Shady Side Academy's New Mascot Is...

December 21, 2020

 

Dear Shady Side Community,

 

I am thrilled to announce that Shady Side Academy's new mascot is ...

 

THE BULLDOGS!!

 

Kind yet courageous, friendly yet dignified, strong and smart, the Bulldog embodies loyalty, courage and tenacity. These inherent traits also describe our Shady Side Academy community. The Bulldog is a mascot that everyone in our community – from pre-kindergarteners to alumni – will unite behind and cheer about for generations to come. Whether at an athletic contest, a robotics tournament or a class reunion, we look forward to hearing the Blue-and-Gold faithful rallying around the Bulldogs.

 

Our new mascot is the result of a five-month process that engaged the entire SSA community. The Mascot Search Committee initially received more than 600 suggestions, which they narrowed down to 22 semifinalists. The committee used survey feedback from more than 1,500 respondents to elevate five finalists for consideration to the Board of Trustees: Bulldogs, Hawks, Lions, Owls and Wolfpack. After a lengthy and spirited discussion, the Board officially voted to adopt Bulldogs as Shady Side Academy's new mascot on Thursday, December 17, 2020.

 

Now that we are the Bulldogs, we will start the next phase of the process: designing a new logo and developing our branding around the Bulldogs. Our goal is to unveil the new Shady Side Academy Bulldog logo and branding by the end of the 2020-2021 school year. 

 

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire Shady Side community, I would like to offer our deepest appreciation to the Mascot Search Committee (listed below), co-chairs Bob Grandizio '91 and Jamie (Brush) Scott '98, and the thousands of SSA community members who participated in this process. We are so thankful for your enthusiasm and support.

 

Glory to Shady Side – and GO BULLDOGS!

 

Jon Kamin '91

Chair, Board of Trustees

Mascot Search Committee

Scott Aiken '79, Retired Senior School Faculty, Parent of Alumni

Kanika Capel, Trustee, Parent

Gene Deal, Director of Athletics, Parent of Alumni

Sonia Dickson '90 

Karen DiFiore, Junior School Faculty, Parent of Alumni

Joyce Fu '99

Sean Gray '97

Bob Grandizio '91 (Co-Chair), Staff, Parent

David Kassling '02  

Jack Keating '21, Student Council President

Kara (Salvitti) Conomikes '87, Trustee, Parent

Raquel (Gonzalez) Kramer '92, Country Day School Faculty, Parent

Reggie Mitchell '12 

John Salvitti '84, Parent of Alumni

Jamie (Brush) Scott '98 (Co-Chair), Staff, Parent

Henry Stafford, Parent

Molly Skvorak '20 

David Vadnais, Middle School Athletics Coordinator, Parent

Bill Wallace '66, Board of Visitors

Sarah Woodings, Parents' Association President