VANCOUVER, Wash. — Peninsula College is now a member of the Northwest Athletic Conference.
The new name, conference logo and a revised acronym, NWAC, were selected for the former Northwest Athletic Association of Community College, or NWAACC.
“I thought the logo turned out nicely and it makes the conference much easier to say and explain to people,” said Peninsula College athletic director Rick Ross.
“I think the conference was due for a fresh, new look.”
Marco A. Azurdia, the conference’s executive director, detailed the change in a letter to athletic commissioners and directors at member colleges on Tuesday.
“Today we begin to make the transition to a new logo and a new acronym in our efforts to develop our conference brand,” Azurdia said.
“Though the logo and acronym may be new, we can still say ‘NWAC,’ and we will continue our commitment to elevate the conference by providing more than what is expected and give student-athletes the experience they deserve.”
The reason given for the switch was increasing the ease of use for the name and logo.
“Research has shown us that our logo was large and extremely difficult to transpose onto a variety of materials,” Azurdia said.
“The new logo should be easier to work with and simpler to transpose onto surfaces and materials.
“Reducing the acronym from NWAACC to NWAC allows us to reduce the size, yet still allows the same verbalization that has been used for years.
“The four stars [found in the new logo] represent the four regions that make up the NWAC.”
Peninsula College’s basketball floor, which was refurbished last summer, and one-year old lighted scorer’s table in the school gymnasium, will retain the old NWAACC logo for now.
“I gave Marco a hard time because we had the gym redone and installed the new lighted scorer’s table,” Ross joked.
“That’s a bit of a bummer, but that’s the way it goes and it’s something we will look at going forward.
“I don’t have a plan to change [the logo], but we will look at it and update it as soon as we are able.”
The conference website also has been updated to www.nwacsports.com.
The Northwest Athletic Conference is the parent organization for 35 community colleges located in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
The name switch will not affect athletic competition. Peninsula College will remain a member of the newly rechristened NWAC’s North Region.
The school competes in men’s and women’s soccer and basketball.
