When the College Houses were created, The Office of College Houses and Academic Services sponsored a design competition called the College House Coats of Arms Project. The goal was for each of the College Houses to have its own distinctive coat of arms that reflected its unique character.

The coats of arms were designed by residents of their respective houses, and the designs were refined by a professional artist for use on everything from House letterhead to mugs, watches, and other items. Here you can find descriptions of the arms and learn more about what they symbolize.

Nicole Joseph's winning design for Stouffer College House is a blue shield upon which a wyvern, an estoile, and a moon are depicted. The wyvern is a dragon in profile that symbolizes valor and protection; the estoile (a star with wavy points) symbolizes celestial goodness and noble people; and the moon stands for "serene power over mundane actions." The shield is intersected across the top with an embattled line symbolizing fortress walls that protect one's home. A scroll beneath holds the motto "Nihil Domo Similius" -- "Nothing Comes Closer to Home." We have negotiated with the Stouffer Food Company (Nestle USA) to give us permission to use this Latin "twist" on their trademark motto.

Reprinted from the College Houses and Academic Services website.