Fighting Scots pride
New mural in Huff Athletic Center drawing rave reviews
Following on the recent dedication of a bagpiper statue titled “Scots Spirit,” Monmouth College has unveiled another work of art designed to promote school spirit.
A 120-foot long mural, featuring action photos of current and recent Fighting Scots athletes from all of the college’s varsity sports now graces the lower concourse of Huff Athletic Center The project sprang from the seed of an idea put forth 12 years ago when the athletic center was completed. A company contacted the college about projecting images of faculty onto the walls, and track and field coach Roger Haynes, who would soon be named athletic director, held onto the idea. Earlier this year, Haynes and vice president for development and college relations Steve Bloomer were looking for a project for the Fighting Scots Society and saw a brochure for Varsity 101, a Toledo, Ohio, company that creates graphics for locker rooms, stadiums and fencing, using team logos, colors and mascots. Provided with more than 100 photos, Varsity 101 selected the images it thought fit the mural best. Haynes says that the quality action shots displayed are hard to come by, as it takes a special skill to capture such short, once-in-a-lifetime moments. Also integrated into the mural are inspirational keywords, such as “leadership” and “character.” Monmouth’s students and coaches have been pleased with the final product, pausing to linger and study the images as they make their way from one end of the concourse to the other. “I think it’s great,” said swim coach Tom Burek, whose office is just around the corner from the mural. “It’s nice to see the athletes on the walls, and it flows really nicely. I think it gives the athletes a sense of pride. It’s a constant reminder of the Monmouth College sports tradition for students, athletes, visitors and recruits to see.” “It’s interesting to see the school spirit in the pictures and the action shots of all sports instead of just posed pictures,” said freshman Rachael Leifheit, an athlete involved in multiple Fighting Scots sports teams. “I don’t think they left anything out.” Concluded Haynes, “We can take prospective students and athletic recruits there so they can see the impact our teams have on Monmouth College.”
A 120-foot long mural, featuring action photos of current and recent Fighting Scots athletes from all of the college’s varsity sports now graces the lower concourse of Huff Athletic Center The project sprang from the seed of an idea put forth 12 years ago when the athletic center was completed. A company contacted the college about projecting images of faculty onto the walls, and track and field coach Roger Haynes, who would soon be named athletic director, held onto the idea. Earlier this year, Haynes and vice president for development and college relations Steve Bloomer were looking for a project for the Fighting Scots Society and saw a brochure for Varsity 101, a Toledo, Ohio, company that creates graphics for locker rooms, stadiums and fencing, using team logos, colors and mascots. Provided with more than 100 photos, Varsity 101 selected the images it thought fit the mural best. Haynes says that the quality action shots displayed are hard to come by, as it takes a special skill to capture such short, once-in-a-lifetime moments. Also integrated into the mural are inspirational keywords, such as “leadership” and “character.” Monmouth’s students and coaches have been pleased with the final product, pausing to linger and study the images as they make their way from one end of the concourse to the other. “I think it’s great,” said swim coach Tom Burek, whose office is just around the corner from the mural. “It’s nice to see the athletes on the walls, and it flows really nicely. I think it gives the athletes a sense of pride. It’s a constant reminder of the Monmouth College sports tradition for students, athletes, visitors and recruits to see.” “It’s interesting to see the school spirit in the pictures and the action shots of all sports instead of just posed pictures,” said freshman Rachael Leifheit, an athlete involved in multiple Fighting Scots sports teams. “I don’t think they left anything out.” Concluded Haynes, “We can take prospective students and athletic recruits there so they can see the impact our teams have on Monmouth College.”