"Palma non sine labore" - Adrian College creates new crest logo
Posted Monday, January 24, 2022
Author: By Mickey Alvarado
Adrian College President Jeffrey Docking recently had a new official logo created and presented it during his annual State of the College Address on April 1. While the Bulldog’s athletic department has used several logos over the years, including a Bulldog leaning on a capitol A, and a Bulldog face, the College has only used its official seal to represent academia in the past.
“Palma Non Sine Labore,” a Latin phrase meaning, “No Victory Without Work,” was the motto of Adrian College’s Class of 1887. The College believes the motto is also fitting for today, after successfully navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and incorporated the old saying into the new logo.
The new black and gold logo also uses some iconic symbolism from the past: a quill pen and shepherd’s crook; sunbeams representing the Greek words, “Lampsato to Phos,” meaning, “Let Your Light Shine;” and a touch of the future with an arch similar to the one that will soon perch over Adrian College Boulevard.
Ideas for the new logo came from the oldest seal the College’s Marketing and Public Relations Department found in the Shipman Library, which was published in 1907 in the College World, a student publication. The old circular seal depicts a lounging, topless woman reading a large paper document. On the left side of the woman is a sextant and on the right a globe. Behind her are three large hills, and over her head is a ribbon with the Greek words, “Lampsato to Phos,” which is used in Adrian College’s current seal. The sun is depicted beneath the ribbon and its beams shine down upon the woman. Circling the seal are the Latin words, ADRIANIUM COLLEGIUM – ADRIANIAE MARTII 29.1859.
Adrian College has held a “Cane Ceremony” since 1875 where the senior class passes on a shepherd’s crook to the juniors on the first day of Class Day (Field Day) activities. Now, the tradition takes place during the college’s spring commencement ceremony.
The cane started out as gold mounted and was used until the graduating Class of 1885 replaced it with a good sized sapling that was bent into the shape of a shepherd’s crook. The students carved the staff with their Class of ‘85 motto, “Festina Lente,” meaning Hasten Slowly.
A year later, the Class of 1886 carved its motto “Semper Est Studentum,” or Study is Eternal onto the staff, and the Class of 1887 followed suit with “Palma Non Sine Labore” the next year. No additional mottos were inscribed on the staff due to limited space.
That shepherd’s crook is still used to this day during commencement ceremonies where senior class representatives follow the tradition of tying their colors to the staff before passing it on. The custom of tying class colors to the cane dates back to at least 1891.
The feather quill on the new logo represents higher education and the liberal arts.
The logo will have a few variations so it can be used in several ways. The quill pen and shepherd’s crook are removed in one version and the words No Victory Without Work are added in another. Adrian College’s senior staff will use the new logo on a variety of printed materials and Arrington Book Store will have items available for sale that feature the new crest and motto.
