YOUR CHANCE TO SUPPORT BUZZ!
The Buzz Program typically runs on a team of five to ten highly driven student-athletes. Their love and tradition for school spirit and the joy these students bring to the community through Buzz are unmatched. They are true ambassadors for Georgia Tech Athletics and represent us proudly. Buzz won the ACC 2022-2023 Best Mascot Award, and brought home the GOLD at NCA College Nationals this year! We need your help to ensure Buzz continues to be the best mascot in collegiate sports!
AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY
Although the program does receive operational support from the GTAA, we are not regulated by the NCAA and do not receive competitive funding. Over $100,000 is raised each year for the Spirit Program Competitive Drive Fund to allow student-athletes to compete at the National level. This funding is achieved through our student-athletes working events, gathering alumni support, community partner donations, and various fundraising events hosted by the program. There are also several other ways to give to the program. New equipment such as Buzz suits, prop building materials, and a location on campus for the team to meet, build props, plan gameday skits and community appearances, would be a huge boost to ensure the future success of the program.
BUZZ PROGRAM GOALS:
$20,000
Additional operational funding
$30,000
Scholarship increases for our hard-working student-athletes ($5,000 each)
$600,000
Endowed Scholarships
(Six at $100,000 each)
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN SUPPORTING BUZZ.
BUZZ BUDGET BREAKDOWN
• Suit price - $10,000
• Suit cleaning/repairs - $3,000
• Prop materials and tools - $5,000
• NCA Camp - $3,000
• NCA College Nationals - $6,000
• Gameday Meals (home and travel) - $3,000
CURRENT SCHOLARSHIP ALLOTMENT:
First year - $250
Second year - $500
Third year - $750
Fourth year - $1000
Buzz Captain Scholarship - $1500
BUZZ SCHOLARSHIPS
We’d like to bolster our scholarship program, which can be done in two ways:
1) Outright Scholarship Support
2) Endowment Giving
Outright Scholarship Support
The cost of a full in-state scholarship is roughly $31,500. We are seeking donors who are willing to commit that amount annually for four years, for a total pledge of $125,000.
Endowment Giving
A Buzz endowment may be established and individually named with a minimum commitment of $100,000 (payable over five years). We'd like to create at least six of these Buzz endowments, which would each pay out approximately $5,000 per year.
"Buzz represents an enduring and active part of Georgia Tech heritage, who is continually brought to life by a hard-working and dedicated team of student-athletes. Through our years of involvement with Tech and crossing paths with Buzz multiple times, we began researching ways to support the program. It was a surprise to learn the time commitment required of the student athletes and how little resources are allocated to it. There are many ways to help the Buzz program, please join us in supporting the students who are dedicated to bringing GT’s beloved mascot to life."
- Mary and Larry Montgomery, ME 1978
BUZZ PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
• Practice/weightlifting two or three times per week
• Create gameday and nationals skits and build props
• Manage Buzz's social media and campus involvement
• Appear at athletic sporting events/games - free of charge
• Work paid appearances - $100 per hour on campus, $200 per hour off campus (half of the fee goes to the student-athlete; half goes to the Buzz operational budget)
• Raise Nationals fee by making and selling Buzz hats, working Cheersport, and through paid appearances and sponsor donations
BUZZ HISTORY
Buzz is a fixture of Georgia Tech and collegiate athletics. The idea of Buzz began in 1972 when Judi McNair constructed a Yellow Jacket costume, and in 1980, Buzz was made the official Georgia Tech mascot after Richie Bland ran onto the football field (without permission) during a pep rally.
Since then, Buzz has been portrayed by dozens of students, and he remains an official student-athlete and member of the cheer team. Buzz is an essential member of the Georgia Tech community for promoting school spirit, spreading positivity, and representing Georgia Tech to a national audience.
WHO IS BUZZ?
Buzz is athletic and fearless. From climbing over the stadium, stealing concessions, or crowd surfing, Buzz can do anything. He is mischievous and likes to pull pranks, but extremely dedicated to his fans. He always stops for a photo, and he’s constantly giving high fives, fist bumps, and hugs. He loves to dance and is known for his signature stinger shaking.
A PROUD TECH TRADITION
Buzz attends all campus sporting events and is central to many gameday traditions including conducting the band at every ¾ mark in a game, beginning pregame activities with the traditional Buzz flip, and performing interactive skits throughout gameday. Outside of athletics, Buzz is a very active member of the Georgia Tech community. Each year, Buzz attends around 300 events on and off campus in addition to GT athletics events. These include campus engagement events, alumni galas, corporate mixers, and charity events.
2023 NATIONAL CHAMPION!
As a member of the Spirit program, Buzz is a proud tradition at Georgia Tech and is housed under the Athletics Department. The program is composed of 80 student-athletes, between the two Cheerleading Squads, the Goldrush Dance Team, and the Buzz Program. Every April, Buzz competes in Daytona Beach, Florida in the National Cheerleading Association’s Mascot Division. After months of tireless work on set building and skit prep, Buzz placed first this 2023 season with his iconic Mario skit, and earned the new nickname, National Champion!
WHAT A YEAR!
Buzz also racked up other accolades this season aside from winning the championship.
He was also named the Best Mascot of 2022 by the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl and nominated for the Mascot Hall of Fame 2023.
The sky's the limit for the WORLD'S GREATEST MASCOT, and we can’t wait to see what Buzz has in store for us next season!
"We are a small group of six student-athletes that work tirelessly to keep up the Buzz magic. We all attend Georgia Tech sporting events and Buzz’s appearances, but there is a lot more to Buzz that goes on behind the scenes. We meet at least twice a week for 3-hour practices, train three days a week in the weight room, manage Buzz’s social media accounts, organize fundraising efforts, and plan opportunities for campus outreach.
Buzz helped me find my purpose at Georgia Tech. When I moved to Atlanta, I wasn’t sure I belonged here. I did well academically, but I couldn’t find a community to call home. I was always interested in Buzz and I was (I am) a geek about Georgia Tech traditions, but I wasn’t sure if I’d make the team or I’d be the right fit. I decided to go for it the night before tryouts, and that was the best decision I could have made."
- Jocelyn Kavanagh, Buzz
"With your support, these students will find their home in the Buzz program and
will continue Buzz’s positive impact at Georgia Tech. Thank you and go Jackets!"
— Jocelyn Kavanagh
Buzz Thanks You
Through financial support from Georgia Tech, our Alumni, and local Atlanta community, we will be able to keep up with the competitive drive of our student-athletes that are a part of this phenomenal, creative and successful program!
Get in Touch Today to Find Out More!
Contact Me:
Shana (Belden) Spann
Spirit Coordinator and Head Cheerleading Coach
GT Athletics