Winning name suggested by Master of Management student Laden Akyildiz
The University of Niagara Falls Canada’s official mascot made his long-awaited debut at the inaugural Student Leadership Awards Celebration.
Spark was a surprise guest at the June 19 celebration. Held at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, the evening recognized the incredible student leaders whose energy and passion help shape the heart of our university. It turns out their school spirit is what drew the mascot out of hiding.
A bright and bold fox, Spark was so inspired by the student leaders’ positive energy, he couldn’t wait a moment longer to introduce himself. With a flash of orange and a whole lot of enthusiasm, he bounded onto the scene to a crowd of cheers and applause.
“Spark represents the curiosity, courage, and community that define who we are. We couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment to welcome him to the family,” said David Gray, Provost and Vice-President, Academic at UNF.
Spark’s appearance also marked the grand finale of UNF’s mascot naming contest. Earlier this year, students, staff, and faculty were invited to submit their suggestions for what the fox should be called. From more than 270 submissions, three top names – Spark, Inno, and Thunder – were put to a final vote. Spark emerged as the clear favourite, chosen by the UNF community.
“The energy around the naming contest showed how excited our community was to bring this mascot to life,” said Sam Edgar, Associate Director of Student Experience. “It was incredible to see so many people contribute their suggestions and cast their votes for this contest. Spark already feels like part of the family.”
The winning name was announced moments before his arrival and the individual who first suggested it, Master of Management student Laden Akyildiz, was honoured with a limited-edition UNF Foxes jersey and a round of applause from fellow attendees.
Now that he has been officially introduced, Spark is already making plans to get involved on campus.
He’s registering as a student for the Summer Term and will be joining classmates at New Student Orientation (NSO) from July 1-4. If you see him on campus, don’t be shy: Spark loves high-fives, selfies, and meeting new friends.
To learn more about Spark and the story about his journey to becoming a UNF student, visit unfc.ca/mascot. You can also look for his cameos on UNF’s official social media channels and add his animated GIF stickers to your Instagram content by searching keyword @unf_can.
