Logo and Motto
The Honors Logo
In spring 1982, the Honors logo was created by Arline Thomson; it is a composite of three designs submitted by Honors students Kim Cassida (class of 1984), Bette Sylvester (1983), and Kevin Hollenbeck (1985) as part of a contest held by the Program for the express purpose of originating a logo–a distinctive graphic symbol that makes people aware of Honor’s goals. The symbolism of the open book is obvious; the pine branch represents Maine, and the sign for infinity stands for seeing and perceiving in all the senses of the term as well as for the limitless possibilities of Honors study.
In 2000, to recognize the long tradition of Honors here at the University of Maine, we added the “1935” denoting the year of the Program’s inception. With the inauguration of the Honors College in 2002, we also began using the new College logo in our less formal materials.
The Honors Motto
In the spring of 1999, prompted by a remark made by Professor Cathleen Bauschatz the previous semester during her lecture on Virgil’s Aeneid (“the Honors Program really should have a Latin motto”), students began to discuss possibilities. The discussion spanned numerous possibilities, themes, and wordings. Finally, prompted by quotes variously attributed to Plutarch, Socrates, and Yeats suggesting that education is more like the lighting/kindling of a flame/fire and less like the filling of a vessel/pail, a consensus was reached on
Igniting a passion for learning
as expressing the core values of Honors from the first-year preceptorials through the thesis experience. Tina Passman, associate professor emerita of classical languages and literature, and a terrific resource for the Honors College and the campus, was kind enough to translate the motto into its final version
Studium eruditionis ardescens