Rocky Mountain
Although they are nearly 1,500 miles from Morgantown, members of the Rocky Mountain Alumni Chapter are proud to represent the gold and blue. With 200 dues paying members and more than 900 WVU alumni scattered throughout the state of Colorado, the chapter has grown tremendously since its start in 1997.
The idea to start an alumni chapter in the area came on a Saturday morning when Bill and Jennifer Gray (both WVU graduates) went to a local bar to watch a football game between WVU and Marshall. When they realized that they were the only Mountaineer fans in the building, Bill became determined to seek out others that shared his enthusiasm about WVU.
At their first event, about 25 alumni came from all corners of the state to watch the West Virginia University football team take on the Miami Hurricanes. After this one event, Gray was convinced that he was not the only person in the area missing contact with other WVU alumni.
“They were starving for some interaction with other Mountaineers, and from there I knew it was going to work,” Gray says of the alumni who showed up to the first event.
Today the main Rocky Mountain Alumni Chapter calls Denver its home; however since there are so many alumni that live in other parts of the state, the chapter has created sub-chapters in hopes of making participation easier for those not in the Denver area. The chapter hosts both regional and combined events such as game watches, summer picnics, ski trips and, when they get the chance, bowl game trips. Some members even make it a point to try to get back to Morgantown at least once a year.
Members of the Rocky Mountain Chapter can also be found at any WVU sporting event, no matter what the sport, within a reasonable distance to them.
Gray says, “If there are Mountaineers in the region, we mobilize to support them.”
Another project in the works is the organization of events such as softball games or golf outings that would involve local alumni from other schools in the Big East.
“We try to do a variety of things to allow alumni of all ages and backgrounds to get together, and there is a lot to do in Colorado,” adds Gray.
The Rocky Mountain Chapter tries to offer a casual membership policy that allows non-dues paying members to participate in activities in the hopes of enticing them to become full time members.
“Even those who are not ‘active’ enjoy hearing the latest news from Morgantown, and occasionally they attend events that fit their schedules, and support our Chapter activities and goals,” says Gray.
The Rocky Mountain Chapter recently proved its dedication to the University and its member’s support of both chapter and University goals by raising $500 to buy a full band uniform in the recent Band-Aid fund raiser.
The Rocky Mountain Chapter was very excited to spread the Mountaineers spirit and award its very first scholarship this fall to a student from Colorado attending WVU.
“Most of us left Morgantown armed with a great education and memories and friends to last a lifetime. Being an alumni member is a chance to give back to the University that gave us so much. It’s also a chance to ensure that others have that same or an even better opportunity for years to come,” says Gray.
The Rocky Mountain Chapter will continue to support the University as well as its alumni as much as possible.
“For many of us, our love for and relationship with WVU is not limited to the four (or more) years spent in Morgantown. It is a love affair that stays in our hearts forever,” adds Gray.
For more information on the Rocky Mountain Alumni Chapter or their upcoming events you can visit its Web site at http://home.comcast.net/~wvurmc1/.
