GWINNETT COUNTY: College mascot’s unveiling set for rib fest

Georgia Gwinnett College President Daniel J. Kaufman makes jokes about his institution’s claim to be “the campus of tomorrow.”

That means, he told the state Board of Regents on Wednesday, that if someone asks for something, the answer is often “we’ll have that tomorrow.”

When it opened its doors in August 2006, Georgia Gwinnett became the state’s first start-up four-year college in a century.

But Georgia’s newest publicly funded college is making great strides, Kaufman assured the regents. It graduated its first class (one student went on to graduate work at Harvard University, Kaufman likes to brag). It’s passed a preliminary step toward accreditation and could be fully accredited in December 2009. And it’s projected to have 11,000 students by 2012, up from about 1,600 this year.

The college will celebrate its first two years on Saturday with a festival in downtown Lawrenceville from 1 to 9 p.m. A highlight will be the 4 p.m. unveiling of the college’s official mascot, the Gwinnett Grizzly.

School officials promise an image that is “soon to be as recognizable” as the University of Georgia’s bulldog, Uga, or Georgia Tech’s yellow jacket, Buzz.

Kaufman said the grizzly melds strength and wisdom.

“It will represent Georgia Gwinnett’s ultimate goal to make strong leaders out of its dedicated students,” he said.

Saturday’s Rock ‘n Rib Fest, which is open to the public, will feature classic rock music and barbecued ribs.

Georgia Gwinnett is an “access college,” which means anyone with a diploma from a Georgia high school can be admitted. Its mission is to train its students in fields that meet the work force demands of the community.

Existing degree programs are in biology, psychology, information technology and business. Degrees for nurses, radiology technicians and teachers will be offered once the college is fully accredited.