Redesigning a Mascot: All Fun and Games?

About the Episode: In this episode of Breaking Silos, we're diving into the world of higher education marketing and admissions through the lens of Trinity Valley Community College's ambitious mascot redesign project. Sparked by their newfound fame from the Netflix documentary "Cheer," the college sought to capitalize on this spotlight by reimagining its mascot and logo to stand out and resonate more deeply with prospective students. Joining us are a dynamic duo from Trinity Valley, Courtney Skiles, and Joanna Fritz. Together, they navigated the challenges of altering a well-established identity and leveraged the new mascot to bolster enrollment and marketing efforts. We'll explore the strategy, collaboration, and creativity that fueled this transformation and how it's impacting the college today.

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The Catalyst for Change

The journey began with Trinity Valley’s appearance on "Cheer," which spotlighted their competitive cheer team. Although initially cast in the rival role, this exposure significantly elevated the college’s profile. Courtney Skiles explained that while Trinity Valley had a renowned cheer program, the documentary magnified their global recognition, prompting a much-needed update to their athletic logos and mascot. This update wasn't just aesthetic; it aimed to rejuvenate their community presence and enhance their branding efforts.

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Design Challenges and Community Engagement

The redesign process was meticulous and community-focused. Courtney highlighted the outdated condition of the old mascot costume—complete with eyes punched out and a generally dilapidated appearance—which made it clear a refresh was necessary. The new mascot design aimed to be modern, approachable, and a true reflection of the spirit of Trinity Valley. As the new mascot, named Reggie, rolled out, it was used innovatively as a recruitment tool and a staple at community and school events, enhancing the college's engagement with potential students and their families.

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Impact and Future Prospects

Joanna Fritz elaborated on the marketing and enrollment implications of the new mascot and logos. With a more contemporary and appealing design, the rebranded elements were not just visually striking but became a cohesive part of the college’s identity. The physical mascot costume was updated with features like internal fans and a design that allowed for active engagement at events, making Reggie not just a mascot but an ambassador for the college.

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Key Takeaways

• Community Focus: Trinity Valley used the mascot redesign as an opportunity to deepen community ties and enhance their visibility.
• Engagement Through Innovation: The introduction of a modern, well-designed mascot utilized in strategic community and school initiatives significantly boosted engagement.
• Brand Consistency: The rebranding maintained a consistent theme across all platforms and physical representations, strengthening brand recognition.

About the Show:  We hear it every day across campuses: “We need to be working more collaboratively.” The higher education industry is notoriously siloed, with colleagues struggling to connect, duplicating services or having disjointed messaging.

Breaking Silos aims to showcase the remarkable work of marketing professionals and their non-marketing colleagues from different departments across campus, who come together to achieve common goals, implement new initiatives, enhance the student experience, and foster better collaboration among teams.

Each episode features a marketer and their non-marketing colleague to talk about their partnership. This unique format will inspire marketers to try new things and connect with colleagues in new ways, while also allowing non-marketing professionals an inside look at some of the most collaborative projects in higher education marketing.

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Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/ 

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About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com. 

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Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news —  Maya will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI. 

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200!

Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!