Felicia Nelson
  • Student Affairs in Higher Administration
  • Class of 2016
  • Annville, PA

Felicia Nelson Helps Kutztown University's Avalanche win Mascot Madness Championship

2015 Apr 8

Avalanche, Kutztown University's golden bear mascot, earned the title of Mascot Madness Champion April 6 with a 15-vote victory over Rocky of Slippery Rock University. More than 12,000 votes were cast in the one-day championship round.

Around 20 student performers and handlers contribute to the mascot program, including Felicia Nelson of Annville, Pa. Students are professionally trained and make hundreds of appearances each year. Their dedication has made Avalanche the favorite mascot in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Born on Blue Mountain in northern Berks County, Avalanche came to KU in October 2005. He lives in the clock tower of Old Main and is a cheerology and bearobics majors. He is named in honor of the nickname of then Kutztown State College's sports teams from the mid-1930s to the early 1960s. In 1961, Golden Bears replaced Golden Avalanche as the nickname for Kutztown's sports teams, and Golden Bear mascots soon followed.

Avalanche was created by the Raymond Entertainment Group (REG), a company based out of Newark, DE, specializing in creating mascot characters. The CEO of REG is David Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic. His company has created mascots for the NCAA, University of Delaware, Lakewood BlueClaws, Cincinnati Reds, fellow Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference member Millersville University and many others.