Name-a-Day Calendar, August 17: Stonehill Skyhawks
Page 284 of 365
Chosen in: 2005
Chosen by: School administration with input from the community
Stonehill College was founded in 1948 and began playing men’s basketball the next year. They first chose the Chieftain as their athletics identity.
Because the “Chieftains” used unsanctioned Native American imagery and mascots, Stonehill was one of many schools targeted by the growing movement to retire such branding in the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2002, they decided it was time for a change, and they allowed members of their community (students, alumni, faculty) to submit suggestions for a new mascot through 2003.
After mulling it over for all of 2004, testing the most popular submissions within the community to get a better sense of what the people wanted, Stonehill came to a decision on their new mascot in May 2005. They would be the Stonehill Skyhawks, a nod to a former flying field on which the western half of the campus was eventually built.
Stonehill’s mascot is a costumed hawk named Ace, who is also the school’s athletics logo.
Previous page: Stetson Hatters
Next page: Stony Brook Seawolves
Find every page at the Name-a-Day Calendar hub!