On Saturday, May 11, 2019 Saint Joseph’s College of Maine surprised
over 500 students graduating at the 106th Commencement ceremony by revealing
the new Monk mascot character. Saint Joseph’s is the only college or university
in the United States, in any NCAA division, to have “Monks” as a mascot.
According
to Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Joanne Bean, the new Monk
mascot costume was made possible because of the support given from alumnus and
Board of Trustee Dr. Colonel Solis ‘93, BSBA, MA, MBA, MPhil, DBA, PhD of
McLean, Virginia who worked with the advancement and athletics departments to
enhance the presence of the Monk in the community, to better reflect the Monks
logo currently used by the athletic teams, and to serve as a reminder of the
College’s Core Values.
Solis,
who is the son of Cuban immigrants and a decorated Vietnam veteran, said, “When
you’re a U.S. Marine, you remember and continue to live everything that it
stands for. And when you’re a Monk, it’s also symbolic and meaningful for life.
A mascot elevates the spirit of the entire student community on campus. I’m
very pleased to give back to the College.”
The
Monks mascot at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine dates back to 1970. It was only
one year after the Board of Trustees decided that the College would become
co-educational that then College President Bernard P. Currier hired Christopher
Kiernan from Assumption College to become the new director of athletics and to
launch a competitive varsity program. Knowing that Assumption Prep was about to
close its doors, Kiernan asked for a donation of their team uniforms which bore
the name “Monks.” From that point forward, Saint Joseph’s College adopted this
as its mascot.
The
suit was designed and produced by Costume Specialists in Columbus,
Ohio. Their work with other universities includes the Columbia Lion and
Princeton Tiger.
The
community can look forward to seeing the Monk at sporting events, student
activities, and alumni gatherings.
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