Kristen Jerger is the proud US Patent holder for the design of an ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA), a very high tech piece of surgical equipment used in neurosurgery and liver surgery.  She also holds European patents for her designs involving argon-enhanced electro surgery, another high tech wonder that gives surgeons extra precision and control than in conventional electro surgery. 

Within her company in Boulder, Colorado, Kristen is recognized as a skilled team leader and a source of creative energy.  In 2001 and 2002, her company participated in the Kinetics Festival in Boulder which combines engineering skill in the development of a craft that can travel on land and water in addition to presenting a craft theme complete with costumes, style and performance.  Sound familiar?  You won’t be surprised to hear that in 2002, Kristin’s team won first place for style and theme and second place for costumes!

Kristen has participated in creative problem solving since 1985, when she was a seventh grader at Hamilton Middle School in Denver, Colorado.  Her CPS career includes coaching and mentoring as well as participating.

In 1993, she took on the responsibility the Regional Challenge Master position for structure Challenges. Since then, Kristen has continued to serve as the Denver Regional Challenge Master.  In 2001, Kristen became the State Challenge Master for Colorado, and in 2002, she took on the Regional Challenge Master responsibility for Boulder in addition to Denver and her State Challenge Master role.  Kristen also volunteered as an appraiser at the 2002 Global Finals.

An outstanding young woman and community leader, Kristin is an integral part of the Colorado and Denver Public Schools Destination Imagination Program.  While providing significant advancement in surgical techniques in her workplace and contributing to the world’s ability to deal with these dangerous tumors, she finds time to give back to her community and the youth of Colorado and the world through her continued involvement in Destination ImagiNation.  Kristen was the first alumna of Destination ImagiNation to be recognized by this prestigious award. 

In March of 2003, Kristen undertook her next big project, sure to test her creative abilities to the limit – she and her husband welcomed twin babies!  The happy family of four made the trip to Knoxville for the 2003 Global Finals event, where Kristen received the Risorgimento Award.