Our Panther

Meet Piper!

Pitt-Bradford’s panther mascot officially got its name in Fall 2025, when the university revealed Piper during the Light Up the Quad event at Alumni and Family Weekend. The name is friendly and distinctive, but it also carries a meaningful connection to the campus’s past.

Long before Pitt-Bradford was built, the land was home to the Harri Emery Airport. On part of that property the Taylor Aircraft Company, owned by Bradford oilman William Piper, produced the famous Piper Cub airplane during the 1930s. Although the factory moved after a 1937 fire, the Cubs made here went on to serve in World War II as training, transport, and observation aircraft. A monument outside Blaisdell Hall, dedicated in 2006, honors this piece of aviation history.

To choose the mascot’s name, the university collected suggestions and held a vote with more than 500 participants. Piper won with 162 votes, supported by alumni who remembered Bradford’s aviation legacy and by students who warmed up to the name once they learned the story behind it.

Even though the mascot’s name is new, the panther itself has been part of Pitt-Bradford since the campus opened in 1963, following the long-standing tradition of the University of Pittsburgh. Over the years, the costume has changed from a homemade golden panther to the sleek black panther students see today.

Now, with a name rooted in local history and campus pride, Pitt-Bradford’s panther is officially known as Piper.