Bradley’s mascot KaBoom! celebrated his first ‘KaBirthday’ last Sunday in the Great Hall of the Civic Center with hundreds of students, alumni and community members in attendance for the men’s Bradley versus Loyola-Chicago basketball game.
During the past year, KaBoom! has made appearances at key sporting events, varied community programs and numerous on and off-campus occasions.
Starting at 11 a.m. and running until halftime, the celebration included a bounce house, face painting, a balloon artist, coloring station and an opportunity to sign a giant birthday card for KaBoom!.
“There was a large amount of community members and a large amount of kids at the birthday party,” Red Sea President Anthony Sperando said. “There was a large bounce house and many other games. KaBoom! was walking around, and I thought it was pretty successful.”
The idea for KaBoom!’s figure came from the multiple gargoyle statues on top of buildings on campus, while his name was inspired by Hall of Fame Voice of Bradley Athletics, Dave Snell’s catchphrase used when basketball slam dunks took place. The mascot was initially introduced last February during the men’s basketball game against Loyola-Chicago.
The birthday party supported the Baby Beginnings Project, a program created by the Children’s Home Association of Illinois. Attendees brought items on the organization’s wish list to donate.
The Children’s Home Good Beginnings program educates young mothers in the Peoria and Tazewell areas. According to the Children’s Home website, their goal is to foster positive relationships between children and parents and to reduce child abuse.
“The event was fun,” senior music business and music performance double major Tracey Furling said. “I was really impressed with the birthday present idea. It was a great way to get involved in the community.”
Furling said she thought, due to the environment of the event, students might be ready to welcome KaBoom! more warmly than when he was first introduced.
For more information on KaBoom!, visit his page on the Bradley website.
