As summer draws to a close, a familiar and welcome energy is building: the start of fall semester. It is a season marked with immense opportunity — new friendships, new discoveries, and new learnings. It is a period of renewal and one that always represents the very best of our Mercer community.
As we shift into new schedules, Mercer will step into the national spotlight as we host the Aug. 29 FCS Kickoff game at Five Star Stadium that will be aired on ESPN. This is a moment of tremendous pride for our University, and I hope you will join us and help showcase the unique Mercerian spirit that defines us.
To capture and accelerate this spirit throughout the year, I am also thrilled to announce the launch of a new University-wide tradition: Be the Bear Fridays, beginning Aug. 21, during which we are encouraging everyone to wear their best Mercer orange and black attire. Whether you are walking across campus, leading a discussion in the classroom, researching in a lab, or representing Mercer hundreds of miles away, this simple act unites us as a powerful and visible family.
Here is how you can participate:
- Wear Your Colors: Every Friday, put on your Mercer apparel (promo code: SPIRIT26) or simply wear orange and black.
- Share Your Spirit: Post a photo on social media showcasing your Mercer pride.
- Tag Us: Use the hashtag #BeTheBearFridays and tag Mercer so we can see and share your posts.
We will be recognizing the most creative and spirited participants each week and will also be awarding a monthly Toby Trophy!
This new tradition not only celebrates our athletic achievements; it embodies the collective strength and pride of our entire academic community. I look forward to seeing our campuses and our global network awash in orange and black every Friday.
Thank you for being the heartbeat of Mercer University.
As always … Go Bears!
