Dixie State College of Utah announced Thursday the first three concept finalists for its "Dixie Idol" campaign to come up with the institution's new nickname and mascot. Over the first week of the campaign's nomination process, 715 total submissions from at least 550 unique visitors to DSC's "Dixie Idol" website were recorded for consideration.
"To have over 700 total entries submitted over the first week of the campaign is really impressive," said DSC spokesperson Steve Johnson. "It is encouraging to see so many people show an interest in what the new identity of Dixie State College of Utah will be, both as a moniker for its NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletic program and for an institution that continues to evolve in its current four-year mission."
The first three nickname finalists include "Red Bulls," "Scorpions," and "Pioneers," each of which were nominated multiple times by a number of submitters. Individual entrants who submitted each of the three concepts were drawn from a hat to come up with the $100 prizewinners. Mark Zwahlen
(Pioneers) and Kualii Min (Scorpions) from St. George, and Lana Magers (Red
Bulls) from Pahrump, Nev., will each be awarded $100 for participating in the nomination process.
Each submission up for consideration is judged and reviewed base on its appropriateness in conjunction with the traditions, values and virtues of the Dixie State College community. A second criteria for consideration is based on the overall number of times a concept has been nominated.
The second week of nominating began at the stroke of midnight early Thursday morning to come up with three more unique nickname concepts. All nominations from the previous week will not be considered in determining the next three concept finalists.
DSC officials are inviting all alumni, current students, faculty and staff, fans and community members to get involved in what should be a fun and exciting process. The initial five-week nomination portion of the campaign began August 19th, and will run through Friday, Sept. 26, giving all DSC stakeholders an opportunity to have a say in what the Collegešs new nickname and mascot will be.
Last year, the Dixie State College Board of Trustees voted to retire the use of the "Rebel" nickname and the "Confederate" identity, which was adopted in the 1950s. The hope of the DSC naming committee, headed by DSC's 2008-09 studentbody president Brock Bybee, is to come up with a new school identity that reflects the true pioneer heritage, traditions, values and work ethic of the region.
Each week during the five-week initial nomination process, three lucky nickname submitters will be awarded $100 and their submission will be one of
15 finalists. At the conclusion of the nomination process, Dixie State will announce the 15 nickname finalists during DSC's Homecoming festivities, which is slated for the week of Oct. 5-11.
Following that announcement, a new round of online voting will take place through Friday, Oct. 31, to narrow the field down to 10 entries. DSC officials will then introduce the top-10 and a new round of voting will commence from Friday, Nov. 14, through the last day of the 2008 fall semester, which ends Friday, Dec. 12.
Those votes will be tabulated and the field will be whittled down to three final entries. The three remaining entries, complete with costumes designed during the Christmas Holiday break, will be announced in January.
"Dixie Idol" will really get interesting as the contest moves into the "Shootout" stage, as each mascot finalist will perform during a DSC's men's basketball home game (Jan. 17/Jan. 31/Feb. 12), and will all perform as an ensemble during DSCšs final home game of the year on Thursday, Feb. 20.
Then beginning Friday, Feb. 21, through Thursday, March 5, everyone can vote for the their favorite finalist online. The outcome of the final vote will be reported to Dixie Statešs administration and Board of Trustees for approval. Following that process, the winner and new DSC nickname and mascot to be unveiled at the conclusion of the Great Race during "D" Week Friday, April 3, at the Encampment Mall.
For more information on "Dixie Idol," please visit www.dixie.edu/mascot.
