FORT COLLINS - Painting The 'A'
Saturday, August 25, 2012, 08:00 AM

Join us as we Paint the ‘A,’ and take part in annual tradition dating back to 1923!

Painting the A
Saturday, August 25, 2012, 08:00 AM


Check-In* at Moby Arena parking lot
• Shift #1: 9 -11 a.m.
(Check-in begins at 8 a.m./ Bus departs Moby Arena at 8:30 a.m.)

• Shift #2: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
(Check-in begins at 10 a.m./ Bus departs Moby Arena at 10:30 a.m.)

• Shift #3: 1 -3 p.m.
(Check-in begins at 12 p.m./ Bus departs Moby Arena at 12:30 p.m.)

*check-in starts 15 minutes prior to scheduled shift time.


Students: Sold Out!
Alumni: Register Here!


Free transportation to and from the A!  Participants are required to use the provided transportation to and from the A. There is no parking available at the A. Buses depart promptly from the Moby Arena parking lot.

Three shifts to choose from! Each shift is about three hours long and include travel time to and from the A. Participants are expected to stay for the duration of their scheduled shift.

Students should wear clothing that can get paint on it. 40 volunteers will be utilized in each shift. Once shifts fill up students may be placed on a waiting list to participate, however if one shift is full, others might still be open.


Fun Facts About the A
• The A stands for Aggies, one of the former mascots for the University.
• Construction of the A begin on December 12, 1923.  It took six hours to complete.
• The land used to construct the A was leased to the University on a long-term lease for $1.
• On September 20, 1924, the dimensions of the A were expanded to its current size of 450 feet high by 210 feet wide.
• Painting the A white began as a tradition in 1924 - after the emblem had been enlarged.  It continues as a tradition today - thanks to the Student Alumni Connection, the College of Agricultural Sciences, and members of the freshman football team and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.
• The A serves as an aerial landmark.  Pilots can see the A from as far as 60 miles out.
• Each summer, as a part of Ram Welcome, freshman hike to the A and leave a small white pebble as a symbol of the impact she/he will have on the University.
• The A is painted with non-toxic white paint that is checked and deemed environmentally sound by CSU's Environmental Health Services department.


What to Expect - What does "painting the A" really mean?
Expect to help with painting the A using spray hoses hooked up to generators and via buckets of paint.  Painting the A also involves other tasks such as re-filling supplies, maintenance, and clean-up.  It takes a lot to get the A ready for the year, but being a part of the tradition is well worth it!  Light lifting may be required for some equipment.


For any questions regarding this event, please contact the CSU Alumni Association at 800-286-2586.