PSU junior wins contest

Leah Ronne, junior graphic design major at Portland State, competed against classmates to design the new logo for the Tualatin Valley Water Quality Endowment Fund. Ronne’s hard work was rewarded when her creation was selected winner.

“I feel lucky that I won because I am hoping this will be a good stepping stone for me in my future projects,” Ronne said.

Ronne and the other students did not have any contact with the Tualatin Valley Water Quality Endowment Fund board members until the end of the decision process.

The classes’ instructors, Susan Agre-Kippenhan and Lis Charman, kept in contact with the board members.

First the board members of the Tualatin Valley Water Quality Endowment Fund chose 15 of the logos designed by the students to decide upon.

A month or so ago, the board narrowed their choice to three of the students’ logos. Those three students were given suggestions on how to further improve the logos.

May 18, the students, along with their instructors, met with the Tualatin Valley Water Quality Endowment Fund board members. Each student presented their logos and showed the board members the finalized versions of each logo.

On May 21, the Tualatin Valley Water Quality Endowment Fund board members contacted Agre-Kippenhan and informed her that they decided to go with Ronne’s logo.

“I am really looking forward to putting this on my resume and to exploring my career opportunities after I graduate next year,” Ronne said.

Ronne chose to major in graphic design because she knew someone else who was in the program and they told her how much fun it is. Her friend also told her how they had learned much from the program. Ronne did not have a major at the time, but she did have an interest in art so she decided to pursue graphic design.

“I have learned a lot about the creative and working processes through this project and also through all the other graphic design classes I have taken,” Ronne said.

Ronne was very exited about the honor of winning and relieved that the long decision process is finally over.