Centerville has got some new fins!

Centerville Elementary – whose mascot is a dolphin – received both a new dolphin statue along with a full dolphin costume from Bank of the Commonwealth. The local bank also had a dolphin for a mascot, but that ended after they were bought out by Southern Bank.

Janie Berges, administrative assistant for Centerville, reached out to the bank to see if there would be any dolphin memorabilia they would be willing to donate given the change in management.

After a few weeks, and more than a couple of follow up calls from Berges, bank staff said there was a dolphin costume they would be happy to give to the school. When Berges went to collect the plush outfit from the branch on Cedar Road, they then asked if she would also like to take the dolphin statue that was in front on the building.

Now, this artful dolphin statue stands in the school’s front lawn, and the mascot welcomes parents and students to special events – all thanks to a timely request of a tenacious staff member and a great community partner.