Since 2013, Rocky On Parade has been raising money for art scholarships and has built a bond between the university and the city of Macomb.
Both WIU and Macomb businesses have Rocky statues in front of their buildings.
On Wednesday, the Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication Billy Clow announced that 2017 will be the final year for Rocky On Parade.
The event has taken place every two years starting in 2013 and then in 2015.
Clow says, this year they will be doing 25 dogs and when it is finished overall there will be 61 dogs in Macomb and 1 in the Quad Cities.
On January 7, there will be a Rocky rally at the West Central Art Center where sponsors can put their money down for a dog. The event starts at 10 a.m.
On April 19 will be the day of the Rocky draft at the Forum 5-8 p.m. This event chooses both the sponsor and the artist of the dog.
All of the 25 dogs will be in the Fall 2017 homecoming parade.
Many local businesses such as Sports Corner and Nelson’s Clothing have purchased Rocky statues in the previous years. For those who wants to purchase there is a payment plan.
WIU Development Director for the college of Fine Arts and Communication Julie Baker said at the Rocky rally people can bring their payment in full or fill out their sponsor form in which they can check off a quarterly payment or twice a year payment. Payments have to be in by November 2017 in order to secure the dog.
She says sponsors will be receiving their dogs after November in their place of business.
The creator of Rocky On Parade WIU Art Professor Bill Howard said by the time this is done they are going to have a scholarship endowed, there will be quite a bit of money that can put a lot of art students through school and help them with school.
Anyone who wants to have a dog can submit an online application at wiu.edu/rop.
