Birthday bash planned for South Dakota State jackrabbit mascot

BROOKINGS, S.D. - The South Dakota State University Jackrabbit mascot will celebrate its 105th birthday on Friday, Nov. 12, at The Union. A birthday party will fill the Marketplace Main Street from noon to 2 p.m. with cake for the first 350 SDSU students and other festivities.

Students can register to win a $50 gift card from the SDSU Bookstore when they have their picture taken with the Jackrabbit mascot at the party.

The first recorded mention of the Jackrabbit name appeared with a sketch in the Minneapolis-based "The Sunday Tribune" on Nov. 12, 1905, when the South Dakota team played football against Minnesota.

More than 880 people took part in an online naming contest this fall for the more than century-old, nameless mascot. Ballots were cast for the favorite of six suggested names, and the winner will be announced at Friday's birthday celebration.

Staters for State, the student alumni organization of the SDSU Alumni Association, plans to celebrate the occasion yearly.

The Staters group is organizing the birthday party as it works to promote SDSU, encourage student leadership and establish a connection between SDSU alumni and current students.

Staters for State hosts a variety of events and activities throughout the academic year in addition to the Jackrabbit Birthday Bash, including Family of the Year, Senior Sizzle and Oozeball, a mud volleyball tournament.

-www.sdstate.edu-

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