By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Pelham High School sophomore Jake Nelson still seemed shocked about 30 minutes after learning his design would be the face of the upcoming Pelham city school system for years to come.

“It feels great to get that kind of recognition from the city I was born and raised in,” Nelson said after a Feb. 24 Pelham Board of Education meeting. “I wasn’t expecting to win. I just wanted to see what I could do.

“It feels like I’m making a difference,” Nelson added.

Nelson won first place in the Pelham School Board’s student logo design contest, which was held at PHS over the past several weeks. Through a partnership with the PHS art department, the Pelham Board of Education sought student input while deciding the logo’s appearance.

PHS art teacher Kim Hinds said the school received more than 100 entries after posting flyers advertising the contest throughout the school.

During its Feb. 24 meeting, the School Board awarded a $25 gift card to third-place winner Tamar Watts, a $50 gift card to runner-up Gabrielle Byrd and a $100 gift card to Nelson.

Nelson’s design consisted of a panther head inside a green circle surrounded by yellow and black rings. “Pelham City Schools” likely will be written inside the yellow ring in the logo’s final design.

Nelson said he strayed from the traditional design of using torches in the logo, and decided to instead use the rings to symbolize unity.

The logo will be one of the first things loaded onto the upcoming school system’s new website at Pelhamcityschools.com, which was set to go live shortly after the meeting, said School Board member Angie Hester.

“I’m thrilled to death that it will finally be up tonight,” Hester said, noting the School Board also will launch a corresponding Facebook page.