The Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) recently showcased its new manta ray mascot and is inviting the community to choose a fitting name. During an event at FSCJ's South Campus Gymnasium, now dubbed 'The Reef,' spectators celebrated both the mascot's debut and World Manta Day, which was yesterday. As FSCJ President John Avendano explained, "The initial search for our new mascot reached viral proportions on campus and throughout the community through the voting process. We knew this was going to be big, but we didn’t anticipate it would become this huge," as reported by First Coast News.
The selection of the manta ray resulted from a community voting process that narrowed a list of 25 potential mascots down to three finalists: the kraken, the manta ray, and the sea dragon, as per Jacksonville Today. The college, which is home to over 40,000 students, revealed the mascot during its 2024 Commencement Ceremony in May after the manta ray received the most votes.
Community members now have until September 27 to submit their suggestions for the new mascot's name. Those wishing to participate can find the "FSCJ Name the Mascot Survey" and contribute their ideas. Action News Jax detailed the process for entering name suggestions, directing participants to look for the submission box on the college's website.
Once the suggestion period closes, FSCJ will narrow the choices down for a public vote to determine the final name, which will be announced before the end of the year. As anticipation builds around this aquatic addition to the FSCJ family, excitement is growing, and the institution is eager to see what name will encapsulate the spirit of the college and its students. The full reveal of the mascot's name will undoubtedly be a landmark moment for the school's future and identity.
