Austin Community College students have plenty of pride. What they don’t have is a mascot. But that is about to change.
The college’s Student Government Association, Student Life Office, and Public Information and College Marketing Department have teamed up to launch a search for the perfect ACC mascot.
Once upon a time, ACC had a mascot. Do the ACC Eagles sound familiar to anyone? Back in the 1970s, the college took on the eagle mascot and official school colors of black and gold. There was even a football team, which won a city championship.
The ACC Eagle has long since flown the coop – disappeared for one reason or another. This time, the 2009 search committee is determined to create a symbol of ACC that will be around for years to come.
“We think this is going to build school spirit and give ACC a lasting tradition,” says Avy Gonzalez, Student Government Association Parliamentarian and co-chair of the mascot search committee. “It’s cool to be part of something that will have a big impact at ACC long after we finish school.”
While the search committee is spearheading the effort, they want to hear from you. The college wants ideas from students, faculty, staff, and the public.
“We’re looking for something that genuinely resonates with the community,” says Brette Lea, executive director of the Public Information and College Marketing Department (PICM) and co-chair of the search committee. “It is so important to build a college-going culture, and the mascot will be a key part of that. A mascot creates a sense of excitement tied to education and makes people feel more connected to the college.”
So how did this search begin? As they say, great minds think alike. The Student Government Association recently decided it was time for a mascot to enhance school spirit. PICM was already thinking the same thing. The Student Life Office also came on board to facilitate engagement with students at all seven of ACC’s campuses.
Together, they formed a search committee that includes students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the community. With that, the committee’s four-step mascot search process got underway.
Step One: Got an Idea?
“This is a group effort. We need all the suggestions we can get,” says Gonzalez. “We need to find a mascot that really captures the essence of ACC.”
The search committee has created an ACC mascot website, encouraging the entire community to submit ideas. The site also includes links to follow the mascot search on Facebook and Twitter. Send us your suggestions by December 4!
Step Two: Drilling It Down
After collecting as many ideas as possible, the search committee will begin a process to reduce the list to the top three to five mascot candidates. The finalists aren’t selected on a whim – the committee will base its choices on frequency of the suggestion and focus group research. Committee members will also make sure the mascot finalists support ACC’s vision and mission.
Step Three: Cast Your Vote!
When the finalists are identified, there will be an online ballot this spring. The committee will take the top vote-getter to the college for review and final board approval.
Step Four: Shhh…
The winner will be kept under wraps at first to give graphic artists a chance to design and create the mascot. As soon as that’s accomplished, it will be time to reveal the ACC mascot to the world!
“A mascot will help us create a unique college identity and raise awareness of ACC’s role in the community,” says Lea.
That’s still a ways away, though. For now the focus is on gathering as much input as possible. The college has already done some grassroots promotion to build buzz. A slightly pathetic-looking pink bunny hopped around the ACC campuses during the Welcomepalooza fall kick-off events, cautioning students to voice their suggestions or risk having the unsightly pink rabbit represent them. Students got the message, and ideas are coming in fast – some thoughtful (such as Bats or Armadillos), others irreverent (think the ACC Chupacabras or the Zombies).
Want to weigh in? Now is your chance.
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By Kathy Judge October 28, 2009 - 3:59 pm
I think that the star logo looks like a man. I always call it the starman. I think that would be good–the ACC Stars.
By Cruz Aguilar October 28, 2009 - 10:01 pm
Since we live in Texas and known for cowboys and Armadillos
sounds good and seems to represent us go and strong.
By Ismael Saenz October 29, 2009 - 9:32 am
every time i look at out course catalog i see a rooster on the front page. i think a rooster would be perfect!!
By Sarah Campos October 29, 2009 - 11:10 am
I think our mascot should be similar to the Nebraska “Lil Red, but have the ACC logos on him of course we can name him Austin and he can have a pet which would be a rooster. Here is a link as an example http://www.steadyburn.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/lil_red.jpg
By Julia October 29, 2009 - 11:52 am
I thought the Star was the mascot! Yeah, starman, star, that would be good.
By Steven Spurlock October 29, 2009 - 1:41 pm
Aren’t we Austin and don’t we love the salamander. They vary in color, and can be dark gray, gray, purplishgray, gray-brown, or yellowish-brown. Most individuals have a dark “salt-and-pepper” mottling on their back. The salamanders have external gills which are red in color. Look at all the options we would have.
By Evelyn Goss October 29, 2009 - 1:47 pm
I like the salamander idea! It’s very Austin-oriented. I’ve also never heard of any school using the salamander as their mascot.
By Scott Goyette October 29, 2009 - 3:20 pm
I think having the Anole (also referred to as Chameleon or Green Anole) as a mascot would be perfect. They are common in all parts of Texas. They are able to change color in different situations (not unlike the ACC student population, who often times need to where many hats; sometimes as student’s, employees, Mom’s and Dad’s and more). Finally, the mascot’s color would be green and Austin is a very “green” and environmental friendly city, so the Anole makes a lot of sense (and would probably be a pretty cool looking mascot).
By Luis Fernando Santiago Enriqueta III October 29, 2009 - 7:59 pm
One of the things I love about ACC is it doesn’t have a cartoon animal that I am suppose to represent or a group of overgrown children(a football team) that I am suppose to be proud of. Lets make our mascot the dollar bill so that we can symbolically wave the money we are saving by attending a community college in the faces of the suckers that fell for the more “prestigious” universities. Lets take pride in the dollar bills that we will be earning when we graduate our programs and laugh at other colleges graduates that have to pack their burnt orange shirts up and move in with their parents after they graduate.
By Kristy Clagett October 29, 2009 - 8:15 pm
Mascot: NOT HAVING ONE! Why? We don’t have a football team. We don’t need an icon. We are here for our education and don’t need a color or character or symbol to pep us up about it. We can show our pride by graduating, and show spirit by being a productive member of society. We are unique to larger universities (and certainly are not high schoolers any more) and should keep it that way. We don’t need some overpriced icons or colors sold back to us by our bookstores. We don’t need a false sense of pride!
Seriously though if I had to choose… it would be a number 2 pencil.
By Ken Garcia October 30, 2009 - 12:11 am
Well, let me be the first to suggest a “Rocker.” (a musician…not the chair.) When people think of Austin, they think MUSIC! Great world-reknowned events like SWSW, ACL Fest, and of course, our crown jewel Austin City Limits. Our theme song could be “We Will Rock You.” And, best of all, why not have a ROCK band made up of musically-inclined registered students? There could be try-outs every semester and if chosen, possibly perform at some of the aforementioned venues and at various functions around town. Why not an ACC Fest, too? Come On, jump on the bandwagon (sorry for the pun). The ACC Rockers! “ACC – Where Your Education Takes Center Stage!” or “Bravo, Education, Bravo!”
By Belinda October 30, 2009 - 1:17 am
I think we should have a bat! Isn’t Austin known as bat city? And we have millions of bats that come from all over to come here in Austin. Just like our school, different people from all over are brought here together with one goal. We can call it Benny the bat…and put up the bat signal during welcomepalooza! 🙂
By Chris Hernandez (campus police) October 30, 2009 - 12:28 pm
I like a cartoonish woodsy owl wearing big round eyeglasses. The owl can wear a cap and gown at graduation time and can be holding a diploma in one wing and maybe textbooks in the other. He can be standing in front of a big full moon holding the diploma in the air over a smaller siloutte of the Texas capital. The owl idea can be used for future regional maps displaying college locations and routes. It goes well with the college’s “Go Green” environmental campaign. The owl mascot can show up at special events in a Disneyland type role.
By Chris Hernandez October 30, 2009 - 2:42 pm
I want to add something to my comments below referencing using a cartoon owl as the Mascot: The owl can be used to teach everyone about crime prevention. He can say things like: “Be wise, avoid becoming a victim of crime, follow these common sense suggestions:” and we can list some.
By Marco Antonio October 30, 2009 - 10:31 pm
I like the Bats or Riverbats. Those things are all over Austin and its cool to watch them fly off at dusk from the Bridge in Spring. Think of all the cool bat shirts and baseball caps …
By Dana Elizabeth October 31, 2009 - 12:47 pm
I think the ACC Penguins sounds cool. ACC Alligators. ACC HoneyBees, our sting is sweet victory. We do need a mascot, but we need to stand out with something different. ACC students area different caliber of college students and I think it’s time people see that. ACC Calibers.
By Miranda November 2, 2009 - 1:16 pm
ooh I like the “starman” and the “owl”
make a list with all the options, and have students and faculty vote for a decision, so that everyone has a voice.
By P. Garten (student) November 2, 2009 - 5:49 pm
ACC Raccoons. “ACC” appears in the name “RACCOONS.” A paw would be a good symbol for teams to wear on uniforms. Supporters can wear black masks and faux coon-skin caps like “Daniel Boone.” The costume could be a gentle raccoon or a more “wild” raccoon. Perhaps the name of the mascot could be “Rocky Raccoon.”
By Genevieve Blair November 3, 2009 - 9:42 am
Ummm…. the armadillo, a unique animal that can wear a star without looking silly. I don’t want the star to leave us but I also don’t want to wear a t-shirt with a skipping, smiling faced star waving a diploma in one hand and giving the thumbs up with the other. Lets keep the star shape in mind but not develop it into a mascot.
By Robert November 3, 2009 - 11:57 am
Who started this macot idea anyway? Why do we need one? We don’t have a sports team, and that’s usually the reason colleges have a mascot. It seems like something an out of touch administrator come up with. They probably actually thought “the students really miss having a mascot. We should get one so that they don’t feel like they’ve missed out on a vital college experience. And you know, having one will make them pull together as a student body!”
Yeah. How many of us despised going to pep rallies in high school because the mascots dancing around cheering and the whole school spirit thing was ridiculous. Don’t repeat something we escaped from in high school!
By John November 3, 2009 - 11:59 am
We don’t need a mascot. We don’t even have any sports teams. Having a costumed character just show up for ACC events is not reason enough (and kinda cheesy). And it’s not about school pride either. Who is really going to look at a person dressed as a bat (or other animal) skipping around an ACC event and feel their chest swell with pride?
Don’t get me wrong. I think ACC is great. That’s why we shouldn’t waste time on this stuff and keep doing right by the students in REAL ways.
By Carl Illig November 3, 2009 - 7:51 pm
With all due respect to “Chris Hernandez (campus police)” Rice University already has dibs on the owl. I recommend that we think outside the box and realize “The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object” -Wikipedia; does not mean that we have to keep suggesting animal ideas for our mascot. Since we have no athletics teams, we may want to think about ideas other than animals that could represent ACC. Taking this into mind, we can still be conservative with our suggestions and liberal with our thinking. To further clarify “conservative our with suggestions”, keep it appropriate!
By elizabeth November 3, 2009 - 10:40 pm
please do not…. DO NOT use a bat as the freaking mascot. shut up about the stupid bats already.
By Dav S November 4, 2009 - 8:57 am
I have an idea…. Anyone who goes downtown will agree we have lots of hippies everywhere and we also have alot of homeless so heres the idea that represents austin…. how about.. wait for it…
Austin Community College Homeless Hippies!
By Margaret November 5, 2009 - 5:25 pm
Well ACC students are from all over Austin, so whatever the mascot might be it shouldn’t copy those of our former high schools, at least not intentionally. But what about something other than a mascot, what about instead we use a famous literary character. I’m not talking Elizabeth Beneit here, I’m talking about someone like a greek god or goddess. Athena/Minerva is the Goddess of Wisdom, or there is Apollo,the God of music Even though its a proper name, I think that the ACC Apollos has a nice ring to it. I think useing something that represents wisdom would be cool. I really only have one request – MAKE IT CLEVER, PLAY ON WORDS. SOMETHING!
By Tucker Vineyard November 6, 2009 - 2:24 am
honestly i’m glad that you guys are even considering bringing a mascot back, because it does bring spirit to schools and gets everyone excited for things to come. I think that we should be the ACC bulldogs. lol. i mean bulldogs look fierce but you know that they have hearts the size of jupiter and they wouldn’t hurt a fly.
By jack johanson November 6, 2009 - 6:29 am
I SAY EITHER THE OWL OR THE BEARKATS. or Pedro the Pecan. lmao haha yea the acc pecans. good stuff good stuff.
By M. Solis November 7, 2009 - 2:58 am
I believe ACC should keep the star logo the already have as their mascot. This will allow us to call ACC the Austin Community College Lone stars.
By Monica Segura November 8, 2009 - 12:31 am
In Austin, salamanders are synonymous with the health of our environment. When the salamanders are thriving, we know things are well with Barton Springs. They’re amphibians – comfortable in the water and on the land. They’re real and they’re the stuff of legend and literature – they can withstand fire. They’re even associated with the culinary arts – what restaurant kitchen doesn’t have a broiler (AKA a salamander)?
Sounds like ACC to me: the large, vibrant (on fire) student population is indicative of the health of our community; real people making their dreams reality; ACC students withstand fire every day – from the culinary and welding students, to the science folks, to the folks working 40+ hours a week and going to school; and ACC students are everywhere – land, water, you name it!
By Sarah November 8, 2009 - 9:57 pm
We could always be Leslie.
By Charlie November 9, 2009 - 10:04 am
I think it sould be the Turkeys
By Jose November 10, 2009 - 1:41 am
The WEIRDO’S…It’s Unique. I know we’ve all seen staff, students, people in the community, genius’, athletes, musicians, etc. WEIRDO’S cover a vast array of the ACC. WEIRDO’S are out of the box thinkers. Keep ACC WEIRD! It’s the “normal” people that I’m really worried about.
By Sam November 10, 2009 - 8:35 pm
Im voting for the Armadillos
while we’re at it, why not make this the school song?
I want to go home with the armadillo,
good country higher education
from ACC
the friendliest professors and
prettiest women you’ve ever seen.
By Taurino Tostado November 11, 2009 - 3:13 pm
Bring back the Eagles, but keep the same colors ACC has now. Why Eagles? well ACC gives student a chance to reach a higher education. And the Eagle has been a symbol of pride for our Nation. Go ACC Eagles yay!!!!
By Anne Strohm November 11, 2009 - 3:48 pm
Grackles!
Grackles, and ACC students and staff, are ubiquitous in Austin and the surrounding areas.
By Kim Kardashian November 15, 2009 - 11:30 am
Rattlesnakes. Like a snake, ACC students are sharp, fast, and no bs.
By Chris Dolejs November 17, 2009 - 3:31 pm
Accelerators: Has the necessary alliteration and positive connotation. The motto is already “Start Here. Get There.” T-shirts would have “ACC XLR8” in the same font as in the current logo. No use for a costumed student; but if you really want one, a gas pedal with the student’s head sticking out of the front would be hilarious and would make a super-cute cartoon. That oughta do it.
Armadillos are cool, but it’s rare for them to actually “Get There,” if you know what I mean.
Arrows start here and get there, but we’d be inviting “broken arrows.”
By S. Macon November 20, 2009 - 8:05 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8el_P4yvfc
Everyone loves owls…..
By Nathaniel November 23, 2009 - 9:29 am
So… Does anyone else feel like they’ve been caught in an episode of Community? Why does ACC need a mascot in the first place? If the previous mascot faded out, should that not be a sign to the powers that be that one is not needed?
By Neil Martin November 23, 2009 - 11:36 am
The armadillo is iconic to Central Texas. They are known for being persistent in their endeavors. Whether it’s burrowing a hole or crossing the street, they will accomplish their task. Much like us students, we will end up succeeding!
By Ashley Williams November 24, 2009 - 11:58 am
I think the mascot should be the rockets. ACC is a great place to launch your career. ACC already uses, “Start here, get there” as their slogan, and I think the rockets would be a powerful symbol of strength.
By Ashley Williams November 24, 2009 - 12:25 pm
I think the mascot should be the rockets. ACC already uses the slogan, “Start here, get there” ,and ACC is a great place to launch your career.
By RP December 1, 2009 - 7:41 pm
How about “Franks” – visualize a hotdog done up like a Medieval friar – bald head w/ tonsure, robe, sandals, carrying a backpack & an iPhone. Frank is short for Saint Francis – you know: Saint Francis of ACC!! 😉
By Ashley Spitzer December 2, 2009 - 11:51 am
Chupacabras!!!
By RW December 3, 2009 - 2:28 pm
I second the idea of WEIRDOES. I guarantee it would get lots of good publicity. Shows we’re in touch with Austin and have a sense of humor.
By Analysa Reyna- Admissions December 7, 2009 - 12:28 pm
Chupacabras for sure hey its Texas afterall!
By Caleb D. McFadden December 14, 2009 - 7:37 pm
I would like to submit the ACC Knights Templar. You can’t go wrong with this one.
By junior rankin January 13, 2010 - 6:03 pm
i think that your mascot should be the armadillo
By Wilson January 29, 2010 - 11:54 am
CHUPACABRAS!