Miles Pierre
October 30th, 2025
Photo Credit: Austin Williams
Morehouse College and Spelman College have officially secured ownership for the iconic trademark, “SpelHouse,” to protect its legacy, brand and institutions from unauthorized outside use. To celebrate the historic achievement, the two liberal arts colleges have partnered up with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) and Pro-Standard with a limited-edition capsule merch collection, now available for purchase both online and in both campus’ bookstores.
For decades, the word “SpelHouse,” has become a symbol of unity, service, and black excellence, and has carried a weight from both institutions that no trademark ever could. While some believe that the trademark should’ve happened sooner, others believe that now couldn’t have been a better time, especially right before homecoming celebrations and after the release of the Ralph Lauren “SpelHouse” Oak Bluffs collection. It also is seen as honoring the deep brother-sister bond between the two esteemed institutions — built on excellence, mutual growth and integrity.
“It doesn’t even feel like there’s a separation between the colleges almost,” said Isaiah “Zai Steppa” Evans ‘27, who was recently named HBCU Buzz’s Top HBCU Host of 2025 this past July. “It feels like we’re at one big university – SpelHouse showed me that the world is really small and you’ll have those connections wherever you go.”
Ask any alum or current student what “SpelHouse” means, and you’re bound to hear different answers, but all of them are grounded in the same truth. For some, like Kennedy Crisp, a junior at Spelman, it means unity, family and pride.
“I think it truly symbolizes the siblingship that Spelman and Morehouse have established over the years,” said Crisp. “Some of the things we learn at Spelman, I don’t think we would necessarily learn a lot at other institutions. The same goes for Morehouse.”
At the forefront of this shared SpelHouse legacy stand Kenneth Ugo ‘26, the 94th Morehouse SGA President, and Taylor Mills ‘26, the 42nd Miss Spelman College. Both exemplary leaders on their respective campuses have become symbols of the AUC and show on a day-to-day basis what their community means to them through leadership, grace, and compassion.
“SpelHouse is strong because we constantly look out for each other,” said Ugo. “No matter where you are or where you come from, if you just say ‘Morehouse’ or ‘Spelman’, people will automatically put you together, unlike other schools where they’re separate.”
Mills adds that SpelHouse also represents not just Black excellence, but the Black community as a whole, especially here in Atlanta.
“We always set the standard high so it was only right to make an official statement and clarify that we’re the best.”
Trademarked or not, SpelHouse will always be more than a mark to all that steps into its gates– it’s a movement, a memory and a reflection of what happens when two huge legacies continue to move as one.