News
   Valley Center
   Park City
   Kechi
   Bel Aire
   School
   Sheriff
   Police & Fire
   Deaths
   Looking Back
   Heard on Main Street
Municipal Court
Sports
   School Sports
   Rec League
People
   General
   Birthdays
   Engagements & Weddings
Opinions
   Editorials
   Letters
   Commentary
Columns
Church
Advertising
   Classified
   Legal

The proposed Hornet logo will be voted on next month.

District unveils possible new logo
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: March 12, 2015

Reaction to the Valley Center school district's proposed new Hornet logo this week has been mixed.

Some say the new logo appears too mean and aggressive. Others like the new look and think it conveys the right messages about Valley Center.

District officials introduced the proposed logo during the school board's March 9 meeting.

"Unfortunately, we have to do this," said Ron Barry, high school athletic director.

Barry formed a committee earlier this school year after the district learned it had to develop a new logo or face legal action by Georgia Tech, whose Yellowjacket mascot closely resembles the former Hornet image.

"It's been very fun and interesting at times," Barry said.

The group was made up of Barry, middle school athletic director Jamie Wetig, board members Brad Barbour and Colin McKenney, three teachers and a student advisory committee.

A questionnaire was circulated to get initial input from students, staff and the public.

Artist Jason Becker, who worked on logos for the Maize and Hutchinson school districts, researched similar professional and college logos in an effort to gain ideas but not duplicate images.

Becker developed two-dozen options and the committee helped whittle them down to three versions of essentially one proposed image.

"It has to be unique and different," Barry said. "… It should be timeless and applicable to all buildings in the district."

The image is narrower and more angled than the former Hornet. It has no arms or legs. Its pointed stinger, narrow eyes and thin antennae face the same direction. Its two wings are slung sharply behind it, portraying an attack mode.

Imbedded in the wing in the foreground are the letters "VC."

Board member Bart Balthazor asked whether arms and hands as well as athletic images, such as a football or basketball, could be incorporated into different versions of the Hornet to go with different sports or activities.

Barry said the group wanted to trademark the image without such additions, maintaining what he called a "serious nature" to the Hornet.

"Arms were a topic of discussion," Barry said. "… The direction we've gone is not similar to anything out there."

Superintendent Cory Gibson said he performed a reverse Google search of the Hornet image, and a pair of scissors was the only match.

"It's been challenging at times," Barry said. "We're excited to finally have a product to finally move forward."

The board will vote on the proposed logo and accompanying "Valley Center Hornets" lettering and colors during its April 13 meeting.

Meanwhile, Gibson said an attorney with Georgia Tech contacted this week to further discuss the issue.

Earlier, the university notified Valley Center of all the perceived violations it found on the Internet. Staff members were subsequently directed to discontinue using the logo in all communications, including emails, social media and print.

Additionally, Georgia Tech has told Valley Center to remove the Hornet logo from all district property, including gym floors, chairs and walls.

School board President Brad Barbour said he wanted district staff to combine those tasks into a single project so an estimated pricetag can be determined.

Assistant Superintendent Mike Bonner said it could cost as much as $12,000 to refurbish the floor and change the logo in the main gym at the high school. Other logos around the district would be somewhat simpler to remove or change.

In a related action, the school board approved a contract with Walmart clothing supplier Cotton Gallery Ltd. to license the words "Valley Center Hornets." The district would receive 8 percent royalties on sales of clothing with the words. It's similar to a contract the board approved earlier this year with Academy Sports.





Trending Stories
Legals SEDGWICK COUNTY PUBLIC NOTICE

Valley Center Wrapped in love

Valley Center City trims street projects

Valley Center Student enrollment sees a small dip

Valley Center Contact The Ark Valley News

Other Sections
News

Sports

People

Columns

Opinion

Contact Ark Valley News | Archives