Villanova University

Name: Nova Girl ‘04

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School: Villanova University

Location: Villanova, PA

School Colors: Blue & White

School Mascot: Villanova Wildcat

Do outsiders “get” your mascot?: In 1926, a contest was conducted to adopt a mascot for Villanova. Edward Hunsinger, a former All-American defensive end at Notre Dame, hit upon the nickname “Wildcats”.

They actually had a real wildcat in 1930, 1945, 1947, and 1949 named “Count Villian.” Also, until the late 1970’s the Villanova women’s athletic teams were often referred to as the “Wildkittens”.

School Fight Song:

“V” for Villanova, “V” for Victory
“B” for Blue and “W” for White
For the Blue and the White we will fight!
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Fight for Villanova, Fight for Victory
For we’re out to win the fray;
Villanova leads the way,
With a capital “V” for Victory.
For we’re out to beat the foe
Show the en-e-my we know
how to win with a “V” for Victory.

Vill-a-no-va, V-I-L-L-A-N-O-V-A
“V” for Vic-tor-y, V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
It’s a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye,
and a “V” for a V-I-C-T-O-R-Y

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Traditions: Nova Nation, The Oreo, Special Olympics and a haunted campus, just to name a few.

Geographical Features: The Main Line (a posh Philly suburb)

Architectural Features: Gothic buildings mostly and a campus center that looks like a ski lodge.

Notable Alumni: Golden Globe-nominated actress Maria Bello, Pennsylvania Governor and Democratic luminary Ed Rendell and John L. Hennessy, president of Stanford University, just to name a few.

Anything else we need to know?: For more than a decade, Villanova University has been ranked #1 by U.S. News and World Report in the Best Universities-Masters category in the northern region.

In 2004, Caroll Spinney, creator of Sesame Street and voice of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, was the commencemnt speaker at graduation. This created a stir on campus becasue the news falsely reported that “Big Bird” was going to give the commencement address. They did not communicate that Carol Spinney is single-handedly responsible for educating million of children worldwide.