Scott Page/Gulf Breeze News Happy birthday, Scoop! Pensacola Pelicans fans can come out and wish Scoop a happy birthday during their game Friday with the El Paso Diablos. The event is sponsored by Splash! Magazine, Gulf Breeze News' sister publication. In addition to opening a weekend series against the El Paso Diablos, the Pensacola Pelicans are hosting a starstudded celebration on Friday, Aug. 21 at Pelican Park. Familiar local characters such as Wilbur the Pig (Famous Dave's); Argie (UWF); McScrubs (Santa Rosa Medical Center); and Lloyd the Cow (Lloyd's Auto Glass) are a few of the celebrities attending.

No, it's not a local mascot convention. All the fuss is in celebration of the Pelican mascot Scoop's birthday, sponsored by Splash! Magazine.

And, of course, Scoop's partner, Swoop, will also join the festivity.

"Every year, everyone celebrates their birthday," said Pelicans Assistant General Manager Jason Libbert, "so why shouldn't Scoop get a party, too? Plus, it's just a fun event for the fans, especially the kids."

Scott Page/Gulf Breeze News Tess Waggoner, a 2007 GBHS grad, was Scoop for from 2003-07. Scoop the Pelican turns seven years old this season, and on Friday night he will enjoy nine innings of birthday fun including games, contests and, of course, cake.

Also, the Splash! team will be handing out free copies of the Northwest Florida entertainment guide.

The quality and quantity of cake is a very important detail of any birthday party, and fans have no need to worry about either tomorrow night.

"The Cake Shop is donating three sheet cakes with Scoop on them," said Carrie Smith, community relations director for the Pelicans. "There will be enough for everyone in the park."

The culmination will be the gift opening, where everyone gathers 'round to watch the honoree tear the boxes and bags to shreds to reveal the goodies inside. This birthday bash, however, will be a little different, as the present opening will be done by the birthday bird as well as some of the fans.

"We will have some presents in the crowd for fans to take home," Smith said.

Gifts will be given out to the person with the closest birthday to Aug. 21, to winners of some of the on-field games and from the lucky numbers page in the game-day program.

The party is a well-earned celebration for a member of the Pelicans organization who makes immense contributions to the team and community.

Obviously, Scoop's primary responsibilities include encouraging the Pelicans players, exciting the fans and even taunting the opposition. It's a job that those lucky enough to wear the suit enjoy and easily come to appreciate.

"It's an awesome job," said Morgan Cochran, a rising junior at Pace High School who has been performing Scoop's duties for the past two seasons.

"I love getting the fans into the game, seeing them get excited and getting the team up when they're down. That's the best part."

Tess Waggoner, a 2008 Gulf Breeze High School graduate, previously held the position from 2003-2007. She also said she had a blast at the Pelicans' games.

"I enjoyed the crowd, the excitement and the atmosphere," Waggoner recalled. "Dancing, acting crazy and being silly is who I am. Of course, it's a lot easier to do those things in public if you're wearing the costume."

In addition to his responsibilities at Pelican Park, Scoop makes numerous appearances at schools, business functions and a multitude of other community events.

Waggoner said she still performs as Scoop at some of the events as his immense popularity in the area creates an appearance schedule that is overwhelming for just one person.

He is most widely known is the community for Scoop's Reading Challenge, a program that gives students in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties the opportunity to expand their literary horizons beyond the classroom. The program is free to schools and is easily adaptable for any curriculum or grade level.

"He visits all of the local schools to promote the reading challenge," Smith said. "It's in its 5th year, and it currently reaches 19,000 students."

Scoop certainly dedicates most of his days in service, making others happy. Tomorrow night's celebration is one welldeserved. For once, it can be mostly about Scoop.

There's only one thing left to wonder: Does Scoop plan to do anything special on the night of his birthday?

"You'll have to come out and see," Cochran said with a smile. "It's classified!"