pursue their goals, and ultimately step into their futures prepared and confident.

For Lucas, that journey is just getting started, but it’s already a powerful reflection of what’s possible at Mullen High School, one of Denver’s leading private high schools.