Northwest Catholic High School is changing its mascot after 51 years from the Indians to the Lions.
The announcement was made in front of a crowd of 600 students during a school assembly on Thursday morning.
School officials said they started to feel that the name was insensitive and did not fit in with the school's core values.
"I feel great, I feel relieved. When you introduce change to a 55-year-old school, you are never really sure how it is going to be accepted," David Eustis, president and chief administrator at Northwest Catholic High School, said.
Over the last two to three years, the school already started transitioning away from the Indians name.
Now, students say they are excited to have a new mascot to replace it with.
"Now having something is very encouraging and just brings the school spirit together," Abby Herron, a senior, said. "I am excited to be the first graduating class as the lions. That will be such a cool story to tell."
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The school chose a lion because they were already using “pride” as a place holder and a lion has a theological connection.
"I think it is so fitting that we are the lions and we are all about pride and community at school," Herron said.
Over the next two weeks, students will get the chance to design how the lion will look.
"We are excited. This is not done out of political correctness. This is just done out of what is best for our students and our alumni moving forward the next 55 years," Eustis said.
The changeover to the lions is immediate, but it will take some time to change the jerseys.
