The University of St. Thomas has selected a lion, adapted from the Scottish royal coat of arms, to represent its mascot, the Celts. Of the more than 1,300 students, faculty, staff and alumni who voted in the logo contest, nearly 50 percent chose the lion over a Celtic helmet and an Irish wolfhound.

“The mascot logo will complement our shining star brand and the official University seal,” UST President Robert Ivany said. “It will inspire our students, enliven campus spirit and encourage representation of the University.”

From the Saints to the Fightin’ Celts and now just the Celts, the mascot has been adapted throughout the University’s history to reflect the preferences of the campus community. In the 1950s the name of the men’s basketball and baseball teams changed from the Saints to the Warriors. The Department of Athletics and the Office of Public Relations held a Name That Team Contest in the fall of 1983 to get a student-wide vote on the official UST mascot. By spring, 1984, it was no contest; the votes were in, and the Fightin’ Celts began the new year with renewed school spirit. In 2005 the student-wide vote to shorten the team name to Celts.

The word Celts refers to people of several ethnic groups in Ireland and Britain. They were highly skilled in the visual arts and produced intricate metalwork. Celts were also known for being chivalrous, courageous and brave. They appreciated music, poetry and philosophy.

Sports at UST have evolved over the years. In 1947 the University entered intercollegiate competition in basketball and baseball. Other men’s campus sports included hockey and boxing. Women’s sports took off in 1954 with softball, golf, volleyball, table tennis and archery in physical education classes. But it was intramural sports that always had a strong presence on campus from the 1950s to the present. The years saw everything from basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer to tennis, racquetball, swimming, weight lifting and aerobics.

2006 was a banner year for reintroducing sports to the campus. James and Maureen Hackett, longtime friends and benefactors of the University, generously funded the Hackett Athletic Complex as a major contribution to the expansion of UST Athletics. An Athletics Advisory Council was formed, chaired by George DeMontrond and Marjorie Evans, to advise the president on conference options, funding requirements and the implementation of an enhanced sports program in our institutional culture. The board recommended increased support of athletics at all levels, to include intramural, club and intercollegiate. In 2006, the University of St. Thomas become an independent member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and introduced its first-ever varsity women’s volleyball team. UST has since added men’s soccer to its fall 2007 roster.