Unusual Nicknames: Bishop McGuinness High School Villains

The roots of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School’s mascot are not tied to nefarious characters, but instead come from history and wordplay.

Bishop McGuinness, in Kernersville, North Carolina, east of Winston- Salem, is the only high school in the country with the “Villains” mascot.

The nickname comes from Bishop McGuinness’ predecessor, Villa Maria Anna Academy. The girls college preparatory school was founded in 1954, and students and the community commonly referred to it simply as “the Villa.”

Villa Maria Anna Academy closed in 1959 to make way for Bishop Mc- Guinness, which opened the same year. Honoring that tradition, the school adopted “Villains” as its mascot.

The original intent for the nickname was closer to “Villane” (vih-LANE) rather than “villain,” but most people today pronounce it as the latter.

The high school’s motto is “Praesis ut Prosis,” which is taken from the seal of the late Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness,” and serves as a challenge “to excel that they might better serve.”

The Villains have a proud history, proving there’s more to the name than meets the eye.