Desert Mountain has a statue of a wolf, Sunnyslope has that of a Viking, and a year after its renovations, Arcadia will finally have its iconic statue as well. The Titan, Atlas, will eventually stand at the entrance of the gym and represent the school and its community.

Almost since its inception, Arcadia’s mascot has resembled more of a Trojan, (a warrior from the ancient city of Troy) than an actual Titan. At other times the Spartan resemblance was also popular.  Both with the new mascot and this astonishing statue, Scott Lovely , Bryce McKinney-Wain, and others in the Arcadia community attempt to bring historical accuracy to the spirit of this school, and the face of this locale. The brass statue will stand about nine feet tall, but with the inclusion of a four foot base,  the figure will have a complete height of about thirteen feet. Because of its size, the statue must be transported to the school piece by piece, with the last section arriving for assembly sometime this summer.  "We are hoping for an unveiling that will coincide with the 50th year reunion for all  Arcadian Titans," says McKinney-Wain,  "We need further donations."

On April 24th, some representatives from Arcadia were able to witness the pouring of the molten bronze into the mold. “We watched them heat it up, we watched them melt it, and when it got to about a thousand degrees, we watched them pour it,” said Scott Lovely, who has spearheaded the project. “The artist actually said that this is the most impressive statue he’s ever done.”

 The selection of Atlas as Arcadia’s figurehead also has meaning. Atlas was the leader of the Titans, so when they were overthrown by the gods, Atlas was punished by having to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, holding apart the earth from the sky, symbolizing endurance and strength. Because of that symbolism, it was considered a perfect icon for the school. Most importantly, at one point, Atlas was the king of Arcadia, which is also a region in Greece.

Funds  to pay for the statue have so far come from graduating class donations, personal donations, brick sales, and last year’s John McEuen concert, but the project is still in need of about four thousand dollars. Anybody can donate by contacting the Arcadia PTO,  or the Arcadia Bookstore. These contributions will have the lasting effect of retaining a true Titan as mascot and symbol of the school.