The Mace
In academic ceremonies, the mace is an ornamental staff carried as a symbol of authority. The office of the mace bearer, though purely ornamental, dates back to medieval England when special occasions required the use of a bodyguard. In colonial America, the mace became a symbol of office when it was used in conjunction with academic regalia.
The Georgia Tech mace carried in today’s ceremony was designed by Cabell Heyward, a former research scientist in the College of Design, and was first used in April 1988 at the presidential installation of John P. Crecine. The mace was made possible by a gift from the Georgia Tech Student Foundation and the Class of 1934.
The primary focus of the mace is its three brass rods, which demonstrate the principle of “tensegrity,” a concept of structure combining tension and integrity developed by R. Buckminster Fuller in 1927. The integrity, or wholeness, of the mace is maintained by each of the rods being held in place by the tension of the steel wire; the rods do not touch one another at any point.
The brass rods symbolize the three primary components of Georgia Tech’s mission: education, research, and service. The gold color of the brass and the white color of the steel wire represent Georgia Tech’s colors. The mace also incorporates three silver metallic seals, which are reproductions of the official seal of the state of Georgia, the original seal of Georgia Tech, and the current seal of the Institute.
The mace was fabricated by Heyward and Arthur Schoenfeld, another former research scientist in the College of Design, in conjunction with Atlanta jeweler Robert Nagle.
The Ramblin' Wreck
The Ramblin’ Wreck is the 1930 Ford Model A Sport coupe that serves as the official mascot. The Wreck is present at all major sporting events and student body functions. Its most noticeable role is leading the football team into Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field, a duty that the Wreck has performed since 1961.
Buzz
Legendary Tech icon Buzz made his first campus appearance at a student pep rally in 1980. Over the past four decades, Buzz has gone on to become one of the most beloved — and globally recognized — university mascots.
The Whistle
Tech’s iconic steam whistle blasts its signal when Tech wins a home football game and for milestone events.