Members of the Hawaii State Teachers Association submitted their T-shirt designs, and the public weighed in.
Thousands of votes later, we have our winning designs—and yes, there are two grand-prize winners.
Our selection committee, headed by your elected state leaders, was so impressed by the entries that they couldn't pick just one.
That means two members will each receive $500, and versions of their designs will appear on new HSTA T-shirts that will be distributed to members across the state next year.
We requested designs that best reflect HSTA's vision, mission, and values. Here's what our winners had to say about their creations.
Design back
LeRoy Makekau, digital media adviser, Moanalua High School
"I wanted to come up with a design using an icon or symbol that best represents teachers and education. My first design I submitted displayed an apple in the shape of a heart. I thought it was okay, but I wanted to come up with another idea. I did some research and discovered there were many icons/symbols that were related to education and teaching. Then I remembered a design principle (proximity) of grouping images to create another image that I learned in college. So I applied that to the design and also kept the emphasis on the HSTA brand. I decided to use a loose handwritten style to the overall design to keep it fun and playful."
Design front
Cherie Serrano, special education teacher, Waihee Elementary School
"I created this design with both teachers and students in mind. I thought about how difficult it has been to secure teachers in the state of Hawaii and the importance of taking care of the teachers we have. Our students are the future so it’s important that they are taken care of as well. The maile lei on the front represents unity. We are all intertwined as one. E mālama I nā Kumu. E mālama I nā haumāna."
In addition to our grand-prize winners, three finalists based on the public vote will each receive $50, and three more members who submitted designs chosen at random will receive an HSTA prize package.
These members will be announced at a later date.