Scholarship Fund Makes Lasting Impact on Ralphie Handler Team

BOULDER—Ronda Hackbart-Reyes wanted to make an impact within the Ralphie program.

Rumors about Ralphie Handlers have been around about as long as the tradition of Ralphie itself. Rumors including the Handlers are on full scholarship, they're recruited out of high school, they're blindfolded every time they go to her ranch, or even that they take turns keeping Ralphie at their home.

Fun rumors aside, the Ralphie program does receive support from the CU Athletic Department, but because it's not an NCAA recognized sport, the support looks different from what other varsity athletes receive.

Hackbart-Reyes graduated from CU in 1982 and was an avid support of the Buffaloes until her untimely passing on May 17, 2021, after a battle with cancer. Shortly after, her family created the Ronda L. Hackbart-Reyes Endowment Ralphie Handler Support Fund. The fund awards scholarships to a small subset for deserving Handlers annually.

Impact successfully implemented.

"I know my mother would be extremely honored and proud knowing that her legacy gets to live on in the Ralphie Program and to be able to support a school and program that she was so passionate about," said Lauren Fishlock, CU alumna and daughter of Ronda Hackbart-Reyes.

"Ronda and her family are so special to the Ralphie program," added Ralphie Program Manager and Head Coach Taylor Stratton. "The endowment they put in place that will allow us to award scholarships will forever have a substantial and positive impact on the best tradition in all of sports."

The first recipients of the scholarship were Wes Weber, Caitlyn Mendik and Kara Morgan in August 2022 and all three will be graduating from CU in this week.

Weber has secured a job with CapTech Consulting while Mendik and Morgan are both looking to pursue postgraduate work in the medical field.

"This scholarship is so special to me and the overall Ralphie Program," Weber said. "It's unbelievable that we can participate in one of the best traditions in sports and live out a dream on Saturdays in Folsom field, while also being supported going to school to get a degree. The generosity of the donors to this scholarship will be felt for a very long time and I'm so honored and proud to be one of the first beneficiaries of this amazing award."

All three Handlers were integral in the process to train Ralphie VI. In addition to their academic achievements, all three also had several milestones within the program to boast about. Mendik received the team's 2022 Heart of the Buffalo Award and holds several lifting records within the program including bench press, hang clean, trap bar dead lift and front squad.

Morgan is just the second woman in the history of the program to complete a gameday run in the back left position and was one of the women to complete the first gameday run of Ralphie with two women at the same time.

Weber is one of the few Handlers who ran at every available position for Ralphie VI's training and during his senior season he ran eight of the 14 available runs, a majority at the front left position, which is responsible for steering Ralphie through her horseshoe run.

If you are interested in donating to Ralphie or the Ronda L Hackbart-Reyes Endowed Ralphie Handler Support Fund please visit our website.

Scholarship Fund Makes Lasting Impact on Ralphie Handler Team

Players Mentioned

Caitlyn Mendik

Kara Morgan

Wes Weber

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