2008 Woodie Awards
Bringing the cougar home
Statue dedication scheduled for next week
Megan McClure
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: News
Four years and $39,000 later, the cougar is coming home.
"Taking Stalk," the statue of a male cougar created by Dawn Weimer of Colorado, will be unveiled outside the north entrance of the Morris University Center Wednesday.
The 11-foot-long statue is expected to be installed early next week. Student Body President Laurie Estilette said she hopes the statue becomes a central meeting point for students, as well as an inspiration for tradition.
"I think once students know what's going on out there, they will get excited," she said.
According to Kimmel Leadership Center Director Steve Sperotto, the concept of the cougar statue came about during the 2003-04 school year, when former student body president Sara Guarino led Student Government. The project, spearheaded by the School Spirit and Pride Committee, remained in the conceptual phase for a short time as plans developed.
Former student body vice president Nikki Grashoff was active with the School Spirit and Pride committee, helping lead the effort. The statue had been discussed before, but never came to fruition until recently.
"The difference is Nikki moved forward and made it a reality," Sperotto said.
Weimer creates sculptures of mascots for schools at a 40 percent discount. The $39,000 statue was paid for entirely through fundraising. According to Sperotto, the statue would cost $90,000 today.
"One month after we placed the order, the price of copper skyrocketed," he said.
During the 2005-06 school year, Student Government approved a motion to undertake fundraising efforts to bring the statue to campus. Among the fundraising initiatives was a wristband sales drive, in which the committee sold red bracelets featuring the campaign's "Bring the Cougar Home" slogan for $2 each.
Sperotto explained that a few university departments assisted in wristband sales. At one point, Enrollment Management purchased wristbands for each incoming freshman, while Intercollegiate Athletics furnished wristbands for all athletes. Sperotto said the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs also assisted in fundraising.
A permanent sign of fundraising efforts will be the 152 commemorative bricks covering the four-foot base of the statue. According to Sperotto, many of the bricks were purchased by alumni.
The committee also hosted fundraising events, including concession stands, trivia nights and a date auction.
The unveiling ceremony will begin at noon Wednesday on the Stratton Quadrangle, near the Morris University Center. Estilette will preside over the ceremony, while Grashoff and Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift will be featured speakers.
"We will have quite a few past Student Government presidents in attendance," Estilette said, mentioning former student body presidents Dell Jones, Cindy (Holesko) Allen and Carl B. Mitchell.
Events prior to the ceremony include the unveiling of the new SIUE athletics logo at 11:15 in the Morris University Center's Goshen Lounge, followed by a ceremony recognizing the 2007 NCAA Division II champion SIUE women's softball team.
"Taking Stalk," the statue of a male cougar created by Dawn Weimer of Colorado, will be unveiled outside the north entrance of the Morris University Center Wednesday.
The 11-foot-long statue is expected to be installed early next week. Student Body President Laurie Estilette said she hopes the statue becomes a central meeting point for students, as well as an inspiration for tradition.
"I think once students know what's going on out there, they will get excited," she said.
According to Kimmel Leadership Center Director Steve Sperotto, the concept of the cougar statue came about during the 2003-04 school year, when former student body president Sara Guarino led Student Government. The project, spearheaded by the School Spirit and Pride Committee, remained in the conceptual phase for a short time as plans developed.
Former student body vice president Nikki Grashoff was active with the School Spirit and Pride committee, helping lead the effort. The statue had been discussed before, but never came to fruition until recently.
"The difference is Nikki moved forward and made it a reality," Sperotto said.
Weimer creates sculptures of mascots for schools at a 40 percent discount. The $39,000 statue was paid for entirely through fundraising. According to Sperotto, the statue would cost $90,000 today.
"One month after we placed the order, the price of copper skyrocketed," he said.
During the 2005-06 school year, Student Government approved a motion to undertake fundraising efforts to bring the statue to campus. Among the fundraising initiatives was a wristband sales drive, in which the committee sold red bracelets featuring the campaign's "Bring the Cougar Home" slogan for $2 each.
Sperotto explained that a few university departments assisted in wristband sales. At one point, Enrollment Management purchased wristbands for each incoming freshman, while Intercollegiate Athletics furnished wristbands for all athletes. Sperotto said the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs also assisted in fundraising.
A permanent sign of fundraising efforts will be the 152 commemorative bricks covering the four-foot base of the statue. According to Sperotto, many of the bricks were purchased by alumni.
The committee also hosted fundraising events, including concession stands, trivia nights and a date auction.
The unveiling ceremony will begin at noon Wednesday on the Stratton Quadrangle, near the Morris University Center. Estilette will preside over the ceremony, while Grashoff and Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift will be featured speakers.
"We will have quite a few past Student Government presidents in attendance," Estilette said, mentioning former student body presidents Dell Jones, Cindy (Holesko) Allen and Carl B. Mitchell.
Events prior to the ceremony include the unveiling of the new SIUE athletics logo at 11:15 in the Morris University Center's Goshen Lounge, followed by a ceremony recognizing the 2007 NCAA Division II champion SIUE women's softball team.
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