TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Members of Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City are slated to hold a ceremony announcing the winner of the Air Station Patch Design Competition at the Grand Traverse Academy in Traverse City, Friday at 11:20 a.m.
The competition was held in partnership with the surrounding area schools and began in February 2012.
The design competition, the first of its kind by any Coast Guard unit, was open to all high school students in Grand Traverse County. A panel of Coast Guard members narrowed down the entries for a final vote by the entire crew of Air Station Traverse City.
The previous patch design served as the air station’s insignia for more than 15 years. Since then, Traverse City has become America’s 10th Coast Guard City. A requirement for the design competition was to incorporate this honor on the patch.
Sarah Schade, a high school senior at Grand Traverse Academy, was chosen as the winner. Her design is displayed on the side of the Coast Guard hangar at Cherry Capital Airport, in Traverse City, and will also be worn on the flight suits of air station crewmembers.
Schade’s design will also be featured on Coast Guard merchandise available for purchase at the Coast Guard Exchange store located at the air station.
