Biography

Avalanche, the Kutztown University Golden Bear mascot, was unveiled on Saturday, October 1, 2005, at KU's football game against West Chester. Avalanche is named in honor of the nickname of then Kutztown State College's sports teams from the mid-1930s to the early 1960s. In 1961, Golden Bears replaced Golden Avalanche as the nickname for Kutztown's sports teams, and Golden Bear mascots soon followed. Most recently, Goldie and Griz have served as KU's Golden Bear mascots. With their "graduation," however, a new mascot was sought.

Thus entered the Raymond Entertainment Group (REG), a company based out of Newark, DE, specializing in creating mascot characters. The CEO of REG is David Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic. His company has created mascots for the NCAA, University of Delaware, Lakewood BlueClaws, Cincinnati Reds, fellow Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference member Millersville University and many others.

Avalanche the Golden Bear standing on Alumni Plaza rocks

Name: Avalanche
Age: Bear-ly an adult
Gender: Male
Height: 6'6'', kicks to tips
Weight: 300 lbs (Slims to 280 for bathing suit season)
Shoe Size: BIG... really, really BIG!
Birthplace: Blue Mountain, Northern Berks County
Major/Minor: Cheerology, Bearobics
Current Residence: Old Main Clock Tower, Kutztown, PA
Hobbies: Dancing, snowtubing, cheering on the Kutztown University Golden Bears, giving Bear-hugs, checkin' out the honey(s)
Role Model: Griz and Goldie '05- his predecessors
History: Kutztown University adopted Avalanche the Golden Bear when he was delivered to the President's doorstep. He was in a wooden box that was shipped from the mountains of Northern Berks County. The box was opened at Kutztown's Family Day football game, October 1, 2005. He is named in honor of the Golden Avalanche nickname used by Kutztown sports teams from the 1930s through the 1960s.

Favorites

Movie: "The Bad News Bears"
Food: Whoopie Pie and See-Food (If he sees food, he eats it!)
Colors: Maroon and Gold
Book: Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jim Aylesworth
Song: "Bear Necessities"
Music: Anything that gets him shakin'
Place to Hang Out: The Bear's Den and anywhere there are Kutztown University fans