There are about 10,000 species of birds around the world.
That wasn’t enough to choose from for the Winona Area Public Schools, which invented species number 10,001 – the winhawk, defined appropriately as a hawk that wins -- to serve as its mascot, and gave the new bird a name: Herky.
Herky the Winhawk’s origins go back to 1954, when a student designed Winnie, Herky’s predecessor. It was not until years later when Steve Andrus composed a slightly different, more masculine version of Winnie that Herky was born. Ever since, he’s been shaking a tailfeather and bringing cheer to events at WAPS and throughout the community.
Eventually time took its toll on Herky’s complexion, and during the fall of 2001 Nancy Rogers – a former WSHS cheerleader who donned the Herky costume back in 1973 – launched a “Heal Herky” campaign to replace the Herky costume, which had fallen into disrepair.
After three months of fundraising, WinCraft offered up $2,400 for a new Herky costume. The $600 previously donated by students, parents, families, and alumni went toward a proper storage trunk for the costume, as well as cleaning and upkeep.
Winona’s avian cheerleader invention continues to draw wide attention: The mascot was most recently named a regional finalist in a 2013 national competition to determine America’s best high-school mascot.
There are about 10,000 species of birds around the world.
That wasn’t enough to choose from for the Winona Area Public Schools, which invented species number 10,001 – the winhawk, defined appropriately as a hawk that wins -- to serve as its mascot, and gave the new bird a name: Herky.
Herky the Winhawk’s origins go back to 1954, when a student designed Winnie, Herky’s predecessor. It was not until years later when Steve Andrus composed a slightly different, more masculine version of Winnie that Herky was born. Ever since, he’s been shaking a tailfeather and bringing cheer to events at WAPS and throughout the community.
Eventually time took its toll on Herky’s complexion, and during the fall of 2001 Nancy Rogers – a former WSHS cheerleader who donned the Herky costume back in 1973 – launched a “Heal Herky” campaign to replace the Herky costume, which had fallen into disrepair.
After three months of fundraising, WinCraft offered up $2,400 for a new Herky costume. The $600 previously donated by students, parents, families, and alumni went toward a proper storage trunk for the costume, as well as cleaning and upkeep.
Winona’s avian cheerleader invention continues to draw wide attention: The mascot was most recently named a regional finalist in a 2013 national competition to determine America’s best high-school mascot.
The cases that line the hallway to the gym at Winona Senior High School are running out of real estate. The Wall of Champions needs to expand.
There are about 10,000 species of birds around the world.
That wasn’t enough to choose from for the Winona Area Public Schools, which invented species number 10,001 – the winhawk, defined appropriately as a hawk that wins -- to serve as its mascot, and gave the new bird a name: Herky.
Herky the Winhawk’s origins go back to 1954, when a student designed Winnie, Herky’s predecessor. It was not until years later when Steve Andrus composed a slightly different, more masculine version of Winnie that Herky was born. Ever since, he’s been shaking a tailfeather and bringing cheer to events at WAPS and throughout the community.
Eventually time took its toll on Herky’s complexion, and during the fall of 2001 Nancy Rogers – a former WSHS cheerleader who donned the Herky costume back in 1973 – launched a “Heal Herky” campaign to replace the Herky costume, which had fallen into disrepair.
After three months of fundraising, WinCraft offered up $2,400 for a new Herky costume. The $600 previously donated by students, parents, families, and alumni went toward a proper storage trunk for the costume, as well as cleaning and upkeep.
Winona’s avian cheerleader invention continues to draw wide attention: The mascot was most recently named a regional finalist in a 2013 national competition to determine America’s best high-school mascot.
