New Mascot Unveiled During Massive Enrollment Event

Confetti cannons fired as hundreds of incoming students stepped up to fast-track their careers, and Savannah Technical College officially unveiled its new mascot: The Savannah Tech Otter.

The reveal took place during “Rock-N-Rollment,” the college’s one-stop community enrollment event designed to help students bypass traditional red tape and immediately register for the Fall semester.

The Otter’s debut marks the peak of a year-long community campaign. After an internal college search yielded 10 initial concepts, the final decision was handed over to the residents of Coastal Georgia. Thousands of community members cast their votes to decide between three finalists: The Storm, The Kraken, and The Otter. Ultimately, the Otter secured a commanding victory, claiming over 50% of the total vote.

“When we looked at what defines a Savannah Tech graduate, we realized we weren’t describing a mascot. We were describing our students,” said Dr. Ryan W. Foley, President of Savannah Technical College. “Otters are intelligent, hardworking, adaptable, and one of the few animals known to use tools. They thrive by solving problems, working together, and adapting to whatever comes their way.”

During the unveiling, Dr. Foley distributed “Opportunity Stones” to attendees, drawing a powerful parallel between an otter carrying its favorite rock to solve problems in the wild, and the specific tools Savannah Tech students master to build their careers.

“For one student, that tool is a chef’s knife. For another, it’s a welding torch, a stethoscope, an aviation torque wrench, or the steering wheel of a commercial truck,” Dr. Foley added. “At Savannah Technical College, we help students discover the tools of their trade, master them, and use them to build careers that strengthen their families, our businesses, and our communities.”

With the logo now officially adopted across all campuses, the next phase of the rollout will include the fabrication of a physical mascot character suit, followed by a community-wide naming contest later this year.

Future students ready to become Savannah Tech Otters can still enroll for the upcoming semester. Fall classes begin August 17. For more information on programs or to apply, visit SavannahTech.edu.

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) is the premier provider of career-ready technical education in Coastal Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of nearly 150 market-driven programs, preparing students for high-demand careers including Aviation Technology, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation & Robotics, Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Public Services and more. With campuses in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, Savannah Tech serves more than 13,000 credit and non-credit students with a variety of pathways to success, including dual enrollment programs for high school students and specialized support services for military veterans and their families. Beyond academics, Savannah Tech is an economic and community development partner, collaborating with industry leaders to provide customized training programs, assessment services, and continuing education opportunities. For more information, visit www.savannahtech.edu.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Savannah Technical College complies with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The TCSG State Board prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status (“protected status”). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under any TCSG program or activity because of the individual’s protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual’s protected status, except the preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.