Being Bruce the Goose

Amber Festian’s college career didn’t start out how she had always imagined. That’s true for many students who expected to spend the fall of 2020 settling into a new campus but instead, due to the pandemic, found themselves settling into the couch for another online course. For this outgoing and spirited young adult, it was far from the dream. 

As things began to return to normal, Festian worked hard to recover the time she missed. Already a student athlete on the UM-Dearborn’s women’s soccer team, she joined a sorority and, as anan International Studies student, helped out with some of the language clubs on campus.

An especially unique opportunity presented itself during her senior year. Bruce the Goose, once just an illustration featured throughout the years on UM-Dearborn’s social media, now existed as a three-dimensional, life-size, campus celebrity — and the Office of Student Life was hiring for the job. 

“My friend mentioned, sort of as a joke, that there was an application to be Bruce the Goose. And I have always had, I think, a loud or boisterous personality.” Festian notes. “So I ended up applying."

Campuswide & Family Programs Coordinator Jennifer Kowalczyk remembers clearly the day Festian showed up to Bruce open tryouts in September. “She received the highest performance scores for the day,” Kowalczyk recalls. “She was the total package – from her energy, crowd interaction and enthusiasm!”

Festian was selected for the role, along with several other student actors who also play Bruce, although Festian notes it is not too difficult to spot when it is her behind the suit. “I'm an astounding 5 feet 1 inch and some of the other people who are Bruce are significantly taller. You can actually very clearly see any pictures that are me because I'm so much shorter than some of our other actors,” says Festian.

Besides some slight physical differences between the Bruces, Festian notes each actor also brings their own take to Bruce’s personality — whether it is through special skills like ice skating or changing small mannerisms. These differences led to some of Festian’s favorite memories as Bruce. 

“I was the Bruce who was going out on Valentine's Day handing out candy and that was a lot of fun,” says Festian. “I really felt like I could shine through that. Another event that was smaller was a book club end-of-the-year celebration, which I went to, and it was Taylor Swift-themed. And I have a little working knowledge of Taylor Swift, so I was able to use that to, I think, make the experience more exciting and more fun for them.” 

Kowalczyk recalls another memorable experience of Festian’s time as the Goose: “Bruce was able to make an appearance at the women’s soccer game this past fall for Senior Night. Amber was a student athlete who was also being recognized as a graduating senior that day, but to have Bruce make an appearance made the whole night even more special,” says Kowalczyk. 

As the first Bruce the Goose to graduate, Festian earned the right to walk the commencement stage this past April wearing Bruce’s shoes as she crossed – a tradition Student Life plans to continue. 

While Festian’s time as a UM-Dearborn student has come to an end, the experiences she’s had have paved the way for her next adventure. During a German course with lecturer Liana McMillan, Festian learned about an English teaching assistantship she could apply for through Fulbright Austria. Having a long history of working with kids through athletic programs and an interest in international relations, it sounded like a perfect fit and she made it her goal to continue learning German and apply for the program. Festian received the prestigious grant and will be going to Vienna in September. 

As Festian wraps up this chapter of her life and prepares to jet-set across continents to the next, she shares one last piece of advice on life at UM-Dearborn, one  that she clearly followed: “An important part of going to Dearborn is identifying the fact that it’s a commuter campus and that you need to take the initiative to be part of the campus environment, because there are amazing opportunities,” she says.

Story by Kathryn Bourlier.