CSU-Pueblo Lobster Bake
Over the past seven summers, the Colorado State University-Pueblo Department of Athletics has begun each new academic year with the Lobster Bake. Started in August, 2005, the Lobster Bake serves as the official kick off to the upcoming intercollegiate sports season for Colorado State University-Pueblo. Since the Lobster Bake's inception, over $65,000 have been raised through the support of the event's attendees. That first event was attended by 80 individuals who dined on a buffet dinner of steak, lobster tails, baked potatoes and cole slaw. The menu has not changed since that first year, but the crowds have swelled! Not only does the Lobster Bake kick off each new season of ThunderWolves intercollegiate athletics, but helps raise funds for the Wolf Pack Scholarship Drive. The goal of the Drive is to provide the necessary resources to ensure academic and athletic success for CSU-Pueblo's 400 student-athletes, 45 athletic department staff, and 16 intercollegiate sports programs.
Last year, attendance grew to more than 425 attendees and generated $13,000 for athletic scholarships. All CSU-Pueblo coaches and staff attend the event and each one sits at different tables throughout the room in order to meet as many ThunderWolves supporters as possible. Each coach is then introduced and brought to the front of the room. CSU-Pueblo’s director of athletics and president address the crowd, but the highlight of each Lobster Bake is when current student-athletes talk to the audience on how events like the Lobster Bake impact their lives. |
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In order to increase the revenue generated by the Lobster Bake, a silent auction was added and an indoor putting challenge in conducted. Another highlight came in at the 2009 Lobster Bake when Associate Athletic Director Todd Kelly offered to have his head shave if an additional $25,000 was raised for the Pack Club (CSU-Pueblo’s booster club). To help reach the goal and to see Mr. Kelly’s head shaven, a donor contributed $15,000 at the Lobster Bake.
