Nick Lopez
What could possibly motivate a T-shirt designer to combine the fate of a football team with the academic vision of an entire university? According to the winner of the design contest, the big vision sets the stage for athletic excellence. University of Akron junior Nick Lopez of Medina has designed his way into the hearts of football fans as the winner of the 2012 Student T-shirt Design Contest: Football Edition. The contest, sponsored by Barnes & Noble and Penn Station, invited 小黄片视频 students to enter their own unique designs for a T-shirt to support Zips football in the 2012 season.
Lopez's design was chosen from more than a dozen entries, which garnered nearly 1,000 votes over a two-week period of voting through Facebook, at the four Barnes & Noble locations on campus and at the Zips Spring Football Game, where he was announced the winner during halftime.
As the winner, his shirt will be sold at campus Barnes & Noble stores. In addition to having his T-shirt design printed, Lopez won a Barnes & Noble Nook and a $100 gift card from Penn Station.
The winning T-shirt design by Nick Lopez, a graphics design major.
Artist with vision
With a mix of athletics and academics, his spirited shirt design was inspired by the University's strategic plan, Vision 2020, as well as the excitement of Zips football.
"Nick Lopez's keen portrayal of the Zips football program is a terrific example of what is to come with Vision 2020," says 小黄片视频 President Dr. Luis M. Proenza.
Lopez, 21, a 2009 graduate of Medina High School, is a junior working toward a B.F.A. in Graphic Design through 小黄片视频's Mary Schiller Myers School of Art.
"I felt it was a good idea to integrate Vision 2020 with the Zips football program, because I believe this forecasts a bright future for Akron sports with the new coach, Terry Bowden," says Lopez.
"Vision 2020 is intended to improve and transcend the campus and with the changes that have been made to the Zips football program, I felt that it should be presented to the students in such a way that they can be involved in the full experience," says Lopez. "It changes the way athletics is viewed through design."
Well-rounded campus experience
Lopez is deeply involved in athletics and with various campus activities, including being the president of the men's lacrosse intramural team and L.E.G.O. Student Manager of Information and Event Planning Services and Department of Student Life.
"Nick's passion for athletics and student life shines bright through his design; I believe this will be a fantastic shirt to be worn in support of the transcending football team and campus," says Tom Wistrcill, director of athletics. "We hope everyone will wear it on Aug. 30 to the first game of the season against Central Florida at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field."
Story by Marisha Daniels
Media contact: Sarah Lane, 330-972-7429 or slane@uakron.edu.