The Columbus Area Bicentennial Steering Committee is pleased to unveil the official bicentennial logo and announce the local design winner, Columbus native and University of Louisville design student, Ava Becker.

Earlier this year, the Bicentennial Steering committee conducted a logo design contest, receiving more than two dozen submissions, and Becker was selected as the winner. The committee is pleased to move forward with plans and preparations for next year’s celebration using Becker’s design.

Becker said she drew her inspiration for her design from the county’s iconic art and architecture history.

“When I was initially sketching and brainstorming the logo, I wanted to implement as many elements that represented Columbus and Bartholomew County as possible. In my design, I also wanted to honor famous graphic designer Paul Rand, who played a huge part in the community’s branding history, so I decided to follow the color scheme of his work.

When it came to recognizable landmarks, it was a lot of trial and error of what would fit and be identifiable in the vertical space.”

“In the end, I am very proud of the final logo and its representation of this great city and county.”

Becker is a junior at the University of Louisville.

The Columbus Area Bicentennial announces, also, its official theme for the 200th anniversary – “Common Ground,” which will be incorporated throughout the 2021 celebrations and festivities.

According to Steering Committee co-chairs Diane Doup and Tobi Herron, Common Ground is a great fit because the phrase celebrates the past, present, and future of our county, while encouraging us to build upon the things we have in common. We can come together united around the diverse qualities that make our community special.

Throughout 2021, in honor of the Columbus/Bartholomew County 200th anniversary, the Steering Committee hopes to execute and endorse a variety of educational and celebratory events that highlight the history, culture, diversity, heritage, people, arts, commerce and agriculture of the greater Columbus area.

As a way to start to engage with the community, the committee is looking for program and event ideas which celebrate

the past and present during the bicentennial year and give vision to the future. The community is encouraged to submit ideas during the month of August using a simple survey which can be found online at http://www.columbus.in.gov/bicentennial or Bicentennial Facebook page. Community members can also have the survey delivered straight to a mobile device by texting the word columbus200 to the number 31996. *

For more information on the Columbus Area Bicentennial, please visit http://www.columbus.in.gov/bicentennial.

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