Okemos Public Schools Reveals New Mascot Logo Recommendation

OKEMOS, Mich. (WILX) — We have our first look at the new Okemos Public Schools mascot logo.

The mascot logo recommendation was presented to the school board on Monday.

The council voted to change the mascot to wolves in February after the district had used the chiefs for years. The decision was made out of fear of being insensitive to the Aboriginal community.

Lily: No More “Chiefs” – Okemos Public Schools Officially Changes Mascot Nickname

Superintendent John Hood asked a committee of students from all walks of life – including athletic, drama and university clubs – to give their input on a new mascot.

“They knew they wanted to ‘together’, that family team-focused approach in the process,” Hood said. “They knew they wanted a noble wolf, not too cartoonish or too aggressive. They wanted to find common ground there, they wanted something that would be unique to Okemos. They wanted a logo where someone would say: “It’s Okemos and it’s Okemos’ wolf.”

Gabe Viscomi, owner of a Portland screen printing business and Okemos graduate, is behind the new logo. He called the logo a reflection of ideas.

“The process was really fun for everyone. We started with a basic design and that grew into what it has become,” Viscomi said. “This morphing process has been extremely collaborative, multiple meetings, lots of people, talking about the more concrete things of how this logo represents us.”

Related: Native American Heritage Fund Supports Mascot Changes

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