DENVER – Joyce Shepherd, a 1983 graduate of the University of Colorado Denver, has made attending the National Western Stock Show on “CU Night” a family tradition for the past several years.
More than 1,200 alumni of the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus attended Friday’s event, an evening of roping, riding and showing your CU spirit.
For the past three years, Shepherd and her husband have traveled from their home in Southern California to attend CU Night at the Stock Show. Their son Greg, a 1994 CU Boulder alumnus, still lives in Colorado.
“It’s a great family event,” said Shepherd, who earned her master’s in counseling at CU Denver. “It brings people together from the different campuses. I think it’s important to have these kinds of events for alumni and current students and prospective students. It shows the real spirit of Colorado.”
Scenes from CU Night at the Stock Show:
Systemwide, about 3,300 CU alumni attended the event, according to Joy B. French, director of the Office of Alumni Relations, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
A CU Denver a cappella singing group, the UCD 6, sang the national anthem, and the rodeo announcer made frequent remarks about the enthusiastic and intelligent CU audience in attendance. Towels bearing the CU logo were draped over seats throughout the Denver Coliseum, and the CU faithful took full advantage by proudly waving the Black and Gold. The program included bareback riding, steer wrestling and a performance by the Westernaires.
Mutton busting was a crowd favorite, especially for the kids, as the CU Boulder mascot Chip entertained the crowd by taking part in the mutton-busting trophy presentation.
CU President Bruce Benson rode at the helm of the Stock Show Stage Coach, tipping his white-brimmed cowboy hat to the cheers of the crowd. Also aboard the stage coach were several members of the Board of Regents: Stephen Ludwig, Sue Sharkey, Chairman Kyle Hybl, Vice Chairman Michael Carrigan and Irene Griego.