MUSD unveils mascot for Desert Sunrise High School

The new high school has a mascot.

Desert Sunrise High School, which is under construction on the east side of town, will be known as the Golden Hawks.

The name was selected by a “focus group” comprising students, employees, and community members, said Mishell Terry, coordinator of communications and social media for Maricopa Unified School District, in a news release.

The school is on track to open in July.

The selection of the Golden Hawk, with its school colors of navy blue, gray and gold, articulates the intentions, values and culture of the new school, according to Terry.

She said Terry said important perspective was provided to the graphic design team from Orcutt Winslow Architects, which designed the new school, to render a mascot logo that captured the spirit of the Golden Hawk.

“The Golden Hawk logo embodies the promise of sunrise and the majestic prominence of the mountain views in the area,” Terry said.

Desert Sunrise Principal Marlene Armstrong said the mascot selection process was collaborative and enlightening.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the mascot and color selection process,” she said. “Through stakeholder collaboration, we were able to identify important concepts that should be reflected in the final rendering. We took their input and guidance to the design team at Orcutt Winslow, and they made the vision of the committee come alive.”

Desert Sunrise will open to freshmen and sophomores in July. A junior class will be added in the 2023-24 school year and a senior class a year later.