Video by: Brynn Carman, CTV News Producer
When there’s a University celebration on campus, students come for the cookies.
To celebrate its 145th birthday, Colorado State University hosted a Founders Day celebration Wednesday with Cam the Ram, performers, cookies and CSU pride-themed activities.
“It’s definitely trending on social media today — it’s just exciting to see everybody kind of come together as one … to see us all celebrating one holiday that we made ourselves in 1870,” said Kristen McNair, CSU cheerleader and senior health and exercise science major. “It’s fun for us to come and interact with students.”
Each year, students gather in the Plaza to celebrate CSU, a result of collaboration between student groups. This year was the first year the cheerleaders have preformed, and the event was run in part by CSU Presidential Ambassadors and the CSU Events Team.
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Photos by Hannah Beckwith
“(We) work as the student voice … as presidential ambassadors, we’re mostly here to kind of help facilitate the excitement of the day,” said Madeleine Sheahan, presidential ambassador and senior business and Spanish student. “Today, we’re working with students mostly, out in the Plaza, and sharing with everybody that it’s Founder’s Day.”
Usman Banduka, junior business student and presidential ambassador, is a Pakistani international student, who said he enjoys celebrating his home at CSU through events like Founders Day.
“I want to give back to the community in the sense of really finding that CSU pride and giving back to that place that has made me feel at home,” Banduka said. “I think that’s what the students feel. … We always promote how CSU provides a home for everyone here.”
For the sixth year in a row, a Founders Day Medal was awarded. This year, the medal went to Bob and Joyce Everitt, Fort Collins community members and supporters of CSU for over 60 years. Bob has served on the University’s governing board, the Board of the CSU Foundation, the CSU Development Council, the Campaign Leadership Council and on advisory councils for the College of Business and the Equine Teaching and Research Center, according to a University release. Together, the Everitts have been strong advocates for CSU’s campus and many programs.
Collegian Reporter Ellie Mulder can be reached at news@collegian.com or on twitter @lemarie.