Just as NC State were once the “Farmers,” Elon the “Fighting Christians,” and Georgia Tech the “Golden Tornado,” this campus’ iconography is shrouded in lore and some mystery. Minerva has been a symbol of our academic mission almost since the start and has appeared on every diploma. With the emergence of men’s athletics, Spiro the Spartan has been a rallying point for school spirit. Let’s trace their evolution.
1894
Minerva first appears on campus on the diploma’s seal. The artist is unknown. It’s believed that founding president Charles Duncan McIver chose Minerva as the school’s symbol.
1908
A plaster Minerva statue placed in the Students’ Building was a gift of the Class of 1907. The original statue, Minerva Giustiniani, is in the Musei Capitolini in Rome. That original statue was a Roman copy of a Greek statue of Athena (perhaps 5th century BCE).
1931
The UNC System was born when state-sponsored institutions in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Greensboro were consolidated. With this, a new seal appeared at Woman’s College. “It’s completely unlike any image before,” says Scott Hinshaw, a University Libraries archivist. He has determined its origin: a c. 460 BCE krater that is displayed in the Louvre Museum.
Mid-Century
The number and variety of Mineva profiles is staggering. In Pine Needles, on alumni magazines, on class jackets, and elsewhere, talented student artists put their own stamp on campus icon history.
1963
The University seal – still used today – appears. Fun fact: As the school prepared to admit men, Hinshaw reports, “Suddenly even Minerva’s gender was challenged. Helen P. Yoder, administrative assistant to Chancellor Singletary, said, ‘Some people thought Minerva looked too much like a woman,’ and Hoyt Price, a longtime registrar (1960-1987), agreed that one objective of the 1963 redesign was to make Minerva ‘less feminine.’”
1977
The Student Store suggests a student “create-a-character” contest to design a mascot – “for example, the Spartan” – to appear on jackets, caps, and more. They wanted a “design that would represent the Spartans and help to increase their (Spartans) identity with UNC-G,” the Carolinian reported. First prize went to Robin Kester, who designed “a Roman-type helmet.”
1990
The first full costume for the Spartan is introduced at Homecoming.
2004
A new Spartan mascot is unveiled. It was designed by Sherry Lyon, a professor in the School of Textile Products Design and Marketing, per Athletics’ records. The face is visible. As far as people can remember, this mascot suit was always worn by a male student.
2018
New Spartan logo unveiled.
2019
New mascot, with a face that is half-blue, half-gold.
2020
Illustrations of Minerva and Spiro are created by alumna Jiyoung Park ’18.
Cast in Bronze
JAMES BARNHILL ’82 MFA designed and created the campus’ bronze statue of Minerva, which was installed in 2003. It was a gift of the Class of 1953. His inspirations? Michelangelo, the green tint of the Mediterranean Sea, and the idea that wisdom is power. Barnhill fashioned Minerva with one arm welcoming, and one arm leading to the horizon, and this defining gesture has been a key element in the University’s identity ever since.
Heavy Metal
Irwin “Ike” Belk funded the Spartan statue, located near the softball and soccer stadiums, for UNCG Athletics. Sculpted by Pitt County artists Jodi and Hanna Hollnagel-Jubran, it was dedicated in 2009.
Who’s Inside the Helmet?
Since the Spartan mascot was created for men’s sports, you might be surprised to know that one enthusiastic and celebrated Spiro is Lexi Brinegar, a 5’ 7” Spartan woman. She wore the suit 2017-21.
“I wore the old suit for more than a year. It was a bushy-eyed dude,” she jokes. She also wore the newer version of the outfit, which was launched in 2019.
Brinegar even helped with the design.“I advised about the inside of the head. Before, the inside was wool on your face and neck. Now, it’s much more comfortable.”
As Spiro, she collaborated with the dance team, climbed to the top of cheerleader pyramids, and even did James Brown-style splits. Brinegar also wore the suit outside the arena: “I did four commercials as Spiro for Ingles supermarkets.”
It all started her freshman year. “I shadowed the earlier Spiro, Daniel. We won the SoCon in Asheville. Then, two weeks later, Daniel couldn’t go to Idaho for the NCAA first round. It was my first time in a plane. And my first NCAA game – and I was Spiro!”
She’d do it all again, she says. “Spiro was an awesome part of my life. To be on the court and to see people all around you in the stands cheering for what you’re doing is amazing.”