01/20/2007
Student designs R.I. icon in one round inch
Jessica Selby , Daily Times

Pinning his hopes on a winner paid off for a senior at Coventry High School.

The students in Crystal Violette's graphic communications class at Coventry High School were given a task - create an image that is representative of the state of Rhode Island and make it fit onto a 1-inch by 1-inch pin.

Every student in the graphics communication program completed the task, Violette said, but only about a dozen or so did it correctly. Those who completed the project correctly had their pin design submitted to the Skills USA state conference competition.

Skills USA, a national nonprofit organization serving teachers, high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations, sponsored a state and national conference pin design competition. The contest was open to all dues-paying student members of the organization so, Violette said, she wanted to open it up to her students, all of whom are Skills USA members as well. The winning designs, Violette said she was told, would become the official pin for the 2007 Skills USA State and National Leadership and Skills Conference.

Shane Sprague, a senior at Coventry High School, was the creator of one of the dozen or so designs from CHS that Violette submitted to the pin proposal contest. Violette said she was forced to make preliminary cuts because many of her students made simple errors in their work that eliminated the designs from being entered in the contest.

"There were some restrictions on what we could and could not do with the pins regarding size and use of color, but, basically, they told us that we could do anything that we wanted with the image," Sprague said. "My first thought was to keep it simple and not make it look too cluttered. I also figured that I would make the image based on what I thought of when I thought of Rhode Island."

Sprague said he spent several class sessions trying to create his design. His completed image, which appeared in several shades of blue, was of a sailboat in full sail under the Newport Bridge. This image was complimented by a border of white stars and accented with the words Rhode Island Skills USA 2006-2007.

Violette submitted her students' pin proposals to the state Skills USA pin contest. Each image was judged by several state officers and the director of the Skills organization, she said. Sprague was among 200 or so others who entered, Violette said, so the outcome was truly up in the air.

"The kids in my class kept telling me that I had a really good shot at winning after they saw what I had done, so, in the back of my mind, I had a lot of hope, but I obviously didn't know either way if I would or would not win," Sprague said.

The young man's anticipation was answered when his teacher, Violette, made a surprise visit to his math class last month to inform him that he was selected as the winner and his graphic image was to adorn a metal plate specially designed for the 2007 state competition judge's pin.

"I have been adviser for six or seven years, and, for as long as I can remember, we have never had a pin winner from Coventry High School," said Lynn Swain, the Skills Advisor for the Coventry chapter. "He should be very proud of this honor; I know we all are of him."

Sprague said he was "very excited" and looking forward to the award ceremony that is supposed to take place at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet on March 26. In addition to the recognition that comes with having all of the judges at the state competition wearing his image, Sprague will also be recognized at the awards dinner.

All the state winners of the Skills USA pin contest can be viewed on the state skills Web site at www.skillsusari.org/design2007.shtml.