The UND campus is home to its fair share of characters, but a new prospect could rise above the rest.

UND Athletics is exploring the possibility of establishing a new mascot to represent the Fighting Hawks, the university nickname established in 2016. A university press release stated the mascot revival is driven in part by members of the UND Student Government.

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According to the release, a request for proposal has been sent out to vendors to gather input for the mascot's development. That proposal is expected to be awarded in March, which would coincide with the start of a design process for the character.

MSU reunion

While a Fighting Hawk starts to feather up in the north, a group of former Traill County locals-and Mayville State University alumni-will soon flock in the south for a reunion far from home.

The annual Traill County/Mayville State luncheon is scheduled for Feb. 13 in the Apache Wells Country Club of Mesa, Ariz. The program for the far-flung alumni and Traill County transplants will begin at 11 a.m. and last through the afternoon.

An MSU press release stated the event is open to current and former Traill County residents and MSU alumni and friends. University President Gary Hagen will be attending the event to greet guests on behalf of their northern counterparts.

According to the release, "there will also be a time of reminiscing about life" back in the far northern Plains, a prospect some snow-birds might look to with ambivalence.

The event luncheon will cost $25 per person. Reservations are required with payment by Feb. 3, 2018, and can be made out with check payable to the MSU Foundation and sent to 330 Third St. N.E., Mayville, ND 58257 or paid online at www.mayvillestate.edu/arizona.

Lego league

Back in the world of brick toy news, UND is hosting the ND First Lego League Robotics State Championship tournament from 11:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the campus Memorial Union. The tournament will bring 40 teams of 9-14-year-olds to compete for the Lego gold. The competition is open to the public for viewing, but competitors are already locked in.

The tournament has been hosted at UND before and calls upon young builders to use Legos to complete engineering challenges. The event is backed by a slew of sponsors, including 3M, National Instruments and Rockwell Automation.