Photo Gallery | Mid-South school mascot named 'most unusual' by USA TODAY

A Mid-South school mascot has been named the most unusual mascot in Tennessee by USA TODAY High School Sports and voters.

Now, St. Mary's Episcopal School's mascot The Turkey is proudly competing against 51 schools in attempt to win the “most unusual” title regionally.

The state contest alone attracted more than 6.3 million votes nationwide.

“St. Mary's takes immense pride in her distinctive mascot,” said Head of School Albert Throckmorton. “We are a school that leads the way in education, and it is fun to have a mascot that reminds us that we can be really smart and have a sense of humor.”

The Turkey has been the St. Mary’s mascot since 1975. Two seniors – Lisa Morrow Morten and Crissy Garrett Haslam (now first lady of Tennessee) – decided to have a little fun and create an unofficial school mascot.

They choose a turkey for their unofficial – and as the girls thought temporary – mascot.

Turkey-themed spirit wear and Turkey pep rallies followed, and the Turkey soon became the official St. Mary’s mascot.

Voting for USA TODAY’s Most Unusual High School Mascot Contest takes place online here.

Regional voting opens Wednesday, March 6 at 11:00 a.m. and runs through March 14 at 3:00 p.m., and the six regional winners will advance to the national competition, March 15 through 25.

The winner of the national competition receives $2,000 for its athletic department, with other prizes for the five finalists.