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October 11, 2021


Dear Pioneers,

What a wonderful Homecoming and Family Day, and what a warm welcome that the William Paterson community extended to the newest Pioneer, our mascot, Pio! Saturday’s big football victory at Wightman Stadium was also the perfect place to debut the University’s first-ever spirit song. 

If you weren’t able to join us Saturday, don’t worry. There will be plenty of opportunities to hear our new song and get to know Pio, our newest “student” and the first in their bear family to attend college. Pio hales from the High Mountain Preserve, neighboring the campus, and is named for WP Pioneers. (Pio’s parents have occasionally been the subject of RAVE alerts, but they were only touring the campus with Pio.)
Like a true WP Pioneer, Pio is gritty, proud, confident, and persevering. Pio is eager to experience all that William Paterson has to offer. So Pio will join the community at a wide variety of campus events and programs, including open houses and other admissions events, athletics competitions, Commencement, and other WP celebrations. If you see Pio on campus, be sure to say hello and help us welcome Pio to the University community. And, remember, Pio loves selfies!

Please check out the great 90-second video above to see Pio in action, hear the song, and learn its lyrics by following the bouncing “WP.” 

Welcoming Pio and debuting the song were the result of great work by so many across campus – too many to name here. A full recognition of all those involved will follow. In the meantime, look for Pio at all sorts of gatherings across campus, and Go Pioneers! 


President Richard J. Helldobler
Office of the President | 973.720.2222 | president@wpunj.edu