Best 17 of 2017
2017 was another celebration-worthy year among our community, one that brought countless innovations, visionary leadership from every area of campus and positive impacts near and far. It was a year marked with new discoveries, academic and career achievements, high-profile visitors, our beloved Ralphie's 50th anniversary, philanthropic legacies and much more. Enjoy this recap of another outstanding year and some of our proudest Buff moments.
One small step ...
The future of aerospace at CU Boulder is taking off with the groundbreaking of a building and a naming gift.
- Read the story: New aerospace engineering building breaks ground
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKLFBDcitLc]
Cool technology headlines our innovation ecosystem
A newly invented material cools objects under direct sunlight with zero energy and water consumption ... just one example of an innovation ecosystem dedicated to moving humanity forward by working together in anticipation of what's next.
Read the stories:
- Newly engineered material can cool roofs, structures with zero energy consumption
- Student team wins satellite launch slot from NASA
- From VC Fiez: New Venture Challenge kickoff marks year-long celebration of innovation
- Proposal for shared equipment, labs tops recent Short Experiment Competition
Your view of CU
Take a look at campus and community as shared through your lens.
- See the photos:Best of 2017: Your Instagram snapshots
50 and fabulous
Celebrating the greatest live mascot in all of college sports, we bid the happiest of anniversaries to the iconic Ralphie.
- Read the story:50 Years of Ralphie
- Watch the video:
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Addressing student costs
CU Boulder announced a major step in reducing the cost of attendance, eliminating $8.4 million per year in course-related fees.
- Read the story: Be Boulder Pact to save student body $8.4 million annually
High-profile guests
Thousands of people attended a variety of talks and events hosted on campus across the year, featuring thought-provoking individuals like Milo Yianapoulos, Laverne Cox, Indigo Girls, Robert Gates, Dava Newman, Rick Bayless, Lizz Winstead, Kate Fagan, GZA, µþ°ù±ð²Ôé&²Ô²ú²õ±è;µþ°ù´Ç·É²Ô, John Holdren, Chris Mosier and more. Every effort is made to bring speakers who will intellectually stimulate and challenge the student body and the Boulder community.​
- See the photos: Best of 2017: Campus visitors
- Watch the livestream:
- Don't miss out:, and to stay up to date on campus happenings.
Bears, a badger and Buffs, oh my!
Wildlife sightings of badgers to bears reminded us that nature is an exciting part of our beautiful campus. Even our domestic four-legged friends enrich our experience.
See the photos: Best of 2017: Moments with animals
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU0Y8NlXq8M]
Competing on a national stage
Women's DMR relay team, NCAA Indoor Champions
Women's lacrosse made its first post-season appearance, and many of our teams showed they're among the best in the country.
- CU Buffs Cheer, Dance and Chip: Chip fifth place mascots, cheer 10th place all-girl, dance seventh place pom in Div. IA at UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship
- CU Buffs Track and Field, Women's DMR Relay:
- CU Buffs Ski Team:
- Club Tennis: First place in the Intermountain Section, competed at USTA Tennis on Campus National Championship
- Club Triathlon:USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Champions
- Club Cycling: Road National Champions
- CU Buffs Women's Lacrosse:
- CU Buffs Women's Cross Country:
Cassini mission’s grand finale
The Cassini spacecraft signed off from Saturn after a highly successful 20-year mission.
- Read the story: CU Boulder scientists ready for Cassini mission grand finale
Sustainability stewardship
From welcoming the campus’s first chief sustainability officer to fighting weeds with steam, the campus furthered its legacy of environmental stewardship.
Read the stories:
- Heidi VanGenderen named CU Boulder's first chief sustainability officer
- CU Boulder employs steam to control weeds on campus
- Campus Dining Services gets top honor for food service technology
- CU Boulder 10th among public schools in sustainability ranking
- 3 campus buildings receive LEED Gold certifications for sustainability
- 3 Athletics facilities score LEED Platinum for green building excellence
Setting the stage for the next 100 years
In support of student opportunities and in celebration of its 100th birthday, the College of Music embarked on its first major fundraising campaign called music+.
Buffs give back
In 2017, our Buffs time and again contributed to the greater good.
Read the stories:
- CU Boulder named blood donor champion at Rocky Mountain Showdown
- Buffs helping Buffs: The gift of life
- Alumni in Focus: Adjustable prosthesis offers mobility to the masses
- Pushing Boundaries: Students develop eye-activated controller for people of all abilities
For many, a once-in-a-lifetime look
Campus seemed to stop for a moment and folks stepped outside to take in an astronomically awesome sight.
See the photos: Best of 2017: The eclipse
Wilderness can tame sleep rhythms
Camping over just a weekend can help reset the body's clock, researchers discovered.
- Read the story: Can't get to sleep? A wilderness weekend can help
Tapped for the bench
Visiting professor Neil Gorsuch was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court and Professor Melissa Hart was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court.
Read the stories:
- Trump's pick for Supreme Court a visiting professor at CU Boulder
- Melissa Hart named to Colorado Supreme Court
A feast for the eyes
CU Boulder opened the new Village Dining Center and Community Commons with a view towards sustainability ... and the mountains.
- Read the story: Village Center Dining and Community Commons now open
Be social
The @cuboulder community celebrates the highlights of the year.
From Facebook:
- Celebrate the Class of 2017 with us!
- The first day of classes is almost here and we cannot wait to see all of our students, faculty and staff back on campus. Welcome home, Buffs.
- Travel + Leisure recently named our campus the most beautiful in the state of Colorado! We'd have to agree, we're lucky to call Boulder home.
- U.S. News and World Report national rankings for Graduate Programs are out, and we are No. 1 in atomic/molecular/optical physics, No. 5 in ceramics, No. 6 in environmental law, No. 9 in environmental engineering and No. 10 in aerospace engineering sciences, to name a few.
- We love welcoming visitors to campus! These two were playing outside of Sewall Hall earlier this week. Thanks to Alexander Ulanch for sharing this awesome video!
From Twitter:
- Saturday morning snow falling on Old Main.
- Happy first day of classes, Buffs!
- Here's @CUBuffsRalphie bringing in the second half. Let's #GoBuffs.
- BUFFS WIN!!! Final score from the Rocky Mountain Showdown 3-17. Go Buffs!
- Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Stay warm out there today, Buffs!
- We knew the Flatirons wouldn't be gone for long!
From Instagram:
- Looks like @katiesinstys found a pretty great way to spend the last day of classes ...
- Happy first day of winter from Boulder, Buffs!
- Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! The first snowfall of the semester is here. Stay warm out there, Buffs!
- Happy move-in, Buffs!
- This Buff bulldog has CU spirit! Good boy, @rudy.frenchbully.