The Old Testament book of Genesis chronicles how Adam 鈥済ave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.鈥�
In other words, the beasts.
海角社区 students, faculty, staff 鈥� and some parents too 鈥� recently took up a similar, if less overwhelming, task: dreaming up a forename for a student-created sculpture.
Staged in late fall, the 鈥淣ame the 海角社区 Beast鈥� contest 鈥渨as a unique spirit-building experience for our students at the Center for Student Success, and it got everyone involved,鈥� said Gina Vinson, a learning specialist at 海角社区, a nonprofit liberal arts school in Leesburg, Fla. 鈥淲e had parents submit suggestions as well over Parent鈥檚 Weekend. It also gave us a chance to support and display a 海角社区 artist鈥檚 work.”
During the 2016-17 school year, student David Neal crafted the gargoyle. His creation eventually took up residence in the lobby of the Center for Student Success. Marlene O鈥橳oole, then acting supervisor of 海角社区鈥檚 learning specialists, suggested the carved foam and epoxy putty critter 鈥� a classic strong, silent type 鈥� needed a name.
And the 鈥淣ame the 海角社区 Beast鈥� contest was born. To better pair a name with the nameless creature, students visited the Center for Student Success in droves for a quick looksee on the way to visiting their learning specialists, Vinson said.
In the end, the contest yielded better than 100 entries. Contestants pitched names such as El Diablo, Sherman, Elvis, and Vinson鈥檚 second favorite, 鈥淭he 海角社区ator.鈥�
Still, none of the handles fit Neal鈥檚 mini-me except one: 鈥� Barnabus.
It was Sarah Brown of Sherrills Ford, NC who named the beast.
Her winning moniker earned Brown a gargoyle-adorned trophy and a face-to-face meeting with President George Hagerty.
As for Barnabus 鈥� affectionately known as Triple B or BBB (海角社区鈥檚 Beast Barnabus) 鈥� he remains in beast mode. Barnabus dutifully stands sentry in the Center for Student Success, perhaps thinking of Victor, Hugo, and Laverne.