Two Blair Oaks High School students won first and third place for the Missouri Patriot Day 2021 Poster Contest.
Garrett Horn won first place, and Kenley Mitchell won third place.
Blair Oaks students Lauren Strange and Zoee Brightwell won honorable mentions.
Horn's poster will be used to promote Missouri Patriot Day 2021, which will commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with a two-day event Sept. 10-11 in Jefferson City. The poster design will also be used as the logo for official T-shirts, hats and other mementos of the day.
The contest had 54 entries from high school students across the state. The theme was "We Must Never Forget September 11, 2001!"
All 54 posters are planned to be displayed Sept. 10-11 in the Missouri state Capitol Rotunda, said Steve Cearlock, an organizer for the event.
Judges for the contest included Missouri first lady Teresa Parson, Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, State Fire Marshall Tim Bean, JP Promotions & Embroidery owner Joanie Payne, Missouri historian Bob Priddy and Operation Bugle Boy President Chris Jarboe.
Criteria included the relationship of the design to the importance of remembering 9/11, the originality of the poster design, the quality of the artwork, and the visual impact, which should have an "inspiring and uplifting tone," according to the poster contest guidelines.
Horn's poster is a black-and-white drawing of a firefighter with his elbow resting on his knee and his hand resting on his face, in front of an American flag and next to the words "Never forget 9.11.01."
Horn said he spent about 10 hours over the course of a month on the poster.
"It feels pretty cool knowing mine was the best," Horn said. "I know I worked hard on it."
Mitchell's poster is an outline of the twin towers and the buildings next to it in front of a red-and-white-striped background with the words "Never Forget September 11, 2001." She said she chose elements in the design that are patriotic and show the importance of remembering 9/11.
"I was kind of surprised that I won, but I worked really hard on my poster, so I'm proud," Mitchell said.
The winners will have a donation made in their name made to one of the following charities: K9s on the Front Line, Missouri Children's Burn Camp and Safety Net of Missouri.
The donations are paid for by Operation Bugle Boy, a local nonprofit organization with the mission to "initiate and carry out activities and programs that honor and support our troops, veterans, and first responders, and help make us more appreciative of their sacrifices."
Each winner may select the charity of their choice. The first-place winner will have a donation of $400, the second-place winner will have a donation of $250, the third-place winner will have a donation of $100, and honorable mention winners will each have a donation of $50.
All eight honorable mentions will be announced later this week on the Missouri's Patriot Day 2021 Facebook page.