a mascot team member. The program has been directed by Sharon Harris under the University's Office of Public Relations since about 1999 until at least 2012, although it is unclear at what time she stopped and when the University's Athletic department took over the program. Hello, YoUDee! Dana Davis made a children's book titled Hello, YoUDee! which was released and published in 2013 by Mascot Books. It follows YoUDee around the University of Delaware campus before going to the "stadium for the big game." While the licensed book refers to YoUDee with masculine pronouns, YoUDee has been "neither male or female" since 2004. Awards and recognition On August 16, 2006, YoUDee was inducted into the NCAA Mascot Hall of Fame, at a ceremony in Philadelphia's Love Park. This was caused in large part by "YoUDee's fan leadership." YoUDee has participated and won the Universal Cheerleader's Association (UCA) National Mascot Championship open division several times: In 2002, YoUDee won first place in the entire UCA National Mascot Championship. At some point after 2002, the mascot competition would be split into Division I for mascots belonging to universities with Division I football teams, and Open Mascot for all other mascots. The latter division being the one YoUDee would compete in. YoUDee has also been named to Capital One All-America Mascot Team in 2003, as well as first place in several UCA Mascot summer camps. ✝Due to COVID-19, all mascots competed in one unified division. Whereas previously, YoUDee has been competing in the Open Mascot division for several years. References External links University of Delaware | YoUDee Profile State Bird Entry at "Delaware Facts and Symbols" Colonial Athletic Association mascots Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens