April 9 party to celebrate Cody the Cougar's 55th birthday, CSU Gives
March 26, 2025
Columbus State University is preparing to celebrate 55 years of prowling the sidelines, high-fiving students and embodying school spirit as Cody the Cougar reaches a milestone birthday on Wednesday, April 9.
His community-wide birthday bash begins at 5 p.m. at Cougar Field on the Main Campus, where CSU Softball hosts Fort Valley State University in a doubleheader. Admission to the party and the 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. games is free for students, employees and the community. Fans are encouraged to wear red or their favorite Columbus State spirit wear to the games.
Party-goers can enjoy free frozen treats and cupcakes (while supplies last), inflatables and on-site concessions. Cody will be there for photos throughout the party.
“Of course, we’ll be singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Cody during pauses in the game, and we’ll have other activities for everyone—especially the kids—to enjoy,” noted Aryah Buckman, assistant director of annual giving.
Representatives from the Office of Admissions will be on hand to answer questions about applying to and enrolling at Columbus State.
Cody the Cougar—part of Columbus State’s award-winning competitive Cheerleading program—dates back to 1970, when on April 17, the then-Columbus College student body voted the cougar as the university’s new official mascot. The university’s student newspaper, then called “The Saber,” reported on May 6, 1970, that students chose “Cougars” over “Titans” in a two-to-one campus-wide vote.
Follow Cody and the Cheer team on Facebook and Instagram. To request a mascot appearance, contact Cheer Coach Jimbo Davis.
Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu