Laketran Showcases Student Art on Transit Fleet
Riverside High School sophomore wins Laketran contest with patriotic bus wrap design
Laketran Bus Features Student's America250 Design
A Lake County high school student's patriotic artwork now wraps a Laketran bus, bringing America's 250th anniversary celebration to transit riders across the region. Ava Passalacqua, a sophomore at Riverside High School, won first place in Laketran's sixth annual Design-a-Bus-Wrap contest with her design titled "We the People." The winning entry features red, white and blue artwork with American flags and bald eagle imagery. The wrapped bus will be displayed for one year on a propane-powered Dial-a-Ride vehicle.
Context & Background
The Design-a-Bus-Wrap contest is organized by Laketran, the public transit agency in Lake County, Ohio, and is open to middle and high school students countywide. This year's theme encouraged students to design a bus wrap showcasing America250, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. A panel of transit employees, graphic art professionals and community leaders served as judges for the contest. Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions has sponsored the competition for six consecutive years, providing materials and support to bring student artwork to life on transit vehicles.
Key Details
Avery Dennison donated the bus wrap material for Passalacqua's winning design, including MPI 1105 Easy Apply RS supercast digital film and MPI 2528 50/50 perforated film for window graphics. Cleveland-based Repros Inc. provided the print production and installation of the design on the Laketran vehicle. Other contest winners include second-place winner Lailah Kerslake from iSchool Virtual Academy and third-place winner Anna Sweet from iStem/Auburn Career Center. David Korvah, marketing manager at Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, emphasized the company's commitment to people and community through this sponsorship.
Timeline & Implementation
The wrapped bus is now in service and will remain on display for one year as it travels throughout Lake County. Officials didn't specify when the next Design-a-Bus-Wrap contest will launch or what theme future competitions might feature. The annual contest typically runs during the school year, giving students several months to develop and submit their designs.
Rider Impact & Moovit
Lake County transit riders will see Passalacqua's America250 design on Dial-a-Ride routes throughout the coming year. The contest brings student creativity to public transit while celebrating the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. Moovit provides real-time updates and trip planning for Laketran routes, helping riders track when they might spot the specially wrapped vehicle.
