According to Venture High School Principal Nissa Green, the mascot embodies the pioneering and adventurer mindset intrinsic to the school’s culture.

“This vanguard is an explorer. Like, they’re the person who might get a group of friends together and go on an adventure,” Green told the Standard-Examiner. “They’re going to lead their group out into the unknown.”

Venture’s mascot — nicknamed “Venture V” — was designed by Kevin Wasden, a Venture board member who previously worked at the school as both an administrator and a teacher, after the school engaged students in developing mascot concepts.

The costume was then created, free of charge, by the Murray-based Alinco Costumes.

“Originally, the concept was (Wasden) would do the sculpting to bring our costs down. And we were like, ‘Okay, cool’ because we can fundraise for this,” Green said. “But then Alinco said, ‘No, we love Kevin. He’s done so much for us. And your school is awesome.'”

Venture Academy’s “V” logo was incorporated into the design, and it was also deemed that the mascot would be an archer to represent the school’s competitive archery team. According to Green, the process of bringing the mascot to life — from its initial ideation to its design and, finally, the grand reveal last week — took place over roughly 18 months.

She added that the mascot would be present at the school’s archery, band and dance competitions, in addition to school assemblies and community events such as parades.

It’s the administration’s hope that the mascot will help foster a sense of school pride.

“We’re a high school but we don’t have a lot of those big team sports,” Green said. “So, without football and basketball to give you that pep rally and that high school spirit and culture, I wanted to make our high school feel more like a high school. … When you walk into a high school, it should kind of smack you in the face what their values are and what their call to action is.”

Located at 495 N. 1500 West, Venture Academy is a public charter school for students K-12 with roughly 800 enrolled students, about 360 of whom attend Venture High School (located at 508 N.).

According to Green, the school endeavors to provide a “right-size” educational experience utilizing innovative teaching techniques and student experiences, e.g. less textbooks or computer programs and more practical, real-world application and engagement.

“When we think of high schools, we typically have mega high schools. In Weber County, all of our high schools are very large,” she said. “Our orientation is being just-right-sized. Essentially, small enough that we can really get to know our students. They’re not just a fish in a really, really big ocean. We want them to be known. Then, we’re also big enough to offer opportunities like really amazing elective classes, student interest groups and college classes — that ability to connect to college in high school.”