Meet Kipanga!
The Las Positas College Mascot, the Hawk.
The Associated Students of Las Positas College and the
LPC Athletic Department have provided a character outfit for our mascot, the Hawk.
Above: "Kipanga", newly arrived on campus, Fall 2011.
The Athletic Department and ASLPC have teamed up to bring a real life mascot to this campus. The mascot figures to become a fixture in all campus events, ranging from Club Day, fundraisers, sporting events, meetings, community appearances, and more.
“One of my several goals this year is to boost student morale,” said ASLPC president Amir Salehzadeh. “I thought the mascot would be an interesting way to do that.” LPC President Dr. Kevin Walthers is credited with planting the seed by casually mentioning the need of a mascot to the student senate. The senate took up the idea and the task was passed to LPC student Evan Gaither.
Gaither has prior experience with mascots, and started to do research to bring the hawk to life. Gaither is expected to be the first man to bring the Hawk to life. He already has a game plan on how to get students to embrace the new addition to the campus. “I want to get people to see that school is more than just going to class and reading books, I want there to be some type of fun,” Gaither said.
The ASLPC conducted a contest to pick its name and from student entries the name KIPANGA was chosen. Kipanga is Swahili for “hawk”. Fitting!
Since its arrival Kipanga has appeared at many women’s and men’s Basketball games, College meetings, College Town Meeting, a parade, special functions, and the Celebration Breakfast hosted by the Administrators.
Sincere thanks from Administration to the whole ASLPC and 2011-12 President Amir Salezedeh, Director of Student Life Cynthia Ross, Athletic Director Dyan Miller, Athletic Assistants PJ Johnson and William Eddy, and especially to Evan Gaither!
Information taken from various sources including: Express student newspaper Tweet, Athletic Director Dyan Miller, and others.
