The Dandini Campus at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) recently hosted its second annual Spirit Day, followed by the third annual Kickstart Tailgate fundraiser in support of the college’s men’s and women’s soccer teams.
Spirit Day began with a march around campus, led by the eNVision Performing Arts drumline. President Jeffrey Alexander served as Parade Marshal, accompanied by Mighty the Lizard. Despite cloudy weather, participants displayed enthusiasm with TMCC flags and cheers for the Lizards.
“It was wonderful to see the campus come alive with pride and celebration, honoring our TMCC student-athletes and campus community,” said YeVonne Allen, Interim Vice President of Student Services.
After the march, attendees participated in the SGA Club Fair at the V. James Eardley Student Services Center. The event offered opportunities to learn about various clubs and organizations. Participants who completed a bingo card while meeting Recognized Student Organization representatives received free boba tea from Num Num Boba. Additional activities included games, art projects, and browsing merchandise from TMCC’s on-campus bookstore.
Wendy Solorio Ramirez from the Student Activities and Leadership Office highlighted the benefits of Spirit Day for students: “It's a great way for students to start interacting and creating great memories and friendships with people of common interests,” Ramirez said.
The day also featured a baked potato bar lunch, three-on-three basketball games, and a volleyball match between club members and faculty or staff. The festivities concluded at the Sports and Fitness Center with ice cream provided by Super Swirl food truck.
Later in the week, TMCC held its third annual Kickstart Tailgate event to support its soccer teams. Organized by the Foundation and Sponsored Programs Office, this gathering included food trucks, music, raffles, and family-friendly activities.
Robert Castillo from the men’s soccer team commented on community involvement: “Seeing the community come out and support us is motivating because of the countless hours of effort we put into practices and games,” Castillo said.
Women’s soccer player Gaby Ruvalcaba shared similar sentiments: “It was so cool to see just how big the community is and how they're willing to come together over our shared love of soccer,” she said.
Both TMCC teams won their matches against Pacific Northwestern Christian College during tailgate celebrations; women’s team secured a 4–0 victory while men’s team achieved their first home win of 2–0 this season.
Several donors contributed to these events:
- Megan Wilkerson ($2,500)
- TMCC President Jeffrey Alexander ($1,000)
- Frame Architecture ($1,000)
- United Federal Credit Union ($500)
- ULINE ($500)
- Shortie's Candles ($250)
- Estella Levario Gutierrez ($250)
More information can be found on TMCC's Spirit Day or Kickstart Tailgate webpages.