On the heels of the arrival of the Class of 2026, Sarah Lawrence College welcomes a novel take on its beloved mascot with the Centennial Gryphon. The Gryphon has been the College’s mascot since 1998, but this fall everyone on campus will see the mascot in a beautiful new representation that commemorates SLC’s first hundred years while moving boldly toward the College’s second century. Alongside Godric the Gryphon on the athletics field, the Centennial Gryphon aptly captures the spirit of Sarah Lawrence College’s past, present, and future.
In mythology, the gryphon symbolizes intelligence and strength, connecting the power and majesty of a lion to the wisdom and tenacity of an eagle to create an entirely new creature that combines and exceeds the sum of its parts. Much the same can be said for Sarah Lawrence students and alumni who, on a daily basis, connect their passions to create futures that go beyond the sum of their parts.
Designed in collaboration with Studio Number One, founded by Shepard and Amanda Fairey, the Centennial Gryphon brings its own particular blend of balance, wisdom, and creative energy. It wields a quill—a nod to how writing has been embedded in Sarah Lawrence curricula from the start. Its pose is graceful, intentional, and a little playful, evocative of dance and all the ways SLC students express themselves. In its full form, the seal is adorned by foliage inspired by the wrought iron ornamentation of Westlands Gate, given to the College in honor of its first student cohort nearly a century ago.
The Centennial Gryphon joins an established stable of iconography that officially or unofficially accompanies the SLC community: the College seal, featuring a profile of Sarah Lawrence herself and the motto “Wisdom With Understanding,” which marks important rites of passage such as commencement; Godric, who proudly represents our student athletes and adorns the Campbell Sports Center; and the black squirrel, who darts in and out of student life and alumni gatherings.
“The Gryphon is a unifying symbol for our teams and Godric plays a huge part in cheering us on by rallying student-athletes and spectators alike,” said Kristin Maile, Director of Athletics and Physical Education. “I’m so excited to see Godric joined by the Centennial Gryphon as a real symbol of pride for the College.”
The SLC Gryphon is, at heart, a thoughtful but active beast. Just like Godric, the Centennial Gryphon is always in motion, but with a different vibe—drawing from the past and pushing to the future.
“When I first saw the concept for the new gryphon design, it took me right back to our screening of Sankofa in last year’s Belonging series at SLC,” said Ifeoma Kiddoe Nwankwo, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “The ‘Sankofa’ is a meaningful symbol from Ghana of a bird moving one way with its head turned back, bringing the good from the past to the present. I love the universality of that, and especially its meaning for Sarah Lawrence.”