Traditions and spirit

The Indian Sweetheart:

"The following information was adapted from the Barbara Edwards 1986 “ Donna School System” historical research report for the Hidalgo County Historical Commission,“The History of the Indian Sweetheart” by Art Del Barrio, and the Handbook of Texas."  

This long-standing tradition started in 1934 after Hurricane No. 11 in 1933 struck in an effort to raise morale and community spirit. In order to secure funds for the Junior-Senior Prom, an “Indian Sweetheart” contest was initiated to raise money. The class-nominated candidate receiving the most votes and pennies was declared Indian Sweetheart. This penny selection method was used from 1934 through 1941. During World War II, the money collected was no longer used for the Junior-Senior prom, but would be used to help out the war effort. The class-nominated candidate whose respective class sold the most war bonds and stamps was declared Indian Sweetheart. The war bond raising selection method was used from 1942 to 1945.

In 1943, Mary Holloway was crowned Indian Sweetheart for the second consecutive year and remains the only lady to hold the title twice. In 1945, Chrystelle Roberson held a reunion of the past Indian Sweethearts and unknowingly the tradition of the headdress began. Betty Maxine Farnsworth, the first Indian Sweetheart presented Chrystelle with a headdress, created by Doris Jewell, which has become the symbol of the Indian Sweetheart. In 1950, Gerry Jean Ennis, a polio and bed-stricken student became the only unanimously elected Indian Sweetheart in school history. After the war years, the Indian Sweetheart became a vote among the classes. Two junior and two senior girls were nominated by the Student Council to run in an election in which the entire student body would elect an Indian Sweetheart. In 1961, the Class of 1949 donated an arm band and leg band to the Indian Sweetheart in memory of Barbara Lannart, 14th Indian Sweetheart who died in a car accident along with her husband and children. In 1986, a protest from the students resulted in a change that allowed for any upcoming senior girl to run. Today, any junior girl who meets the criteria specified in the Indian Sweetheart Constitution and Bylaws, can run for the honor. If elected, she is presented in an elaborate half-time ceremony with the Redskin Band performing traditional music during the first home football game of her senior year. After the game, a school dance is held in her honor by the Cheerleaders. She also becomes an honorary member of the Varsity Cheerleading Squad and an honorary Homecoming Duchess. During the year she serves as the ceremonial role model figurehead for the student body and the Donna community.

The Varsity Night Uniform This Indian-maiden inspired uniform tradition began in 1948. The uniform is hand stitched and has virtually remained the same all these years albeit changes in skirt length. Along with this uniform, the girls wear moccasins all night long to complete this ensemble. Only Varsity Cheerleaders are allowed to wear this uniform on Friday nights. Until the late 1970s, there were only 4 cheerleaders and 1 Indian Sweetheart to spell out D-O-N-N-A. Donna Varsity Cheerleaders do own a traditional high school outfit which is only used at the pep-rallies. The Varsity Cheerleaders and Donna community take great pride in their outfit and its symbolic ties to Donna’s rich past which have become permanent Friday night sideline fixture.

The Sprinkling of the Dirt The tradition of the “Sprinkling of the Dirt” began in the late 1940s according to Betty Lou Blackburn Scott, 13th Indian Sweetheart-1947. It started with a couple of superstitious football players that would bring Donna dirt to away games so they could always play on home soil. The tradition was picked up the Varsity cheerleaders and continues to this day. So unbeknownst to opposing teams, the Cheerleaders sprinkle Donna dirt on the sideline so that our team never has to play an away game.