Mister Rogers honored with a statue at his alma mater

WINTER PARK, Fla. — A larger-than-life statue of Mister Rogers present sits connected the field of the tv icon’s alma mater.

Rollins College unveiled the caller sculpture of Fred Rogers during a backstage ceremonial connected the Winter Park, Florida, field past Thursday.

The assemblage says it commissioned the sculpture to grant Rogers’ legacy.

“This inspirational sculpture volition beryllium a imperishable reminder of the ideals and values modeled by Mister Rogers arsenic helium acceptable retired to marque the satellite a amended place,” said Rollins President Grant Cornwell. “This tribute volition reenforce the quest for empathy, acceptance and kindness truthful needed successful our nine today.”

The sculpture was designed by Paul Day, a British creator who the assemblage says is renowned for his nationalist monuments.

The statue is located successful the Chapel Garden courtyard adjacent to the Annie Russell Theatre, down the Virginia S. Nelson Rose Garden.

The portion is made retired of bronze, stands implicit 7 feet tall, and weighs much than 3,000 pounds, according to the college.

It depicts Rogers successful his iconic sweater and sneakers, surrounded by children, manus puppets from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” lyrics from the series’ taxable song, and the show’s Neighborhood Trolley.

Rogers wrote and appeared successful 912 episodes of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” crossed 4 decades.

Rogers came to Rollins successful 1948 arsenic a transportation pupil from Dartmouth. The assemblage says helium was a recognized pupil person connected field and helium excelled academically, graduating with favoritism successful 1951.