NPC mascot submission deadline approaches

JAY BELL

Only four days remain until the public submission deadline for the new mascot of National Park College.

Entries will only be accepted through Wednesday. The search was announced by the college in June.

“We are having a lot of fun with the mascot search and we are pleased with the amount of interest it has sparked,” said Jason Hudnell, dean of enrollment. “I love watching the submission ideas roll in, especially those from community members. Some are serious and some are silly, but all of them are creative.”

Hudnell updated the board of trustees Wednesday during its regular monthly meeting in the Gerald Fisher Campus Center. The college has received a total of 141 submissions, including 85 unique mascot concepts.

The earliest submissions included Lakers and Rangers. Other ideas included Pathfinders, Bathers, Narwhals, Platypodes and Blue Jays.

Ideas can be entered at http://www.np.edu/ mascot until the deadline. Students, faculty, staff,

alumni and community members are welcome to participate. The hashtag, “FindYourMascot” can be used on social media to discuss the search.

“We want to have as many mascot ideas to choose from as possible and the community’s feedback is very important to us,” said Melony Ritter, communications director. “This mascot will be a symbol of campus and community pride for all of us and we hope people will take the time to share their ideas with us.”

The NPC Mascot Selection Team will choose 10 finalists from the submissions. Administrators and the NPC Student Government Association will narrow the finalists to three submissions.

“The student body is very excited about naming a new mascot,” said Michelle Godwin, president of the SGA. “It is something we have wanted to do for some time and we believe it will create an atmosphere and campus spirit that will help students feel more connected to campus and in turn be more successful.”

The final three choices will be announced during NPC Spirit Week Sept. 19-23. Students will vote for their favorites from Sept. 23-30.

The school’s sports teams were known as the Lakers in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s when it was still Garland County Community College. It became National Park Community College in 2003 after a merger with Quapaw Technical Institute.

“Community” was dropped from the name during a rebrand campaign in 2015. The school’s green and gold color scheme was traded in for shades of blue, black and white.

The mascot will be used in publications, advertisements, on the website and in various “collateral materials.” Submissions are instructed to reflect the college’s “brand personality,” consider the culture and history of the college and the community, be easily represented in media and materials, and be accompanied by a name and costume idea. Submissions that do not meet the criteria may not be considered.

The selection must be approved by NPC President John Hogan. The college’s office of external relations will be responsible for the final design.

The mascot will be officially announced during a pep rally on Oct. 26 in the NPC Wellness Center gymnasium.