And the winner is...Lookman Muhammed!
16 year old Muhammed, a junior at Lawrence Hall Youth Services, received the most of 17,500 votes cast in the City Clerk's annual city sticker design contest.
The contest, now in it's 15th year, is open to Chicago high school students and originally had over 300 entries this year, but was pared down to 10 for the final voting which ended Sunday. This year's theme was famed architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham.
"I am proud of all the students who participated in the contest," said City Clerk Miguel del Valle. "Lookman's winning design reminds Chicagoans of Daniel Burnham's important contributions to the city."
Muhammed's Burnham design will end up on over 1.3 million cars in June when the 2010-2011 city stickers are issued.
"I was surprised," said Muhammed, who was one of three finalists from his school in last year's contest. "Because I felt I wasn't getting enough people to vote (for me)."
Janice Gould, Muhammed's art teacher, who has taught art at Lawrence Hall for 34 years, uses the city sticker as an annual art project for her students.
"I use the contest as a great teaching tool," said Gould. "We enter it every year. The students are highly motivated because of the prize."
In fact, this is Gould's second student who has won this contest.
"We had a winner in 2002," says Gould.
Second place winner Cooper Zajac, a sophomore at Lincoln Park High School, receives a $500 savings bond. Kevin Zaragoza, a junior at Prosser Career Academy, captured third place and receives a $250 savings bond. The other seven entrants receive a $100 savings bond.
Muhammed, who aspires to be a graphic designer some day, hopes to attend UIC or UCLA after he graduates from high school.
With an award-winning Chicago city sticker in his portfolio, it looks like Muhammed is well on his way to meet his goals.
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