PINELLAS PARK, Fla. -- Already in 2020, students have had a lot to deal with. One thing students at Dixie M Hollins were done with was calling their school 'Dixie High.' 

“There’s been a stigma around our school because of our name, and because of logo and mascot. And I believe that it causes people to unfairly judge, the people, the teachers and the academics of our school because of the ideals of a name and a mascot. But that is not  really who we are," said Nicole Preil, a senior.

"We often were called dirty Dixie. We were seen as below other schools. But really academically and I believe culturally too, we are just as good as anyone else in this county."

Instead of being called Dixie High, they instead decided to rebrand themselves, and now are asking to be called Hollins High going forward.

Also changing, their nickname of the Rebels. Now they will be known as the Royals.

“Our kids really didn’t have any identity. So, we thought, I thought it was important, and they thought it was important that we rebranded. And they came up with the new crest that you can see behind us," said Principal Robert Florio.

The changes came over the Summer when students and staff met up, agreeing on these changes. Florio remembers what one student said to him about the name reference change.

“He said, 'Ya know Mr. Florio, 100 years from now, if we are still the Dixie Rebels, we will still be tied to a negative connotation with the confederacy and some racist symbols, and it wouldn’t matter, all the great things that we are doing right now or what we would have done 100 years from now.' So I love talking to kids, I thought that was a brilliant point," said Florio.

To be clear, it is just the reference to the school that is changing, not the actual school name. The official school name will remain Dixie M. Hollins High School. It is staying that was because of who it was named after, Dixie M. Hollins.

Hollins was the first superintendent in Pinellas County and known for advocating for the rights of Black students.

"He was very progressive and forward thinking for his time period. He thought education, quality education should be for all students, regardless of their background. He hired from the Tuskegee Normal School Teachers," said Florio.

Plus, students will get to decide on the new official logo.

"I like them. I especially like that our school had a part in designing them. It wasn’t just made by someone who we don’t know," said Preil. 

The students have four choices to pick from and will announce the winner sometime this school year.