This year a new mascot, Bolt, joined our school. Bolt is a red, white and blue lightning bolt to match our school colors. Students were able to sign up to be Bolt the Blue Streak. Three to five students were selected to perform the duties of Bolt during the 2024-25 academic year. Each student will be assigned to work directly with a specific sports team. The students selected will also represent Harrisonburg High School at functions outside of sports. The people that are in the position of Bolt have a confidentiality agreement that they are not allowed to reveal who they are as the mascot.
“My favorite part was all the little kids I made happy by just being there, and they really love the mascot, so it’s nice to welcome people in especially children because they really love having the mascot,” one Bolt actor said.
Bolt is going to be at any big Harrisonburg event. He will usually be seen in the student section helping lead the cheers, playing games with the students and greeting little kids. Anna Henkel, SCA Advisor, helped make most of the decisions for Bolt.
“Our goal is to have a consistent bolt at certain sporting events, so that each person behind the bolt will be able to make it their own. Having more than one person be Bolt allows for Bolt to appear at more events,” Henkel said.
Henkel worked on the design of the mascot with approval from Dr. Hensley. They worked with a company called Mascot Makers out of the United Kingdom which helped them create the best design for what the school was looking for.
“Bolt was created with the idea of wanting to increase school spirit, especially during the split into two high schools. We wanted HHS to have something new and exciting that helped bring a sense of pride in being a blue streak. This would also help give a “face” to what a blue streak is,” Henkel said.
Sophomore Eli Fox, has attended different events such as football games, and has experienced the new mascot. Fox shares his opinion on how Bolt has affected our school.
“I like Bolt because I think he gives the school a lot more personality. Before Bolt we didn’t have anyone to bring us together. Now we have a mascot who can help us cheer at games. He can also build school spirit and make our school more recognizable,” Fox said.
Junior Issac Eberly talks about Bolt the Blue Streak and how people’s view changed about Bolt. At first students didn’t think the mascot was a good idea, but over time they realized it is good for school spirit. Eberly appreciates the new entertaining representation of our school.
“A lot of people didn’t like it at first, but it definitely helps having someone dance around the sports events,” Eberly said.
Bolt thunders onto scene as new mascot
Phoenix Seidel, Page Editor
October 3, 2024
1
More to Discover