New mascot: Ypsilanti Community Schools asks residents to weigh 7 names in online survey
- Previous coverage: New Ypsilanti district seeking mascot and school color ideas
The consolidating Ypsilanti and Willow Run school districts have asked for the community's input in ranking seven possible names for the new district's mascot and four possible school color combinations in an online survey.
The Flyers, Willow Run's current mascot, is still a mascot possibility for the new merged school district.
Website courtesy photo
As of July 1, the official launch date of the Ypsilanti Community Schools, the Ypsilanti Phoenix will be no longer.
However, the Flyers — Willow Run's current mascot, which references the planes built in the community during World War II — is one of seven finalists being considered to represent the new consolidated school system.
The other mascots that area residents have been asked to weigh are:
- Bombers — the nickname of the B-24 planes built in Willow Run
- Liberators — the name of the planes built in Willow Run during WWII
- Mustangs — a plane, horse or car
- Ravens — a bird
- Royals — kings, queens or leaders
- Trailblazers — a reference to the two merging districts creating a new path for others to follow
The school color combinations that have been selected for the community to vote on are:
- Black and Vegas gold
- Purple and gold
- Red and black
- Red and gold
- Red and white
Ypsilanti Public Schools' current colors are purple and gold, while Willow Run's are red, black and white.
The online survey also asks community members to rank five "ideals" that are considered when selecting a mascot in order of importance. The ideals listed are: historic connection to the community, inspiration, pride, power or strength, and representation of the two districts.
An Ypsilanti High School junior, Christian Cannon, has been actively campaigning students in both districts to support the name the Royals for about two weeks now, said his Spanish teacher Barbara Martin. Cannon also presented a petition to school officials with more than 500 signatures from students at Ypsilanti High School, Willow Run High School, Ypsilanti New Tech and Ypsilanti Middle School who would be in favor of becoming the Royals.
Martin said Cannon felt some of the name and color suggestions were more geared toward Willow Run and that it was important to forge a new identity together.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
LRF
Sat, Apr 13, 2013 : 10:31 a.m.
Why not the brave flyers and use one color from each school's previous colors?
2kids1dog
Mon, Apr 1, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.
I would like to clarify the school colors of Willow Run. The true colors are red and white! Maybe I am wrong, but I do not recall the WR board ever voting on changing the colors! This "red and black" color scheme came along when the athletic department/boosters took it upon themselves to change the colors, which should have never been allowed!
gold&purple
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 11:44 a.m.
Royals may be the most appropriate. After all, we are now subjects under the rule of an unelected authority. I suppose that dressing it all up in gold and glitter will make it all better.
Danielle Arndt
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 3:24 a.m.
Just FYI, at tonight's school board meeting, Trustee Maria Sheler-Edwards, who is the co-chairwoman of the district naming and mascot committee, said a recommendation from the committee would be brought before the board on April 11 for a vote.
harry b
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 5:30 p.m.
I liked the Braves. But then I also liked EMU Hurons. Sorry native americans. We can't honor you by naming our schools after you. Some liberals thought it wasn't right. The funny thing about EMU Hurons is back in 1991 they received the support of the Huron tribes in Oklahoma and Quebec. The name change was brought about by the Michigan Civil Rights who thought EMU should change there name. So slowly we will forget about the Huron Tribe that occupied Ypsilanti so long ago.
misty80
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 5:18 p.m.
Everyone is concerned about school colors and mascots and the ones I feel for are the junior class of both high schools. Here they have been at the high schools for 3 years and now going into their senior year, everything changes, colors, mascots, what a way to finish out high school. It is a shame that all of this has occurred. What a bad memory this will be.
Basic Bob
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 9:59 p.m.
It had to happen to someone. They will adjust, probably even without therapy.
beardown
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 5:15 p.m.
I'm more worried about the change to an unproven education model (learning community model) that none of the incorporators or the board actually understand, the laying off of quality teachers to bring in ones that are judged by their commitment to the cause and not the teaching ability, as well as the fact that they are going to need to close a good deal of the community schools than the colors of the football team. Which, they really cannot afford to fund anyway. But it is an excellent smoke screen for their ineptitude. At least until they pick one that angers one side of the merged districts and all the good will goes away again.
glimmertwin
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 4:29 p.m.
I sure hope they have better things to do than worry about this stuff. Whichever current school has uniforms that are in good enough condition to keep using, go with that. Save some money. I hope this entire "merging of schools" has more benefits than new names and colors. Besides, everyone knows the school should be named the Braves.
MGoYpsi
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 4:16 p.m.
Seriously, the Royals? (kings, queens) Makes no sense and sounds pompous, how did it make the list? Of course most of everything else that has happened in this consolidation doesn't make any sense either.
chapmaja
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 5:06 p.m.
It made it because one high school student, with the support of a teacher, pushed for the name.
SonnyDog09
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 3:53 p.m.
It would comfort me to know that I am surrounded by Dreadnoughts and Liberators.
ytown95
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 3:25 p.m.
How is Generals not on the list? If you want a name that has historical significance to the city of Ypsilanti and is not biased toward the old YHS or Willow Run, then go with naming it after the guy the city is named after, General Demetrius Ypsilanti. The Ypsilanti Generals with a Red and Gold color scheme would be pretty sharp.
Basic Bob
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 9:57 p.m.
The general did not sleep here.
chapmaja
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 5:05 p.m.
I don't think people really know that history. I like the idea though.
treetowncartel
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 2:55 p.m.
What happende to the blu green color option. It would have gone great with the mascot name of the Neptunes, king of the sea, or alternatively the land of underwater mortgages.
Ryan Martin
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 2:24 p.m.
Bombers seems a bit inappropriate for a high school mascot. Ypsilanti/Willow Run Flyers has a ring to it.
chapmaja
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 5:04 p.m.
You must be the same type person who would take offense to the nickname Red Arrows (Lowell HS), or the Zeeland East Chix. You need to know the history of the nickname in order to complain about it. Anyone who would question the nickname bombers for the new school would need to be immediately taken to a history class to be explained the reason for the nickname. As for the nicknames Red Arrows and Chix, those are directly related to history as well. The Zeeland Chix nickname came from the fact the Zeeland area had chicken farms which employed nearly 3000 people in the 1940's. The Lowell Red Arrows name is often included in the anti-Native American name campaigns but the nickname has nothing to do with Native Americans. The Red Arrows were the nickname given to the 32nd infantry division of the United States Army National Guard. The unit was, at the time made up up troops from Wisconsin and and Michigan. The nickname was given because they pieced through oppositions lines like an arrow and they wore a red line with an arrow through it on their uniforms, thus the Red Arrows name.
Dcam
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 2:09 p.m.
My high school's colors were purple and gold, and when it was first built they didn't have a mascot or nickname. According to legend, a local sportswriter called the team Purgolders for lack of another name, and the name stuck. Purgolder doesn't offend anyone, mainly because nobody knows what a purgolder is. The other side of town might be offended, though. They call themselves the Regents, and they do wear a crown, they think they're royalty.
genetracy
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:56 p.m.
The bombers? I am sure someone will be offended by the terrorist overtones.
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:55 p.m.
better not pick trailblazers...you might upset the early america settlers. you know, the settlers that blazed trails to the west coast.
beardown
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 4:57 p.m.
Or Chevy.
Mike
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:49 p.m.
•Bombers — the nickname of the B-24 planes built in Willow Run •Liberators — the name of the planes built in Willow Run during WWII •Mustangs — a plane, horse or car •Ravens — a bird •Royals — kings, queens or leaders •Trailblazers — a reference to the two merging districts creating a new path for others to follow Any of these names will be offensive to someone.................just call them ypsi.
chapmaja
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:30 p.m.
I think the answer needs to be related to the history of the community, which means Bombers or Liberators. Both the Ypsi and Willow Run communities had substantial ties to the effort to build the B-24's at the plant during the war. This type history is rare for a school to be able to use. Make the most of this unique opportunity. I don't favor Flyers because you are simply taking the Willow Run nickname for the new school, leaving Ypsi High's history out. As for the colors. My first choice would be red and gold, because it mixes the two school districts history, plus it looked pretty cool together. I don't like purple and gold because it basically takes Ypsi's colors and moves them over. I personally think the worst nickname choices are Raven's and Royals. Raven's is just not a cool name in my opinion, and Royal's would be fine for a school in Europe, but we don't have Royals in this country (except for Blissfield's nickname). The worst color choice is Black and Vegas Gold. I also don't like Red and Gold because too many schools already have those colors in the area. Red and Black (with the required white for home uniforms in basketball), are the colors of Pinckney and Milan High Schools in the area, plus I think a few smaller schools in the area as well. I don't recall many schools that are red and gold.
EyeHeartA2
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.
I'll go with "Braves" or "Hurons".
LRF
Sat, Apr 13, 2013 : 10:25 a.m.
you lose
KatiGal
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 12:28 p.m.
Great comment!!