UF loves San Diego’s Kinder-Gators

Author: Unknown Publication Date: Thursday July 14, 2011

A group of California kindergarteners has gotten a very special message from Albert and his friends at the University of Florida: “Thank You!”

As we reported last month, Lia Wathen’s kindergarten class at Pioneer Elementary in Escondido, Calif., has adopted the Gators and UF as a classroom inspiration for lifelong learning. The class, in turn, has been adopted by the San Diego Gator Club® as a community project, with club members providing their time and Gator gear to the class.

Earlier this year, the children displayed their Gator spirit in a video, “Kinder-Gators Read, Write and Stomp in the Swamp.” The five-minute short featured the kids talking about Gator values and singing special songs such as “I’m a Little Gator” and, of course, “We are the Boys.”

The video, which was posted on YouTube and shared through social media, grabbed the attention of Gators nationwide — including UF officials.

“We felt these enthusiastic Gators deserved an official response,” said Bruce Floyd (BS ’95, MS ’07), a life member of the UF Alumni Association who oversees UF’s social media efforts.

Working with fellow life member Jim Harrison, UF’s director of creative services, Floyd recruited a variety of people across campus — including University Relations, the University Athletic Association and even President Bernie Machen and his wife, Chris — to pitch in to make a special video thanking the Kinder-Gators. The resulting one-minute video features Albert, “the original Kinder-Gator,” waving enthusiastically outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

“Thanks for reminding everyone here that being a Gator starts with being respectful, responsible and trustworthy,” the video states.

The video isn’t the only thing the class is going to receive from Albert — he and Alberta have autographed the “Go Kinder-Gators” card displayed throughout the video, and it is being sent to the San Diego Gator Club® so its members can present it to the class.

“Thank you so much for this adorable response to the Kinder-Gator video!” Wathen wrote in a comment on YouTube. “I am extremely honored and grateful for your support! Go Gators!”

Watch the original Kinder-Gator video
View the university’s response video
Learn more about the San Diego Gator Club®