Jeep Beach Event Swims with DSC Alum’s Shark Mascots, Ruby and Willy

Photo by Alan De Castro

When thousands of enthusiasts descended on the World’s Most Famous Beach in April for the Jeep Beach annual rally, they were greeted by a new duo of shark finned mascots created by recent Daytona State College associate of arts degree graduate Samantha Bodnar.

The Executive Board of Directors of Jeep Beach, Inc., the non-profit organization that hosts the annual fundraising event that supports charities throughout Central Florida, chose Bodnar’s mascots among several that were submitted by students. Through the DSC Foundation, the board awarded Bodnar a $2,000 scholarship, which will come in handy as she begins work on her bachelor’s degree in accounting at Florida Atlantic University.

Bodnar said her winning creations have not swayed her to pursue art as a career.

"No, my major is accounting. I might start drawing more on the side for fun because I enjoy it, but I'm not sure I can make a career of it."

“We already had our brand logo, but no mascots,” said Jeep Beach executive board member Charlene Greer. “So we decided to reach out to Daytona State, figuring the students will come up with some creative ideas.

“We gave them a blank slate and asked them to create something that was approachable and family friendly. We asked them to think about the beach, think about the atmosphere of the event, something tough, something fun. Never in a million years would any of our board members have come up with sharks. Samantha’s creation fits beautifully with our event location and demographic.”

The mascots have been named Ruby and Willy after two of the automaker’s iconic models. Jeep enthusiasts converge on Daytona Beach each year in April to check out the newest Jeep products from over 200 vendors and to participate in various activities throughout the week-long event.

Over the past 16 years, the event has steadily grown in size and scope. Since 2012, Jeep Beach has donated over $1.5 million to local charities. Past recipients include, Boys & Girls Club of Volusia & Flagler County, Childhood Cancer Foundation, NASCAR Foundation, Mission 22 and more than 100 other local charities.

DAYTONA STATE MAGAZINE • SPRING/SUMMER 2019

Hopefully we can entice Ruby and Willy to participate in the 2nd annual Invitational Mascot Match-up during the 2019 Homecoming activities scheduled for Oct. 10-12; for more information, visit www.DaytonaState.edu/Homecoming