We are all familiar with the beloved panther statue on the right side of our school. For years, the panther has been a symbol of everything Carolina Forest High School stands for: pride, integrity, courage and strength Soon, however, this beloved panther will be replaced by a new, more modern replica. 

CF has partnered with Little Spider Creations, who have provided sculptures for places like Six Flags, Busch Gardens, and Comic Con.

The spearheader of this replacement is Jenna Mason, the senior class sponsor at The Forest.

Mason shared, “Our current panther is 20-years-old. The general wear and tear has really been hard on it. Therefore, we decided it was time for an upgrade.”

The panther will be built with a material that is promised to last a lifetime; while that is thrilling, it will also be a bit costly. Therefore, there has been some fundraising taking place in order to pay for it.

“We have hosted a spirit night with Chick-fil-a, sold snow cones at lunch and are starting to partner with some local companies to have sponsorships,” added Mason.

While the original panther has been heavily worn down over the years, it does hold some sentimental value.

“To be honest, I’m a bit sad to see the original panther leave the circle.  I’ve been here since we opened the school and have taken my classes to the panther area for reading/writing workshops so many times. I park on The Forest side  and pass  the panther each day. It will be nice, however, to have a mascot statue that isn’t marred, especially with as many students and visitors as we have at CF,” commented Ann Twigg, one of our English teachers.

The new panther is a gift from the seniors as a symbol of appreciation for how much CFHS has grown and changed throughout the years, especially recently. 

Senior class secretary, Autumn Lowery added, “I feel as though our world is drastically changing, and so is our wonderful school. I believe a new panther statue would show how far we have come as a school and community.”