Two students and a professor from Southern’s School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD) were finalists in the rebranding contest launched by Tennessee’s City of Collegedale, home to the University.
Laurissa Mancía, junior graphic design major, won first place and a $2,500 prize on February 17, 2026. Runners up were Joe La Com, M.F.A., associate professor in SVAD, and Larnell Samuel, senior graphic design major.
“It was a difficult choice, but we agreed on one that we felt would best represent our city for years to come,” said Morty Lloyd, mayor of Collegedale. I appreciate the faculty and the caliber of students that Southern produces. Well done!”
Led by Jason Allin, staff planner, city commissioners, and leaders sought a cohesive visual identity that reflected Collegedale’s spirit, history, landmarks, and community values. Contestants were asked to provide a full logo and branding package — designs, mood boards, color palettes, and application mockups — for the competition, which was launched last November and open to all students and residents of the city.
Entries were judged by a panel of city staff, local artists, and community representatives with an eye toward creativity, originality, relevance to the city’s identity, versatility across print and digital media, and use of color and typography. Mancía’s designs will now be featured across city signage as well as its website, promotional materials, and merchandise.
““We really wanted our new look to be homegrown, and utilizing our local talent made all the difference,” said Tonya Sadler, vice mayor.
Southern Adventist University | April 2026
Comments are closed.