In 1921, artist Vinnorma Shaw designed a poster to celebrate 100 years of statehood and to promote the Missouri Centennial Exposition at the Missouri State Fair. A century later, Missouri students in grades 3-12 were invited to help commemorate the state’s bicentennial by submitting designs for a Missouri bicentennial poster with the theme Sharing Missouri’s Stories: Past, Present and Future.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many schools to move to online learning, and despite the unplanned challenge of having a school contest, submissions came from 224 students in 46 counties! Four posters were chosen (two elementary and two secondary students), with each finalist receiving $200 and a certificate.
The finalists included: Luke Ensor (grade 6) of Monroe County, Lehualina Taula (grade 6) of Jackson County, Mia Foote (grade 11) of Cape Girardeau County, and Ingrid Keene (grade 9) of Moniteau County. Hallmark Creative Marketing Studio took the four selected designs and developed the final poster art. The posters were exhibited at Statehood Day events in August 2021.
See the winning designs in the album below or on Flickr.
