UAFS Mailbag: Happy Birthday, Numa!
In a back-to-back edition of the UAFS Mailbag, I wanted to extend a very happy birthday to our mascot Numa.
According to university lore, Numa got his name after the Mangani word for âlion,â deriving from Edgar Rice Burroughsâs novel, âTarzan of the Apes.â Mangani is a fictional language created by Burroughs and used throughout his popular books of the 1920s â the same time Fort Smith Junior College was being formed.
Lions have commonly been used to symbolize courage and strength. There is no better animal to be connected to UAFS to show the courage, strength, and resilience of every UAFS student. Numa was a perfect fit.
Every April, Numa celebrates an extraordinary day â his birthday â and all of us are invited.
This yearâs birthday party will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, on the campus green. Numa isnât one to ask for gifts but said if so inclined, you can give to any projects on April 25 and 26.
To celebrate Numaâs birthday, there will be enough food to feed a pride of lions thanks to First Security Bank, which will grill some burgers and hotdogs. No party is complete without a sweet treat. There will be cupcakes, Andyâs Frozen Custard, and Kona Ice.
There will also be activities to keep the party going.
Be sure to get a picture with Numa, get crafty with beaded crafts, jump around on inflatables, challenge yourself on a mechanical bull, aim to dunk your friends in a dunk tank, and be one of the first 200 to tie-dye a T-shirt.
Numaâs party is gearing up to be a blast, and it wouldnât be possible without our Alumni Office and the Campus Activities Board. Donât miss out on wishing our favorite lion a happy birthday next week.
As always, if there is anything youâd like to see in an upcoming UAFS Mailbag or if you have a question youâd like answered, email the Office of Communications at communications@uafs.edu.
Until next time,
Ian
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- Numa's Birthday
- UAFS Mailbag
- Day of Giving
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