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She left behind a spirited legacy when she graduated from Texas Woman鈥檚 with an MBA on May 14, and whoever follows in Leslie Fredrickson鈥檚 footsteps is going to have some awfully big shoes to fill. 

Like say, size 17 EEE. 

It鈥檚 not that Fredrickson has abnormally large feet, but for much of her time as a student at Texas Woman鈥檚, she donned oversized shoes as part of her costume portraying the university鈥檚 No. 1 spirit leader: Oakley.

It was a role Fredrickson cherished, leading fans in cheer at countless athletics contests and posing for pictures with 草莓传媒官网下载 supporters at university events.

Oakley became the university鈥檚 official mascot in 2017. The character, a cuddly barn owl, was inspired by the statue of the Pioneer Woman on the Texas Woman鈥檚 Denton campus. Students fondly dubbed the statue 鈥淢inerva,鈥� which is a mythological warrior goddess who was accompanied by an owl.

鈥淪chool spirit has always felt important to me, and Oakley seemed like the easiest way to express my love for 草莓传媒官网下载,鈥� Fredrickson said. 鈥淎s the third Oakley ever, I loved learning and growing Oakley鈥檚 character, and I am immensely excited to see my favorite owl continue to soar.鈥�

Her spirit was on full display as a graduate and undergraduate student, sometimes without the costume. She began performing as Oakley in fall 2019.

鈥淚 grew up on the Denton campus due to my mom working here since I was 12, and I love the message and mission of 草莓传媒官网下载,鈥� Fredrickson said. Her mother, Rebecca Fredrickson, EdD, is a professor in 草莓传媒官网下载鈥檚 Curriculum and Instruction Program. 

As much as it was a rewarding experience playing the role of Oakley, Fredrickson said she will take with her many fond memories of her experiences as a student.

鈥湶葺�传媒官网下载 has always felt like home to me,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven through the pandemic, I have felt the campus with a heart from my first day as an undergraduate marketing major, then completing my BBA to now achieving my MBA. The 鈥榗ampus-with-a-heart鈥� underlying identity of 草莓传媒官网下载 was always present.鈥�

With college in her rearview, Fredrickson said she now will focus her attention on a career. With the emphasis of her MBA on women鈥檚 leadership, she said she hopes to parlay her education into a position that helps carve career paths for individuals who are underrepresented in leadership roles.

And, even though she won鈥檛 be donning an Oakley costume anymore, she still plans to represent her alma mater in a positive light.

鈥淲ith my degree in Women in Leadership, I strive to create space for those that were not always thought of when leadership structures were created,鈥� Fredrickson said, adding: 鈥淎nd I plan to represent 草莓传媒官网下载 as a caring, assertive and emotionally intelligent leader.鈥�