MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Friends of WVU Hospitals auxiliary group is now accepting applications for the next Monti Bear mascot, the unofficial mascot of WVU Medicine.
The mascot, which turned nine years old in August, originated from the plush toy Monti Bear. Monti, a West Virginia black bear, is named after the state motto, “Montani Semper Liberi,” meaning “Mountaineers are always free.” He is dressed like the Hug-A-Bear Monti plush toy, which was designed in honor of WVU Men’s Basketball Coach Bob Huggins. Hug-A-Bear and the Monti Bear mascot both sport coonskin caps with the Flying WV logo and a blue jacket with gold buttons.
To be eligible to serve as Monti Bear, applicants must:
- Be enrolled as a full-time student at a local high school, provide verification of homeschooling, or be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at WVU
- Have and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Participate in 25 percent of scheduled events (in or out of costume), including hospital and community events
- Be between 5’6” and 5’10” due to the construction of the costume
Applications to become the next Monti Bear mascot are due on Oct.15. Candidates must be available Oct. 15-30 for an interview and try-out process.
The selection of the 2019-2020 Monti Bear mascot will be announced on Nov. 1. The Friends of WVU Hospitals will select four candidates to serve as the Monti Bear mascot and handlers. The four Monti mascots will each receive a $1,500 financial award.
For more information or to apply online, click here. Questions regarding the application process can be directed to Whitney Rae Hatcher, manager of Volunteer Services and Friends Gift Shop, at whitney.hatcher@wvumedicine.org.