Heather Martin a junior at South Effingham High School won a state contest to create the logo for the career academies in Georgia.

Martin created the logo in her design class, and it was sent to the state.

“My teacher told us about the contest for all the high schools in Georgia, and whoever won got to go to Atlanta and meet the lieutenant governor and they get a lap top for winning,” Martin said. “The first place winner gets their logo advertised at Georgia career academies.”

Craig Owens, the graphic arts teacher at SEHS, said he sent the four best works to the state for the competition.
“I’m happy for her,” Owens said. “Her work has improved so much in the past semester.”

Martin’s logo is a door opening, and the doorframe has the words, “Opening the door to your career, Georgia Career Academy.”

Martin said the program is about pursuing any career you want.

“I just wanted a door for your career to open up, and do anything you want to do,” she said.

Angela Wood, career, technical, agricultural education supervisor at SEHS, said she is very proud of Martin.

“I’m excited for her because she was very happy,” Wood said. “I’m proud for her, and I think that she was surprised.”

“It was difficult for me because I was told on a Friday, and she happened to not be at school on that Friday when I went to tell her, and I had to keep quite,” Wood said. “They called to tell me that morning and the art teacher had her door open, and I was like yes, yes, yes, and the art teacher came over and said Ms. Wood what has happened? I said something good, but I can’t tell you right now.”

Wood said it was a good opportunity for Martin to be able to go to Atlanta, and meet Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.

“That’s a very big deal. It will be on all the career academies in Georgia,” she said. “It’s good to see someone who’s so excited about winning something. That’s a good feeling. It’s such a basic idea, but it sends such a powerful message.”

Wood said it’s good to see students excited, and it helps them realize that they will use what they learn in high school later in life.

Martin traveled to Atlanta on Thursday to receive her award.

“It was an honor to welcome Heather to the Capitol today and present her with the grand prize in this statewide contest. While there were many excellent contributions to this contest, Heather, Sonje and Kendrick produced exceptional products and deserved the prizes they received today. We are serious about the positive impact and difference Career Academies can make in the lives of our students and we can see that first-hand in the bright students that are here with us today,” Cagle said.

The Career Academies Project is a collaboration between the Georgia Department of Education and the Technical College System of Georgia that partners Georgia’s local school systems with the state’s technical colleges and local businesses. High school students are attracted to the academies’ challenging programs and the relevant coursework that enables them to start training early for the in-demand jobs of tomorrow. That, in turn, helps to contribute to higher graduation rates.  

Cagle helped to spearhead the Career Academies Project and last fall presented seven school systems with state investment totaling $16 million for start-up costs for career academy construction and staffing.

As a result, five new career academies are under construction in the Effingham, Floyd, Fulton, Glynn and Thomas county school systems, and two others are being expanded in the Atlanta and Walton County school systems.

The winner’s laptop computer, as well as the prizes awarded to the runners-up in the contest, was provided courtesy of Apple Computers, the Technical College Directors Association and the Technical College Foundation Association.

Martin said she plans to pursue graphic design or photography after she graduates.