The (Wild)Cat is Out of the Bag!

Cole Richards May 10, 2018

Photos by Jessica Bartlett and Jason Halley / University Photographers

The statue faces looks southeast, towards downtown Chico, to symbolize the close ties between University and the city.

On April 19, 2018, Chico State celebrated its inaugural Wildcat Spirit Day with the unveiling of something “wild”: a bronze Wildcat statue!

President Gayle Hutchinson addressed the student body and greater Chico community with a commendation of Wildcat spirit, stating that Chico State students are “making a difference here, and all over the world.” Students first initiated the idea of an emblematic mascot back in 2008, searching for a symbol that could represent the pride and unity of the student body. This resulted in a multi-phase process that, after much time and effort, amounted to the Wildcat reveal on the campus’s first ever Wildcat Spirit Day.

The 7-foot-long, 1,500-pound Wildcat bronze statue is a replica of Lynx rufus californicus, the native bobcat chosen as the mascot by students in 1924. Now that the ‘cat is out of the bag, students can roar with pride as the statue marks a milestone for the Wildcat community and progress of school spirit. Moving forward, it will embody how far our students have come, and how far they will continue to go. Go, Wildcats, go!

(Click a photo to expand the gallery.)

The statue is covered in the foreground with the crowd awaits the reveal — The wildcat statue remained under wraps until the reveal.

Associated Students President Alisha Sharma helps remove the red drape covering the statue as the crowd looks on. — Associated Students President Alisha Sharma helps remove the drape covering the wildcat statue.

Clapping people holding up cell phone cameras — The crowd cheers and takes photos as the wildcat statue is revealed.

The wildcat statue from the back with the crowd looking on

Front view of the wildcat statue. — The statue, sculpted by Matthew Gray, weighs more than 1,500 pounds.

President Gayle Hutchinson poses with the new statue.

Dramatic lighting shows the statue in Wildcat Plaza at night — The area where the statue resides has been renamed Wildcat Plaza in honor of the new statue.

Share this Article

Cole Richards

Cole Richards was the social media intern for University Communications. They graduated in the spring of 2018 with a bachelor's degree in political science with an option in legal studies, and paralegal certification.