There was laughing and giggling and shy smiles. Mostly what you’d expect to find when big, burly football players visit an elementary school. But for Joe Schreibeis, Jordan Craney, Mike Person, Blayde Becksted and Tanner Ripley, it was more than just a free pizza lunch. It was an opportunity to influence youngsters and spend some time giving back to the community.
“This is just as much fun for us as it is for them,” Ripley said.
As Person struggled to open a half-pint of milk, Craney was quick to comment that he had not forgotten how to open the tricky paper cartons. Schrebeis asked for the ranch dressing so Person got up and served him personally with a smile, squeezing the dressing bottle on to his salad.
The five were having lunch with some selected Anderson School students as part of a reward program for the “Principal’s 100,” a program that recognizes students who exemplify the school’s behavior mission. Anxious students waited on the periphery for the select group to get done eating so the autograph session could start.
For Ripley, it was a blast from the past. Growing up in a small community, he remembered sharing time with many youngsters as a high school football player. But the reasons for Ripley giving his time run much deeper than just an opportunity to spend time with kids.
When Ripley attended his first “Big For a Day” event as a Montana State football player three years ago, he knew that the mission of Big Brothers/Big Sisters was a good personal fit for him. He remembers the day well.
“There was a young kid who just hung on me all day,” Ripley said. “I kept in touch with him after that but he was from Livingston and it just wasn’t feasible for me to get involved.”
Then, passing by the Big Brothers/Big Sisters table at Catapalooza the following fall, Ripley stepped up and volunteered. He was paired with a young boy from Bozeman and he has been a “big” ever since.
“What they’re doing really fits who I am,” Ripley said. “I’ve always been someone who likes to help people and I like kids. Growing up in a small K-12 school, I enjoyed interacting with little kids every day.”
That K-12 school Ripley referred to was Highwood, a small class C high school about 30 miles east of Great Falls. Ripley’s family ranches in the area and he would someday like to go back to ranch.
“Right now, I am majoring in Animal Science, but I don’t think I’m going to ranch when I’m done with school,” Ripley said. “I’d like to do some traveling, maybe go overseas for a while.”
Last summer, he got a taste of that overseas living when he spent the summer on a missions trip in Australia with Campus Crusade. He is also active in Athletes in Action and has chosen to live in the dorm as an upperclassman to help mentor younger students.
“My faith is really important to me,” Ripley said. “That is most of what drives what I do. And I’m fortunate to come from a family where that is important.”
Ripley is the youngest of three children in a family that includes two older sisters who are both married and have children. He values that family connection and looks forward to spending time with his two nephews whenever he can.
Ripley has always been active in leadership. As president of his student council in high school, his influence stretched beyond the athletic field.
“I feel like I am gifted in leadership and it would be a waste not to use that,” he said.
Getting involved in community service just felt natural to him and when opportunities presented themselves at Montana State, he took advantage.
“I feel like helping other people helps me focus on something besides school and something besides football. I think it helps me be a better student to know that there is something else out there besides school and sports.”