On a picture-perfect Boulder day, a group of University of Colorado students gathered with the country’s best mascot, Chip, in front of historic Macky Auditorium. With bright sunshine, smiling faces, and the unmistakable energy of the CU Boulder campus, the moment captures exactly what it means to be a Buff.

This is more than a great campus photograph. It is a celebration of friendship, tradition, community, and the powerful school pride that brings generations of Buffaloes together.

Chip: The Heart of Buff Nation

Chip the Buffalo has been entertaining CU students, alumni, families, and sports fans since the 1980s. With his oversized personality, playful sense of humor, and seemingly unlimited energy, Chip has become one of the most recognizable figures in Boulder.

According to the University of Colorado Boulder Alumni Association, Chip appears at football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and lacrosse games, along with campus celebrations and community events. Wherever the Buffs gather, Chip is usually nearby, creating smiles, posing for photographs, and getting everyone excited.

Chip has also proven that he can compete with the best mascots in America. He captured national mascot championships in 2009, 2010, and 2020—an impressive résumé that supports what Buffs fans have always known: Chip belongs at the very top of the college mascot world.

His adventures have extended far beyond the sidelines. Chip has snowboarded in the Colorado mountains, danced in a NASA spacesuit, and even conducted an orchestra inside Macky Auditorium, the landmark building providing the magnificent backdrop for today’s featured photograph.

Students Are the Spirit of CU Boulder

While Chip may command attention, the students standing beside him represent the true heart of the university. Their enthusiasm and camaraderie reflect the welcoming spirit found throughout campus—from classrooms and residence halls to Farrand Field, the Hill, and Folsom Field.

Being a Buff means becoming part of something larger. It means sharing the excitement of game day, meeting people from across the country and around the world, and studying in one of America’s most beautiful college settings. It also means joining a community whose connection frequently lasts long after graduation.

That enduring relationship is why CU graduates proudly call themselves “Forever Buffs.” The friendships, experiences, and memories created in Boulder become part of their lives wherever the road takes them.

A Classic Faces of Boulder Moment

With Chip at the center, happy students gathered around him, and one of CU Boulder’s most recognizable buildings rising behind them, today’s Faces of Boulder campus edition brings together everything that makes this university special.

It is youthful, joyful, unmistakably Boulder, and proudly black and gold.

Go Buffs!

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