![Minutes before the Activities Fair in the gym, president Abhi Gowda ‘26 prepares the stall for his club Helping Hands, Sept. 4. A relatively new club, Helping Hands was co-started by Gowda and focuses on assisting the homeless, and just last year they succeeded in raising a couple hundred donations to send to shelters. This year, they have goals to expand, with hopes to increase volunteer opportunities and take in-person trips to shelters, as well as extend their help beyond just homeless people. “The Activities Fair gives a lot of underclassmen the opportunity to really get to know the Canyon culture, and it gives them many opportunities for service and volunteering,” Gowda said. “[Through the Activities Fair,] I hope to find a bunch of new and passionate members about our club and just get our name out there and spread awareness to the cause that we’re fighting for.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1-2-1200x885.jpg)
![The winter guard team makes fifth place at the state championship finals in the Denver Coliseum, March 30. The team performed to Barnes Country's “Glitter and Gold,” lead by coaches Margo Sanford, Blair Bickerton and Anna Orgren. In their class there were a total of nine groups participating, and the top five who made it to finals received a plaque. “[Walking onto the stage] is very nerve-wracking, but also very exciting as well. When you first start color guard there's a lot of anxiety and uncertainty when you first perform in front of an audience, but once you've done it for a while, it starts to become the best part of the season,” Ella West ‘25 said. “It's very fulfilling to see an audience react to something you've put your heart and soul into.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Both-socal-media-nd-website-main-1-1200x846.jpg)
![April marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, created by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). This month is to spread awareness of the harassment, assault and abuse that happens around the world. The symbol that represented the month was a teal ribbon; however, some survivors of assault create different symbols and movements like the TikTok trend in 2022, where survivors would tattoo Medusa on their body, in honor of her backstory in Greek Mythology. “I don't think [this month is known] at all. I rarely see anybody talk about it. I rarely see much of an emphasis on posting it online, or much discussion about it, and I feel like there needs to be way more discussion,” an anonymous source said. “I think just validating every experience that a person has gone through, regardless of the degree of it, the severity, is an essential step into making sure that people are aware that this is a very real problem in a society and that we need to do better in addressing it.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0011-1200x900.jpg)
![Lesbian Visibility Day is April 26, and it’s a holiday to celebrate the lesbian community of the world. Lesbian Visibility day was established in 2008 by many queer activists and organizations who sought to raise more awareness for lesbian history and culture. “So this is why during Lesbian Visibility [Day] we celebrate and center all lesbians, both cis and trans, while also showing solidarity with all LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people,” Linda Reily, in an article written by her, said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lesbian-Visibility-day.jpeg)
The boots, the horses, the cowboy hats.
Hundreds of thousands gather in the Denver Coliseum every year for the biggest celebration of agriculture in the West: the National Western Stock Show.
Since 1906, the Stock Show has drawn crowds to enjoy their array of events. From Jan. 6 to Jan. 21, hundreds of people came from all over the country to compete in the shows, sell their crafts or become Rodeo Royalty, including Isabelle Piche ‘24.
Piche started riding horses at the age of 10, after her grandfather’s passing. Her cousins were responsible for introducing her to horses.
“They had their own company,” Piche said. “It was a dangerous horse sporting facility and training. I got really into it after the passing of my grandfather.”
In 2023, Piche became a Queen’s Attendant for the Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo, where she attended the 2023 Western Stock Show as an Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo representative.
“It was a very surreal feeling when I won my first title as the Elizabeth Stampede 2023 Queen Attendant. I spent the year making the most amazing memories and learning so much,” Piche said.
But, becoming the Rodeo Queen was more of a challenge.
Piche went through a series of tests assessing her on subjects including her horsemanship, public speaking skills and even a written test. She was then crowned the Responder Relief Rodeo Queen of 2024.
“This year, when I won as the 2024 Responder Relief Queen, it was more of a motivation to continue what I love to do,” Piche said.
But, being queen isn’t just sitting around.
“I think a lot of people think that what we do is a pageant. It’s really not,” Piche said.
Piche’s job as Rodeo Queen is to be an ambassador to the rodeo. The Responder Relief Rodeo’s mission is to help first responders through hard times by raising money and awareness for these men and women. Piche works as a helper and supporter of the cause in addition to teaching children about rodeo.
“I love working with kids. I think that’s a lot of my drive,” Piche said.
Piche spends some of her time at the Stock Show educating kids about Western culture. Many Colorado elementary schools bring in field trips to tour the Stock Show with Rodeo Queens to get them excited for the event itself.
Between participating in the school’s Fire Science Program, having over 400 hours of community service and being the Responder Relief Rodeo Queen, Piche stays busy with her work.
“My motivation is making the good out of the bad,” Piche said. “I’ve learned a lot. I look at myself my sophomore year versus now. Tremendous [growth], you know, I was not the same person. And so, I can sit here and say [that] I’ve grown and I’ve also learned a lot, not only about rodeo, but about myself.”
