Ecker Hill Middle School is transitioning its mascot from the Timberwolves to the Miners in an effort to foster community and unity with other secondary schools in the district, but incoming Principal Isaiah Folau said he hopes to retain the school’s history and identity in a unique way — by keeping the iconic blue color scheme.
The Park City School Board voted in November to switch Ecker Hill’s mascot to the Miners starting in the 2025-26 school year. The school, which will likely see an increase in enrollment next year following the closure of Treasure Mountain Junior High, originally planned to swap its blue and silver color palette for Park City High School’s red and white color scheme.
Folau on Tuesday, however, suggested the school board consider adding an official tertiary color — navy blue — to the middle school’s color palette to allow Ecker Hill students to feel connected to the High School Miners while still retaining their own identity.
He also commented on the blue color scheme currently seen throughout the school building and his inclination to align official colors with the theme reflected in the hallways and classrooms.
“Ecker Hill Middle School has proudly worn the Timberwolf identity with the colors Navy, Silver and Green for over two decades. While the mascot and primary colors are changing, we believe incorporating Dark Navy as a tertiary color offers a symbolic and respectful bridge between the school’s past and its future. This creates a legacy element for current students, alumni and staff,” explained a proposal submitted to the school board.
Folau worked on the proposal alongside instructional coach Pamela Zupo and English teacher Elizabeth Thompson. The three educators emphasized the developmental importance of individuality for middle school students.
“Retaining a distinct yet complementary tertiary color like Navy allows us to foster a sense of ownership and belonging at the middle level while still creating a natural transition to the high school experience,” the proposal said.
They also pointed out a desire to stray away from sameness in athletic uniforms, especially when compared to other secondary schools in the region. Administrators felt the dark navy color would complement the red and white while offering versatility. The importance of spirit wear, signage and branding materials was also emphasized as the middle school builds its athletic program.
“This choice also helps reduce overuse of black — a color often associated with high school-level intensity — and instead provides a fresh, balanced aesthetic that maintains visual cohesion,” the proposal said.
The school board unanimously approved the addition of navy blue as a tertiary color.