McKenzie Snow, Director of Iowa Department of Education | Ballotpedia
The Iowa Department of Education has announced the winner of the Iowa Education License Plate Design Challenge. Erin Cho, a 16-year-old sophomore from Ames High School, was named the winner during a surprise event at her school.
“The Department launched this first-of-its-kind design challenge to help celebrate education across Iowa while recognizing the incredible artistic talent of our learners,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “As we invited Iowa’s students to reimagine our education license plate, Erin Cho created a thoughtful and skillful design that Iowa drivers can soon choose to proudly display. We congratulate Erin and all of the participants, semifinalists and finalists on their outstanding artwork.”
Erin's winning design features Iowa’s state bird, the American goldfinch, depicted as an educator with students perched on colorful school books. The new license plate will be available for order later this summer through the Iowa Department of Transportation.
"We are delighted at the vibrant new design of the Iowa Education License Plate and congratulate Erin for her creativity," stated Iowa Department of Transportation Director Scott Marler. "We thank all of the entrants and the Department of Education, and we look forward to making this plate available to Iowans later this year."
During the announcement event, Erin received a poster-sized version of her design in front of several officials including Director McKenzie Snow, Principal Paul Numendahl, art teacher Lindsay Wede, and her parents Jiwon Jeon and In Ho Cho. Her classmates also congratulated her on her achievement.
Lindsay Wede submitted Erin’s artwork for consideration in the contest. “I have had the pleasure of working with Erin Cho in multiple art classes, Art Club, and National Art Honor Society,” Wede said. “I am absolutely thrilled that Erin's well-thought-out design was chosen... Congratulations Erin!”
The contest began in September 2024 as an opportunity for K-12 students to redesign a license plate that has been unchanged since 1997. More than 100 designs were submitted by art teachers across Iowa before being narrowed down by a committee to 16 semifinalists based on creativity and artistic skill.
All semifinalist artworks will be displayed at Grimes State Office Building later this year and are currently viewable online on the department's website.
Proceeds from these specialized plates support schools with high transportation costs.
Further details about ordering can be found on their website.
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