With Homecoming Week on the horizon, Grand Rapids Community College has a major announcement to go along with the other festivities that will take place.
GRCC will soon have a new mascot that college administrators hope will create a new sense of identity for the college, and a fresh sense of belonging for students, faculty, and alumni. Executive Director of Marketing & Communications, Lyndsie Post, shared her insight on why now is the time for a new mascot to be born.
“The original GRCC mascot, the Raider Racoon, made its debut as an Indiana Jones-inspired character but was retired in the 2010s,” Post said. “Since then various mascot ideas have been considered, but none were officially adopted. So, last April, we launched the search for a new mascot that embodies the spirit, values, and identity of our college.”
After receiving more than a hundred submissions, the final options for the new mascot have come down to just three choices. Distinctiveness, creativity, and a fresh new look were the main components that were used to narrow the choices down to the final finalists.
“We narrowed the choices down to keep the process practical, clear, and engaging,” Post said. “From there, we selected the strongest and most representative options. Each finalist was also reviewed for distinctiveness, making sure we don’t overlap too closely with other community college mascots in Michigan, and for how well the choice could be brought to life in logos and a costumed character.”
Mascots represent school pride, values, and identity, while fostering a sense of belonging and unity. Something that Post believes will only bring our school and surrounding community together.
“A new mascot will give GRCC a unifying symbol that brings our Raider spirit to life,” Post said. “The new mascot will provide a visual identity that reflects who we are – dedicated, resilient, and inclusive.”
Not only do mascots serve as a beacon of pride for an institution, it also ignites more engagement within the student body. Having a new symbol for students, faculty, and alumni to rally around, could play a significant role in heightening overall support for on campus events.
“Mascots are present in all aspects of college life. They show up in athletics, student life, community events, and even in everyday branding,” Post said. “They help the campus community feel connected to something other than themselves. For GRCC, a mascot creates a shared sense of pride, belonging and tradition. And by involving our entire campus community in the selection process, the mascot will truly represent the entire Raider community.”
The mascot page will be updated with a new form and images of the concepts. Students, staff, faculty, and alumni can begin voting at the beginning of Homecoming Week on Monday Sep. 29, voting will end on Oct. 3.
