Buzzing through the years

About one year after the University was founded in 1850, Rochester adopted its motto of Meliora—Latin for “ever better.” Today, that motto, along with symbols like Rocky, Rochester’s Yellowjacket mascot, serve as tributes to the University’s past and emblems of the spirit shared among alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends.

Since its creation in the mid-1920s, Rochester’s Yellowjacket mascot, which is based on the common North American wasp, has been portrayed in a range of styles, from club-wielding to cute. The current version of Rocky debuted in 2008, designed to reflect the strength, character, and competitiveness of Rochester’s Yellowjacket athletes.

Bee Campus USA: This spring, the University was awarded Bee Campus certification status from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the result of a two-year student effort led by Zoë Bross ’23. The certification comes with another for Bee City USA, from the same organization. These certifications recognize the University’s efforts to protect native pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides.

Take the quiz: which kind of Rochester mascot are you?

Learn more about Rochester’s symbols and traditions.