There is one school of thought that the true measure of celebrity is one-name status: Oprah. Elvis. Madonna. Cher.
But there’s actually another level of famous.
Alexander the Great. Vlad the Impaler. Conan the Barbarian. Kermit the Frog. Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Truly iconic figures have “The” for a middle name.
So please understand if some of us still are swooning after the Aug. 26 #WeAreUNMC BBQ and student involvement fair.
The day Ellie the Lab came to UNMC.
There was an electricity in the air that day that was captured perfectly by the booming of ‘80s anthem “Maneater” by Hall and Oates. UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, brought the buzz and anticipation to another level when he took the microphone to announce that, in any minute now, we would be blessed by the arrival of “a very special guest.”
There was an audible ovation from the crowd as everyone realized it was really her. Ellie the Lab.
There had been occasional breathless Ellie sightings on campus over the past few years. But this was a true debut, to meet and thrill her public. This was Ellie the Lab stepping out into the bright light.
The paparazzi, which had somehow gotten wind of Ellie’s appearance at UNMC, sprang into action, snapping photo after photo after photo. But Ellie the Lab simply let the mist of camera clicks wash over her, waving to the people, high fiving along the way, even stopping for selfies with several starstruck fans.
I realized I had to shake off my own excitement to do my duty as a journalist.
Ellie! Ellie!
Just a few questions!!
Is this the start of a world tour??
“Are you recording a duet with Taylor Swift?”
Is it true that you’re dating Scooby Doo?!
But a true diva knows the importance of keeping an air of mystery. These questions would remain unanswered.
Who is the real Ellie the Lab, when the lights of fame have faded for the day? Who is she on the inside, away from the adoration and the crowds?
Phil Covington, EdD, associate vice chancellor for student success, one of the few who might claim that he knows Ellie the Lab well, offered a few clues:
“A Lab is compassionate,” Dr. Covington said. “A Lab is loyal. A Lab is hardworking.”
Ellie wears a full-length white coat, not the shorter trainee version that new UNMC students received, just a few days prior. She wears a stethoscope and safety glasses. She is immersed in UNMC’s full mission.
Dr. Davies was thrilled to have such an iconic figure on campus. “Have you met Ellie?” he said, shaking my hand, before jumping into another picture with her and a group of students.
Then, she was off with more stops to make on her breakout whirlwind tour. On to the student involvement fair, and then a personal appearance at the UNMC Residences. And more still to come in the months ahead.
Ana Soares, a student at the UNMC College of Public Health, was one of many who had taken photos with Ellie the Lab. It was time again to serve in my role as a serious journalist. Why? I asked her. What had this day meant to her? Most of all, why had she wanted to meet Ellie the Lab?
Ana looked at me. “She’s the symbol of UNMC,” she said.
