Our mascot’s history has a unique beginning. What started as a shout at a baseball game in 1894 launched our identity as the Richmond Spiders and forever sealed our fate as the No. 1 (and only!) spider mascot in college sports. More than a century later, we’re unlike any other institution in higher education, and we pride ourselves on our thriving community of Spiders.

We love hearing our mantra, “Once a Spider, always a Spider,” and since our mascot was coined 125 years ago, the number of us it applies to has grown to nearly 51,000. What’s so special is that feeling of familiarity whenever you encounter a fellow Spider — despite your graduation year. It’s not just about our shared affinity for our eight-legged mascot, it’s about our shared ambition and determination, too. It’s what makes us who we are, and what makes us proud to shout that we’re Spiders.

It’s also the reason we’re celebrating Spiders everywhere, and we hope you’ll join us on campus for Homecoming next month to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. No matter where you are in the world, we’re proud you’re part of our Spider Family!