FARGO — North Dakota’s state bird, the western meadowlark, was selected as the new mascot for the former Woodrow Wilson High School, which was renamed Dakota High School in December.
The new name, logo and mascot will be officially implemented this fall when the 2021-2022 school year begins. Woodrow Wilson High School did not have a mascot before the name change.
The western meadowlark was chosen after collaborating with the district’s Indian Education Program and regional Native American tribes, according to a press release from the school district. Along with being the state bird, the meadowlark symbolizes friendship and loyalty in Native American cultures.
The logo, created by Fargo Public Schools graphic designer Tyler Brown, also features wheat strands, representing abundance and prosperity. The logo contains the word Dakota in capital letters and retains the school’s current color scheme of gold and black while adding a yellow accent with the meadowlark.
The Fargo School Board decided to change the name of Woodrow Wilson High School after receiving “vast community input” on the former president’s "positions and policies regarding equity and skin color," according to the district.
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"We're very happy working with our district office team. There were a lot of meetings, thoughts and input from students and we're very happy with that product," Principal David Burkman said.
Meadowlarks are familiar songbirds found in open country across much of North America. They’re often spotted on fence posts in agricultural areas and sing flute-like melodies.
The meadowlark is in the same family as blackbirds and orioles and grows to about 8 to 11 inches long. They’re easy to spot because of their bright yellow chests and a distinctive black V at their necks.
A Forum article published in 2015 cited a Northern Arizona University professor who found that many schools that have dropped controversial mascots or nicknames replaced them with bird logos about 39% of the time to avoid future controversy.
For example, the University of North Dakota's former Fighting Sioux nickname and logo were retired in 2012 after the NCAA threatened sanctions, and the school changed its nickname to the Fighting Hawks. Dakota High School is not expected to field its own athletic teams.
