Campus News
New Mascot: Warrick Waldorf College unveiled a new mascot during their homecoming celebration in the fall of 2013, but he remained nameless for several months until a campuswide vote determined he would be called “Warrick.” The Waldorf College Student Senate has been talking about replacing the old mascot, Wally, for several years. The students wanted something that looked a little more like a warrior and less like a “friendly grandpa.” Wally was developed in the 1980s and was starting to look a bit dated. “He served his time well and was certainly a lovable character that Waldorf responded to,” Jason Ramaker, Dean of Students, said. Many pieces of the mascot have been lost, including Wally’s original gloves and boots. The Student Senate does a campus improvement project every year. They saved money for several years to contribute to a new mascot as their campus improvement project in 2013. Due to the high expense of a custom-designed highquality mascot, the Student Senate teamed up with the Waldorf College Student Life and Intramural departments to make the project possible. Student Senate then reached out to Waldorf students and faculty/staff for name suggestions. Of the over 200 submissions, four names were chosen as top contenders: Frodlaw (Waldorf backwards), Walcules, Walson, and Warrick. In an online poll that finished February 21, Warrick prevailed. The name Warrick, which means “protecting ruler and strong leader,” rolls off the tongue smoothly and reflects the image of the new mascot. Ramaker was astonished at the amount of detail that goes into designing and creating a mascot. “Color, fabric, laces, headwear, facial hair, chest size – it’s all discussed until there is a final image proof. It’s probably something you only do a handful of times a century,” he said. Students love performing as the mascot, because it requires a lot of acting, precise and creative movements to be really effective. Acting as the mascot is also more difficult than one would expect. It’s hot, vision is limited and it can be hard to move. Warrick features state-of-theart technology to keep performers cool and comfortable, including a cooling pad in his chest and a fan in the head. “Everybody loves a mascot. They represent your school, school colors and give unique identity to the college that students, employees and guests can enjoy,” Ramaker said. In the future, he hopes to find a place on campus Above: After a campus vote, to showcase Wally as a the new mascot is named beloved historical symbol. Warrick the Warrior.
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HERO BEHIND THE HERO SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED Every year, Waldorf College elects up to ten online students and one residential student to receive the Hero Behind the Hero scholarship. In February, two deserving recipients were chosen as beneficiaries to this honor. Leslie Hancock, 33, of Senoia, Georgia and Victoria McQuillen, 20, of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire were awarded the Hero Behind the Hero scholarship. “It simply means an opportunity of a lifetime that allows me to follow my educational dreams that would have never happened otherwise,” Hancock said. McQuillen said her inspiration to apply for the scholarship was being the oldest of six children, “I wanted to show my siblings how important it is to go to college.” The Hero Behind the Hero scholarship, which honors the spouses and children of active-duty public safety personnel (firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs and dispatchers) and military men and women annually, covers tuition for up to 24 months for one specific online degree program with Waldorf. Leslie Hancock is the wife of Richard Hancock, an accident investigator/traffic enforcement officer with College Park (Ga.) Police Department. McQuillen is the daughter of Chief Warrant Officer Scott R. McQuillen of the U.S. Marine Corps. Waldorf recognizes the sacrifices made by the family members of America’s military men and women, and public safety personnel. Through the Hero Behind the Hero scholarship, Waldorf continues to show their support of these important people in today’s communities. “With our current incomes and my financial aid, it just wasn’t possible for us to cover the funds needed for me to earn my bachelor’s degree,” said Hancock. “When I received my email, I was sitting in a parking lot with my phone. I opened my email to find my award notification, and I screamed, laughed, and cried sitting in my car! The amount of joy and happiness that this scholarship has given me is amazing.”
Quilt Gifted
Academic Adviser Debra Waldrop received a surprise thank you quilt from two Waldorf College Online students that she assisted as they completed their degrees.