Delta’s famed mascot answers questions about what a year celebrating equine traits of ‘strength, endurance, independence, and forward motion’ means for students
Lunar New Year, celebrated across East and Southeast Asia and by diasporic communities worldwide, marks the beginning of a new year based on the lunar calendar.
Unlike Jan. 1 on the Western calendar, the holiday typically falls between late January and mid-February and centers on renewal; a time for family gatherings, honoring ancestors, sharing symbolic foods and welcoming prosperity.
Each year corresponds to one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, a repeating cycle that includes the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
According to Chinese folklore, the order of the zodiac animals was determined by a legendary race organized by the Jade Emperor, a central figure in traditional mythology. In the story, the emperor invited animals to cross a river, promising that the first 12 to arrive would earn a place in the zodiac. Their finishing order — influenced by strategy, cooperation and even trickery — established the sequence that repeats every 12 years. The traits associated with each animal are believed to influence the tone and energy of the year ahead.
In 2026, that spotlight turns to the horse, a symbol often associated with strength, endurance, independence and forward motion.
At Delta College, that symbolism carries an extra layer of personality.
“OK, let’s get one thing straight right away: I’m a mustang,” said Fierce, the college’s longtime mascot. “Yes, a mustang is a horse, of course, but don’t you forget that I am wild and free, bold and unstoppable, and prone to be dramatic.”
After joking that he has been waiting for this zodiac moment “since 2014,” Fierce framed 2026 as more than a punchline.
“It feels like the universe finally looked down at Delta College and said, ‘You know what? It’s your year.’”
Beyond the theatrics, Fierce drew connections between the symbolism of the horse and the reality of community college life.
“We work our tails off,” he said. “Delta students are juggling classes, work, maybe kids. You’re up and at ‘em before I’ve even had my morning oats. We’re endurance animals, built for the long haul — and you’re just as tough.”
Unlike the stereotype of short bursts of energy, Fierce emphasized persistence.
“Delta students don’t just sprint for a week and collapse,” he said. “You pace yourselves. You grind. You show up again the next day, and the next. That’s horsepower.”
He also challenged students to embrace what he called authenticity — not performance.
“I’m no show pony. What you see is what you get,” Fierce said. “The secret in life is you gotta be authentic and just be who you are. Be your authentic selves in honor of the Year of the Horse, and everything else will start falling into place.”
For students who celebrate Lunar New Year, Fierce offered wishes of strength, prosperity and momentum and, in classic campus fashion, “the good fortune to find a reasonable parking spot at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday.”
To those less familiar with the holiday, he encouraged curiosity.
“One of the grooviest things about Delta College is the chance to learn about new cultures and meet new people,” he said. “Our herd is really diverse. The more we learn about each other, the stronger our herd gets.”
If the Year of the Horse promises momentum, Fierce said Delta students already embody it.
“You don’t really need luck,” he said. “You’re grinders and fighters.”
And if 2026 is, in fact, the mustang’s year, it may also be a reminder of what defines Delta itself: resilience, movement and the quiet determination to keep going, even when the road feels long.
