The people who comprise the UC Davis community are putting on pins to celebrate the university's centennial.

The pins feature the university's 100-year logo and a "2008-2009" inscription. Already, departments and units are ordering the pins by the hundreds and thousands, for faculty, staff and visitors. The pins also are being sold at campus bookstores.

"I think it would be great if everyone had one on during this special year," said Laurie Lewis, design manager for the Publications Unit of University Communications, and a member of the centennial organizing team.

She said the pins are a good way "to bring everybody together under the UC Davis umbrella. Everyone here plays a role in our long tradition of excellence, and wearing a pin shows that you are part of it."

Lewis said people may decide to substitute the centennial pin for the traditional UC Davis pin during the coming year. "Or you can wear them both, and your years-of-service pins, too," she said.

Lewis designed the 100-year-logo: The number 1's straight left edge represents the university's solid foundation and symbolizes an architectural column that is indicative of education, while the overlapping zeroes show forward momentum.

Lewis has worked at UC Davis for 21 of those 100 years, and her association dates back even further -- to the time when her parents worked here.

So, when she sees people wearing centennial pins, she is doubly thrilled, because people are showing pride in UC Davis, and because she played a role in designing the pins.

The pins are available for bulk sale through Repro Graphics, which ordered an initial supply of 20,000. They are available through the campus's recharge system for 98 cents apiece. The Davis bookstore campus bookstore will sell them for $1.95 plus tax.

The bookstore also is selling a number of other products with the centennial logo. Jean Aguirre, general merchandise manager, listed these items: stainless steel mugs, glassware, pens and key tags, as well as hats, sweatshirts, jackets and polo shirts. Some T-shirts have arrived, and more are on the way, she said.

The centennial products are available in the front of the store and also can be ordered online: bookstore.ucdavis.edu.

To order centennial pins through Repro Graphics, send an e-mail to Kerie Holck, klholck@ucdavis.edu, specifying quantity, recharge number and where you want the pins delivered.