Posted September 22, 2021 in Articles
Lawrence L. Lion, lovingly known as Larry, joined the school as the official mascot more than two decades ago. In a rare interview, we learned more about his regal presence on our campuses.
Larry, you surprised everyone this year with your wildly different look! Tell us about your transformation.
Well, it’s funny you should ask because this seems to be the question on everyone’s mind since school began! Every summer I head back to my homeland for some much needed time off. While waiting to board my plane at the Cleveland Hopkins Airport, I made a quick stop in the restroom. As I was washing my paws, I looked up and realized I barely recognized the furry face staring back at me. I know I’m getting older and airport lighting makes us all appear rather dreadful, but I looked tired. Right then and there I knew I had to do something! When people look at me, I want them to recognize my boundless energy and feel an infusion of school spirit.
I checked in at Serengeti Spa, where a talented team of hip stylists dip-dyed, fluffed, and transformed my look. I feel amazing and can’t wait to show off my new green mane when our varsity teams bring home the championship trophies!
You don’t speak much in a crowd, what do you want the students to know about you?
I might seem shy and quiet, but I hope our students know how loyal I am to each and every one of them. Humans call it family, but big cats call it a P-R-I-D-E. Every Lawrence student and alumni can always count on me!
So, what brought you to Lawrence School?
It’s been just over 20 years, but I’ll never forget the day I saw Lawrence School’s job posting in The Akron Beacon Journal. The school had just purchased 47 acres of land in Sagamore Hills and was looking for an energetic, strong, and fierce candidate who had the heart of a gentle kitty-cat. I knew I was all of those things, along with a proven history of knock-your-socks-off dance moves. I may be a lion, but I certainly don’t have four left paws.
I filled out an application and started the very next week. I look forward to many more years of high fives with our awesome students. GO Lions!
What’s your favorite spot at Upper School to hang out?
Lions can actually go four entire days without water, but I find myself moseying down to Fell Lake for a big cold slurp almost daily. Mr. Vargo once told me there is a rusty old motorcycle at the bottom of the lake, so that must be why the water tastes a bit metallic—it’s delicious!
Where do you like to hang out at Lower School?
Well, I hope Mrs. Diffenbacher doesn’t read this because she told me to stop prowling at night, but I’ve been playing around with Lower School’s new 3-D printer after all the teachers go home. So far, I’ve made a new case for my earbuds, a keychain, and a comb to coif my unruly fur.
What do you like to eat?
Oh, eating is my absolute favorite activity! I’m a carnivore, but recently Mr. Hamilton’s wife turned me onto some vegan recipes. I can’t promise I’ll stop chasing the deer on our campuses, but eggplant is surprisingly filling. Mrs. Reynolds also throws extra slices of pizza my way when students who ordered lunch are absent. Lately, I’ve been dreaming of pepperoni and I can’t wait for those Pizza Fridays to start back up again. In terms of afternoon snacks, I never turn down Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
We know you sleep A LOT, but what do you do in your spare time?
I do really love to snooze, but Mr. Culp is always on me to get involved in extracurriculars and make connections within the Lawrence community. He claims forming these relationships is the key to a healthy, well-rounded school experience. A few years back I joined the Ski Club and I made a lot of new friends on the chairlift, but nobody could keep up when I ripped down the mogul course. The great thing about my thick fur is that even in a Northeast Ohio winter, I don’t need a down parka to stay toasty. I just grab my helmet and goggles, and I’m ready to hit the slopes.
When there’s no snow on the ground, I build endurance by running the bases on the Susan G. Banks Softball Field. Seeing my huge paw prints around the baseline drives Mr. Cioffoletti crazy, but he can’t catch me!
Do you have any words of advice for the Lawrence community?
You know, my best advice is to always keep learning and trying to improve yourself. This is a life lesson I picked up directly from Lawrence students! These kids are so hardworking and even when something is overwhelming or difficult, they persevere. They’ve even inspired me to keep working on things in my own life that don’t come easily. And with that, I’ve gotta go—I’m late for my bi-weekly fluency assessment with Ms. Erich. The line on my graph is slowly creeping up and I want to keep it that way!