The Kingfisher

Hello spring! 🌸🌼

Ready to game!
🎮 + 🏈

If you need a Valentine, I got you 🧡💙

To all my fellow female athletes, happy National Women in Sports Day!! 🧡💙

Your excitement brought the house down!!!

"The crowd erupted into chaos when the DJ brought out the surprise guest of the night: none other than the Kingfisher, the proposed mascot for the University of Illinois. The Kingfisher proceeded to dance to “…Ready for it?” from Swift’s electropop record “reputation.”"

Canopy Club Swifts us away with Taylor-themed party The Canopy Club opened its doors on Friday night for “Swift Me Away,” a Taylor Swift-themed dance party. The event was organized by 22 & good4u, a DJ-led dance company that hosts themed parties. The group has previously hosted other Swiftie-themed events at Canopy Club. On this occasion, the set...

Just like this post to be considered for our Kingfisher Plushie raffle!! Once our instragram reaches 1867 followers, we will draw 5 names!

So my friends and I had a meeting about a big number...1867!!! We all know that 1867 is critical to my University as it marks the year it was created and I want to give you a chance to celebrate my famILLy too! All that you need to do to enter in this giveaway is 1) be following my account, 2) like this post, and 3) share this post on your story. Winners will be announced once we hit 1867 followers! There are 5 of these little peeps to give away, so keep an eye out for a notification from me in case you are a lucky winner! #illini #famILLy #ILKingsGuard #illinois #1867 #uiuc #partylikeits1867 #plushiegivaway #freeplushie #illinoismascot

It’s been a 100 years since the Red Grange "Dedication Game." Here’s to one of the greats! 🏈

Stop by Urbana’s Dubai Grill for a free hot chai at our Welcome Back social! And get some extra IL Kingfisher merch with every food purchase! 🧡 Open to everyone! 💙

This campus business is True to the 🔸 & 🔹!

Let's go, Illinois - beat them Boilermakers!

Fighting Illini Men's Basketball vs. Purdue Basketball TONIGHT!

In addition to the main kingfisher storefront, our team partners with departments, businesses and UIUC student orgs like NRES GSA for custom kingfisher designs!

From the Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences at Illinois Graduate Student Association:

The new NRES GSA Merch Store is officially open for business! We have shirts, sweatshirts, and hats for sale in a variety of colors, as well as 3" x 3" vinyl stickers! This merch sale is a fundraiser for the NRES Graduate Student Association, and profits will help fund events and experiences that serve to build community among NRES graduate students and the department as a whole. The popularity of new kingfisher designs around campus and U-C is undeniable!

Please visit the following links to the merch store: https://stores.inksoft.com/nres/shop/home and sticker order form: https://forms.gle/KbXezub2nLohy7AJ8 for more information. We will be accepting orders until 11:59 PM Tue. 1/2/2024

All merchandise (Including stickers) will be available for pick-up outside Turner W-109 from 12-5 PM Fri. 1/19 and 12-3 PM Fri. 1/26. However, there is also a shipping option for off-campus folks.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the NRES Graduate Student Association at [email protected].

Thank you for your support, and we can't wait to see you around campus rocking your new swag!

NRES Graduate Student Association

And that’s a wrap for 2023! 🎉

Here’s to making University of Illinois history and an already packed calendar for 2024!

This simply would not have been possible without the overwhelming support from our campus, community and 🧡

A mascot by students, for everyone.

Naturally True,
Your 🔸 & 🔹





#2024

Victory Illinois! 🧡💙🧡 Brought it back where it belongs.

43rd ANNUAL BRAGGIN’ RIGHTS TOURNEY TONIGHT @ 8PM

Make way for the king! 👑
From the archives 🧡

💙Join our team and hone your social media marketing, content and branding skills! 🧡

Link to form is found here: https://www.kingfisheruiuc.com/

Be part of the group of students making campus history!!

*Must be a current undergraduate student at UIUC.

Another incredible UIUC partnership in the books!

Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences at Illinois GSA has launched a REALLY cool kingfisher shirt design fundraiser that we just have to shout-out! Check out these limited, one-of-a-kind designs! (The hat is PERFECT for your next summer fishing🐟trip!)

Illinois Alumni

NRES Shop

This business is True to the Orange & Blue!

🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙

Raising Cane’s on Green St. in Champaign, IL reached out and asked if they could have some UIUC Kingfisher gear to display in their restaurant. Of course, we were honored—spreading Illinois school spirit is what we do best!

So, if you’re wondering what go have for lunch today, go check out the first ever Kingfisher Cutout on display and meet this wonderful team!

🧡 Ready to start seeing new mascot merch? So are we! 💙

Our student-run shop is now live! Note: We offer both tracked USPS mailing and free on-campus pick-up. For those of you still around C-U this Saturday and Sunday (November 25-26): we will have in-person pop-up shop at the CU Community Fab Lab.

Want something you don't see in our shop? Let us know in the comments below!

#​kingfishermascot​ #​kingfisher

A sport you just need to see for yourself: QUADBALL!!!

We joined Illini Ridgebacks Quidditch 🐉 at the USQ National Qualifier and watched them win in back-to-back games against Michigan State, Minnesota, and Columbia! Illinois brought the 🔥🔥🔥!!

Quadball is a chaotic sport that combines elements of basketball, dodgeball, rugby and other shenanigans and is wildly exciting to watch — follow their page for more information on how to join or spectate! 🧡💙

🔶 ILLINOIS 🥍 WIN!! 🔷

feat. Morgan appreciation night 😅

| | |

🔬QUANTUM MANIA!

The department and have launched the FIRST EVER publicly available Quantum Computing Network! Now you can come play with quantum physics too!

We loved being there to celebrate the launch with everyone! 🧡 💙

Way to go!!!! A hard fought win!! 🔶🔷

Left it all out on the field.

// //

Come to the 🏐 Home Tournament this Saturday (11/4) at the ARC and cheer on your champion team!! Matches start at 8AM and go til 1PM! 🏆

🔶🔷

Come on over— pond’s frozen! 🏒⛸️🥅

Loved being out on the ice and cheering on the incredible Illinois Women’s Hockey Team! And a 6-0 win to boot!

Thank you for all your excitement yesterday! More free shirts and future games, so come and support your hockey teams!!



(We only snagged these photos—it was a busy day!—so if you have any photos, please send them our way!)

Saturday’s are for the Bose (-Einstein Condensates) 😄

You - YES YOU - should join us at the department for their 30th Annual Celebration of Saturday Physics for Everyone! There are a ton of physics demos, student panels, physics talks and of course, your favorite school-spirit bird there to celebrate science with you!

Thank you, UIUC physics for the invitation to join you all today! It’s feels great to bring the bird back to the department where it started! 🧡💙

See you all at the Krannert Art Museum today from 2:30-3:30 PM! We’ll have our student team, our bird, and many artists to stop by and say hi to!

We will also have both free and fundraising items, so come get your new gear! (Shirts are only $15–Limited supply of sweatshirts)

Special shout out to local IL pewter artist for the INCREDIBLE handmade pins and keychains that you just need to come see for yourself! (And all the students who donated kingfisher artwork!)

Been patiently waiting for some new mascot merch or to meet the mascot in-person?

Then join us (alumni, faculty, current students and local artists) this Friday, October 27th from 2:30-3:30 PM at the Krannert Art Musuem and meet the Kingfisher Team!

We will have SHIRTS, school spirit posters, locally-made pewter keychains, artwork, stickers and awesome tote bags (great for the Farmers Market)

(We have free food!)

🔷OPEN TO ALL🔶

If you can’t make it, don’t fret. We will be launching our full online shop after this event!

https://kam.illinois.edu/event/meet-kingfisher-kam

New traditions mean new art for all! Check out our poster!

🟧🟦 vs. 🟥⬜️



See you at the game!

(feat. UIUC student artist)