All eyes were on Aidan Carr last Wednesday evening at Berthoud High School (BHS). The Berthoud lacrosse ace sat at center stage in front of nearly eighty other students, friends, and family. Above her, a balloon arch alternated the Spartan colors of maroon, shades of silver, and black. But flanking her on stage was another set of colored balloons familiar to Coloradans, black and gold. After a stellar career at BHS, Carr was awarded a lacrosse scholarship to the University of Colorado at Boulder.

At the front of the excited crowd of onlookers was Carr’s mother, Kristen, snapping photos and cheering on her daughter with the rest of the attendees. “She’s been motivated to do this since she was in third grade when she started playing,” she said. For anyone who has watched her over the years, “this is no surprise,” she added.

“When you start the pieces coming together at third grade, you don’t think about the college scholarship, you just think about the kids playing together, learning the sport, and having fun,” said Carr’s father, Rob, reflecting on the long journey to this day. “This is going to be a fantastic reward for her efforts,” he continued.

The signing ceremony began with BHS Athletic Director, Michael DeWall highlighting Carr’s time at the school. “Very proud moment for me as the athletic director,” said DeWall as he introduced Carr to the audience and listed her many achievements as a student-athlete.

During her time at BHS, Carr was a standout two-sport athlete, excelling at lacrosse as well as basketball. In lacrosse, Carr was awarded first-team all-conference, first-team all-state, and the Loveland Reporter-Herald girls lacrosse player of the year for the past two years. This year she was also honored as a USA Lacrosse all-American, an honor given to only nine other Coloradan girls.

On the basketball court, Carr received an all-state honorable mention the past year. She also earned her varsity letter the past three years in both lacrosse and basketball. Outside of athletics, Carr participates in the National Honor Society and is a peer support counselor and peer buddy.

While the letter of intent signals the end of one sports career and the beginning of another, DeWall made sure that part of Berthoud would go with Carr to Boulder. Before signing on the dotted line, DeWall asked Carr to hold up the pen they gave her. “It’s a custom-made pen, and there’s something really special about this pen,” explained DeWall.

The pen was made with wooden pieces from the original basketball bleachers at BHS in 1981. The wooden bleachers were replaced about twenty years ago with modern plastic ones, but the school hung on to the old bleachers. “Aiden gets to take with her a piece of Berthoud High School when she graduates and moves on,” DeWall said.

DeWall finished by talking about Carr’s academic aspirations to study integrative physiology at Boulder. Carr hopes to become an occupational therapist helping the special needs community or possibly pursue a Doctorate in osteopathic medicine and become a sports team doctor.

Carr took the microphone next to thank all in attendance for supporting her throughout the years. “Every coach of every level of every sport. You have taught me so much about how to be an athlete and also a good human,” said Carr. She also thanked her sister for pushing her to be a better player. “Special shout out to my sister Rory, because at practice even though some of our competitions will turn into fights you are definitely the reason why I’m as good as I am because you’re the hardest competition I’ll probably ever have,” she said while smiling at her sister.

Finishing the speeches was Carr’s basketball coach Alan Gibson. “Wow, what an honor it is to be up here to celebrate this special scholarship for this special athlete,” said Gibson. He said getting a scholarship to a division one school in the Pac-12 is no small feat, “they don’t just give out those kinds of scholarships. Those scholarships are earned, and Aidan has earned every piece of that scholarship.”

Gibson then spoke about Carr’s work ethic and ability to lead those around her. “I know what competitive fire and desire look like and they all look like Aidan Carr,” he said. Showing leadership in the face of adversity is another area Gibson highlighted about Carr. In the state lacrosse finals this summer, Carr suffered a devastating knee injury that took her out of the game. But it was how quickly she bounced back on the sidelines that impressed Gibson the most. “She’s a true leader. And you can see that because she just doesn’t lead at her convenience, or just doesn’t lead when things are going her way. She’s a leader all the time, twenty-four seven,” said Gibson.

After another thunderous applause, Carr signed her letter of intent to the University of Colorado at Boulder. Friends and family then took turns taking pictures and congratulating Carr. “It’s nice to see where her efforts equal results,” said Carr’s father after the signing. “She’s always been focused. She’s always been dedicated. She’s always been a leader,” he added.

For Carr’s mother, there was the added joy of keeping her daughter close to home. “I’m excited to have her in the state. I’m three for five,” she said with a smile referring to her older two children at Colorado Springs and Boulder.