Who is Hank?
Amidst a reorganization and rebranding of LiNK at USC in the summer of 2022, we created this adorable crane to be our mascot.
Designed by our 2022-2023 Graphic Design Chair, Daniel Yu, this crane has been used in various promotional materials. Finally, in our last GM of the Fall 2022 semester, we officially named our beloved crane mascot Hank, after the Korean word for crane, 학 (hak).
Why a crane?
Hank's design is specifically based on the Red-Crowned Crane.
The Korean demilitarized zone, or DMZ, is a buffer zone on the border between North and South Korea. Humans very rarely cross the DMZ. As a result, the DMZ is teeming with wildlife. One notable animal thriving in the DMZ is the crane, specifically the endangered Red-Crowned Crane. As such, the crane has become a symbol of peace and reunification for many Koreans.