The golden eagle is one of Tennessee Tech’s most enduring symbols. Students chose it as Tech’s mascot in honor of the eagles that, according to campus lore, flew over Cookeville. Eagle statues adorn offices and public spaces in almost every building, and the famed Derryberry eagle, stolen by Tech students in the 1950s, greets all campus visitors.
This year, another eagle has been added to the mix. Tech’s new logo features our most iconic and beloved image perched in front of a strong T.
“After a century spent building a solid foundation, Tech, like this eagle, is ready to soar,” said President Phil Oldham. “Like eagles, we are ready to be bold, swift and fearless leaders, and to take our place among other leaders in education and technology.”
The previous logo had been in place for fewer than 15 years. As Tech has changed and adopted a new vision, the interlocking TTU no longer met Tech’s needs; it didn’t represent the strength of this university, either in the immediate future or for the next 100 years.
President Oldham’s vision and the university strategic plan, Flight Plan: Focused for the Future, define success as a renewed commitment to improving student success, adopting transformative technology, creating distinctive programs and improving our infrastructure. That plan has become the campus reality, with the construction of the iCube, home to 3-D virtual reality technology, the campus MakerSpace and an increased focus on innovative research by faculty and students.
The new logo was launched in January with a campuswide celebration. Large banners were unfurled between columns on several buildings. Students and others marked the occasion in the cold with hot chocolate and giveaways featuring Tech’s newest eagle.
Upon seeing the logo for the first time, many students said things like, “When I see this, I think, ‘Tech. This is where I’m going to take off and fly,’” and “It doesn’t feel like Tech without the eagle.”