Scottsdale's ISA name's it's mascot Atlas
- info323353
- Oct 3
- 2 min read
Article featured in The Daily Independant
In Greek mythology, Atlas strode the earth and held up the heavens.
The International School of Arizona prepares students to be citizens of the world.See the connection?
Third grader Elizabeth W. did when the school held a contest to name it’s mascot, formerly known as simply “the Palomino.”
That’s why she was one of two students at the school who suggested the name for the school’s mascot.
“Atlas is a great name for our Palomino mascot because it represents the strength, resilience and global spirit of our community,” Elizabeth, with help from her parents, said in her recommendation for naming the Palomino. “In Greek mythology, Atlas carried the heavens on his shoulders, a symbol of endurance and responsibility - qualities we encourage in our students. The word Atlas also means a collection of maps, connecting to ISA’s international identity and global outlook.
“Atlas captures that same adventurous, enduring spirit. It’s short, bold and timeless - easy to cheer for and memorable for students of all ages.
“Most importantly, Atlas inspires us to carry our school pride and responsibilities with courage. With Atlas as our mascot, ISA will have a strong symbol of strength, exploration, and unity for years to come.”
Preschooler Olympia G.’s family also came up with the name.
“An Atlas represents the world and is the same word in English, French and Spanish. It’s also really cute for a horse,” her parents wrote.
The school offers preschool through middle school education in French and Spanish.Forty percent of the school’s students, 174, also saw the connection and voted to name the Palomino Atlas.
The school’s internal committee of staff and students narrowed 65 name recommendations down to three: Atlas, Spirit and Blaze.
Founded in 1998, the International School of Arizona adopted the Palomino as it’s mascot in 2014 but didn’t give him a name ... until now.