OUR MISSION

All Spartan Warriors carried a shield that bore the Greek symbol Λ (pronounced “lambda”). It stood for Laconia, the area in Southern Greece where, in the 10th Century BC, the Spartans defeated the local populace and founded Sparta, the most powerful of all the Greek city-states. Spartan warriors forming up in phalanx would place their shield to their left or to their right, protecting not themselves but their fellow warrior.

In the 4th Century BC, Phillip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, sent a message to Sparta saying, “If I enter Laconia, I will level Sparta to the ground.” The Spartans responded with a single, terse reply: “If…”

The Program has adopted the Spartans’ shield as our logo in honor of their unwavering commitment to excellence through superior leadership and teamwork. In stark contrast to what society may tell us today, the Spartans knew that individually, we are not the most important person in the world: the warrior to our left and to our right is.

The Spartan shield reminds us of this truth and challenges us to overcome adversity by working together and placing our fellow warriors and team ahead of ourselves.