Okemos Schools reveals top choice for new mascot

OKEMOS, Mich. (WILX) - Thursday afternoon, Okemos Public Schools announced the top choice for a new mascot based on the feedback the district has gotten from the surveys, asking students, alumni, parents, and community members to weigh in.

Their recommendation: Okemos Wolves.

The Okemos School Board voted to get rid of the “Chiefs” moniker in May of last year after students and alumni raised concerns that it was offensive to indigenous people.

The Okemos School Board will be sending out a packet Thursday with the recommendation for the new mascot name in it along with an email that will be sent to the community around 4 p.m. The included recommendation is going to be based on the feedback the district got from the surveys.

The final four names of the new mascot were narrowed down to:

• Eagles
• Grizzlies
• Wolves
• Owls

The colors of their new logo will stay the same - Carolina blue and maroon.

Okemos Superintendent John Hood says the district wanted the renaming to be inclusive to everyone in the Okemos community.

“This has been a very student-driven process and I would hope that our community can rally around this new identity and really come together,” Hood said. “You know in a time of so much divisiveness, this is an opportunity for people to come together and create a new identity.”

The final name for the school board to consider will be presented at their next meeting this coming Monday. Board members will make it official when they vote during their Feb. 14 meeting.

More from Okemos:

• Schools Rule: Okemos High School senior recognizes in prestigious math, science competition
• Okemos High School’s controversial backpack policy raises eyebrows
• Volunteers lend a helping hand to Okemos High School custodial staff

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