Valdar the Viking “Rocked the Runway” to Sport New South Texas Look
Del Mar College mascot revamped to fit institutional rebranding color palette
Article by Mleinda Eddleman
Instead of Project Runway, the event was more like Project Valdar. Del Mar College’s (DMC) loveable Viking mascot “rocked the runway” on Nov. 3 to show off his new South Texas look and some new duds to match the color palette used in the College’s rebranding efforts that started in August 2021.
Rebranding included renaming the two existing campuses at the time––now the Heritage and Windward Campuses––and naming the campus under construction on the southside of Corpus Christi, which is the Oso Creek Campus, updating the logo and introducing a new color palette for marketing purposes institutionally and for each of DMC’s three campuses.
It only makes sense that Valdar also pushed his way to the front of the line as part of the College’s rebranding efforts, wanting a new look to fit our new image by shedding his furry beard and Viking winter wardrobe to fit in more with the locals.
DMC students and employees attended the fashion show-like unveiling and saw that Valdar’s beard and hair are lighter in color, more sun-drenched than before, and he’s ditched his Nordic clothing for a more casual coastal wardrobe and added a tux with tails for special occasion that required dressing up.
The College’s mascot is managed by the Student Leadership & Campus Life Office, and he makes anywhere from 50 to 60 appearances each year around the Coastal Bend, ranging from sporting events to school visits to formal affairs as a representative of Del Mar College.
“We’re really proud of Valdar’s new look as he continues to serve as one of Del Mar College’s ambassadors to represent higher education and the opportunities that DMC provides.”
Valdar the Viking, has become a superstar over the last five years since he journeyed down North America’s Eastern Seaboard and landed in Corpus Christi on April 27, 2017. He found his home at DMC, and the community has embraced him throughout Nueces County and beyond.
You can follow Valdar on his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DMCViking.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.