Tip Your Hats to The Derby Party Scholarship Recipients
Three students received college scholarships to CSU from the Sean 'Ranch' Lough Foundation + fabulous Derby hats
Derby Day 2019 has come and gone but not without some fabulous hats and a nail biting race. The fastest two minutes in sports ended with an upset victory for Country House, who knocked Maximum Security out of first place after it was discovered the latter horse moved out of its lane during the race and was disqualified. It was the first time in The Kentucky Derby's 145-year history that an objection led to the winner being stripped of their title.
Photo by Chandler Kim
Photo by Chandler Kim
Attendees at The Original Denver Derby Day, presented by Woodford Reserve, watched the drama unfold downtown on infield jumbo trons and over 40 TVs. For the eighteenth year in a row, the Derby Party sold out and welcomed over 5,000 guests to the biggest celebration outside of Churchill Downs. The hat contest was broadcast on NBC to a national audience of over 20 million viewers. The head cover game was strong, featuring hats with butterflies, flowers and fairy gardens, a sloth, a mushroom top and more.
Photo by Chandler Kim
Photo by Chandler Kim
Despite the drama on the television, The Original Denver Derby Day party served up food, fun and a good time, all for a wonderful cause. The purpose behind the party is bigger than a day of fancy hats and horse racing. Sean Lough was a dear friend, brother and son who tragically passed away in 2001 as a result of a mountain biking accident. Sean's good friends Scott Anderson and Terrance Hunt created the Sean ‘Ranch’ Lough Foundation, a 4-year college scholarship given to individuals exemplifying the qualities Sean had, including a high GPA, an economic need and, most of all, a love for life.
The 2019 SRL Foundation recipients are Celina Baros (Lincoln High School), Ndey Sainabou Hydara (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College) and Marwan Nassar (South High School), and each student's story is one of resilience, hard work and gratitude.
Celina Baros. Photo by Chandler Kim
Celina Baros is the oldest of three children and is involved in a plethora of clubs and activities at her school. Her parents had her when they were young and she knows the struggle of essential "growing up together." She says her younger siblings are her inspiration, "they are the reason why I've worked so hard my entire life. I just want to be their role model." Baros wants to be a doctor.
Ndey Sainabou Hydara. Photo by Chandler Kim
Ndey Sainabou Hydara moved to Gambia at two years old and lived there for nine and a half years. When she moved to the States, she had to take English learning development classes. She loves to read and is involved in student leadership programs and a medical collaboration program. She wants to own her own business.
Marwan Nassar. Photo by Chandler Kim
Marwan Nassar was born in Iraq but moved to Syria because of the war. He didn't go to school from ages 13-17 because he had to work and help support his family. He is South High School's student body president and is also involved in other school activities and sports. He wants to be a congressman.
100% of all ticket proceeds from The Original Denver Derby Party benefit the Sean Ranch Lough Foundation. Thanks in large part to the support of the Derby Party patrons, the SRL Foundation has given over 58 students the chance to attend college without financial burden.
