Courtesy of Virginia Tech – Art by Bryan Newton
The mini-statue of a warrior rhino was birthed in a guessing game.
After graduating from Virginia Tech, Bryan Newton kept cultivating his school spirit and connections to campus by working for Rhino Sports and Entertainment Services. He provides security support for the company at Virginia Tech’s 1,274-seat performance hall.
He’s always enjoyed the diversity of events booked at the Center for Performing Arts, including music and dance at opposite ends of the spectrum—from an ear-splitting Metallica concert one night to an artsy ballet a few days later.
Mr. Newton has had a fun, creative side going back to college 25 years ago, when he was the manager for the school’s Marching Virginians band, he told a college news team.
About two years ago, a game originated among the Rhino staff to help enliven their shifts.
How many people are here tonight? The workers each had one guess and they played The Price is Right rules: try to get as close to the actual number of scanned tickets—without going over.
But every great game needs a prize.
The Rhino staff members started bringing in different prizes for each contest, but eventually, Newton had an even better idea. He owned a 3-D printer. He realized that a miniature rhino would make an ideal prize.
Combining his creative and school spirit, he produced a themed trophy for each event.
Courtesy of Bryan Newton
The warrior rhino was designed for a wrestling event. A dancing rhino was created for a contemporary Australian dance show. There have been rhinos with Halloween witch hats and Easter bunny ears, and rhinos wearing hoodies of Virginia Tech’s maroon and orange colors. (See more of his creations in the video below…)
Some statuettes are finished within a few hours, while others become a 12-hour labor of love.
“It brings joy. And it’s fun,” he said. “Going through the process and either picking or designing it, it’s a nice creative outreach for me.”
The rhinos often sit near the turnstiles as people enter into the evening’s performance. Regular patrons have learned to look for them on the night of the show.
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The little creatures have become symbols of something much bigger than themselves: A school spirit that spreads a little further with every rhino horn pointing the way.
And one lucky winner gets to take home some of that warmth afterwards.
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