WSU Unveils New Cougar Pride Sculptures Across Campuses to Foster Community Spirit

Washington State University (WSU) has installed new Cougar Pride sculptures across its campuses, thanks to a donation from alumnus Gary Schneidmiller, who graduated in 1971. These bronze sculptures, modeled after the original Cougar statue at the Pullman campus, are now placed in Spokane, Vancouver, Tri-Cities, and Everett. The final dedication ceremonies took place this spring. The project aims to build a shared sense of pride and identity within the WSU community.

The original Cougar Pride sculpture has been a key feature at the Pullman campus since 2008. It is a popular photo spot during major events like home football games and graduation. The sculpture also honors the history of WSU's live mascots, a tradition that ended in 1978 with Butch VI, following a student vote.

The replication of the Cougar sculpture across all WSU campuses was suggested by Schneidmiller in a meeting with WSU President Kirk Schulz and Mike Connell, vice president for advancement and CEO of the WSU Foundation. The project involved detailed planning and was well-received, reflecting the alumni's strong ties to the university. The new sculptures are slightly smaller than the original but are still significant in size.

Artist Mike Fields, who worked on the Pullman sculpture, used digital tools and manual sculpting to create the replicas. This combination of methods helped accurately represent the Cougar spirit in bronze.

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