Students are back, fall is in the air, and Homecoming and Family Weekend is just around the corner. You know what that means – football season is here.
The first game of the season will be Sept. 2, 2023, against Washington State University and everyone is ready to watch Coach Jay Norvell and the Rams thunder down the field and tear the Cougars’ line asunder. But none of that can happen until we ring the Old Main Bell, and the first bell ringer of the season will be none other than Colorado State University’s 16th President – Amy Parsons (B.A. ’95).
“I never imagined that I might have the honor of ringing the Old Main Bell,” President Parsons said. “I can’t think of a more special way to the spend the day.”
A special day indeed, since President Parsons will be the first presidential alum to ring the bell (she’s only the third alum to serve as president). President Parsons is entering her first fall semester as president after an incredibly busy spring and summer advocating for and representing the University in Colorado, across the U.S., and around the world.
“I’ve loved interacting with the campus community and learning about all the amazing efforts of our faculty and staff,” she said. “Reconnecting with alumni and our partners around the state has also been a critical part of the listening I’ve been doing for the last seven months.”
The theme of the Sept. 2 game against Washington State is “CSU Faculty and Staff Appreciation.” Having President Parsons, an alumna and longtime CSU administrator who is now leading the University, serve as bell ringer for the game makes the experience even more special.
“Our world-class faculty and staff are the heart of our University. CSU is filled with so many talented people who are making a difference across the state and around the globe,” she said. “They care deeply about their work and also about each other.”
President Parsons added that with the start of the academic year, she’s as excited as ever to meet more faculty and learn about the groundbreaking research happening across the University.
“I’m also looking forward to all the fall sports that bring our community together,” she said.
That includes her family’s favorite fall event and tradition – Ag Day.
“My family has made Ag Day a tradition over many years, from Hughes Stadium to Canvas Stadium. Since our kids were young, we’ve looked forward to getting our Aggie orange on, and to enjoying all the booths,” she said. “And who doesn’t love our phenomenal marching band and the cannon starting each game?”
The Colorado State University Alumni Association couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to have President Amy Parsons ring back tradition by pulling the rope and making the Old Main Bell peal proud and true across campus and all of Fort Collins. The only way we could be more excited is if we saw you there. Visit https://alumni.colostate.edu/gameday/# to get tickets and all the info necessary to have a great game day and football season.
