Southwest to Unveil New Saluqi Mascot and Official Name at 25th Anniversary Homecoming Pep Rally

For more information, contact Diana Fedinec, Southwest Tennessee Community College Director of Public Relations and Media, at 901-333-4247 or dfedinec@southwest.tn.edu.

(Memphis, Tenn.) - Southwest Tennessee Community College is gearing up for a historic moment in Saluqi history. As part of this year's 25th Anniversary celebrations, the beloved Saluqi mascot will debut a new look — and, for the first time, an official name — during a high-energey, dramatic video reveal at the Homecoming Pep Rally at noon on Thursday, Oct. 30, in the Verties Sails Gymnasium on the Union Avenue Campus, 737 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tenn. 38103. 

The Saluqi has been a proud symbol of Southwest for decades, long before the College’s official founding in 2000. Originally serving as the mascot for Shelby State Community College, the Saluqi carried forward into the new millennium as a unifying emblem for Southwest’s students, alumni, and community. Known for his spirited presence on the sidelines, his role as a tireless cheerleader, and his status as a true brand ambassador, the Saluqi has been a fixture at athletic events, campus celebrations, and community gatherings across Memphis.

To mark this milestone year, Southwest invited students to help write the next chapter of the Saluqi’s story. Students submitted name ideas, voted on the Top 3 finalists, and will soon learn which name will be etched into Southwest history. 

Along with the new mascot's reveal and first official name, the College will crown the first-ever Mr. and Miss Southwest as part of a surprise announcement. 

Event Details
Date: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 | Time: 12 NOON 
Location: Verties Sails Gymnasium, Southwest Tennessee Community College
Union Avenue Campus
737 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tenn. 38103

For more information about the 25th Anniversary celebrations and Homecoming events, visit https://southwest.tn.edu/homecoming/index.php.