LOOKING SLICK! CVTC President Sunem Beaton-Garcia unveils the college's newly chosen mascot, the River Otters, on Sept. 15. (Submitted photo)

After nearly 40 years without, Chippewa Valley Technical College has unveiled a new mascot the college believes is a perfect representation of the engaging, collaborative, hands-on, confident, supportive, and smart aspects of CVTC.

It took years, on and off, of deliberating, planning and collaborating, to pare the mascot options to four: bobcat, water spaniel, otter, and tiger.

Drum roll, please! The mascot is CVTC River Otters.

“We want to foster a full-college experience for our students,” said Sara Steffen, marketing and digital experience director. “A mascot is so much more than a physical or visual representation. It’s a symbol that brings together all people who are positively impacted by the college.”

The River Otters are not the first mascot representation of the college. The 1970s and 80s saw robust on-campus student activity at CVTC. Sports included basketball, golf, volleyball, hockey, and bowling. The Tech Tiger was the CVTC mascot. The student hangout was named the Tiger’s Den in the basement of the Business Education Center on Clairemont Avenue. 

In a timeline that is unclear, the Tech Tiger slipped away, and the college went for several decades without a mascot. In 2023, under the leadership and passion of CVTC President Sunem Beaton-Garcia, the college began moving forward with exploring a CVTC mascot once again. The mascot was officially unveiled Sept. 15 during ceremonies celebrating Beaton-Garcia’s official investiture as CVTC president.

Now, CVTC officials are looking for help to name their new River Otters mascot. Brainstorm and consider what aspects of the college community the name should reflect. Use this link to make mascot name suggestions.