“Would you have the Athletic Director approach me about being the mascot?”

With one simple, unprompted question — a question Owen asked his principal during his first week in seventh grade at Avon Middle School North — our family was introduced to an adventure we could not have imagined.

Not only has Owen’s tenure as Big O, the Avon mascot, given us a ton of treasured experiences and memories, it has been an encouragement to members of our community, and it has spurred us on to find ways to support others who might otherwise struggle to fit in. Whether it is through teaching others how to be a mascot like Owen or inspiring them to find their own ways to stand out, we are excited to pass on what we have learned.

Being a mascot has been Owen’s gift to himself, his parents, and his community. Now it’s time to give the gift to others.

Kevin, Kelly, and Owen