Glens Falls Black Bear: New Mascot Design

Glens Falls Nation has revealed the black bear design for their new mascot! The red and black bear is a culmination of an extensive design process.

The final four choices for the new mascot came down to a choice between the Knights, Wolves, Black Bears and Hawks… The New York State Education Department set a June deadline for schools to remove mascots associated with Native Americans, threatening possible loss of funding and removal of personnel if schools with Native American mascots and imagery did not have a plan to change by the end of the school year. 

Funding for these changes has been a concern… The school board was told that the expenses related to the mascot change would be eligible to receive aid. One of the biggest expenses – the changing of the gym floor – would most likely qualify for aid. 

As for changing the uniforms, Superintendent Krislynn Dengle said, “A partner company that provides our team uniforms (offered) a $20,000 donation of services.” Communication director Skye Heritage added, “It will be a multi-phase graphic design that would cost the district fifteen to twenty-thousand dollars… They are providing the services for free to any school district in New York State that is affected by the NYS Education Department ruling on Native American mascots.”