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The Phoenix Rises

Spokane Public Schools

When students and parents suggested mascot names for the new Denny Yasuhara Middle School in northeast Spokane, it was only fitting that the Phoenix should rise to the top. According to Yasuhara principal Stephanie Lundberg, students chose the Phoenix as a symbol of perseverance and determination. Such powerful words describe not only the spirit of the school, but also its namesake, Denny Yasuhara, who was both a beloved Spokane Public School teacher and an advocate for Japanese American civil rights.

This fall, the new middle school unveiled its mascot as part of an identity system that helveticka designed in collaboration with the Spokane Public Schools and Yasuhara team. The complete system is composed of formal, mascot, and athletic logos, as well as guidelines for usage. helveticka combined the Phoenix symbol with a customized typeface in multiple marks to offer the school flexibility for a variety of applications.

View all the school's logos here.