N.C. A&T will soon have a new logo. A&T’s Legal Counsel Trademark Director Lesley Renwrick said the university’s logo will be getting a new polished look.

This discussion began about four years ago in the board room among top administration in Dowdy, Bennett said, when a question was asked by vendors who handle the university’s merchandise. “Why doesn’t A&T give us options? We have such a limited variety and we want more,” Bennett said.

“After being asked this question I began to think, “Well I don’t see a lot of students wearing our stuff. I have even asked some students and they said that it was unattractive, listening to others one of the things that show school pride is wearing our trademark,” Bennett said.

In hopes of finding a solution she began talking with administration about changing the symbols to represent A&T as a university moving forward while still staying true to what Aggies know and that’s “Aggie Pride”! Getting started with the process of change meant speaking and negotiating with A&T’s licensing merchandiser and giving samples of what was to come to our schools business manager.

“The Collegiate Licensing Company was brought to A&T six years ago to start the logo licensing program to protect the university’s marks. They came along to help us with our growth process in royalties and gave financial advisement,” Bennett said.

“CLC began looking at the bigger picture. We’ve seen what logo merchandising has contributed to other universities like Morgan State and Delaware State who are smaller than A&T, and did this with their merchandise and it was very successful,” CLC Agent Aaron Coldren said.

After the actual design company was found, auxilary funds were used by the university to pay Design Works to come and spend a day at A&T.

“Students, athletes, administration and alumni and public relations commitee members gave advisement and talked to the company about who A&T was and where they come from and what we represent,” Bennett said.

Bennett said the process of rough drafts of sketches were done from October through January by artist Jamie Skiles and the first preliminaries were finalized as the group narrowed their decision from sketch to sketch till they found a design they approved.

Chancellor Renick approved the sketch, which marked the journey of A&T’s new logo.

Aggies who are ready to see what the new logo looks like may attend the unveiling program in Aggie Stadium Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m.

“Come ready to be amazed and ready to buy,” Bennett said.

• Tornetha Baldwin