‘Incredible honor,’ Penn State senior says of 3 years as Nittany Lion mascot
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- Mason Reber revealed as Penn State Nittany Lion after three years of service
- Reber, a civil engineering student and Army ROTC cadet, led a stadium chant
- Penn State noted Reber’s leadership, academics and 300+ mascot appearances
The Nittany Lion shows Penn State pride at events through high-fives, dances, gestures and tail flips, but the crowd at Beaver Stadium heard his voice and learned his identity Saturday.
Mason Reber, a civil engineering major and Army ROTC cadet, led the crowd in a “We Are” chant after being revealed as the man who’s worn the suit for the past three years. Reber, who will graduate in December, was recognized during Senior Day ceremonies before the Penn State football’s game against Nebraska.
“Serving as the Nittany Lion and representing Penn State spirit for the past three years has been an incredible honor,” Reber said in a written statement. “I took on this role to bring joy to others, and the connections I’ve made have returned that joy to me time and time again.”
The Nittany Lion mascot tradition is unique at Penn State in that only one student has the role at a time. Reber is the 54th person in the mascot’s 120-year history to wear the iconic suit, Penn State wrote in a press release. The Nittany Lion’s more than 300 annual appearances each year range from athletic events to Thon.
Part of the tradition is keeping the identity of the person inside the suit a secret.
In the press release, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said that Reber has embodied pride, service and connection as the Nittany Lion.
“We often say that the Nittany Lion mascot is a ‘symbol of our best,’ and Mason lives that spirit through his dedication to academic achievement, personal leadership, ROTC service and dedication to our community,” Bendapudi wrote.
This story was originally published November 23, 2025 at 10:59 AM.
