Class Names and Mottos

Year	Class Name	Motto
1874	Choctaw
1878	Feejees
1879	Pianks	“Ne Teutes, ant Perfice”
1881	Cheyennes	“Ad Astra per Aspera” “Through our Endeavors, the Stars,” or “To the Stars through Difficulties.” This is also the motto of the State of Kansas, and appears on their state seal.
1882		“Proponimus Altissima” “High Promise”
1883	Kickapoos	“Finis Coronat Opus” “End to a Crowning Achievement”
1884	Nipmucks	“Vertute et Labore Vincemus” “Virtue and Labor Conquer”
1885		“Peraget Angusta ad Augusta” “Through Narrow Straits to Victory”
1886	Diggers	“A Posse ad Esse” “From Possibilty to Reality”
1887	Pahucha?	“Attempt and Accomplish”
1888	Owl Eyes?	“Occupate Potestatum” “Seize the Opportunity”
1889		“We’ll Find a Way or Make One”
1890	Driftwood
1891	Green Turtles or Verde Tortugas	“Thoughtful of the Future”
1892	Tadpoles	“Esse Quam Videri” “To be Rather than to Seem”
1893	Toad Stools	“Peg Away”
1894	Gourds	“Always Climbing”
1895	Suckers	“Seeking a Momentum That Nothing Will Destroy”
1896	Ishkoodahs	“To Stars Through Clouds”
1897	No Eyes	“Videmus Sine Oculis” “Vision Without Eyes” (No one in the class had a name starting with I).
1898	Pygmies	“With Faith and Courage”
1899	Chinooks	“Launched But Not Drifting”
1900	To-Whoos	“The Moments Perish and are Laid to Our Charge”
1902	Xanho	“Push Back Your Horizon”
1903	Erehas	“Possunt, qui Posse Videntur” “They Can because They Think They Can”
1904	Katinas
1905	Sicemakas
1906	Mewasem	“Class of the Brave Heart”
1907	Wussuckwhouks	“The Painters”?
1908	Witaxaquoias
1909	Honnatgades	“Numerous Ones”
1910	Mennuksuonks
1911	Kabbibanskas
1912	Wendigoes
1913	Nootimus
1914	Quissex
1915	Kabbibanokas
1916	Waukonda
1917	Peetwaweetum

Resources available online

The Bomb was the yearbook for Iowa State (1894-1994).

Poem by Lanie Lass

VEISHEA: Iowa State’s Rite of Spring

The Bomb yearbook 1894

The Bomb yearbook 1895

First 100 Years of Residential Housing at Iowa State University

This is a historic exhibit and the information provided within it may be out of date. Please contact the Special Collections and University Archives Department with questions about Iowa State history (archives@iastate.edu).