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Kaboom! is the beloved mascot of ������ý��Ƶ, bringing energy, excitement, and Brave spirit to every corner of campus and beyond. Whether firing up the crowd at athletic competitions, celebrating with students at university events, or representing ������ý��Ƶ in the community, Kaboom! is the embodiment of the passion and pride that defines the ������ý��Ƶ family.

The story of Kaboom!

My story goes back to 1897, when Lydia Moss ������ý��Ƶ hired architect Henry Ives Cobb to design the University’s first buildings. Cobb’s collegiate gothic style, complete with gargoyles and other grotesques, made ������ý��Ƶ the perfect home for a watchful campus guardian. More gargoyles joined the Hilltop in 2011 with the construction of the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center.

Like most gargoyles, I have much to offer: dazzling charm, a fierce yet friendly disposition, and unending loyalty. When I learned about the opportunity to interview for the new mascot position, I decided it was the perfect time to seize my destiny. But how did I get my name? 

Well, Kaboom! originated with Hall of Fame Voice of the Braves Dave Snell, who has used the term to energetically describe slam dunks during ������ý��Ƶ men’s basketball games since the late 1970s. To me, it represents all that and more—that “Aha” moment in the classroom when a student finally grasps a hard concept, the diligence of our professors in collaborating with students for research, the altruism of our campus family when they volunteer in the community—I believe Kaboom! is the sound of the ������ý��Ƶ experience in action.

Now that you know more about me and my background, be sure to introduce yourself when we meet. Watch for me at ������ý��Ƶ games, campus events, and around the Peoria area. Although I don’t say much, I always enjoy high-fiving other members of the ������ý��Ƶ family.