Our Favorite Gastro-gnome…

COLLEGE: KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

CONCEPT: GARDEN OF EATIN': A GASTROGNOME IN PARADISE

Project Team: John Pence, Mark Edwards, Terry Gleue, Holly Pishney, Coila Farrell, Kelly Stirtz, Sara Crouch, Jennifer Kennedy

FSD John Pence lent his “image” to the mascot for this theme event, designed to celebrate KSU's horticultural, agricultural and entomological heritage. Pence's “Gastro-Gnome” character (kudos to the Photoshop team!) led diners through the Garden, making pertinent points about each dish and about dining as more than just a fuel stop, a message KSU Dining seeks toimpart to students as part of its mission.

It takes a plenty of self-confidence, as well as a willingness not to take oneself too seriously, to pull this off. It also takes a good thick skin as well as a good relationship with students, when the gnome also is a instructor (as Pence is) in the school's HRI program .

‘Gnome’ we mean?