Bernie the Bearcat

Experience

The work, in chronological order.

Four roles, mostly concurrent. They overlap on game days, alumni weekends, and that one block of 23rd Street.

  1. 1972 – Present

    Official Mascot

    Baruch College Bearcats New York, NY

    • Lead crowd engagement at 200+ basketball, volleyball, and swimming events annually at the ARC.
    • Drive home-court advantage during CUNYAC tournaments via hype routines and T-shirt cannon deployment.
    • Pose for an estimated 10,000+ photos annually at Convocation, Commencement, and Welcome Week.
    • Partner with Admissions, Alumni Relations, and the Starr CDC at NYC recruitment and alumni events.
    • Anchor the #BearcatPride social campaign, driving a 47% YoY increase in athletics social engagement.
  2. 2018 – Present

    Spirit Ambassador

    CUNY Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) New York, NY

    • Selected as featured mascot at four consecutive CUNYAC All-Star events.
    • Mentor incoming mascots from John Jay, Brooklyn College, and Hunter on crowd dynamics.
    • Represent the conference at recruiting events and inter-school exhibitions throughout the year.
  3. 2015 – Present

    Volunteer Reading Buddy

    NYC Public Schools New York, NY

    • Visit 50+ K–5 classrooms per year across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
    • Promote literacy and higher-education aspirations through interactive storytime and physical comedy.
  4. 2019 – Present

    Brand Ambassador

    Gramercy Small Business Coalition New York, NY

    • Make appearances at neighborhood storefronts, farmers markets, and ribbon-cuttings near campus.
    • Champion local businesses that offer student discounts to Baruch ID holders.

Want to book Bernie?

Game days, ribbon-cuttings, and kid-friendly events welcome. Booking notice: two weeks preferred.

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