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Large steel Brooke Bruin to be unveiled today

Brooke High School welding instructor Larry Jones and one of his students survey part of the large steel sculpture of the school's bruin mascot that will officially be unveiled Wednesday. (Photo Provided)

WELLSBURG, W.Va. — Since Brooke High School opened in 1969, visitors have encountered its bruin mascot in many places, from cartoon depictions of the crouching grizzly painted in hallways to the large paw print found on the 50-yard line of the football field.

But the most imposing form of the creature yet is slated to be unveiled at 6 p.m. today outside the wellness center at the west end of the school’s campus.

Area residents are invited to see a 5-feet-tall, 7-feet-long steel sculpture of the bear created by students in the school’s career technical department.

The project was launched by Kelly Lumbatis, an art instructor at Brooke; and Larry Jones, the school’s welding instructor.

Lumbatis said she and Jones had created an ornamental welding class in which students could apply welding and soldering skills they had learned at Brooke to creating various pieces of art.

She noted most projects have been relatively small, ranging from rings made from spoons to flowers created from aluminum cans; and normally were done by individual students.

Then Lumbatis got the idea for a group project of a much larger scale, and with Jones’ support, submitted a written proposal for it to school officials.

“They were all on board with it. They were very excited about it,” she said.

Lumbatis said a template for the bear was purchased online and tweaked a bit for various reasons.

She noted one change was adding a fifth fingernail to each of the Bruin’s paws.

“Dr. (Jeff) Crook (Brooke County superintendent of schools) was adamant that bears have five and not four,” said Lumbatis.

Jones said in February, students began assembling the bear from eight large sheets of steel, each weighing about 100 pounds, that were purchased for the project.

He noted the steel is of the Corten variety, which is resistant to corrosion by rain, snow and other weather and has been used in many bridges.

Through exposure to the air, the steel’s surface will become dark brown, but it’s known for its overall durability.

“The kids loved to work on it. Some asked to work on it outside of class and I would tell them, fine, as long as they had all of their other (school) work done,” said Jones.

He said the sculpture was completed recently but not in time for the prom, when it might have served as a backdrop for photos.

“I think there will be some photos taken there at graduation,” he said.

In his 13th year as the school’s welding instructor, Jones has applied his 33 years of experience in the field to supervising many male and female welding students, with his first students engaged in building his classroom’s welding booths.

Lumbatis noted the steel bruin will be transported by a truck-drawn trailer to its permanent position from the career technical department, which is on the west side of the school.

She said while the bear is quite heavy, it will be secured to the ground with bolts to deter vandalism.

Jones said the project has involved students from various courses, including welding, engineering and electricity, with the latter installing fixtures and wiring to light it at night.

Some of the students also have been charged with creating a sign bearing the names of those involved.

“It’s been a huge collaboration,” said Lumbatis.

The Brooke Bruin mascot, appropriately, will be on hand for the unveiling, which also will include music by the school’s marching band.

Lumbatis noted it will coincide with the school’s annual Student and Alumni Art Show, which will be held inside the wellness center from 4-6 p.m.

A variety of artwork created by current and former Brooke High School students will be displayed and judged by a visiting artist during the show, which was organized by Lumbatis and fellow art instructor Sara Walden Roark.

Entries named first, second and third place and honorable mention for current students and alumni will be announced at 5:30 p.m.

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