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KENNESAW, Ga. – Since his birth on April 8, 2013, Sturgis, Kennesaw State University's live owl mascot, has had an eventful first year.
 
As he approaches his first birthday next week, Sturgis will be busy representing Kennesaw State and educating people about owls and their habitat.
 
"We are excited that Sturgis is a member of the Owls family and are looking forward to recognizing his birthday and sharing him with the community while educating people about owls," Williams said. "Sturgis has brought a lot of pride and spirit to the campus and is helping to further establish Kennesaw State University's identity."
 
After being born in New York, Sturgis moved to Georgia, where he has been raised and trained by renowned bird trainer Daniel Walthers at Winding Woods Ranch in Commerce.
 
Now, as he prepares to celebrate his first birthday, Sturgis is heading to school. He, along with Walthers, will visit Kennesaw Elementary School on April 8 where they will educate the children about owls and how to build nesting barrels that Walthers has created and designed exclusively for Kennesaw State.
 
"The children are very intrigued with Sturgis and are excited about helping owls in their own backyard," Walthers said. "We'll be educating them about re-purposing and recycling items used in barrels that would normally go into landfills. This program is all about conservation, education, re-purposing and going green."
 
Walthers and Sturgis will also visit Friends of Camp McDonald Park where they will meet with Rusty Simpson, Natural Resources Director of Cobb County and April Saine, executive board member of Friends of Camp McDonald Park. Walthers will be consulting on the construction and placement of a nesting platform for their resident Great Horned Owl.
 
Friends of Camp McDonald Park is a non-profit volunteer organization formed in 2010 and made up of individuals at every level of Cobb County society who share the dream of a park in the heart of downtown Kennesaw.
 
Sturgis also is announcing, that as a servant leader, he will be giving back to other owls less fortunate than himself by setting up a fund to support HawkTalk, a local non-profit organization dedicated to the care of raptors (birds of prey) that cannot be released back into the wild. The organization also rehabilitates hawks, owls, eagles, kites, falcons and ospreys.
 
"Of all the worthy wildlife charities throughout our great state of Georgia, we are so honored and grateful to be taken under Sturgis' wing," Monteen McCord, founder and executive director of HawkTalk, said. "This is our 31st year of caring for injured and orphaned raptors. It has also been a real privilege to share our birds and information to Georgia students of all ages about the importance of raptors in a healthy ecosystem. Thank you so very much!"

Sturgis is asking that in lieu of birthday gifts, donations be made to The Owls Fund in his name. The donations will then be passed onto HawkTalk. Sturgis' goal in the next year is to do much more in the way of education and helping out other owls.
 
"Sturgis and I can hardly believe how fast this year has flown by," Walthers said. "He has surpassed all of my expectations.
 
Walthers added that KSU and Sturgis (S-T-U-R-G-I-S) stand for Strength, Teamwork, Unity, Respect, Greatness, Inspiration, and Success.
 
For more information on HawkTalk visit http://hawktalk.org. Donations can be made here.
 
 
A TIMELINE OF STURGIS' FIRST YEAR
 
BORN: April 8, 2013 in New York
 
SPRING 2013: Moved to Commerce, Ga.
 
OCTOBER 1, 2013: Appeared on Fox 5's Good Day Atlanta
 
OCTOBER 19, 2013: Named Sturgis in a vote by students and fans. Also made Kennesaw State campus debut at annual Flight Night
 
NOVEMBER 16, 2013: Sturgis visits Wellspring Camp in Jefferson, Ga. Topics are how to build nesting boxes and owls education
 
DECEMBER 19, 2013: Featured in Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
FEBRUARY 5, 2014: Appears at Inaugural Football Signing Day events
 
FEBRUARY 7, 2014: Appears at lacrosse game versus Vanderbilt and men's basketball game versus Mercer
 
FEBRUARY 27, 2014: Featured at "Books and Baseball" event at Isabella's Book Club at Coolray Stadium in Buford. Sturgis meets with children to educate them on owls.

Keep up with Kennesaw State Athletics by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.