Photos by Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

Students listen to a lecture Tuesday given by Ava Porter. A school spokesman said the college wants to attract younger students, people who have just graduated from high school and people who live farther away.

Students sign up for activities Tuesday at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. This semester, there are no classes between noon and 1 p.m. some days to allow students to participate in school events.

Being a mascot isn't an easy job.

There's the dancing, running through a paper banner, tail wagging and repeated photo ops. All done in a hot furry suit.

Anthony Stout relaxed after two intense hours of playing mascot Tuesday. Dressed in a Saint Bernard suit, he sat with his official-looking student ID with a photo of his big dog face, red tongue and mascot name: Jeff, the Blue Healer.

"I'm shedding," the freshman at Jefferson College of Health Sciences said. "I'm going to cough up a hairball."

Despite the heat and fatigue, Stout said he enjoyed his new role.

"It was great. I am one of those attention-starved people," he joked. "I have the ego that fits that helmet."

Jefferson College of Health Sciences' newly revealed mascot was one of the many ingredients that organizers used for its first "Spirit Day."

There were also chili dogs, blue-and-white pompoms, a fight song, fliers for dance and drama clubs, and "The Jeffies," eight student cheerleaders.

School administrators said they hoped the pep rally would increase the school's sense of community, especially as it seeks to attract younger students.

"We are trying to tweak our marketing efforts to attract those younger students," spokesman Mark Lambert said.

So far, he has not noticed a change in students' ages, but hopes that new marketing surveys and radio advertising will attract younger students. The average student age is 29.

Carilion started the small school to train future nurses and health care professionals. It has traditionally attracted commuter students who are making a career change or advancing their careers, Lambert said.

"The history of the college is a pretty wacky one," Lambert said. "We turn out the health care professionals based on the demand."

In recent years, though, the school has undergone dramatic changes. Since 2002, it has increased enrollment by 53 percent and now has 1,000 students, including 970 who are full time. Many of those students are already Carilion employees, Lambert said.

Administrators are now trying to attract students straight out of high school and from farther away.

The school offers 14 degree programs and a handful of certificate programs. It has been moving from offering two-year associate degrees to more four-year and master's degrees.

The school now offers one master's degree, in nursing. It plans to start two more next fall, including one in occupational therapy and another in physician assistance training.

"We're hoping that by expanding our educational programs that we will be attracting people from other states," Lambert said.

He mentioned that there are students from Alaska and the Midwest but the majority of students come from Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.

Spirit Day also kicked off a new program called One Jefferson Community Hours, which strives to create a sense of community among students, faculty and staff. No classes have been scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays starting this semester.

Organizers hope that school members will have time to interact and participate in school events during that time.

This month, the school has also started to move from the Reid Center to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Spirit Day took place in the hospital lobby to introduce college members to the new location. Administrators plan to have all classrooms, administrative offices and dormitories located there by fall.

Several people asked Dean of Student Services Jennifer Carlo why the college felt the need for a mascot and a fight song.

After all, the school doesn't have any traditional rivals. It doesn't even have a band. As such, William Fleming High School's marching band provided the music for Tuesday's event.

But Carlo's response was simple.

"Everyone should be excited about their school."