When men’s soccer and golf coach Brian Jaworski adopted the cheer “GC Pride!” to motivate his players, the catchy saying quickly caught on. Eric Ragan, along with Matt Rosenbaum, Ryan Creps, Peter Marsho and Robert Seer (all ’12) decided to use the momentum to promote campus unity and raise money for breast cancer research.
Their 1-inch white GC Pride wristbands have the Honor G, a symbol of Grinnell varsity athletics, emblazoned on them in red. They sell for three dollars apiece, with proceeds going to Susan G Komen for the Cure.
So what is GC Pride?
“It’s not just an athletic thing” says Rosenbaum. “It’s about friends, student government, your activities — anything you have pride in about Grinnell. GC Pride exists because there is a reason we all chose to come to Grinnell. The wristbands are a nice way of uniting everyone behind Grinnell, whatever their reason.”
The word of the wristbands spread quickly. Rosenbaum says, “We’ve been getting emails from all kinds of people on campus because GC Pride has taken a life of its own. We got emails and Facebook messages from students, faculty, and recent alums asking where to get them.”
The project was so successful that the wristbands are almost sold out now. Don’t worry — the group has plans to order more.
Why the popularity?
Rosenbaum says, “Wearing a wristband is a way for our community to show how they feel about the institution.” Ragan agrees. “GC Pride is about everything that is Grinnellian and good. This is a way of saying thanks and remembering what Grinnell has done in our lives; at least that is how it is for me. ”
How can you get one?
Contact Eric Ragan (raganeri@grinnell.edu) or Matt Rosenbaum (rosenbau1@grinnell.edu) to purchase a wristband.
Profits will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a recipient of funds from the October Midwest Conference Play for the Cure.
