It’s never too early to start building a resume. It’s a lesson Petheree Norman, 16, of Reston recently learned.
Petheree, a junior at South Lakes High School, competed with fellow students at South Lakes and at Langston Hughes Intermediate School to design a logo for the Southgate Community Center, which is scheduled to open in June. Forty-four 50 logos were submitted.
Last week, Tuesday, March 7, the community center’s advisory council named Petheree’s logo the winner of the contest. On behalf of the council, Supervisor Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) presented Petheree the award, which includes a $150 gift certificate to Best Buy.
“I was trying to find a way to represent the community,” said Petheree when asked about her inspiration. She admitted that she labored through several drafts using Photoshop, a computer image and graphics software program, before perfecting her design.
The winning logo — two handprints and an image of three people holding hands juxtaposed with the words “Southgate Community Center” — will forever adorn signs, letterhead and business cards.
“We knew she could do it,” said Precious Norman, Petheree’s older sister. “She’s always doing these creative, unique things.”
SINCE MAY OF 2005, the advisory board, made up of local residents and county officials, has been working to generate more input on programming and to spread the word about the center.
The logo contest is just one of several of those outreach efforts.
“This is really a milestone for us,” said Hudgins. “The logo contest had kind of two purposes — it’s something we can attach to the center for longevity and it was an opportunity to galvanize the youth in the community.”
The council is also asking residents to fill out a programming survey, which can be found at the two Reston Community Center facilities at Hunters Woods and Lake Anne.
Lawrence Bussey, chair of the advisory council, explained that the council will base the center’s social, recreational, and educational programming and activities on community interests and needs.
SCC, located on 12125 Pincrest Road in Reston, will feature a gymnasium with half-court basketball, a teaching kitchen and space available for child care. The outside basketball and tennis courts nearby will also be resurfaced this year.