UHV Jaguar ‘X’travaganza to feature autographs, name unveiling
Community members and their children will have the chance on Thursday to get autographs from this year’s University of Houston-Victoria Jaguar baseball and softball players, and find out the new name of the university’s jaguar sculpture.
The UHV Jaguar “X”travaganza will start at 4 p.m. by the life-sized jaguar sculpture on the west side of the UHV University Center, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. After the name is announced and the winners of the Jaguar Naming Contest receive prizes, attendees will move into the UHV Multi-Purpose Room for refreshments and autographs from Jaguars players.
“We had approximately 250 suggestions from our UHV employees and students, the community and local school children for a name for the jaguar sculpture so generously donated to us by local artist Harold Nichols,” UHV President Tim Hudson said. “This will be a wonderful event to announce the winning name that is so fitting for our mascot and to give community members and their children a chance to meet our exceptional student-athletes.”
The first 100 children to come to the event will receive a free Jaguars autograph book and magnet. A special Jaguars prize will be given to all children who attend.
The 250-pound, plate steel jaguar sculpture created by Nichols was unveiled during a ceremony Aug. 25 at UHV and installed in its permanent location in the landscaping between the University Center and University West buildings. Hudson also announced the Jaguar Naming Contest at the event.
A committee went through the submitted names for the sculpture, and Hudson selected the winning entry. Those who sent in that name will receive Jaguars prizes on Thursday.
“The jaguar sculpture has become a popular place where campus visitors can take photos,” UHV Athletics Director Ashley Walyuchow said. “Now we’ll have a name for our mascot that I hope will start new traditions on our campus.”
The Jaguars baseball team opens its season at 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at Riverside Stadium against Northwood University. The softball team’s home opener will start at 1 p.m. Feb. 13 at Burdge Field against San Jacinto College.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
