Dominion High School has added a character to its student body, but it's clear he does not shop at Abercrombie & Fitch.
Donning a toga sash, sandals and an olive branch wreath, you might say he has the look of a Greek god. After all, he is Dominion High School's new mascot, fashioned after the Greek mythological class of gods, the Titans. The creation is patterned after Hyperion, the God of Sun, Fire and Light and the God of Observation.
Students described him as a symbol of perfection, with ideal physical and mental talents.
At a pep rally last Friday, members of the Sports Entertainment Recreation Marketing class introduced their creation. J.R. Dulc slipped into the costume, pulling the character's head over his and ran onto the gymnasium floor. The students broke into thunderous cheers.
Assuming the role of a mascot comes natural for the marketing student. He does similar work for Mascot Marketing Concepts in Purcellville. Dulc said he enjoys the job, because he can be himself.
"You can do a lot of things when you are in a mascot suit. You are energetic, happy, jumping around," he said. "The downside is you're hot, sweaty and stinky."
THE MARKETING COMMITTEE, spearheaded by junior John Beltrane, conducted the research and designed the mascot, receiving input from Jeffrey Deceder, owner of Mascot Marketing Concepts. He helped with the production of "Screech," the Eaglet mascot for the Washington Nationals. He also assisted with the scripting of the promotional material for the icon.
Deceder said he attended the marketing class four times, encouraging the students to treat the project as if they worked in an actual company. "Run it like a company with deadlines," he said.
He also provided recommendations on creating a logo that could be used on other products and could be turned into a stuffed animal. "Some of their original drawings were realistic, almost human-like drawings," he said. "I had them turn it into a cartoon character."
Deceder said his mom and sister taught him to sew and helped him produce his first mascot during his sophomore year. He was attending a Pittsburgh-area high school during the 1979-1980 school year. They created the school mascot — a bird — and once he became it, he knew his vocation.
After college, he worked in Disney World and the NBA. He "constructs, repairs, recovers and reproduces" mascots for many companies including AOL, D.C. United, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Baltimore Ravens, the Washington Capitals, the Washington Wizards and more.
"We talk about the characters as if they are characters, not as if they were actual performers underneath," he said.
The Titan was made of a four-way fleece material, fur and foam. Deceder said it used about 150 yards of thread.
BONNIE ROBERTO, the marketing teacher, expressed pride in the students' achievement. "They ran with it, and they did a great job."
Caroline Wells, a junior, said they used the Internet and other resources to figure out the characteristics of the traditional Titans. Because Titans are of both genders, the school eventually could add a female mascot, he said.
Roberto said the students showed promising qualities that will bode them well in the working world. "A good leader accepts responsibility. This team truly was the optimum of good leadership. They formed a bond."
Natalie Floyd said she drew the first draft of the mascot. "Collaboratively, we came up with a presentation," she said.
Members of the team even spent time as mascots to better understand the role. Some attended a Nationals game dressed as a lion, a Smurf, a gingerbread and a duck.
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For information about Mascot Marketing Concepts visit www.mascotmarketingconcepts.com.