PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The survey results for a new Taconic High School mascot show a preference for aggressive animals and celestial motifs. 

 

A survey of the community, students, teachers, faculty, staff, and alumni has resulted in the following 10 choices serving as semi-finalists for the new Taconic brand and logo.

 

The community will now pick the top three finalists from the options in the list below:

Participation by the community, students, teachers, faculty, staff, and alumni is strongly encouraged. The survey will be open until Dec. 14 and the link can be found on the Pittsfield Public Schools website, the Taconic High School website, or by clicking here for Taconic Mascot Survey.

 

The school has been seeking a new mascot since the School Committee voted last year to drop the long-used "Braves." Many schools across the state, and around the country, have been moving away from using Native Americans as symbols.

 

According to school officials, choices were selected as part of a three-round survey process. Key stakeholders in October helped with the process of providing their feedback — from Taconic alumni, to current students and staff, to community residents. Close to 1,000 individuals participated in the first public survey.  

 

Working in collaboration with HEARD (Hear, Empathize, Apologize, Resolve, and Diagnose) Strategy, a marketing and communications agency offering pro bono rebranding services, the Taconic Mascot Committee reviewed the more than 230 unique mascot suggestions that were submitted through Round 1.   

 

Round 2 opens Wednesday for Taconic students, staff, alumni, and community members to select their favorite choices from 10 semi-finalists.  

 

Based on Round 2 survey results and committee review, a top three will then be selected as finalists for the new Taconic brand and logo — with the goal of the final choice for the new Taconic mascot being revealed later this winter.  

 

The initial proposed concepts offered by survey feedback from the community ran the gamut of possible mascots with creativity, thoughtfulness, and humor, say school officials. In the selection process, the mascot committee considered the scope of the School Committee's objective, and made a point to articulate what attributes and characteristics of the school that the new mascot should represent.  

 

Student leaders, school officials, and community stakeholders are aware of the passion surrounding the high school nickname. Acknowledging that the next Taconic mascot should be carefully selected, each finalist shall serve as a symbol of the Taconic\Pittsfield community — and represent pride, excitement, authenticity, meaningfulness, and sensitivity. Maintaining the traditional core Green & Gold that identifies with Taconic, strong consideration shall also be applied to potential attractive graphic identities, logos, team uniforms, and alliteration associated with mascots being suggested as finalists.