Heritage

Carnegie Mellon University has a rich and colorful history full of symbolism. Enhance loyalty and brand affinity by featuring the meaning and history of these heritage elements in your content.

Team Name and Pattern

A tartan is woven wool fabric with a plaid design. It originated in Scotland, where every family — or clan — represented their lineage with a one-of-a-kind pattern worn proudly as a brand. Our founder Andrew Carnegie, the son of a Scottish weaver, inspired the Tartan as the official athletics team name and later a school pattern. It suits us. Brands us. And binds us together as one unique and proud family. The weaving of colors and line-weights in the Tartan represents different thoughts, interests, backgrounds and skills coming together to make up the fabric of our bold, colorful and unorthodox university.

The Tartan pattern represents:

• Family
• Pride
• Weaving together different ideas and backgrounds
• Uniqueness

Motto

In 1900, Andrew Carnegie founded a technical institute for the city of Pittsburgh so that a diverse working class of men and women could learn practical skills, trades and crafts to enhance their careers, lives and communities. When he donated $1 million to create the Carnegie Technical Schools, the Scottish American industrialist and philanthropist wrote a letter to the city of Pittsburgh, signing off with his commitment, “My heart is in the work.” These words became our university motto. And they still ring true today. 

Our motto emphasizes:

• Passion for all we do
• Pride for our university
• Determination to do our best
• Commitment to bettering humanity

Mascot

In 2007, the Scottish Terrier was named the official mascot of Carnegie Mellon University. The Scottie is a confident, independent and spirited breed, nicknamed by the Earl of Dumbarton as “the diehard.” They are fearless, often aggressive around larger dogs and relentless when hunting. The Scottie is extremely loyal and has lived in the presence of Scottish royalty and American presidents. A proven winner, the Scottish Terrier has won best-of-breed multiple times in the world's highest canine competition.

When referring to the breed, spell “Scottie.” When referring to our mascot, spell “Scotty” (e.g., Carnegie Mellon University’s mascot is named Scotty, a Scottie that stands 11 inches high).

The Scottish Terrier is:

• Confident
• Spirited
• Loyal
• Proven winner
• Plucky around larger dogs

Symbol

The original Seal of the Carnegie Technical School honored Andrew Carnegie’s Scottish heritage with a stylistic thistle, the national flower of Scotland. According to Scottish legend, a Viking force planned to overtake a band of sleeping Scots. When the Viking soldiers stepped into a moat of thistles, they cried out in pain. The Scots awoke, rushed into battle and went on to victory. To a Scot — and the CMU community — there's no greater honor than to receive a thistle.

The thistle represents:

• Strength
• Bravery
• Determination
• Devotion
• Durability