Children read for the rodeo

5 schools participate in annual Stampede to Read Program

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Students from across Elbert County and Franktown gathered at their respective schools to welcome Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo volunteers and kick o the annual Stampede to Read Program. Among the volunteers were Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo Queen Kyra Doud and Queen’s Attendant Isabelle Piche. ey were also joined by PRCA Rodeo Clown and Barrelman J.W. Winklepleck and junior rodeo clown Vincent Piche, the brother of Isabelle Piche.

On March 31, the volunteers visited Franktown Elementary, Legacy Academy and Singing Hills Elementary to promote the program that encourages literacy among students in grades kindergarten through ve. e volunteers also gave their presentation to students at Kiowa Elementary and Kiowa Middle School.

e Stampede to Read Program is designed for elementary school students in Elbert County and at Franktown Elementary School. Students read a designated length of time each week depending on grade level. Each week students will receive a sheet to keep track of their reading. is must be signed o by parents and will be managed by teachers.

At the end of each week, students who nish their reading will win

SEE RODEO, P4 event in the Elizabeth High School e master of ceremonies for the event was Jace Glick, former Elizabeth Stampede president and longtime volunteer with the Elizabeth Education Foundation. He gave a speech at the start of the event to praise the students and their parents. is year’s STARS event was his 15th year as announcer. e STARS awards (Students Taking Accountability and Responsibility Seriously) are given to students nominated by their teachers for modeling responsible behavior, making good choices and spending time involved with clubs and organizations in school and the community; and for being committed to learning, caring and helping their fellow students and school.

A STARS award recipient must demonstrate some of the following characteristics:

1. Model responsible behavior.

2. Spends time involved with clubs or organizations at school and/or actively supports the community.

3. Committed to learning, motivated to do well in school, actively engaged in learning, and cares about their school.

4. Places high value on caring and helping other people and accepts personal responsibility.

5. Makes good choices, has empathy, sensitivity, friendship skills, and resists negative peer pressures.

A student may only receive the STARS honor once in their academic career, though some students have received many nominations over the years. Past recipients serve as volunteers for the next year’s event.

“ e foundation was able to provide a festive environment for family, friends, teachers, principals and the superintendent to acknowledge some pretty amazing students,” commented EEF President Kathy Ja ee in an email correspondence from April 3. “It’s our intention to encourage good behavior and determination in students and help build them up for a successful future.” e EEF is a self-funded organization. Income is generated by encouraging neighbors to shop with King Soopers loyalty cards, American Furniture Warehouse, and Premium Auto-Glass; a portion of the purchases are then given to the designated charity. In addition, support can be given by participating in monthly fundraising events and donating directly to the foundation.

“ anks to our many business sponsors such as CORE Electric Cooperative and the Elizabeth Stampede Foundation, we were able to celebrate the positive efforts of 50 Elizabeth students,” said Ja ee. “It’s so important to take the time to recognize the hard work of students that make a di erence in the community.” e 2023 STARS recipients are:

Elizabeth High School

• Alexandra Bahr

• Hayden Baker

• Kody Bauer

• Athena Cantrall

• Taryn Crookshanks

• Kinsey Curo

• Christian Dansdill

• Allison Dillard

• Creig Dunn

• Avery Goettge

• Josephine Hayes

• Ella Hedman

• Tyler Hemans

• Caden Long

• Jordan Lust

• Alexis Murphy

• Matthew Sauter

• Ava ielen

• James Tucker

• Jessica VanAernam

• Gri n Widhalm

• Hayvin Wilder

• Jackson Zander

Elizabeth Middle School

• Hudson Baker

• Bailey Barnhart

• Ava Dunlap

• Shiloh Lynch

• Cooper Mankin

• Mya Mills

• Annabelle Nelson

• Estelle Norwood

• Austin Reynolds

• Luciana Samaco

• Brooke Schaben

• Cameron Spencer

• Jonathon Spencer

• Trista Traxler

• Zoey Wilder

Legacy Academy

• Elsie Brunker

• Bretton Galaway

• Olivia Lee

• Brooke Lidke

• Hayden Lynds

• Symon Tang

Running Creek Elementary

• Arthur Dee

• Aiden Hammer

• Kaleb Kelley

Singing Hills Elementary

• Ella Conner

• Lyra Edwards

• Callen Mann

More information on the Elizabeth Education Foundation can be found online at elizabethef.org.

To contact the Elizabeth Education Foundation, email ElizabethEducationFoundation@ outlook.com or call 303-646-6761.

FROM PAGE 1 small prizes provided by the Elizabeth Stampede. If a student nishes the entire four-week program, they receive a free ticket to the Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo and a coupon for a free ice cream cone at the Elizabeth Dairy Queen.

“Not only do I get to promote the Elizabeth Stampede, but I also get to encourage kids to read more so they can win a ticket to the rodeo in June,” commented Kyra Doud in an interview from April. 4. “I loved seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces when we told them their reward for meeting their reading goal was a ticket to one performance of the Elizabeth Stampede.”

After the students were introduced to the Stampede to Read Program, the Elizabeth Stampede queen and attendant gave a short presentation and Winklepleck and Vincent Piche did barrel demonstrations. Some students later did stick horse races while their classmates cheered them on. Rodeo royalty Doud and Piche even took