Unionville’s new mascot to debut in January

EAST MARLBOROUGH » The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will soon have a new mascot.

Patrick Crater, supervisor of athletics, told school directors this week that a committee studying names has narrowed its list, and said the big reveal will come Jan. 25.

The mascot was officially retired in August following a studentled petition wearier this year. For the past 66 years, Unionville High School’s mascot has been the Indian, a reference to the Lenni- Lenape natives who occupied the Philadelphia area almost 10,000 years before Europeans came to the region.

Crater said that submission forms were sent to Unionville students and staff members, and 487 were returned.

“While many of those are duplicates, there a long list of some really good ideas,” Crater said.

Crater told school directors that the story of Unionville retiring its mascot was published in the Oct. 25 issue of the New York Times, in which several Unionville students were quoted.

The student- led committee is now tasked with talking to principals to help narrow the list. There will be a virtual assembly on Dec. 1 which will include the finalists. Following will be a vote among students in grades eight through 12 in early December.

Votes will be reviewed Dec. 9, after which a design and reveal team will be formed.

Once a new mascot is in place, older Unionville sports uniforms and equipment with the logo will be replaced and the gym fl oor will be re- sanded.

Iris Creative of Fort Washington will work with the mascot committee and staff to design and brand the new mascot, costing taxpayers an estimated $ 12,000.

“We have been having a great time working with the students on this,” Crater said.