Goshen College is beginning the process of creating a new mascot to pump up the fans during sporting events.
On Monday, Sept. 20, a committee comprised of faculty, community members, students and alumni sat down to start thinking about the mascot that a costumed student will impersonate to represent the campus.Erica Albertin, athletic director and head of the committee, said, “Historically there have been some mascots off and on, but there hasn’t been one that stuck. I would love to have one for a long time moving forward.”
Goshen College’s history with mascots has mostly consisted of students dressing up on their own for sporting events. While those have largely been well received by the Goshen College community, the college has never had an official mascot.
It’s important to note that Goshen College will not be changing anything with the school’s
athletic moniker or logo. All sports teams will still be the Maple Leafs and compete under the same logo. The only difference will be the addition of a costumed mascot to interact with the fans in the stands.
“No matter what, we’re the Maple Leafs,” said Stephanie Miller, head coach of the women’s basketball team. “I don’t care if Captain Underpants is our mascot…..we’ll still be the Goshen College Maple Leafs.”
At their first meeting, the committee established a “why” for the whole process. What are the benefits of creating an official mascot?
The committee came up with three answers. First, it will help create more recognition for the athletic department, both on campus and off campus.
“The biggest thing is the community engagement piece that we’re trying to build with athletics,” Albertin said. “Specifically at the K through 12 schools. Trying to bring in more of the younger community through connections with the mascot.”
Another reason is simply to entertain the fans who attend Goshen College’s athletic events.
“Joy in fan engagement,” Albertin said. “I love going to sporting events where they have that mascot that interacts with the crowd.”
Miller added: “It’s a big part of it, just to have fun, joy, energy. (It’s) something fun from a marketing, from a pictures standpoint, for athletic events but also beyond.”
The college also decided to pursue a mascot because of the opportunities for involvement outside of athletics. Events on and off campus, such as marching in the Elkhart County 4-H Fair parade, would be prime opportunities for marketing the mascot to the greater Goshen community.
“When you think of homecoming and picture opportunities with families and kids . . . we don’t have anything for marketing and photoshoots,” Miller said. “This would be something that would be used of course at athletic events, but at the same time it would be a much broader campus wide goal that we would be serving.”
The next step for the committee is sending out a survey for students and faculty to submit their ideas. Students will be able to submit ideas for designs, names, and concepts for further review from the committee, before they are narrowed down and presented again for a final vote.
“We want to open the brainstorming to the campus so that we don’t only narrow it down to whatever [the committee] is thinking,” said Miller. “We want to throw the nets out and get all the ideas, narrow it to ones that could be hardcore, and get people involved in the vote.”
“We’re just really excited and hope the school community will come along and be a part of adding into this,” Albertin said. “We want it to be something that lasts for a long time and starts building connections between the athletic side and the rest of campus, and the community.”
Goshen College is beginning the process of creating a new mascot to pump up the fans during sporting events.
On Monday, Sept. 20, a committee comprised of faculty, community members, students and alumni sat down to start thinking about the mascot that a costumed student will impersonate to represent the campus.
Erica Albertin, athletic director and head of the committee, said, “Historically there have been some mascots off and on, but there hasn’t been one that stuck. I would love to have one for a long time moving forward.”
Goshen College’s history with mascots has mostly consisted of students dressing up on their own for sporting events. While those have largely been well received by the Goshen College community, the college has never had an official mascot.
It’s important to note that Goshen College will not be changing anything with the school’s
athletic moniker or logo. All sports teams will still be the Maple Leafs and compete under the same logo. The only difference will be the addition of a costumed mascot to interact with the fans in the stands.
“No matter what, we’re the Maple Leafs,” said Stephanie Miller, head coach of the women’s basketball team. “I don’t care if Captain Underpants is our mascot…..we’ll still be the Goshen College Maple Leafs.”
At their first meeting, the committee established a “why” for the whole process. What are the benefits of creating an official mascot?
The committee came up with three answers. First, it will help create more recognition for the athletic department, both on campus and off campus.
“The biggest thing is the community engagement piece that we’re trying to build with athletics,” Albertin said. “Specifically at the K through 12 schools. Trying to bring in more of the younger community through connections with the mascot.”
Another reason is simply to entertain the fans who attend Goshen College’s athletic events.
“Joy in fan engagement,” Albertin said. “I love going to sporting events where they have that mascot that interacts with the crowd.”
Miller added: “It’s a big part of it, just to have fun, joy, energy. (It’s) something fun from a marketing, from a pictures standpoint, for athletic events but also beyond.”
The college also decided to pursue a mascot because of the opportunities for involvement outside of athletics. Events on and off campus, such as marching in the Elkhart County 4-H Fair parade, would be prime opportunities for marketing the mascot to the greater Goshen community.
“When you think of homecoming and picture opportunities with families and kids . . . we don’t have anything for marketing and photoshoots,” Miller said. “This would be something that would be used of course at athletic events, but at the same time it would be a much broader campus wide goal that we would be serving.”
The next step for the committee is sending out a survey for students and faculty to submit their ideas. Students will be able to submit ideas for designs, names, and concepts for further review from the committee, before they are narrowed down and presented again for a final vote.
“We want to open the brainstorming to the campus so that we don’t only narrow it down to whatever [the committee] is thinking,” said Miller. “We want to throw the nets out and get all the ideas, narrow it to ones that could be hardcore, and get people involved in the vote.”
“We’re just really excited and hope the school community will come along and be a part of adding into this,” Albertin said. “We want it to be something that lasts for a long time and starts building connections between the athletic side and the rest of campus, and the community.”
