It is almost impossible to find a GCSU student who doesn’t know about Thunder, our very own bobcat mascot, but most don’t know his history. Thunder is a symbol of the GCSU community and loved by all, but his past is a mystery to many.
When the school first opened, GCSU’s mascot was the Colonials with brown and gold as the color scheme. It was only in the fall of 1997 that the Bobcat became the mascot of the school and only in Nov 2007 that Thunder made his first official appearance.
Since his first appearance, Thunder has been the symbol of spirit for the school, sitting on the sidelines of games and serving as a great cheerleader. Even off the field or court, Thunder serves as the hype man for any group that wants him at their event, a friendly face on Fridays giving away free stuff, and a figure for the community to connect over.
Thunder strives to make everyone welcome and ties students closer as a community; having a figure that everyone loves and looks out for serves as a community builder.
“I love thunder, he’s so full of joy,” said Gideon Alland, a freshman computer science major. “He’s showing up to all these different events; he clearly cares.”
Thunder started as an idea from a group of students who noticed the lack of a mascot and wanted to do something. They went by the name Thundercats, and after a vote to decide his name, with options like Kool, Prowler, and Paws, GCSU’s favorite feline was named after the club.
Originally, they just dressed in attention-grabbing outfits, but their leader, Jason Hendrix, ’09, decided that GCSU needed an official mascot. He started campaigning for funding, asking alumni and students alike about donating to get the money necessary to make a cat suit.
After asking other universities where they got their mascots, Hendrix was led to Tom Sapp and his team, who designed mascots like the University of Georgia’s Hairy Dawg and the Atlanta Falcons’ Harry. After getting the number, he needed to reach him, and the rest of the Thundercats worked to collect as much money as possible to get a mascot.
In the end, the Former President of GCSU, Dorothy Leland, funded the costume; after some convincing from Hendrix, she gave him a check for $25,000. Hendrix promised a return on her investment, and with the number of students that come to GCSU for the community, Thunder is partially responsible, so he didn’t lie.
Thunder’s first public appearance was during the “Hanging of the Greens” on campus, and since then, he has been a public figure at all major events, ready to take pictures with whoever asks.
“I want to do this because I want to give back to the university somehow in some way,” Hendrix said.
It is obvious that he gave back to his community through his behavior with students and made a lasting impact; when they see Thunder, they wave, high-five and take plenty of pictures because he is so well-liked.
Thunder’s engagement in the community is a reflection of the kindness that GCSU students give to the community around them, and his fun personality is like that of the welcoming college community.
“My end-all, be-all goal is to a leave a legacy,” Hendrix said. “I’m so glad to see what they’ve done with Thunder. The whole thing is super special to me, and I love it.”
From pumping up the crowds at games to high-fiving and hugging kids at smaller events, Thunder serves as a figure of positivity on campus. The mischievous bobcat stands as a representation of the students and alumni of GCSU.