Pig Pride: Campus Unveils Winged Marathon Statue

Pigs are now flying on the UC campus, thanks to the new Flying Pig statue that was unveiled and dedicated on May 3 next to Calhoun Hall. The statue is one among a whole passel of winged hogs created for the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon.

UC President Santa Ono and Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon Executive Director Iris Simpson-Bush unveiled the sculpture, which was designed by UC student Melinda Sekela and painted by UC student Joshua Mindlin. Both are students in the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. The colorful swine they created carries depictions of  UC buildings, including Lindner Center, the Walker Tower, Steger Center, and Crosley.

President Ono called the UC statue the “most beautiful flying pig at the hashtag hottest college in America.”

Simpson-Bush also announced plans to launch a College Challenge in 2014 where local college students would compete in Flying Pig races to earn scholarships and raise money for local charities.

The unveiling and announcement were timed to take place on the same day that the marathon’s events officially got underway.  The statue also marks the partnership between the University of Cincinnati and the Flying Pig Marathon.

According to Simpson-Bush, UC has been a long-time partner of the Flying Pig, both with its support and with students running and volunteering at the events.

The UC Flying Pig is for now untitled. The Student Government at UC spearheaded the effort to acquire the pig and will explore whether it should be titled. The pig stands along Calhoun Street, in between the former YMCA building and Calhoun residence hall.  Student Government President Joe Blizzard and McMicken College of Arts and Sciences student James Avant IV also participated in the dedication.

The 15th anniversary marathon is taking place May 3 to 5 and is expected to welcome more than 33,000 participants from all 50 states and more than a dozen countries. For more information, visit www.flyingpigmarathon.com.