Fair-Mont-Egan eighth-grader Caleb LeClercq’s design was selected as the winner of the Graduation Matters Kalispell logo contest.

The 13-year-old’s logo was unveiled Wednesday and will be incorporated into an official logo to represent the program.

Graduation Matters Kalispell is part of a statewide initiative to increase high school graduation rates and graduate students who are college and career ready. The Office of Public Instruction oversees the statewide program.

LeClercq’s logo incorporates a star, topped with a graduation cap, rising between two mountains above the required slogan “Graduation Matters Kalispell.” LeClercq said the star is symbolic of a new start after high school graduation.

The star also includes shaded sections of Flathead and Glacier High Schools colors. LeClercq used Microsoft Paint and Word to create the logo.

LeClercq said he was interested in participating in the logo contest because he is interested in media or graphic design as a career. He also believes the program is important.

“Graduation is instrumental whether you have a job at Petco or want to become the next CEO at Microsoft,” LeClercq said.

Kalispell Public Schools Outreach Coordinator Mike Kofford said there were 38 entries for the contest, which was open to eighth-graders.

Eighth-graders have been the focus in the program’s launch because it is the first year students are in danger of dropping out. The legal age to drop out is 16 in Montana.

The district held the first meeting of a 16-member student committee in October to get feedback about the program and brainstorm ideas such as the logo contest, Kofford said. LeClercq, class president at Fair-Mont-Egan, was one of the student participants.

“I thought it was ingenious to ask kids why they would stay in school,” LeClercq said.

LeClercq received a $100 gift certificate to Sportsman & Ski Haus.

LeClercq is the son of Kristin and Tom of Kalispell.

Currently the district is looking for volunteers to monitor activity areas, sponsorships for booths and T-shirt printing for a kickoff event for area eighth-graders scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 1.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].