CSU’s Lory Student Center will celebrate its 62nd birthday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, on the LSC Plaza. The event is free and open to the public, and features birthday cake, music provided by KCSU-FM deejays and a performance by the CSU “Rampage” Basketball Band.
CAM the Ram will be there to help with the celebration, and members of the CSU Spirit cheer squad will front the band for select performances. Janice Lynch, aka “Ram Gram,” and her husband, Denny, will share smiles and slices of cake with the crowd.
“We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate the LSC’s birthday with Janice and Denny Lynch, who have very special connections to CSU and the LSC, as strong and recognized supporters of CSU athletics,” LSC Executive Director Mike Ellis said. “Denny worked for many years in the LSC, and perhaps most importantly, he and Janice are grandparents to our very own chair of the LSC Governing Board, Macie Lynch. We couldn’t be more excited for their return!”
‘Ram Gram’
Janice was christened “Ram Gram” at a recent CSU men’s basketball game vs. University of Denver. The game’s camera man, as part of a First National Bank promotion, scanned the audience for spirited fans, momentarily stopping on superfans Janice and Denny, who have had season tickets for years to women’s volleyball and both men’s and women’s basketball.
Janice’s charming smile and energetic wave drew applause, and the camera man moved on to the student section to look for other fans caught up in the moment. To his surprise, the students pointed back to Janice, demanding he go back to her.
When he did, applause erupted, and Janice smiled and waved again, eventually flashing a heart signal back to the students. That was all it took – Janice won $100 in the promotion that day, she said, and at subsequent home games, found herself and her husband in the camera’s spotlight again. It quickly became a thing at games, she said, initiated by student cheers.
“It’s fun to engage with all the students and fans,” Janice said. “It’s great to see everyone get excited – for the fans to get into the game.”
Former nurse
Janice, who worked as a nurse in Fort Collins for 42 years at Poudre Valley Hospital (UCHealth), is now known as “Ram Gram” on campus, and is starting to be recognized as such around town. She’s a reluctant celebrity, she said, yet agrees it’s been a wild ride. Denny, who often defers the growing attention, laughingly refers to himself as “just her driver.”
Denny holds a special place in the LSC’s heart, however. Now retired, he was employed by the LSC for 17 years as a carpenter and maintenance worker. The couple’s sons, two daughters-in-law, and a granddaughter are CSU graduates, and another granddaughter, Macie, will graduate in May.
“We’ve met some of the nicest people,” Janice said. “They approach us and say, ‘I saw you on the Jumbotron!’ or ‘You’re Ram Gram!’ It’s really sweet to meet all these people and have such positive feedback.”
‘Show up’
Janice is all about supporting her beloved Rams. Her best advice to tap into the spirit at CSU?
“Show up and enjoy the time you have at CSU!” she said. “Recognize how hard the athletes are working, and the cheer squad. Just enjoy what they do to make it a nice time for everyone. And if the teams win, it’s even more exciting!”
Last year, Vice President for Student Affairs Blanche Hughes and Associate Dean of Students Craig Chesson joined in the birthday celebration on the Plaza, and CAM the Ram wandered throughout the crowd, striking a pose for snapshots. Members of the LSC Governing Board will be on hand for this year’s celebration, including Macie, Jessica Granados-Prieto, Janeth Gomez Solis, Giovanni Rey and Lekha Tummala.
Students and visitors also can get a free picture with friends on-the-spot using the LSC’s Photoboxx (stop by – LSC Marketing has great props for the occasion), or just hang out in the sun listening to music provided by KCSU-FM deejays.
