A new era in the Marion Independent School District will begin this fall. Gone is the nickname 'Indians'. Earlier this month, the district sent out a survey with three choices to choose from. Yesterday, the results were made official!

The three choices to choose from were Red Wolves, Red Storm, and Mavericks. I talked earlier about how my daughter Carly had voted for Mavericks. Never underestimate the power of alliteration! More than just my daughter liked the name because this fall, it will be the Marion Mavericks in action! What is a Maverick you ask? Well in the animal world it is a type of cattle that doesn't carry a brand. So get ready for some sort of bull or mean looking steer? The district has already said that they will not be changing the school colors of red and yellow.

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The name change issue did provide plenty of conversations among people in the school district. The school district received a letter last September from the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi, also known as the Meskwaki Tribe, asking the school to change the name of their mascot. The school district conducted a survey, and over 1800 students, staff, parents, and alumni took part. 63% wanted to keep the Indians nickname, with 28% voting to change. 9% had no preference. In the end, the school board voted 5-2 to change the nickname. So now we have the Mavericks.

For those who were always 'Indians', the name will always feel strange. But for students like my kids, they'll always remember becoming the Mavericks, and that the school district gave them a voice and a choice. And in the end, I don't care if the mascot is a bull, horse, or even a duck. I'm rooting for MARION.

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