Game Changers

CMU Student-Athletes Make a Difference in the Community

Colorado Mesa University’s student-athletes are proving that their impact extends far beyond the rink, field and court. Through various charitable efforts like the Pink the Rink fundraiser, volunteering with HomewardBound and participating in a Reading Buddies program, Maverick student-athletes are making a meaningful difference in the community they call home.

Going Above and Beyond

The Men’s Hockey Team set a gold standard for blending athletics and philanthropy with their annual Pink the Rink event. The fundraiser, now in its eighth year, has raised more than $132,000 for the St.Mary’s Cancer Assistance Fund. Last season’s event brought in a record-breaking $32,128, earning the team national and local awards including the St. Mary’s President’s Award and the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s National Community Service Award.

“Pink the Rink is something our team talks about as soon as the final roster is announced. To see all our hard work get recognized is awesome, but it also brings more awareness to what we’re doing here, which helps us do more each year,” said Team Captain Bryson Sutterby.

The event’s success stems from months of teamwork and a shared commitment to set and surpass ambitious goals. The players coordinate all fundraising aspects of the event. Their efforts often include selling T-shirts, raffle tickets for game-worn jerseys, a silent auction, a “shoot a puck” contest and more. The team’s goals help them surpass the previous year’s numbers, which they always do. Their efforts are about more than just the numbers, though.

“Raising money for a cause like this is already motivating enough, but the fact it’s helping people in our community is an amazing feeling,” said Sutterby.

“Giving back to a community that has given us so much is our inspiration. They fill the stands. They show us so much support and they do it consistently every season.”   

The team’s personal connection to the cause also made Pink the Rink especially rewarding.

“Last year, two of our players, Ryan and Logan Koch, who have been impacted by cancer, had the opportunity to celebrate their sister through the sport they love. It was an awesome moment to be part of,” Sutterby said.

Through Pink the Rink, the team has used their love of hockey to uplift the community, demonstrating that success can be measured beyond goals, checks and stops, but also in the number of lives touched. The hockey team leads as a powerful manifestation of CMU’s values and what it means to lead with heart.

Inspiring Young Minds

The Mavericks’ impact doesn’t stop there. Through programs like Reading Buddies and Recess Buddies, organized by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), CMU student-athletes volunteer at Orchard Avenue Elementary to connect one-on-one with local students. These programs support Mesa County School District 51’s literacy initiatives and inspire children to explore movement and exercise through athletics.   

Reading Buddies and Recess Buddies were introduced as volunteer opportunities last year, thanks to former SAAC secretary and CMU student Mira Houck. Each week, the SAAC sends two groups of student-athletes to the school. On Tuesdays, volunteers participate in Reading Buddies in the library, where they either read to the children or listen as the children read aloud. The main goal of Reading Buddies is to build excitement and confidence around reading. On Thursdays, a second group takes part in Recess Buddies and spends their time playing games with students during recess. 

“It’s fun because the kids often want to play the sports of whatever athletes are there,” said SAAC Vice President and women’s soccer player Isabel Schauber, who helps organize the program.

The initiative aims to involve representatives from every CMU sports team at least once per school year, with student-athletes typically volunteering during their off-season.

“The students get really excited when they see the CMU athletes,” said Schauber. “I think it’s very inspiring for them and is a great avenue to show them that they can reach their goals.”

For Schauber, volunteering has been incredibly rewarding. One moment that stood out to her was when a student picked a soccer-themed book for them to read together, creating a special connection over their shared love of the sport.

“It’s a fun way to make a difference within the elementary school community. The schools in Grand Junction are such a big part of our support system at games,” Schauber said. “It feels great to give back to a community that means so much to us.”

Passing the Plate

Another team making a difference in the Grand Junction community is the Men’s Basketball Team, who took action by feeding people in need during the holidays. During the week of Thanksgiving, the team suited up in gloves and hairnets (just hours after playing a late-night game) to volunteer at HomewardBound Pathways Shelter, a hub in Grand Junction that provides emergency shelter for unhoused families and individuals. Players cooked and served breakfast to over 150 guests that day.

The initiative was led by Assistant Coach Sean Evans with the support of Head Coach Mike Dunlap and Assistant Coach Skyler Burgess. The holiday spirit was felt throughout the building as the team took time to connect with the guests as they shared their stories and opened up about their current circumstances. After the meal, they also stayed to help the HomewardBound staff clean up.

“We felt like it was a great thing to do. The experience helped us realize what we have and how we should be grateful for everything we’re given because it can be rough out there,” said CMU basketball sophomore center Yaak Yaak. “Getting out in the community is a big part of this program. It’s about being better people off the court and showing dignity to others.”

From raising money for cancer research, assisting to boost Mesa County literacy initiatives, to being active contributors in the local community, each initiative taken on by CMU student-athletes demonstrates they are more than competitors. They’re leaders, role models and active participants in their community.