Perched powerfully in Wildcat Plaza, it surveys the neighborhood south of the Chico State campus, its tail caught in a cautious swish and its eyes locked in, staring down the length of Chestnut Street.

Indeed, something wild is finally here.

Eight years after Chico State students initiated the idea for a symbol of pride and unity on campus, the wildcat statue is officially part of the University. Hundreds of students, faculty and staff, along with alumni and members of the Chico community, turned out for the statue unveiling ceremony that formally introduced Lynx rufus californicus to Chico State and the community.

The 7-foot-long, 1,500-pound brass statue was designed and created by artist Matthew Gray Palmer and represents the University's mascot, paying homage to the animal that once graced the North State in much larger numbers.

It's also the realization of a multi-year, multi-faceted fundraising effort led by the University's Alumni Association and AS, with additional contributions from Wildcat Athletics.

When Sue Anderson, assistant vice president of Alumni and Parent Relations at Chico State, saw the statue she saw strength, pride and confidence, all of which represents the Chico spirit to her.

"The pride I see in the statue goes to community service, it goes to the Chico experience, it goes to our academics," said Anderson. "It represents all of the things we're prideful about."

After the Chico State Pep Band belted out some spirited tunes, Student Life and Leadership program coordinator Mary Wallmark warmed the crowd and welcomed Dennis Ramirez, chairman for the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, for a traditional blessing.

Former Chico State AS President Aaron Skaggs (Political Science, '10), Chico State Director of Athletics Anita Barker, and current AS President Alisha Sharma followed with brief statements. City of Chico Mayor (and College of Business lecturer) Sean Morgan and University President Gayle Hutchinson spoke and jointly proclaimed April 19, 2018 as Wildcat Spirit Day, designating the third Thursday in April as such in perpetuity.

As the moment to reveal the statue arrived, dozens of onlookers raised their smartphones to capture the moment. Then, President Hutchinson, Mayor Morgan, Barker, Sharma and Skaggs teamed up to lift the cardinal red taffeta off the sculpture.

Facilities Management Services, led by Ricardo Carrillo, prepared the stonework, masonry, and landscaping around the statue, which will also be lit at night from in-ground illumination.

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