Staci DumoskiChapman University’s beloved mascot will debut a new look on the field this season. But it’s not the first time Pete the Panther has had a makeover. Here’s a look at a century of “Paws Up” Panther style.
A Champion is Born
Chapman first started using a panther mascot in the 1920s. His first incarnation was a papier-mâché film prop from Hollywood. The original panther was lost in 1934, during the Los Angeles flood that struck on New Year's Day.
Panther Tracks
For the next few decades, there was no physical mascot at Chapman, but the panther continued to appear on athletic programs, yearbooks, cartoons and, most notably, in the title of the student newspaper, The Panther.
Back in the Game
In the 1990s, a panther mascot once again started appearing at athletics events on campus.
A New Debut
A brand new Pete the Panther was introduced in 2006, sporting the university’s iconic athletics logo.
21st Century Pete
In 2022, the Chapman Family voted on a new look for Pete, which was made an official part of the Chapman brand.
Paws Up!
Today, Pete continues to shine as Chapman University’s biggest fan, cheering on students as they succeed not just on the field, but in classrooms, labs and beyond. Paws up, Panthers!
Fun Fact #1
Panthers represent power and strength, qualities the school wanted to project when competing in collegiate sporting events.
Fun Fact #2
Pete was named after Julian “Pete” Peterson ’41, a star basketball player and longtime athletics supporter who was inducted into the Chapman Hall of Fame in 1998.
Fun Fact #3
Pete the Panther’s birthday is officially July 19 – just like his namesake.
