In 1992 The Society of Columbia Graduates commissioned artist and Columbia Professor of Art History W. Stanley Wyatt, CC’43, GSAS’47, to create the “Teaching Lion”. The full-sized bronze sculpture is located in the Robert M. Rosencrans Reading Room of Butler Library.
Each year, the names of the new Great Teacher Award (GTA) recipients are inscribed on a bronze plaque mounted below the Teaching Lion sculpture. The Teaching Lion image was also chosen to become the new logo of the Society. A desktop sized version of the sculpture is awarded to each GTA honoree. A lapel pin sized version of the sculpture is awarded to each member of the Society, and to its honorary members.
(Professor Wyatt’s son, Greg Wyatt CC’71, is an internationally acclaimed sculptor. In 1985 he created the “Peace Fountain” sculpture located in the park adjacent to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and in 2004 he created “The Scholar’s Lion” statue, which stands outside Havemeyer Hall - see photo on our Mission Page)