Roary the EMCC Mascot

History of the Mascot

In 2009, EMCC Student Life and Leadership announced the selection of the college's mascot: the Estrella Mountain Lion.

Spanning over a year, the mascot selection process began with nominations from the student body, ranging from Killer Bees to Earthworms, and ultimately, the Estrella Mountain Lion. As part of its continued commitment to student learning and its evolution to a more student-centered Learning College, the selection process did not end there. Student ambassadors developed activities to educate students about types of lions, including facts about lions that are indigenous to Arizona, and especially the Estrella Mountain range, for which the college is named. Students also studied definitions of descriptive words like 'regal,' 'powerful,' and 'aggressive,' so that the design of the mascot would reflect the exact qualities students wanted their lion to impart. Students were then able to vote on two mascot designs created to best represent their concept.

The Estrella Mountain Lions mascot has come to inspire pride among EMCC students, employees and the community. The mascot also represents campus life and the college's cross-country and golf athletic teams.