Colorado University Athletics
Winning Attitude Program - Letter
August 1, 2011
Dear Principal:
My name is Lori Smith, principal of Cheyenne Mountain Junior High School (CMJH), located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.? To develop leaders, we often look to our students to help us problem-solve school issues and dilemmas, while also empowering them to serve not only the school community but the broader community as well. The Winning Attitude program, sponsored by CenturyLink (formerly Qwest), ROOT SPORTS, and the University of Colorado Athletic Department, creates this community service opportunity for students.? This essay contest recognizes the outstanding ideas students all over the state are implementing to make their schools better.? CenturyLink, ROOT SPORTS and the CU Athletic Department will be awarding the best Winning Attitudes with a trip to a CU sporting event in addition to grant awards up to $3,5000 (see guidelines for additional details).
During the 2010-2011 school year, one of our eighth grade students entered her essay about a bullying/harassment program, GÇ£Band Around SeviesGÇ¥ she created and implemented in our school to ensure that incoming seventh graders felt welcomed by all eighth graders.? The studentGÇÖs essay was selected by the Winning Attitude committee earning $1,000 for CMJH in addition to her being recognized at a CU basketball game and interviewed live on ROOT SPORTS during halftime.? And out of ?the ten finalists, our student was chosen as the Grand Prize winner, which meant CMJH was awarded an additional $2,500 plus a pep rally for our school which included; ROOT SPORTS, former CU coach, student-athletes, cheerleaders, the pep band and CHIP.? Our students loved the pep rally and we felt it was a great celebration of the success of the GÇ£Band Around SeviesGÇ¥ program and continued our goal of unifying seventh and eighth grade students.? Every student received a Winning Attitude t-shirt at the assembly and many students wore them throughout the remainder of the school year demonstrating their pride for the anti-bullying program. Our school also used the donations to bring GÇ£RachelGÇÖs ChallengeGÇ¥ to our building during the 2011-2012 year and continue our anti-bullying/harassment campaign.
I highly recommend schools participate in the Winning Attitude essay contest.? Not only can it validate and affirm the ideas and visions of students, but it can also empower and reward them for their important roles in our schools.? This contest recognizes the power one student can have on their community. ?Participating in the program was truly a great experience for our kids and I know that they will remember it for a lifetime.?
Regards,
Dr. Lori Smith
Principal