To restore NE Campus’ forgotten mascot, the Viking, NE’s intramural program will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. April 30.
The ceremony will take place by the tennis courts before the 5K Spring Time Fun Run begins.
The history of the Viking as NE’s mascot goes back to 1968 when the campus opened.
Started by dean of instruction Don Anthony and executive dean Jan LeCroy, the Viking symbolized their naval background as the two were Naval Academy graduates.
Current vice president of teaching and learning services Jane Harper remembers the Viking as the mascot when she first came to work at TCC.
“We arrived to a mascot,” Harper said. “That was established to us when we first got here.”
Harper said she hopes bringing the Viking back as a mascot will unite school spirit.
“It thrills me and interests me that we have a history,” she said.
“We have so much spirit about TCC that we don’t need an artificial mascot to maintain close attachments to our institution. It’s not the fact of the Viking being the mascot that we feel connected.
“But if the mascot helps engender that togetherness, let’s use the mascot.”
– Colt Langley