It is a good day to be a Viking here at BYU-Idaho. Thor, the mascot, is back from his 25-year hiatus! We last saw him when President Hinkley, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced that Ricks College would become BYU-Idaho. With Ricks ending, so did Thor.
In this episode, we are joined by Janessa Bingham and Hannah Davies, who have been behind the scenes in bringing Thor back to Rexburg. Years of preparation and partnering with God have brought us to Fall 2026’s Spirit Week.
At the end of the Light the Legacy event, BYU-Idaho students gathered at the football stadium and were joined by President and Sister Meredith and Elder and Sister Bednar for the torch lighting ceremony and a special event. After the torch was lit, the screen projected “BYUI Vikings are Back.” Then, a boat appeared and slowly made its way on stage. After a quick video clip, the mascot Thor showed up and led BYU-Idaho through some cheers and chants. A legendary night for BYU-Idaho.
Grace Qunagoran, Valeria Coles, Janessa Bingham, and Hannah Davies discuss everything that went into bringing Thor back, what this means for campus, and how it will change BYU-Idaho forever.
Listen below for more, or on Spotify and YouTube.