Thor the Viking
Thor the Viking is BYU-Idaho’s mascot. He is intended to build school spirit, strengthen belonging, connect students and alumni, and carry forward BYU-Idaho’s heritage of leadership, courage, and unity.
University organizations may request Thor the Viking to appear at appropriate campus events.
University organizations may request Thor the Viking to appear at appropriate campus events.
Usage Guidelines
Where Thor May Appear
Thor may be appropriate for spirit-building events, including:
- Spirit Week
- New Student Orientation
- Campus visits and recruitment events
- High-energy student activities
- Selected alumni events
- Other events focused on promoting BYU-Idaho and belonging
Where Thor Will Not Appear
Thor will not appear in formal, sacred, solemn, or otherwise sensitive settings, including:
- Devotionals, worship services, or other reverent settings
- Commencements, convocations, or other formal academic ceremonies
- Serious or solemn institutional moments
- Commercial endorsements
- Appearances unrelated to BYU-Idaho
To request an appearance by Thor, submit a request to University Communications. Requests will be reviewed based on the purpose, setting, audience, and fit with the role of the Viking identity.
A mascot can represent more than athletics. At BYU-Idaho, Thor and the Vikings are intended to be a shared symbol that helps build school spirit, strengthen belonging and bring students, alumni and employees together around a common university identity.
The Viking also provides a visible way to celebrate campus traditions, student activities, and the many ways students participate in university life. BYU-Idaho emphasizes gathering and student involvement as important parts of the BYU-Idaho experience.
The Viking also provides a visible way to celebrate campus traditions, student activities, and the many ways students participate in university life. BYU-Idaho emphasizes gathering and student involvement as important parts of the BYU-Idaho experience.
The Viking has a longstanding connection to the history of Ricks College. The Viking was the mascot of Ricks College from 1934 to 2001, when the school became BYU-Idaho. Historical records describe the Viking as an early Ricks College mascot and note that Viking and Thor imagery appeared on campus.
BYU-Idaho's current Viking identity builds on that history while giving the refreshed symbol a broader purpose centered on leadership, courage, unity, and belonging.
As BYU-Idaho sought to unify the university community under a mascot, it surveyed students, employees, and alumni, proposing several mascot options. The Viking was the clear favorite with each demographic surveyed.
BYU-Idaho's current Viking identity builds on that history while giving the refreshed symbol a broader purpose centered on leadership, courage, unity, and belonging.
As BYU-Idaho sought to unify the university community under a mascot, it surveyed students, employees, and alumni, proposing several mascot options. The Viking was the clear favorite with each demographic surveyed.
The Viking is intended to pay homage to our history and represent qualities that resonate with the BYU-Idaho community, including leadership, courage, and unity.
The mascot is a visual symbol of identity and belonging, not a substitute for the university's mission or official institutional identity.
The mascot is a visual symbol of identity and belonging, not a substitute for the university's mission or official institutional identity.
The mission of BYU-Idaho is to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities.
The Viking is intended to support that mission by reinforcing a sense of community and shared identity among students, alumni, employees and friends of the university.
The mascot itself does not define the university's mission. Rather, it serves as one symbol within a university whose central purpose is the development of disciples of Jesus Christ.
The Viking is intended to support that mission by reinforcing a sense of community and shared identity among students, alumni, employees and friends of the university.
The mascot itself does not define the university's mission. Rather, it serves as one symbol within a university whose central purpose is the development of disciples of Jesus Christ.
No. The university did not choose the Viking to represent warriors or combat.
Viking figures have been portrayed in many different ways in historical accounts and popular culture. BYU-Idaho's Viking identity is focused instead on qualities such as leadership, courage, and unity.
The university's historical records also show that the Viking was understood as a symbol of strength and character within the Ricks College community.
Viking figures have been portrayed in many different ways in historical accounts and popular culture. BYU-Idaho's Viking identity is focused instead on qualities such as leadership, courage, and unity.
The university's historical records also show that the Viking was understood as a symbol of strength and character within the Ricks College community.
A mascot gives a university community a common symbol that students, alumni, employees and friends can recognize and share.
At BYU-Idaho, the Viking identity is intended to support the sense of belonging that comes from participating in campus activities, traditions, and experiences together as a university community.
At BYU-Idaho, the Viking identity is intended to support the sense of belonging that comes from participating in campus activities, traditions, and experiences together as a university community.
No.
The adoption of the Viking does not signal a return to intercollegiate athletics.
When President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the creation of BYU-Idaho in 2000, the new university's design included phasing out intercollegiate athletics and shifting the emphasis toward a year-round activity program designed to involve and meet the needs of a diverse student body.
That distinctive model remains part of BYU-Idaho's institutional identity.
The adoption of the Viking does not signal a return to intercollegiate athletics.
When President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the creation of BYU-Idaho in 2000, the new university's design included phasing out intercollegiate athletics and shifting the emphasis toward a year-round activity program designed to involve and meet the needs of a diverse student body.
That distinctive model remains part of BYU-Idaho's institutional identity.
No.
Thor and other Viking representations are secondary to BYU-Idaho's official logos and marks. They may be used in approved merchandise and promotional applications, but they do not replace the university's primary identity in official communications.
Thor and other Viking representations are secondary to BYU-Idaho's official logos and marks. They may be used in approved merchandise and promotional applications, but they do not replace the university's primary identity in official communications.
Thor may appear at student-life activities such as Spirit Week and other school-spirit events; New Student Orientation; Campus Day and recruitment events; high-energy student activities; selected alumni events; graduation-day photo opportunities outside commencement and convocation ceremonies; and other events focused on promoting BYU-Idaho and belonging.
Follow Thor the Viking on Instagram at @byui_thor.
Departments may request Thor for an event by submitting an appearance request to University Communications. Requests are reviewed based on the event’s purpose, setting, audience, fit with the role of the Viking identity, and Thor’s availability.
No. Thor and related Viking representations should not be used to create a separate identity for a department, college, office, program, student organization, or other campus area. However, these groups may request Thor for events approved through University Communications.