Crystal Thompson, Features Editor

Phrases like “find your mojo,” “find your groove,” and “find your rhythm” are all encouraging suggestions to push people towards accomplishing their goals. What you won’t hear is “find Minerva,” unless it’s a more literal request made by teachers challenging their students in early-semester scavenger hunts to familiarize them with campus. 

Otherwise, the phrase “find Minerva” is not a real thing (yet), but the concept behind it is intriguing and a rather fitting accompaniment to the more popular “Find Your Way Here” mantra adopted by UNCG and visible on signage throughout campus. The slogan and iconic Minerva statue serve as inspiration for students and faculty to engage in a reciprocal relationship with scholarship. They are also reminders of why we are all here and our potential for extraordinary. 

Institutions across the country use a statue or image of or refer to Minerva as a representation of the goals students are expected to achieve, the standards faculty should set and meet, and the zenith of academia that will sustain scholarship, professional development, and research. 

So, what makes the Minerva statue at UNCG unique? One up-close and steady gaze will provide a quick answer. If it looks like she is moving in a contradictory manner, gesturing for students to come and go simultaneously, it’s intentional. The sculptor, Jim Barnhill, designed it to subtly nudge us all to “move” and operate in a generative way. In other words, all the research, learning, and professional development we engage in during our time here, no matter our position or level, should be reflected in the work we commit ourselves to beyond UNCG. Work that will reflect the nurturing and supportive environment the university provides. 

Minerva is a symbol of wisdom and intellect, but it factors in more than that. To create and maintain the successes and achievements accomplished and in progress at UNCG, exceptional efforts must be made, the ordinary must be transformed into something remarkable, and most importantly, there must be an abundance of opportunities and supported paths to advancements. When students find their way here, they find all of this and more. Many programs are multi- or interdisciplinary, providing different entries into scholarship for students who have more than one interest. 

Undergraduate and graduate research are equally valued, and there are varying streams of funding for each. It isn’t unusual for undergrad and grad students to work together on research projects, and faculty involvement is a bonus. Study abroad programs present ways to increase scholarship and broaden research. The cherry on top is the mentorship and support that starts during the application process and continues even beyond graduation. 

Sure, other colleges and universities might offer the same or comparative opportunities, but at UNCG, they are a normal part of scholarship. And that is how excellence is created. It’s also a large part of how this university has upheld the ideals the Minerva statue embodies: coming in to learn and develop skills and leaving to use that knowledge and apply those competencies. 

The most fascinating aspect of UNCG is that, through faculty and opportunities, it exemplifies the standards and expectations. This confers on the statue an even greater sentiment. Students are aware of Minerva’s power. It’s possible to observe a number of offerings decorating the base close to and throughout exam periods. Students leave gifts as requests for favors to increase aptitude and knowledge to perform their greatest. This isn’t a ritual of superstition, but an acknowledgement of what Minerva represents at UNCG. 

The Minerva statue can be found near College Avenue and EUC. Though it has undergone several iterations throughout the years, the most current version was sculpted in 1953 and maintained by Barnhill, its creator.