We got spirit, yes we do!  We got spirit, at McGoo U!

At this hallowed institution of higher cookie learning, we make friends, we learn the art of decorating, and we cheer on our football team when they’re up against our rivals at CakePop Tech.  “Go McGoonicorns!”

As a professor and the chancellor of McGoo U, I wanted to show my love and appreciation by introducing a brand new way to say thank you; for being loyal McGoobers, for supporting McGoo U, and for being awesome.

As many of you know, there is a varsity letter. In the past there wasn’t a hard & fast rule about who gets one…I’ve just “bestowed” them when I felt it was appropriate. The origins of this idea started out as a t-shirt that my students would go home with after a class.  When I realized sizing was a pain in the booty, I got the idea to give a “One size fits all” favor and started giving out these chenille varsity letters instead.  The giving out of letters was so fun that I started looking for other opportunities to give them out.  When I would teach abroad I would bring some with me and give them to my translators or to the ladies who helped me set up.  If a cookier bought something from far away, sometimes I would stash a letter in with their order.  Basically, I would give out a letter when I was inspired to.  But it’s probably time to make things a little more formal, so here you go…a list of ways that you, too, can earn a McGoo U Varsity letter.

1. Attend Party McGoo. Everyone who attends gets one! People who attend for a second or third or hundredth time will earn a gold star to put on their varsity letter. (Cool, huh?)

2. Attend Arty’s Workshop (advanced). These are all day, advanced cookie decorating classes. If you’ve come, you know that the gift bag always includes a varsity letter…along with a bunch of other good stuff!

3. Refer a new annual McGoober. When you get a friend of yours to sign up to be an annual McGoo U subscriber we will send you a varsity letter (along with your mixer patch – see below) if you don’t already have one. Make sure your friends puts your name in the “how did you hear about us” section when they sign up!

4. Impress the heck out of me! Sometimes I just want to give one out to someone who’s amazing, and I’m totally reserving the right to do that.

So, there you go. THAT is how you get a letter. These letters look fabulous on sweaters, cardigans, or this letterman-style jacket from amazon, and some people have framed them.  Whatever you choose to do with it, the great news is that the McGoo U varsity letter has some patches to go with it!  I am rolling out some fun  little patches that you can earn as a thank you for doing stuff you already do as an A+ student.

Piping Bag Patch

How to earn:

Do your “homework” for 3 consecutive current months (ex: August, September, October).  Use the hashtag #mcgoouhomework and post a picture of your work by the last day of the month on your public Facebook or Instagram account, on the McGoo U student body FB page, or Twitter.

Multiples:

Yes.  Receive a patch for each consecutive 3 months (starting August 2017).

Bonus:

On your 4th earning, receive a special “Year of Homework” rolling pin patch. (Year does not have to be consecutive).  

Mixer Patch

How to earn:

Refer a friend to be a new McGoo U annual subscriber. (Make sure they put your name in the “Who referred you?” section when they register.)

Multiples:

Yes.  Receive a patch for each friend who joins.  (Not for renewals)

Bonus:

If you do not have your varsity letter patch, you will automatically receive your letter with this patch!!!

Apron Patch

How to earn:

The apron patch is given at Arty’s discretion.  It can be given for anything from being innovative to being encouraging to others. It could also be handed out at a special McGoo U gathering or for doing something Mr. John asks. In other words: anything goes. tip: participating on the McGoo U Student Body Facebook page and using hashtag #mcgoou helps me see what you’re up to.

Multiples:

hmmmmm… anything goes!

Oven Mitt Patch

How to earn:

The oven mitt patch is given for donating cookies to a worthy cause. (Think Icing Smiles, Operation Cookie Takeover, a school fundraiser, etc.) You can earn the patch by posting a picture of your cookies using the hashtag #mcgooberslendahand. (Please keep in mind that a cookie DONATION is different than a cookie GIFT. If you can write it off as a charitable donation, then it counts. If you’re making cookies for your neighbor or your kid’s teacher, that is super nice, but won’t earn you a patch.)

Multiples:

Heck yes! And while we would never ever limit the good you can do in the world, we are limiting you to 6 oven mitt patches per calendar year.

Some clarifications about patches:

“Doing your homework” means following along with the monthly McGoo U tutorial, and creating the cookies made in class (usually 3).  They can be customized, embellished, or modified, but it needs to use that month’s techniques and basic designs for patch earning purposes.

Patches are based off of my illustrations found in the Arty McGoo Activity Book. 

Patches are not earned retroactively.  This is a new and exciting program!  Beginning in August 2017 means it creates an even playing field.  We can’t wait to show you the rest of the series and can’t wait to start sending these out.
Make sure your address is current in your McGoo U account so we can get them to you.