Floral Park, NY – Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages is pleased to announce state capital grant funding for the mascot change at Sewanhaka High School. This grant funding, secured by Assemblywoman Solages, will ensure compliance with the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) mandate for Native American mascots at schools to be changed by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. $200,000 will be provided to the Sewanhaka Central High School District to modify facilities at Sewanhaka High School to accommodate this change.

Members of the Sewanhaka High School community voted on a new mascot, with the results announced at the May 28th Board of Education meeting. Sewanhaka High School is the new home of the Ravens! This new mascot marks a new chapter for Sewanhaka High School and marks a positive step in creating a more inclusive school environment. The community came together to decide on this new mascot in a thoughtful and deliberative process. Sewanhaka’s new mascot will debut this September.

Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages: “This funding will ensure Sewanhaka’s transition into the new home of the Ravens goes smoothly without taking up valuable school resources. Our community should be proud of the vote that yielded a new mascot to represent Sewanhaka High School, and I look forward to seeing these changes materialize. I applaud the leadership of the district for guiding the community through this process.”