Published: April 23, 2008 07:32 pm            

Vermillion County selects seal contest winner

Eliza Porter of rural Dana has been selected by Vermillion County commissioners from among 42 entrants as winner of the Design the Vermillion County Seal Contest.

She won a $500 savings bond. Porter grew up in Eugene, and graduated from North Vermillion High School. She attended Ball State University and attained a bachelor’s degree in interior architectural design with a minor in historic preservation. She works as an independent interior architectural designer, historic preservationist and mural artist. The Vermillion County Prosecutor’s office sponsored the grand prize award.

Designs receiving Honorable Mention were submitted from Vermillion County schools. Nina Alexander, Vermillion County prosecutor, sponsored awards of $50 savings bonds to the following students: North Vermillion Jr. High: Colby Pomar; South Vermillion Middle School: Casey Gossett and Erin Holbert; South Vermillion High School: Kolton Bruce and Austin Thomas. The description of her winning seal design from Eliza Porter:

“The symbols that I selected serve to represent Vermillion County as a whole. Symbols were also selected to show Vermillion County’s connection to both the State of Indiana, and to the United States of America. The year shown at the top of the seal provides the year in which the Indiana Legislature created Vermillion County. (Found in Harold O’Donnell’s Eugene Township (Vermillion County, Indiana): The First 100 Years; 1824-1924. p.14.) The courthouse was selected as a symbol of our county’s seat and center of legal operation. The courthouse is a magnificent architectural monument that is associated with Vermillion County. The bald eagle was selected not only for the patriotism that of our county’s residents and its connection to our national bird, but also due to the fact that Vermillion County is one of the few counties that has the privilege to be home to such a wonderful wild species. The Vermillion River was selected due to the fact that our county was named for that very body of water. (Harold O’Donnell’s Eugene Township. p. 14) The river played a significant role in the settlement of Vermillion County, and continues to be vital to this day. The corn that forms a laurel crest around the seal represents the role that agriculture has always played in Vermillion County. The central form of the State of Indiana serves to show the location of Vermillion County, and identifies the state in which the county is located. The banner at the bottom of the seal showing the words “In God We Trust” ties our county to the stronghold of our national motto.”

The new seal has been submitted to appear in an upcoming edition of the National Association of Counties (www.naco.org) magazine.

        

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