The (Wild)Cat is Out of the Bag!
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!
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