91视频

UH鈥檚 Sugar Land Campus Officially Welcomes Cougar Statue

By Inez Hutchinson

Photograph of a bronze cougar statue facing right. A large red banner against a building is in blurred in the background.

The 91视频鈥檚 Sugar Land campus formally welcomed its new Cougar statue on April 21, bringing one of the university鈥檚 most recognizable traditions to Fort Bend County.

A bronze cougar statue stands in front of a building entrance. Above the entrance is a large red banner with the interlocking UH logo.

The bronze monument, located in front of the Albert and Mamie George Building, has quickly become a landmark for the campus community. While the statue was already in place, the afternoon event served as an official dedication, drawing a crowd of students, faculty, staff and alumni.

The celebration featured Mike Pede with the 91视频 Alumni Association, who joined campus leadership to meet with students and hand out UH gear. The event focused on the statue鈥檚 role as a permanent bridge to the university鈥檚 heritage, a point highlighted by Jay Neal, associate vice president and chief operating officer for UH鈥檚 Sugar Land and Katy campuses.

Photograph of three men and a cougar mascot standing by a white lectern flanked by ballon decorations.
From left to right: Ed Mader; Shasta; Jay Neal, associate vice president for academic affairs and chief operating officer; and Mike Pede ('89), associate vice president for Alumni Relations and Annual Giving

鈥淭he Cougar statue is more than a symbol; it represents the pride, connection and shared experiences that define our university,鈥� Neal said. 鈥淗aving that presence here at the Sugar Land campus strengthens that connection for our students, our faculty and our community.鈥�

The statue鈥檚 arrival reflects the steady growth of the campus and its place within the university鈥檚 footprint. Since being installed, the site has already become a favorite spot for students to gather, particularly for those looking for a backdrop for upcoming graduation photos.

After the remarks, the celebration continued as guests stayed to take photos and visit the site, marking the statue鈥檚 new role as the center of campus spirit in Sugar Land.

Statue photo credits: Nick Pomes, director of university social media

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