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School Mascot Info

For more than six decades, Chamberlain High School was known as the Chiefs, a name and tradition that became deeply rooted in the school’s identity and history.

On June 21, 2022, the Hillsborough County School Board voted 5–1 to discontinue Chamberlain’s Native American imagery. The decision followed concerns raised by a few community members who believed the imagery was no longer appropriate for the school.

The decision was controversial within the Chamberlain community. The Chamberlain High School Legacy Alliance opposed the removal, as did many alumni, students and supporters, including Chamberlain alumna and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. Many felt the Chief tradition was an important and positive part of Chamberlain’s history and believed the views of those with a direct connection to the school deserved greater consideration in the decision-making process. Ultimately, however, the School Board voted to make the change.

Following the Board’s decision, Chamberlain’s students were given the important responsibility of helping select a new identity for their school.

To ensure students had a voice in that process, surveys were conducted in August and September 2022. Based on the results, seven potential mascot names were selected for a final ballot. On October 5, 2022, Chamberlain students gathered for an assembly and voted on their new mascot. “Storm” was selected.

On October 18, 2022, the Hillsborough County School Board formally approved the new name, and Chamberlain officially became the Storm.

While the mascot has changed, the Legacy Alliance remains committed to preserving and accurately telling all of Chamberlain’s history - including its 66 years as the Chamberlain Chiefs - while supporting the students who are creating the school’s next chapter as the Storm.

Student under Chiefs Head
Storm Logo
CHS Mascot Possibilities 10-5-22

On October 5-7, 2022, Chamberlain High School's current students were presented with three options for a new school mascot. The choices were selected from an alumni and student survey conducted in August of the same year. Notably, the option of the Chief mascot was not considered, even without any Native American imagery.

 

All current students were given the opportunity to vote for their preferred option, and the results were tallied over a three-day period from October 5-7, 2022. On Monday, October 10, 2022, the winning mascot was announced as "The Storm." This name will replace the previous Native American imagery and be used to represent Chamberlain High School going forward.

Click on these links for more information
What happened to the online survey and online petition?

Town Hall and Survey Info  from Sept 2021 -

Town Hall meetings were canceled and not rescheduled.  

The online survey results were never released.

News
Coverage
TV Interview with protester

WFLA-NewsChannel 8 story

June 13, 2022

WTSP-Channel 10 story

June 15, 2022

Tampa Bay Times Article

June 16, 2022

Survey with circle and arrow
1962-11-09 page 8

Here is an article from an early school newspaper as to the Homecoming Tradition origins.

(Chieftain, Nov 9, 1962, page 8)

"Chiefs" name was chosen by the first students at Chamberlain in 1956. (Tampa Times, Sept 13, 1956, page 11)

Chief chosen as mascot The_Tampa_Times_1956_09_13_page_11 article
CHS picks mascot 9-15-1956 article

The Tampa Tribune

Tampa, Florida

13 Sept 1956  •  Page 24

Chieftain

30th Anniversary Special Edition

1986

How Chief was chosen over Trojan article

The Tampa Tribune

Tampa, Florida

26 Oct 2007, Fri  •  Page 55

Chiefs look is carefully curated article
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Chamberlain High School Legacy Alliance

9401 North Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33612

813-787-7355

ChamberlainLegacy@gmail.com

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THE CHS LEGACY ALLIANCE IS A 501c3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.  A COPY OF CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL LEGACY ALLIANCE LLC  OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT,APPROVAL,OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

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