MILWAUKEE _ University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students and alumni will unveil a 1,200-pound statue of the school’s Panther mascot on Saturday, Oct. 10, following the annual Panther Prowl race.
The statue is a gift from the UWM Alumni Association, Student Association and Student Housing Administrative Council. At many universities, campus mascots become the backdrops for some of the most important moments of students’ lives, and the hope is the same will be true at UWM.
“We are proud to call ourselves Panthers and happy to help bring the Panther statue to campus,” Student Body President Mike Sportiello said. “The Student Housing Administrative Council and Student Association look forward to making memories around our new symbol of campus pride.”
“Along with student leaders, the Alumni Association Board of Trustees is proud to have led the charge to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Panther and create a new point of convergence and pride on UWM’s campus,” said David Misky, president of the UWM Alumni Association.
UWM adopted the Panther mascot in 1965 with an original design by James Cheski, who was then a graduate student in art. The logo has been updated over the years.
Tom Queoff (‘77 MFA) designed the Panther statue and created it in partnership with Mike Martino ’78 (BFA) and Mike Sponholtz ’79 (BFA). The three men met as students at UWM. Queoff is internationally recognized for his mastery of wood, ice, steel, stone and bronze and has a studio in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. Learn more about his work here: http://queoffstudio.com/
The 6-foot-tall, 12-foot-long bronze representation will be dedicated at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Golda Meir Library plaza, close to the Panther’s new home in front of Enderis Hall. The ceremony will immediately follow awards for the 10th annual Panther Prowl 5K run/walk, which raises money for student scholarships. More than 1,500 people are expected to participate in this year’s race.
Both events are part of the UWM Alumni Association’s Family Weekend, which wraps up the university’s first official homecoming celebration in recent history. Below are highlights of homecoming week events. For a complete schedule, visit uwm.edu/homecoming.
Tuesday, Oct. 6
7 p.m. Jennifer Morales will give an inspiring talk about her short story collection “Meet Me Halfway – Milwaukee Stories,” which was chosen as UWM’s 2015 Common Read. Ballroom, UWM Student Union, 2200 E Kenwood Blvd. For more details about the Common Read, see https://uwm.edu/ssc/fyss/common-reading-experience.cfm
Friday, Oct. 9
6 p.m. UWM Alumni Association Awards Evening, Pier Wisconsin in Discovery World, 500 North Harbor Drive. More than 20 individuals and organizations will be honored for their outstanding professional achievements, civic involvement and partnerships with the university. For more information, see https://uwm.edu/alumni/awards/
Saturday, Oct. 10
9:30 a.m. Panther Prowl, corner of Downer and Kenwood avenues. Hundreds of people walk or run each year in the 5K to raise money for student scholarships. For more details, see https://uwm.edu/pantherprowl/
11:30 a.m. Unveiling and dedication of Panther statue, Golda Meir Plaza, 2311 E Hartford Ave.