NEW BEDFORD – At an annual Open House marked by record-setting attendance, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School unveiled a new school logo. Officials at GNB Voc-Tech hope the logo will be the symbol for the school for many years to come.

“We’re very pleased with the new look,” said Superintendent-Director Michael R. Shea. “This whole process has really grabbed everyone’s attention, created lots of excitement, and brought us together as a school.”

Prior to the unveiling, Superintendent Shea told the audience about the months-long process involved in designing and selecting a new logo. Visual Design teacher Thai Panayakul then lifted a 2½ foot by 3 foot white sheet that hid the new logo, an interlocking gold “V” and dark green ”T”, with a white “GNB” reversing out of the “T”.

The logo was designed by Visual Design major Casey McGee, a senior at the school. She received a letter of congratulations from Superintendent Shea and a scholarship for her efforts.

Students Tracey Ponte and Lacey Fournier created the other three finalist logos, with Miss Ponte creating two of the four. They also received letters and scholarships for their work.

All three of the students were present for the unveiling on Sunday, November 22. Even the winning designer didn’t know who had won the design contest.

The process of designing a new logo began last summer when Virginia Tech University notified GNB Voc-Tech to discontinue the use of its green “VT” logo. Virginia Tech had a similar “VT” logo, maroon in color, which it had trademarked. GNB Voc-Tech immediately agreed to discontinue use of the “VT” logo and asked students in its Visual Design program to start designing a new one.

Students came up with hundreds of designs which were narrowed in a month-long process. The group was reduced to 30, then eight, and then four. A review team that included administrators, faculty members, staff members, and School Committee members made the final selection.

Superintendent Shea said GNB Voc-Tech will now take steps to trademark its new logo.

The unveiling took place during the school’s annual Open House, an event at which an estimated 4,500 people attended. Last year, approximately 3,000 attended.

GNB Voc-Tech serves students from Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and New Bedford. It offers academic instruction as well as career and technical education in thirty fields, including Visual Design.

-From Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School