CMU Women's Lacrosse shows students that respect and dignity go hand-in-hand
The Colorado Mesa Women’s Lacrosse Team had an amazing time visiting Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary (LOME) to promote higher education as part of the Where We Become Maverick's initiative, where CMU athletic teams visit elementary schools around Mesa County School District 51. The team enthusiastically welcomed students into the gym for one of LOME's ROAR rallies, standing for respect, on-task, always safe and responsible. They focused on relating LOME's value of respect to CMU's value of dignity.
The team provided real-life examples of how they respect themselves and others. They also opened up with the elementary students about who in their life they respect and look up to the most.
Junior midfielder Ella Freemon closed out the presentation portion with a powerful sentiment.
"Whenever I put on my Maverick's jersey, the same with all of my teammates, we're not just representing ourselves, just like you aren't just representing your school, you are representing everything that came before you."
Freemon also prompted the 300-plus students attending the rally to share who makes them the most proud. Hands shot up all around the gym.
After discussing respect and how it related to dignity, the student-athletes shared a pledge of respect and had the gym repeat the three pillars of the promise, which stated:
- I promise to treat others the way I want to be treated.
- I promise to be patient and understanding.
- I promise to support my friends and classmates.
To continue practicing respect and dignity towards one another, the women's lacrosse team led LOME students through a compliment chain game. Starting at one end of the gym, students were given a compliment by their partner and then gave one in return, followed by a high five. The compliment chain spread through the whole gym until all 300-plus kids gave and were given a compliment.
After the game concluded and the rally came to an end, the students and athletes all took a group picture with Rowdy the CMU mascot. CMU had so much fun visiting Lincoln Orchard Mesa students and fostering meaningful conversations about the importance of kindness. The power of respect and dignity was alive in the gym that day, inspiring all students that education opens doors to a life of opportunity.
