John George Armstrong, a 2014 graduate of the Downingtown STEM Academy, recently made a special appearance at the Chester Springs Library, where he talked about his newly published children's book, "The Penn Quaker's Homecoming."
From 2014-18, Armstrong served as the University of Pennsylvania Quaker mascot. In his book, Quaker the mascot undergoes a series of setbacks that cause him to question his abilities. However, the spirit of the homecoming football game and help from his best friend, Franklin the squirrel, provide Quaker with enough inspiration to realize his own special set of talents as he cheers on the crowd as the university's symbol of school spirit.
Armstrong explained that as the school mascot at Penn, he appeared at all basketball and football games, as well as alumni events. "The reason I decided to become the Penn mascot is because mascots make people smile," he stated, noting his interest in taking on the persona of different characters began while growing up. "I loved the idea of becoming something else. My brother, James, and I always dressed up as Batman and Robin."
Armstrong noted that his first time appearing as a mascot was when he was a student at Lionville Middle School. "When my brother was in the fourth grade at Pickering Valley Elementary School, the Panther (the school mascot) could not make it that day, so I hopped in the panther suit and that was my first entree into the crazy world of mascotting," he stated. "I had no idea when I did that as a middle-schooler that I would one day be a collegiate athlete as a mascot." He noted that he recently returned to Pickering Valley Elementary School to speak to fourth- and fifth-grade students there about his book.
During his program at the library, Armstrong explained the five steps he took to create and publish his children's book, which included inspiration, writing the book, setting up the contracts, illustrating the book and promoting the book.
"The whole process took about 11 months from start to finish," he stated. "I started it right around December of my senior year and it came out the following November."
He discussed overcoming writer's block, obtaining the proper licensing to use the Quaker image and working with the illustrator Agus Prajogo to recreate his actual moves as the mascot. "I had three signature moves - poses that are illustrated in the book," he said, noting that the mascot at Penn runs with the school flag before each football game to lead the team onto the field and after each touchdown.
Armstrong said that the message of the book is how to overcome challenges through resilience. "(In the book,) the Quaker navigates three challenges - academically, socially and athletically," he said. "The point of my book is that you don't have to be everything, but everyone is great at something. You have to find what you are good at and do it, which is eventually what the Quaker finds. Franklin serves as a source of wisdom throughout the book."
Armstrong also discussed his friendship with Swoop, the Philadelphia Eagles mascot, and his work with Mascots for a Cure to raise funds to fight pediatric cancer.
At the conclusion of his presentation, he read the book to the children in attendance and provided each of them with their own complimentary autographed copy.
In addition to his appearances at Chester Springs Library and Pickering Valley Elementary School, Armstrong spoke to third-graders at the Westtown School and kicked off Read Across America week at Springton Manor Elementary School, where he addressed more than 600 students.
Armstrong plans to continue sharing his message of resilience with youths in the area.
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