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Santa Rita Elementary board selects Hummingbird as new mascot
Summary
After a student-led process and community vote, the Santa Rita Union School District board voted 3-0 to adopt the Hummingbird as the new mascot for Santa Rita Elementary School, replacing the former Indian mascot in accordance with recently enacted state law.
The Santa Rita Union School District Board of Trustees voted 3-0 on Oct. 8, 2025, to adopt the Hummingbird as the new mascot for Santa Rita Elementary School following a student-led nomination and community ballot process.
The decision followed a multi-step selection process in which students submitted roughly 30 mascot proposals, staff narrowed entries to 12, and the school distributed paper ballots so younger students could vote. More than 460 votes were submitted during the community phase to determine the school’s three finalists: the Lion, the Eagle and the Hummingbird.
Board members considered the finalists after presentations by Principal Donna Koenig and Assistant Principal Jeanette Zavala and a series of short speeches by students who explained the meanings behind each mascot choice. One student, Delilah (Santa Rita Elementary student), told the board, “I think we should be Santa Rita Hummingbirds. One reason is that they represent joy and braveness. Another reason is that they also represent good luck. Last reason is that they are kind.”
The board also noted that the change comes after state action restricting use of certain Native American imagery. The agenda packet referenced a recent state law cited in the presentation as “AB 37 74” and “AB 30 74,” described at the meeting as prohibiting the use of the term “Indian” as a school mascot, team name or nickname. (The board materials presented the statute citation as it appears in the packet.)
Trustees praised the students’ work and the inclusive process. The board formalized the selection with a motion to adopt the Hummingbird as the school mascot; the motion passed unanimously among the three voting trustees, 3-0. The board announced that the district will proceed with implementation steps for the new mascot and acknowledged students and staff for their research and presentations.
Why it matters: The vote replaces the school’s former mascot name and completes a community-centered selection process that emphasized student research, cultural connections and community input. The board’s action also aligns the district with the state-level prohibition cited in the presentation.
What’s next: District staff said they will move forward with implementation and recognition of the Hummingbird mascot across the school community and noted the selection will be honored in school materials and programs going forward.
