Akins High School and the Varsity Brands IMPACT Program Work Together on Campus and Throughout Community

May 2017

AUSTIN – Varsity Brands, which is comprised of BSN SPORTS, Herff Jones and Varsity Spirit, has partnered with Akins High School, in Austin, Texas on a rebranding initiative for their campus. The second school in the Austin Independent School District to fully partner with Varsity Brands, the staff and student body of Akins High School was thrilled to set themselves apart from other high schools in this booming city.

“After meeting with Principal Brandi Hosack, it was clear that her vision for Akins High school was one that would align perfectly with the vision of the Varsity Brands team,” said Ellis Lowe, Regional IMPACT Director, a division of Varsity Brands that partners with schools to build school pride, student engagement and community spirit.

Once Mrs. Hosack saw the value in refreshing their brand, she immediately began working with the VIP Branding team and was thrilled with the outcome of their new eagle, the school’s mascot. After some color changes, and an update to the design, it was clear to Principal Hosack that their refreshed eagle was something the student body could rally around.

“For fifteen years, Akins has striven to be a pioneer of school spirit, pride, and student engagement. Whether it’s our prestigious marching band or leading journalism curriculum, each student is proud to be an Eagle,” says Principal Hosack. “Our experience with Varsity Brands was simply outstanding. It was an incredibly smooth process from start to finish. We could not be more pleased with our new mascot and logo.”

Now that Akins High School as reestablished their identity in the Austin ISD, the work continues with Varsity Brands with the common mission of creating memorable experiences for ALL students on campus.
Varsity Brands launched the IMPACT Program in 2014 to foster pride in schools by encouraging participation, recognizing achievement, and building community and school spirit. By collaborating with educators, coaches and students, Varsity Brands representatives use the resources of the IMPACT Program to partner with the school to provide solutions to meet the unique needs of each school. VIP Branding helps schools ensure that their brand appears consistently throughout their campus, from exterior signage to mascot appearance in murals, yearbooks, newsletters and beyond. Ultimately, the goal is to improve student engagement and community involvement through an identity so that all stakeholders feel pride and ownership.

Varsity Brands’ mission is to elevate student experiences and getting everyone involved on campus. The company recently conducted research that illustrates a direct correlation between school spirit, community and school involvement, academic achievement and self-confidence. According to a Harris Poll and subsequent White Paper published in 2014, 92% of principals agree that high school spirit is tied to high academic achievement, 90% of students with high levels of school spirit are more likely to be leaders, and that students with higher levels of school spirit perform above average academically.