April 2004

Alum Creates Mascot for Learning Success

What do you get when you mix a crazy blue creature named Yo-Jo, the Baltimore Oriole, and Clawed the Eagle? Bromley Lowe, SOC/BA ’93, family entertainer, and mascot extraordinaire. Lowe, the creator and sole performer of “Yo-Jo,” a seven-foot character who teaches thousands of kids from the Mid-Atlantic about reading, test-taking, and other educational topics, splits his time performing in his own show and entertaining fans at Camden Yards as the Oriole Bird.

“I have pretty busy weeks. I do about 10 “Yo-Jo Shows” weekdays, and then I do Oriole Bird appearances, including games and community service, on the weekends,” says Lowe.

Lowe got his start as a mascot at AU. During his junior year, this Delta Chi alum donned the Clawed costume and began entertaining crowds at athletic events. “The Athletics department was very supportive. They sent me to mascot camps and gave me a scholarship to recognize my efforts to re-energize Clawed.”

When he wasn’t sparking school spirit across campus, Lowe was busy getting his BA in Visual Media. “I’ve always loved making movies and I chose American because of its film school.”

In 1994, soon after graduation, Lowe got the opportunity to work as the Oriole Bird at Camden Yards. “I marketed myself to different major league teams right after graduation and the Orioles called me for an audition.”

After more than 10 years of mascoting for major league teams, including the Orioles and a stint with the Baltimore Ravens, Lowe has had many career highs. “Going to the Superbowl with the Ravens in 2001 was a fantastic experience. There are so many other rewarding experiences though, like visiting sick children in the hospital and kicking off little league seasons. It’s great to make kids smile.”

In the late 1990s, he decided to take on his own projects. After his character “The Milk Thing,” a project initiated by the Mid-Atlantic Milk Marketing Association, was eliminated because of program restructuring, Lowe had the opportunity to acquire the “The Milk Thing” costumes. He took them back to the original manufacturer, updated a few of its features, and Yo-Jo was born.

Since YoJo’s debut in March of 2000, Lowe and his business partner, Jeff “Scout” Day have done more than 300 performances at elementary schools and community events. “We have so much fun together. Scout is the host of the show and we do a “Three Stooges” type of routine together.”

Recently, Lowe and his wife, Leslie, welcomed their first child, Bromley “Lee” Lowe III.

How does little Lee react to his father dressed as Yo-Jo and the famed Oriole Bird?

“He’s too young to know it’s me in there, but I think he will soon.”

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