Say hello to Simba! And no, it’s not Simba from The Lion King.
For many years, the lion [school mascot] played an integral part of Richmond Hill High School’s culture. In almost every school event, the lion marks its presence. From charisma to authenticity, the lion has it all.
However, this mascot was short of one thing to add to its glory— a name.
According to Assistant Principal Ms. Himonidis, the lion’s name was an idea that occurred purely out of curiosity from a parent.
“I was embarrassed to say we don’t have a name for the mascot,” Ms. Himonidis said.
Leadership, a student-led body that organizes events and other initiatives around the school, was responsible for devising a name for the lion mascot. After careful review and consideration, Leadership finally revealed potential name options for the mascot.
On January 30, 2025, emails were sent out to all students at the school, urging them to vote for a suitable mascot name. Simba emerged as the winning name over Leon, Blaze and Leo.
Students had mixed reactions to the name “Simba.” Some lauded the name and saw it as a new opportunity to rebrand the school’s culture.
“I think of the name Simba as a good callback to The Lion King,” senior Daniel Francis said. “The name brings back nostalgia to me. I also find it cute for a school’s mascot name.”
Other students, such as senior Andriana Cruz, felt that the name “Simba” was fitting but could have been more thoughtful.
“I like the Disney idea, but I think it’s a tad basic,” she said.
However, Simba’s name is here to stay—at least for now.
“I think for now, we’re going to stick with it to see, since it is new,” Ms. Himonidis said. “The fact that we now have a name for the mascot will really engage the students.”
Nevertheless, Ms. Himonidis assures students that the name “Simba” will definitely be open for change if it receives a surge of negative feedback.
For now, it will remain a “lasting mark” etched into Richmond Hill High School’s legacy.
