Full Speed Ahead!

Gilman Debuts Refreshed Greyhound Mascot

For the first time in decades, Gilman's greyhound mascot, Finney, has a new and exciting look! Making his official debut via an entertaining and electric promo video and appearances at some of the first assemblies of the school year in each division, the new Finney is ready to bring a new level of blue and gray spirit to Greyhound Nation!

Our vision for the new mascot was one that exudes strength, energy, and fun.

While the age and wear on the old Finney costume — which had been in service for more than a decade and replaced a previous identical costume — were factors in the Marketing and Communications team's decision to give Finney a refresh, they also wanted to bring the greyhound's image into alignment with other contemporary mascots like the Oriole Bird and the Ravens' Poe.

"Our vision for the new mascot was one that exudes strength, energy, and fun," says graphic designer Karaline Johnson, who led the redesign efforts for the office. "The final product really hits the mark: He has features that are more typical for a greyhound; his powerful physique exhibits stability and resilience; and his own custom Gilman jersey shows his school spirit."

In comparison to the old Finney costume, the new one stands close to seven feet tall, is lighter in weight, and even includes an integrated cooling system. The costume was designed and produced by Promo Bears, a Netherlands-based company that also provided the School with several cartoon renditions of the new Finney, which will make their way to giveaway swag and School Store merchandise in the coming months.

See Even More Photos from Behind-the-Scenes on SmugMug

Once the new Finney's design was finalized, the office began thinking about how best to introduce him to the community. As part of Gilman's Senior Encounter program, the team looked to Logan Haerian '24 and Jamie Howard '24 for help. While co-writing the original script for the promo video, the pair aimed to strike a balance between respect for the old Finney, who they knew firsthand that many students and alumni have a fondness for, while simultaneously drumming up excitement for his new successor. Howard got an additional opportunity to bring the project to life when he graciously donned the old Finney costume over the course of two days of filming in early August.

The roots of the Gilman greyhound go back to 1961 when The Gilman News offered a $5 prize — which would equate to a little more than $50 in 2024 — to the student who could come up with the best nickname for the School. The year-end issue of The News that spring announced that from hundreds of entries, John Sheldon '62 had won with the entry "Greyhounds."

Gilman archivist Johanna Schein says that the exact dates of when the mascot received his name — named after Redmond C. S. Finney '47, the School's 10th headmaster — and started formally appearing in costume are both currently unknown. However, the Gilman Archives does have photos of Finney as far back as the 1990s, and alumni with older photos or firsthand knowledge about the history of the mascot costume are welcome to share it with the School by emailing archives@gilman.edu. The old costume will become a part of the Archives, available for viewing upon appointment.

Students, families, and alumni will be able to meet the new Finney at various athletic and community events this fall — like Triple the Spirit and the 8th annual Cars, Trucks, and Things That Go! — and for years to come.

"A New Era for the Gilman Greyhound" Credits

The Office of Marketing and Communications would like to thank the following people and groups for their contributions in introducing the new Finney to the Gilman community!