Bridging the Divide: Tom Kourlis ’15 and the Return of Western Heritage Day

When Tom Kourlis ’15 was in eighth grade, he had a realization about the "urban-rural divide"  that sparked a mission spanning fifteen years and shaping the perspectives of hundreds of Kent Denver students.

Growing up, Tom split his time between his family’s sheep and cattle ranch in Craig, Colorado, and the classrooms of Kent Denver. As he moved between these two worlds, he noticed a growing gap in understanding between the rural producers he worked with and his urban classmates.

"My original idea was to bring 30 horses from the ranch to campus so everyone could ride," Tom laughs. "I quickly realized that wasn't exactly feasible."

Instead, Tom looked to the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) as the perfect anchor to bridge that gap. In 2011, he founded Western Heritage Day (WHD). What began as a way for a student to share his world with his peers has since grown into a non-profit organization that has served Kent Denver and the Colorado State Fair. Kent Denver’s sixth grade was lucky enough to spend a day at the National Western Stock Show and WHD this past January.

After a brief hiatus due to COVID-19, Western Heritage Day has fully returned. The program still utilizes the original model Tom designed in middle school: a fast-paced, engaging "station" format. Sixth-grade students rotated through 15-minute sessions led by industry experts from CSU, the Colorado Beef Council, and Greeley Water, covering essential topics like water rights, cattle ranching, and the "cowboy" way of life.

The day culminated in a trip to the rodeo, made possible by the logistics support from the Stock Show and generous donors who provided tickets for the students.

For Tom, WHD is more than just an educational field trip; it is a way to give back to the communities that raised him.

"This program is how I like to say thanks to the school community that nurtured me and the industry that shaped me," Tom says. He is quick to credit the "incredible goodwill" of Kent Denver faculty—specifically teachers like Christina Fakharzadeh ‘94—who have trusted the vision and brought students to the program.

By connecting future leaders with the people who grow their food, Tom continues to chip away at the divide he first identified as an eighth grader. His goal remains as steadfast today as it was in 2011: to help us understand each other a little better and keep Colorado’s shared Western heritage alive.