VIDEO: South Huntington Unveils 700-Pound Bronze Wildcat Statue For District Centennial

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — Students, alumni, faculty members and residents gathered Friday at Wildcat Stadium at Walt Whitman High School as the district unveiled a 700-pound bronze Wildcat statue, the centerpiece of the newly revitalized Wildcat Plaza.

Standing more than 6 ½ feet tall, the statue was commissioned as part of the district’s 100th anniversary celebration during the 2024-25 school year. The sculpture was created by the Randolph Rose Collection using the traditional lost-wax casting method and modeled after the district’s updated Wildcat mascot logo.

“We have an amazing school culture in South Huntington, and this only adds to it,” Superintendent Dr. Vito D’Elia said. “When students come out here—whether for a sports event or graduation—and see the statue, we hope they feel the pride and strength of who they represent: the Wildcats.”

The unveiling marked another milestone in a yearslong transformation of Whitman’s athletic facilities into what district officials described as a premier athletic complex.

Surrounding the statue are engraved bricks displaying yearbook themes from every graduating class dating back to the mid-1950s, when Walt Whitman High School first opened.

“Going forward, a new brick will be added for each class,” Board of Education President and Whitman alumnus Nicholas Ciappetta said. “In this way, we draw a direct line between the past, present, and future.”

Inscribed on the base of the monument is a message honoring the generations of students and alumni who shaped the district’s legacy.

Part of the plaque reads: 'The statue is a tribute to the countless individuals who have pushed boundaries, broken records, and faced challenges laid before them. Its presence serves as a reminder that the fierce heart of a Wildcat lives on in every graduate.'

Members of the senior class participated in the unveiling ceremony, helping reveal the statue before a crowd gathered inside Wildcat Stadium.

“You are now a part of this school's history," said Principal Dr. John Murphy to students. "When you come back 20, 30 years from now—and I want you to come back — you’ll be able to tell your children and grandchildren, 'I was there when this was unveiled. I'm a part of this school. I'm a part of this culture."

District officials said the statue also represents the broader South Huntington community and was completed entirely through private donations, with no taxpayer funding used for the project.

'The Wildcat' statue is expected to become one of the most recognizable and photographed spots on campus, serving as a backdrop for milestone moments.

“The Wildcat statue will serve as a gathering spot, a social media moment, and I am sure will be a very popular place on graduation day,” Ciappetta said.

School officials said there is also growing interest among coaches and athletes in turning the statue into a new game-day tradition, with teams potentially touching the Wildcat’s front paw before competitions — similar to traditions seen at major universities nationwide.

“Our school community is a special place,” Murphy said. “Our Whitman alumni are still coming back after more than 50 years. So, whether you’re graduating this year or an alum returning for a visit, the message of the day is clear: ‘Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.’”