Hood Unveils New Blazer Mascot Costume

FREDERICK, Md.--Hood College welcomed its largest first-year class ever during its annual convocation ceremony Monday, Aug. 23 in the College's Hodson Outdoor Theater.

During the 10 a.m. ceremony, which marked the official start of the College's 118th academic year, Hood College President Ronald J. Volpe, Ph.D., welcomed nearly 2,400 students, including nearly 330 new first-year students, more than 200 new graduate students and nearly 130 undergraduate students who have transferred to Hood from two-year and other four-year institutions. Nearly 1,500 students comprise the largest undergraduate population in the history of the College.

The ceremony was also filled with tradition, including the customary candle-lighting ceremony. Hood's first-ever mascot, Blaze, was introduced through a choreographed flash mob presentation--a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place to perform--with participation by students, faculty and staff.

Blaze was created by Street Characters, Inc., headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and founded in 1986.

View photos from Convocation.

Click here for a video of the first-ever public appearnace of Blaze, the Blazer mascot.