Placid Games choose spokesmoose
FIT student designed “Mac,” who’ll visit Schenectady Saturday
A new, important dignitary is in the middle of a statewide tour to introduce himself.
He’s plush, has antlers and a blue scarf.
“Adirondack Mac,” a Lake Placid moose mascot designed by a Fashion Institute of Technology student, appeared in a mock curling competition at the Schenectady Curling Club Wednesday, and will take part in the Schenectady Holiday Parade Saturday.
In March, the state launched a contest seeking design concepts for a mascot to represent the Lake Placid 2023 World University Games, where competitors from around the world will appear.
Nearly 150 submissions were received from entrants representing 35 New York counties. Following a public vote on the I Love NY website, 10 designs advanced to a selection committee representing academia, government, tourism and athletics.
The mascot design winner, Kristina Ingerowski, is a sophomore at FIT and a native of Farmington, Ontario County. Ingerowski will receive a $5,000 cash prize.
Adirondack Mac will be a highly visible symbol of the FISU World University Games, which are scheduled for Jan. 12-22, 2023, with his image on toys, apparel and other souvenirs.
The 6-foot-tall mascot will also physically be present until then at Olympic Regional Development Authority venues around Lake Placid, as well as other places in the North Country.
“The mascot design competition was a unique way to showcase the talent and creativity of New Yorkers, and I want to congratulate Kristina Ingerowski on her winning design,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement last week.
New York is the only state in the U.S. to have hosted the FISU World University Games, and 2023 marks the second time Lake Placid has played host. The North Country community previously hosted the Games in 1972, and Buffalo was the site of the summer games in 1993.