Springville High School (Utah)

Springville "High" School
Address
1205 E. 900 S. Springville, UT 84663
Springville, Utah
USA
Information
Type Public High School
Established 1902
School district Nebo School District
Principal Mikeler Brown
Grades 10–12
Enrollment 1,450
Campus Suburban
Color(s) Red and Blue          
Mascot Red Devils
Nickname SHS
Rival Maple Mountain High School
Affiliation Nebo School District
Superintendent Rick Neilson
Motto Dedicated to Excellence – United in Service – Educated for Success
Website Springville High School

Springville High School is the one of two high schools that serves and is located in Springville, Utah.

Mascot

Springville High School's mascot is the Red Devil. The origin of the mascot name dates back to the original construction of the school, when the Red Devil Cement Company assisted significantly in the building. This became a focal point for controversy several times over the years, most recently in 2002. The opposing arguments vary slightly each time, but have the same basis. The most recent opposition occurred when some local citizens organized a committee called "Parents for Mascot Review".[1] They argued that the Devil was an unsavory mascot for teens and interpreted school literature bearing the character "pro devil" paraphernalia. Some claimed that good Latter-day Saints should not support the mascot for its Satanic allusion. Other Latter-day Saints disagreed, saying that the church had no official stance on the matter, that the mascot was not satanic, but rather a mythical creature, and that the groups were promoting their own agenda.

Alumni of the school countered that the mascot was not Satanic, and had been the official mascot since 1967 when students voted it in. Further they claimed it was historically significant. The name and image came from Red Devil Cement Co., a historically important employer in Springville. An actual cement bag with the Red Devil Cement logo on it can be found in one of the display cases in the high school.

Controversy about the Devil drew national attention when a spokesman for the Navajo Nation commented against it, claiming that "red devil" is a slur against Native Americans and should be removed from the school.

Nonetheless, traditionalists carried popular support in a non-binding poll, and the school board voted to retain the mascot in May 2002. In spite of promises by critics to seek school board offices on the issue, the Red Devil remains the school's mascot as of 2013.

Athletics

Former principal, Rick Robins hired Former Head Football Coach, Scott Mitchell as Head Football Coach in 2008. The hire came about after the firing of one-season coach Dan Hansen. With Hansen in 2007, the Red Devils posted 2 wins and 8 losses. Scott Mitchell, a former SHS quarterback who led the Red Devils to their only state title in the 80's, was also a former QB for the University of Utah and a 12-year quarterback in the National Football League. While the hire was seen by some as just a high-profile, visual hire, the community was hopeful that Scott Mitchell would prove to do something positive for the SHS football program and its students. . In four years as the coach Scott Mitchell lead the Red Devils to four showings in the Utah State playoffs with the Red Devils taking 2nd place in 2009 and 3rd place in 2010. The Red Devils have also enjoyed great success in athletics in recent years. The Red Devil swim team has continued its dominance by winning back to back Boys 4A state championships in 2008 and 2009 under coach Amyee Hargett, followed by back to back Boys 4A State runner-up in 2010 and 2011. The championships of 2008 and 2009 mark the first time a boys team of any sport at SHS has won back to back titles. The Red Devils have also posted region championships recently in girls soccer, boys golf, volleyball, boys swimming, and girls basketball. The Red Devils has a long history in sports, from Marching Band to Football, SHS has been a very prominent high school in the state of Utah.

Alumni

Notable alumni of Springville High School include the following:

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=91676&page=1 Utah Town Sees No Evil in Devil Mascot

External links

Coordinates: 40°09′18″N 111°35′17″W / 40.15500°N 111.58806°W / 40.15500; -111.58806

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