FORT COLLINS - Linton Elementary School fourth-grader Sam Tollison is a relatively quiet student, but the shy 10-year-old found his voice this holiday season when he launched a campaign to earn his favorite pastry - the cinnamon roll - statewide recognition.
It all started with a classroom lesson on state symbols. As Tollison learned about the state flower, the columbine, and the state bird, the lark bunting, he said he was surprised to find that Colorado had no state pastry.
"I sent a letter to the governor and then I made a ... what's it called ... a petition and had a whole bunch of people at school sign it," Tollison said. "I sent it with my letter to the governor. I didn't think I'd get a response."
Tollison said his original request was to make the cinnamon roll the state roll of Colorado, an idea that 102 people supported by signing his petition.
"It was all his idea," said his mother, Sarah Fox. "Sam doesn't usually talk to many strangers, but he did for this by going up and down the bleachers at basketball games and all around town to get signatures."
Last week, the fruit of Tollison's outgoing efforts paid off when he opened a rather official looking package from the Governor's Office.
"It was right before he went to school Thursday," said father Ray Tollison. "He opened it and was so excited."
While Gov. John Hickenlooper did not officially make the cinnamon roll the state roll of Colorado, Tollison received an official proclamation dated Dec. 2, 2011, declaring Jan. 8, 2012, Colorado Cinnamon Roll Day.
"Whereas, cinnamon rolls are a wonderful treat that the people of Colorado sometimes enjoy as the start to an active day... and whereas, on special occasions, the cinnamon roll can bring the people of colorful Colorado together with family and neighbors, therefore I, John Hickenlooper, Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim January 8, 2012, Colorado Cinnamon Roll Day," excerpts of the proclamation read.
To celebrate the day, Tollison has some very special, cinnamon roll-packed plans.
"We're going to go to Vern's for breakfast, going to come to Panera for lunch and then have a cinnamon roll party with chili and cinnamon rolls for dinner," he said.
"I grew up in Fort Collins and we always had chili and cinnamon rolls in Poudre School District as kids," Fox explained. "Now whenever we have chili, we have to have chili and cinnamon rolls."
As Tollison took a big bite of a Panera Bread cinnamon roll, which he said has "a lot more frosting" than the more "cinnamony" Vern's rolls, he gave one good reason for everyone in Fort Collins to celebrate his new favorite holiday.
"They're yummy," he said.
This story written by Sarah Jane Kyle, Fort Collins Coloradoan.
(Copyright © 2011 Fort Collins Coloradoan, All Rights Reserved)