Youth's logos to adorn Pasco businesses

The Pasco County Millennium Logo Contest attracts entries from 94 young artists, 88 from Weightman Middle School. The winning logos will be displayed at businesses and on brochures.

By MICHELE MILLER

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 16, 2000

A class assignment along with a love for art turned into a big win for James Polk, a seventh-grader from Weightman Middle School who was recently named the winner of the Pasco County Millennium Logo Contest.

Aside from earning a $100 savings bond that James says he will "probably put away for college," and a gift package contributed by local sponsors, his design will be used for promotional materials, including posters to be displayed in front of Pasco County businesses whose landscaping designs make the grade, said County Commissioner Pat Mulieri.

"It's our effort to keep Pasco beautiful," she said.

Second place winner Lauren Sommer, also from Weightman, will have her design put on brochures to promote the "Pasco Plants for the Future" program to encourage residents and business to purchase plants to beautify the county.

"The brochure is to introduce our idea to get 2000 trees planted this year," Mulieri said.

Out of 94 entries, about 88 came from Weightman Middle students, urged on by art teacher Paula Smith, who first had her students researching various logos before starting their designs. Lauren said she discovered certain colors -- orange, green and blue -- were the most popular colors used in most logos she came across, and she applied that in the design of her own logo. Students were also required to keep with the theme of the contest, "Celebrate the Past, Savor the Present, Envision the Future."

The logo contest is one of three geared toward youngsters in Pasco County. The Millennium Committee will sponsor a photography contest for students in elementary, middle and high schools to "capture the dimensions of Pasco County." An upcoming essay contest will be open to high school students. Another essay contest will be offered for senior citizens.

While winners of the photo contest might see their pictures displayed on a special 2001 calendar, the winning entries from all contests will be buried in a time capsule in December at the old courthouse in Dade City, Mulieri said.

"Fifty years from now I won't be here," she said, "but we want to be able to show the breath of Pasco County today."

Other logo contest winners

Third Place:

Anthony Zemmetti, Seven Springs Middle; Camille Alexander, Weightman Middle.

Honorable Mentions:

Chrissy Sanborn, home school; Cassey Scott, Chris Holland, Isabelle Klauder, Jessica Nagy, Joyce Wood, Reynaldo Sosa, Ryan Bolende, all from Weightman Middle.

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