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Can You Find Them?
Invasion of the Bookworms
Yousie to Promote University City as place of learning
By Michele Wayman, Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 5, 2006
Section: Neighbors of University City
Page: 3J
Here's the deal on Yousie (say "you see" or "UC"). This mortarboard-wearing bookworm has become
the unofficial mascot for University City this month.
Creators: Members of the University City Community Building Project's first leadership academy class.
Reason: The class needed a service project and chose to work on promoting identity for University City.
Goal: Engage children (and adults) through a contest in which they find the wooden bookworms at various
UC locations.
Impetus: The idea came from Margo Scurry, who modeled it after the decorated pig statues seen about town in
Goldsboro. (Charlotte had a similar public art project using rocking chairs a few years ago.) Grace Watkins drew
the bookworm for stenciling.
Why a bookworm?: Team members say the bookworm promotes University City as an educational region - you can go from
preschool to a doctorate degree without leaving the area.
Helpers: The TIAA-CREF donated the printing for the fliers. Wachovia gave for the wood and paint. University
City Magazine is helping with publicity.
Hardest part: "You're looking at it," said team leader George Varghese, paintbrush in hand. He and a
few team members were in the YMCA boiler room a recent evening, finishing the job. He says his group underestimated
the time painting 15 plywood worms would take.
Key players: The team includes George Varghese, Cameron Nicholson, Nick McIntyre, Margo Scurry, Mike Roach, Grace
Watkins and Jada Earl. The rest of the 2005 leadership academy members are working on an environmental project
to be launched in the spring.
See Yousie in UC?
The first five children (grades K-5) to find and report at least 10 Yousie sightings will get their photo in the
March issue of University City Magazine and a T-shirt from the YMCA. To do so, click here or mail the location list and your name, age, address, e-mail and phone number to University City
YMCA, UCCBP Contest, 8100 Old Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte NC 28262.
Look for clues in upcoming editions of Neighbors of University City. |
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8100 Old Mallard Creek Road