Colorado University Athletics

2008-09 Winning Attitude Grand Prize Winner Announced

2008-09 Winning Attitude Grand Prize Winner Announced
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BOULDER ? Qwest, FSN Rocky Mountain and the University of Colorado have named Franklin Middle School (Greeley, Colo.) eighth grader Cole Smith as the 2008-09 grand prize recipient of the Winning Attitude award.  He was selected from a group of 10 finalists who submitted stories explaining how their “Winning Attitude” made a difference in their communities. 

 

As the grand prize winner, Franklin Middle School will host a school-wide pep rally Tues., Feb. 24 at 2:00 p.m. MT featuring Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins, CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn, two CU student-athletes and performances by the CU cheerleaders and the CU band.  Tim Griggs, Sr. VP/General Manager of FSN Rocky Mountain, Amy Turner, Director and Marketing and Communications for FSN Rocky Mountain, Qwest Director of Community Relations Carey Wirtzfeld and Manager of Community Relations Crystal Adams also will be in attendance to honor Smith.  The rally will be emceed by FSN Rocky Mountain’s Drew Goodman.  Franklin Middle School will receive a $2,500 contribution from Qwest, in addition to the $1,000 that Qwest presented to the school when Smith became a finalist.

 

Smith showed his Winning Attitude by playing as a Unified Sports Partner on his older brother’s Special Olympics basketball team.  The younger Smith has been a Unified Sports Partner with Special Olympics Colorado for six years.  On the brink of a losing season for a third consecutive year, Smith encouraged his teammates to give 110 percent for the upcoming Special Olympics Summer Games held at the University of Northern Colorado.   He promoted sportsmanship by sharing the basketball with his teammates and cheering on the opposing team during the games.  After losing 12 straight games, Smith and his Special Olympics team eventually won the gold medal game.  Smith feels they won because of good sportsmanship and strong confidence.   Smith was honored as a finalist during halftime of the Colorado vs. West Virginia football game on Thurs., Oct. 18.

 

This is the third year Qwest, FSN and CU have come together to honor middle school students around Colorado for the differences they make in their communities by providing outstanding efforts in sportsmanship, community involvement and teamwork.  Ten winning entrants and their classmates earned a trip to either a CU home football game at Folsom Field or a men’s basketball home game and a $1,000 contribution for their school from Qwest. 

 

The 2008-09 “Winning Attitude” finalists were Smith, Ruby Dickson (Louisville Middle School; Louisville), Brittney Bulawa (Sierra Middle School; Parker), Amber Kemp (Windsor Middle School; Windsor), Madeline Azari (Brentwood Middle School; Greeley), Chase Brown (Vikan Middle School; Brighton), Evelyn Torres (Shadow Ridge Middle School; Thornton), Mirenda King (Fremont Middle School; Florence), Dayna Prast (Liberty Middle School; Aurora) and Maddy Searchinger (Summit Middle School; Boulder).