What happens when WSU ROAR scholars and Cougar Baseball players trade the classroom and the diamond for a kitchen? You get one of the most meaningful — and delicious — traditions on the Pullman campus. The 6th Annual WSU ROAR and WSU Baseball Lentil Cook-Off brought together two corners of the Cougar community for an evening of creativity, friendly competition, and a whole lot of lentils.
More Than a Meal
The premise is simple: ROAR scholars and baseball players team up, get creative with lentils, and let a panel of judges decide whose dish reigns supreme. But anyone who has been part of this event knows the real magic happens long before the tasting begins. In the process of brainstorming recipes, dividing up tasks, and figuring out how to turn a humble legume into something extraordinary, scholars and student-athletes build something that lasts well beyond the evening — genuine relationships rooted in respect, collaboration, and shared laughter.
For WSU ROAR, a program dedicated to supporting scholars with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their pursuit of higher education, moments like these are central to the mission. Inclusion is not a checkbox. It is a lived experience, and the Lentil Cook-Off delivers exactly that.
A Tradition Built on Belonging
Now in its sixth year, the cook-off has become a cornerstone event for both programs. Credit for that staying power belongs in large part to Coach Nathan Choate and the entire WSU Baseball team, who have shown up year after year with enthusiasm, genuine investment, and the kind of energy that makes every participant feel welcome. Their commitment to this partnership sends a clear message: belonging at WSU is not reserved for one group or one space. It extends to every Coug, in every setting.
The event also reflects something broader about what inclusive communities look like in practice. Shared experiences — especially ones that are fun, low-stakes, and a little competitive — have a way of breaking down barriers faster than any formal program ever could. When a scholar and a shortstop are standing side by side debating whether to add cumin or smoked paprika, the differences that might otherwise define them simply fade into the background.
What Belonging Looks Like in Action
The 6th Annual Lentil Cook-Off is a reminder that building an inclusive campus is not always about grand gestures. Sometimes it is about showing up, rolling up your sleeves, and cooking something together. Events like this are what the Cougar community does best — bringing people together across programs, backgrounds, and experiences to create something none of them could have made alone.
As WSU ROAR continues to grow and expand opportunities for its scholars, partnerships like the one with WSU Baseball serve as a model for what is possible when two programs decide to show up for each other. Here is to many more years of great food, great competition, and even greater community. Go Cougs!