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COLUMBIA — A Hickman student's drawing was selected to be the blueprint for the official Spartans mascot of Muriel Williams Battle High School.
Senior Duy Tran's drawing was chosen by 2,288 sixth- through eighth-grade students in a district contest. The students in these grades will be the first to enter or compete with the new school when it officially opens in 2013, Michelle Baumstark, the district's community relations coordinator, said.
Tran, 18, entered his drawing as part of a graphic design class project. The drawing took him two weeks to complete, working in and out of class. Tran said the news that his design won caught him off guard.
"I was pretty surprised," Tran said. "I didn't expect to win at all."
Tran drew inspiration for his drawing from the glossy pages of comic books.
"I thought about comic book characters when I thought about drawing the mascot," Tran said. He said he used the pose of a comic book character, Spawn, as the example of how he wanted his mascot to look.
About thirty drawings were submitted, a number that the art teachers whittled down to 5 possibilities, Baumstark said. The drawings were then sent to the students in the form of a survey, she said.
The top finishers each earned a cash prize. Tran received $150 for his first-place finish; Sawyer Wade of Rock Bridge High School, who submitted two drawings, received $100 for second place; and Sara Mantooth of Hickman received $50 for third place.
Tran said he will save his cash prize and use it for college. He said he plans to attend MU and major in engineering.
"I feel pride for Hickman High School that my drawing was selected," Tran said. "I'll probably visit the new school when they open it."
The drawing was digitally converted by school district employee Gary Nagel.
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Comments
Um, hello? That drawing sucks.
I don't think the drawing "sucks," as Louis claims, but I do think it's pretty derivative, as if inspired by a lame video game. I suppose it appeals to those of high school age, but from an oldster's point of view, it lacks class.
Stay classy Louis, or we'll let the entirety of Hickman High judge your work product. Seriously, what is it with goofs like you and the clowns on the Tribune running down some teenager's art?
Is this drawing any more contentious than having a tall, weather-eroded phallic symbol - repeated six (6) times? Gee! What could THAT possibly be?
It's a pretty good drawing, much better than I could do. But the arch on the shield makes me think Battle is a school in STL.
John Schultz, it is no longer "...some teenager's art". It is "...selected to be the blueprint for the official Spartans mascot of Muriel Williams Battle High School".
Send him to IRAQ!!!