Zippy, the beloved mascot of The University of Akron (UA) has made history by signing a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with the County of Summit ADM Board. Zippy, the first female mascot to sign such a deal, is breaking new ground in college sports.
Zippy’s multi-year partnership with the County of Summit ADM Board will help raise awareness for behavioral health and the ADM Board’s life-changing work in prevention, treatment and recovery support services. Just like Zippy energizes the crowd at UA events, the ADM Board energizes Summit County by supporting people through tough times — and now, they’ll be doing it with the help of everyone’s favorite kangaroo!
The NIL rule, which changed college athletics in 2021, allows student-athletes (and mascots) to earn money by leveraging their name, image and likeness. That means they can sign endorsement deals, make paid appearances and profit from their personal brand. While this opportunity started with athletes, mascots are now joining the fun, with Zippy leading the way!
Behind every great mascot is a team of dedicated individuals, and the Zippy program at The University of Akron is represented by 15 talented students. These students not only receive scholarships for their dedication, but are also paid for every public appearance Zippy makes. This program allows them to represent Zippy at events, from University functions to local birthday parties, all while gaining valuable leadership experience.
Thanks to this new NIL deal, Zippy will be making even more appearances across the community, helping students earn even more opportunities to shine and connect with fans.
Zippy Fun Facts:
- Zippy has been the University of Akron’s mascot since 1953, when the student council voted for the creation of a mascot. They landed on a kangaroo, a decision that has certainly stood the test of time.
- Zippy’s fame skyrocketed in 2007 when she took home the prestigious Capital One Mascot of the Year title after a flawless, undefeated performance in the competition.
- Zippy has appeared on several "best mascot" lists, including a 2024 Sports Illustrated ranking, where she snagged the top spot as the best NCAA Tournament mascot.
- Zippy loves a good costume! She’s become known for her iconic Halloween costumes which have included Barbie, Cher from Clueless, Amelia Earhart, Wonder Woman and many more.
This NIL deal, one of the first for a mascot, was secured by Learfield's Akron Sports Properties, the University’s athletics multimedia rightsholder. It makes Zippy one of the few mascots in college sports to join the NIL movement, following in the footsteps of Bucky the Bison from Bucknell University, who was the first to sign.
Zippy is available for parties and community events. Learn more at uakron.edu/zippy.
Visit Zippy on Instagram @uakronzippy.
Go Zips!