In the history that is Georgia College, we have only had two mascots in the 125 years of being an institution for higher learning. Up until 1998 Georgia College was the Colonials, but there was a call for change and we became the Bobcats with our beloved Thunder as our mascot. Our current Thunder is a student here that was challenged by friends to attend the Thunder auditions over a year and a half ago and has not looked back since.
Thunder reports to Mahmood Al Bayati who is the Chief of Staff for the Student Government Association and works with the Thunder Crew. Thunder is called into action roughly five or six times a month for two hours at one time. All Thunder needs is 15 minutes to get ready and he is good to go.
Thunder’s typical duties include attending basketball games and tailgates, posing as Santa for the Hanging of the Greens on Front Campus at Christmas time, and being present at all orientations and the Bobcat Marketplace. Other fun activities Thunder does for the school and the community are popping up in our homecoming video, posing for pictures needed for posters, being a marketing example for business classes, visiting the Farmer’s Market and even going to book fairs for the elementary schools in the Milledgeville area.
With everything Thunder does for the school and community along with being a full time student, Thunder says it’s easy to balance everything. Everyone understands that school comes first. Two of Thunder’s favorite memories are when he was invited to play in the street by a group of kids during one First Friday downtown last semester and when he was able to go support Georgia College students as they participated in Walk MS last year.
As many people know Thunder is a bit of a prankster and enjoys joking with the students and faculty when he has the chance. He loves to people watch and really make sure that every student knows that he or she is important and matters to this school. Thunder loves Georgia College and is so proud to call this school his.
He is excited to announce that in March he will be attending the 2015 Regents’ Scholarship Gala and will get to represent Georgia College along with Al Bayati. This gala’s purpose is to raise money for students in financial need to ensure that they will be able to achieve a higher level of education despite the rise in costs.
Thunder’s mascot idol is Hairy Dawg at the University of Georgia. His favorite outfit is when he gets to wear his Santa suit at the Hanging of the Greens, but Thunder also liked when he wore a tuxedo to the Georgia College Quasquicentennial Scholarship Gala in November 2014. He was able to meet some of Georgia College’s, and the cities, most influential people including Mayor Richard Bentley.
Thunder is at the core of this school and would do anything asked of him as would the student that gets to become Thunder. Who is the student behind this beloved mascot? Everyone will just have to wait for the May 2016 graduation ceremony where this student will be revealed.
http://www.gcsubobcats.com/images/mbkb/0809action/Thunder.jpg