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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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Creating a role model

Hannah Clark
Dozens of CSC students dance amidst laser lights Thursday night in the Student Center’s Ballroom as part of the Wedding Crashers Bash event. More than 250 students participated. — Photo by T.J. Thomson
Dozens of CSC students dance amidst laser lights Thursday night in the Student Center’s Ballroom as part of the Wedding Crashers Bash event. More than 250 students participated. — Photo by T.J. Thomson

Charlie Sampson, the first African American to win the Bull Riding World Championship, strolls across Memorial Hall’s main stage. As a part of the Black History Month, Sampson spoke on Feb. 21, and shared anecdotes about his journey from aimless urbanite to the bull riding champion. His first encounter with the wild west was a cub scouts trip. Sampson fell in love with a pony-ride, and when he ran out of quarters, Sampson cleaned stables to earn rides. Growing up, he worked tirelessly for ranches, entered his first rodeo under a pseudonym, attended college on a rodeo scholarship (only to break his leg and be unable to ride as a freshman), and encountered racism while competing in the South.

Despite the pedigree of his story, Sampson’s talk was less a celebration of his successes and more a celebration of everyone who helped him. His frank humility brightened the auditorium, almost as much as his glowing smile, and these days, instead of finding role models, Sampson is stepping up to be one.