National Park College could become known as the Rangers, the Lakers, or another name this fall after opening up its search for a new mascot to the public.
Jason Hudnell, dean of enrollment, announced the search during the board of trustees' regular monthly meeting Wednesday in the Gerald Fisher Campus Center. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members are encouraged to participate by submitting mascot ideas at http://www.np.edu/mascot.
"It is something I would have loved to have done for a long time and I know students are interested in this," Hudnell said. "We are going to be naming an NPC mascot this fall. Some people ask, 'Why do you need a mascot when you don't even have a team?' A mascot is so much more than an athletic team.
"A mascot is who you are and it's what we are. Right now, if we could have something for our students, our faculty and our staff to rally behind, then it's not just, 'We are coming to National Park College,' but we are coming out to be a 'fill in the blank.'"
Rangers and Lakers were among the early submissions for the mascot. Submissions on Wednesday included Pathfinders, Bathers, Narwhals, Platypodes and Blue Jays.
The college dropped "Community" from its name during a rebrand campaign in 2015. Shades of blue, black and white are now used for the college's new logo instead of the former green and gold scheme. The rebrand introduced "Find Your Path" as the new tagline for the college.
Sports teams at the school were the Lakers in the 1970s, 1980s and the early 1990s when it was still Garland County Community College. The Lakers competed in sports such as basketball and tennis.
All entries must be submitted by midnight Aug. 31. The mascot will be announced during a pep rally on Oct. 26 in the NPC Wellness Center gymnasium.
"Hopefully that will be something that appropriately attracts attention and helps us build our identity and build those relationships," said NPC President John Hogan.
The college's website reads, "College mascots are intended to create college spirit, engage the community, be inclusive of the college's diverse academic programs and student body, and expand the college brand. The mascot will be utilized in college publications and advertisements, on the college website and various collateral materials."
Submissions that do not meet the search's criteria may not be considered. The mascot 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.
All submissions will undergo an initial review by the NPC Mascot Selection Team. The team will select 10 finalists to advance to the next stage.
Thoughts on the process can be shared on social media with the hashtag, "FindYourMascot." The finalists will be chosen from the submissions to "best embody the spirit of NPC."
The NPC Student Government Association and college administration will select the top three concepts. The final three mascot concepts will be announced during NPC Spirit Week Sept. 19-23.
NPC students, faculty and staff will vote for their favorites during the last week of September. Voting will end at noon on Sept. 30.
The mascot selection must be approved by Hogan. The college's office of external relations will be responsible for the final design of the mascot.
Hudnell updated the board on Wednesday of recruiting events and activities to be held in the summer, fall and spring semesters. He has been in his new role of student recruitment and advising since April.
Hudnell was previously the director of National Park Technology Center, the college's technical school for area high school students. Mike Wiles was approved as the new NPTC director on Wednesday.
Local on 06/26/2016