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Georgia Tech Objects To Swarmin’ Hornet On Maryland Water Tower

July 11th, 2017

Georgia Tech raises objections to plans for a high school’s logo on Maryland water tower, says resemblance too close to its yellow jacket mascot.

Alison Guillory / WABE

In Damascus, Maryland, the Swarmin’ Hornet of Damascus High School will not fly over the town.

The Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission announced last week that it is abandoning plans to paint the school’s logo, a swarming hornet, on the water tower.

The hornet bears a strong resemblance to Georgia Tech’s mascot, the yellow jacket. The commission said objections raised by Georgia Tech have forced community leaders to abandon the plan.

As an alternative, the commission will paint a large “D” on the tower in the school’s colors of green and gold.

Repainting the water tower’s 1.5 million gallon tank is costing $1.2 million. Community leaders in Damascus raised $15,000 to have the hornet incorporated into the job, but the commission said Georgia Tech’s legal concerns “forced community leaders to move to Plan ‘D.’”