When did we earn our Tiger stripes? Exploring USN branding
Ever wonder how USN got its colors and branding? Celeste Green ’27 and Abigail Manoukian ’27 visited the school Archive to find out. This article originally appeared in The Peabody Press, the High School student-run newspaper.
By Celeste Green ’27 and Abigail Manoukian ’27
Every University School of Nashville student recognizes Columbia blue, garnet, and Tigers as the colors and mascot symbols of our school, but was it always this way? And where did this branding come from?
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Every University School of Nashville student recognizes Columbia blue, garnet, and Tigers as the colors and mascot symbols of our school, but was it always this way? And where did this branding come from?
These questions are surprisingly difficult to answer due to the fact that, unlike some of our peer schools, USN does not have a formal uniform besides sports jerseys. Thankfully, USN vintage sports uniforms and yearbooks can reveal some information.
In 1888, long before USN even existed, there was a school called the Winthrop Model School. This school was run by George Peabody College, which may not have had athletic jerseys, merchandise, or color photos to leave for posterity.
However, it did have a yearbook. USN’s official archivist, Kat Trammell ‘99, traced our current school colors from a 1908 yearbook titled: “The Garnet & Blue.” This yearbook is the first documented mention of USN’s iconic colors in history, meaning they have been part of our history for 116 years.
Read the full article in The Peabody Press here.
Read the full article in The Peabody Press here.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Remembering Cassandra Teague Walker '67
Peabody Demonstration School's first African-American graduate passed away September 3, 2025. Cassandra Teague Walker '67 returned to her alma mater many times to share her experiences with young students and is featured on the 21st Avenue garage mural.Read More -
5 USN students named National Merit Semifinalists
The National Merit Scholarship Program honors seniors whose PSAT scores show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Congratulations to seniors Darcy Dove, Finch Fleming, Evan Giles, Ismaeel Moskinzada, and Lin Zheng for this honor.Read More -
Clear, restock your shelves during Fall Book Frenzy
Thank you to the many families, faculty, and staff who have donated their pre-loved books, games, and puzzles for resale. USNA continues to accept donations. Fall Book Frenzy takes place Thursday, September 25 through Saturday, September 27 in Cheek Gym. This annual used book sale benefits the Hassenfeld Library.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.