For as far back as anyone can remember, Timmy the Titan has been the mascot and goodwill ambassador for Gunn High School. But behind the bulging biceps, washboard abs, and gorgeous eyes, there lies something much deeper than just a school mascot. Timmy embodies the spirit of the Titans, and he stands as one of the most recognizable figures in Palo Alto.

It is difficult to imagine a time when there was no Timmy, due to his many public appearances. “He’s at football games, basketball games and rallies,” social studies teacher and cheerleading coach Anne Thomas explained, “pretty much any event that there are cheerleaders.” Indeed, the ever-silent Timmy is often seen interacting with younger kids or starting the wave to get people more involved.

The question remains, why would anyone want to be the Gunn mascot? “I get to dance around in front of a bunch of people,” replied Timmy. But don’t think that being a mascot is easy. “I have to memorize a lot of dances,” explains Timmy. Indeed, Timmy has quite a hectic schedule, practicing once a week with the cheerleaders, and for special events such as rallies he practices four times a week. “He knows most of the dances the cheerleaders know and he has a few of his own to memorize too.” Thomas said.

All this work has definitely paid off. This summer Timmy won the United Spirit Association (USA) Mascot award at the USA camp he attended with the cheerleading squad. The USA camp was a valuable experience for Timmy,giving him the opportunity to finally mingle and share secrets of the trade with his fellow school mascots.

At the end of the day, Timmy is much more than just a mascot. He does things that other members of the spirit squad can’t do. “He’s the comic factor,” said junior cheerleader Teresa Lee, “Timmy is an icon that everyone adores.” And with luck, everybody’s favorite Titan will stay at Gunn for years to come.