Where We Become Mavericks: Chipeta Elementary

CMU student-athletes are bringing fun and excitement to D51 elementary schools

On Wednesday, March 12, The Rowdy Wranglers visited Chipeta Elementary School with Rowdy and their baby Rowdys-in-training as part of the Where We Become Mavericks initiative at Colorado Mesa University. This program shows students throughout Mesa County Valley School District 51 that higher education is accessible and affordable at CMU. The Rowdy Wranglers joined Chipeta's quarterly rally to talk about CMU’s value of love and how that relates to Chipeta’s value of caring. Rowdy Wranglers Sydney Fonte and Bree Robles discussed how they care for Rowdy (CMU’s live mascot) and applied that to how we can care for others in our communities.  

The Rowdy Wranglers were also joined by former CMU Student Ambassador and current CMU Admission Councilor Malachi Yeager who led the kids in a Caring Pledge stating that they would love those around them and care for others how they want to be cared for. After all students took the pledge, Yeager led them through a compliment chain activity, where they linked arms with their elbow partner and exchanged compliments. This gave students real examples of how to show love to others through complimenting their peers. 

A highlight to the event was witnessing CMU student Stevie Koon wrap up his final day of student teaching at Chipeta Elementary before moving on to student-teach at the middle school level. On his last day, the students dumped slime on him and other teachers as a reward for raising more than $4,750 for the American Heart Association. Koon expressed his enthusiasm for seeing his fellow CMU peers at the rally that day.  

“It gets them engaged with the community and their college in their hometown. I think it's really good.” Koon said. 

Behavioral Interventionist Janielle Westermire also shared that CMU’s interactions with elementary schools around the Grand Valley is playing a role in helping students envision their futures.  

“Having the involvement of the community, especially CMU, makes a big impact,” she said.

Throughout the rally and visits with Rowdy and the calves, students were inspired to care and love for the people and animals around them. Igniting inspiration about the possibilities that are available to students beyond elementary, middle and high school is the core of the Where We Become Mavericks initiative.