CHS senior wins T-shirt contest for 34th annual Spring Dash

With the colors of spring in mind, Coeur d'Alene High School senior Olivia Mai created the winning design for United Way of Kootenai County's 2016 Spring Dash T-shirt contest.

Using Prismacolor pencils, Mai created the T-shirt using a geometric design. The sky held several shades of blue in triangular shapes, with the same process in the colors and shapes that made up the mountains and landscape, and a geometric bunny and tulip are front and center.

"I was thinking about Coeur d'Alene, so I was thinking we've got lots of mountains around here and it's in the spring, so nice spring skies," Mai said, pointing to each section of the artwork as she described it. "I thought it would be cute because there is a bunny; that's also for spring, and he's running — he's going."

Mai said art has been her hobby for a "really long time," but until last year, she had never taken an art class. Her design was one of more than 100 entries submitted to United Way.

The contest was open to all school-age students in the area, and the criteria allowed for designs in any medium, with colors encouraged, with tulips and the words "34th annual Spring Dash" required.

Mai found out she won Friday afternoon, shortly before the United Way representatives presented her with the $100 prize in front of her commercial art class where her design was born. Mai will also participate in the process of putting her design on the Spring Dash T-shirts at Standout Promotion in Hayden.

The color of this year's event T-shirt is a heathered navy blue. Mark Tucker, executive director for United Way, said the winning designs typically cover the full front of the shirt.

"It just depends," Tucker said. "When she goes to Standout, they'll take a look at how things transfer and what it will look like, so they may be able to manipulate things a little if they decide to."

He said the design doesn't always turn out on the T-shirt exactly as the student created it, so giving them the chance to participate in the creation of the shirt gives the winner the final say.

The entire CHS art class, taught by Terri Leonard, participated in the contest. Mai said the process they go through for design, which includes things like thumbnails and columns, were required for the project.

"I spent a lot of time on it," she said. "I probably had to do about 16 columns before I figured out what I wanted to do, but I knew I liked the geometrical stuff."

Several Spring Dash T-shirts from about the last 15 years lined the top of one wall in the classroom with a different design for each year.

"This is so much different than past designs with the geometric effect," Leonard said. "I think people are going to really like that."

Tucker said 800 to 1,000 T-shirts featuring Mai's design will be produced for the contestants of the 34th annual Spring Dash, a 5-mile fun run that is also a qualifier for Bloomsday second seeding.

Since 1957, United Way has raised funds to support nonprofits throughout the community. Tucker said the mission of United Way is to improve lives by advancing education, financial stability and the health of people in the community.

"The way we do this has gotten much more advanced than simply raising money and giving grants," Tucker said. "While we still do that, our focus is on making a difference in the community as a whole."

All proceeds from the Spring Dash will help United Way meet those needs of education, financial stability and health.

The Spring Dash takes place April 17, beginning at McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d'Alene, winding through the Sanders Beach neighborhoods and Centennial Trail to Potlach Hill. The return route is the reverse, ending at McEuen Park.

Early bird registration closes today and Tucker said more than 1,000 people expected to participate in the dash, so early registration guarantees a T-shirt. Early bird adult entry is $25; $20 for kids, with a $5 increase after today.

The official race begins at 9:30 a.m., but the "Tot Trot" for kids younger than 10 starts at 9.