Dixon Student Brooke Mangum Takes Home Gold in Find Your Swing Enamel Art Pin Contest

January 18th, 2024 /
Spencer Tuinei /
Dixon Middle, News, Schools, Secondary Schools

Eighth-grade student Brooke Mangum from Dixon Middle School recently took gold in the district’s Find Your Swing art competition, crafting the captivating design for the ‘Find Your Swing’ pin. The contest asked students across our schools to read the district’s chosen book for the year, “The Boys in the Boat,” and design art for the pin that symbolized their thematic takeaways.

Boys in the Boat is a story set against the backdrop of the Depression, capturing the struggles of the University of Washington’s working-class crew team. The rowing team, led by underdog Joe Rantz, defied expectations by finishing first at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. It’s an enduring portrait of resilience and achievement—one the district believed worthy of student engagement.

With a prize of a hundred dollars on the line, we asked students for designs. The district planned to design their art and give the pins to students who completed the book. It was a challenge, yet Brooke Mangum faced it head-on, finished first in the competition, and took home the cash prize.

Superintendent Wendy Dau visited Dixon Middle School to deliver the news, ask questions about her favorite sections from the book, and surprise her with the winnings.

According to Mangum, she’s read the book alongside her dad, who suggested she apply for the contest. Brooke says she loved learning about the many characters who built camaraderie by rowing together, no matter their backgrounds, which was the book’s central message, according to Brooke. It’s something that’s stuck with her, and she wanted to emulate this aspect of the story in her design.

“Well, we have to include everyone. In the book, they have to trust each other if they’re going to be able to work together. So we have to rely on other people to do our best. So, I put lots of people from different backgrounds and stuff. And they learned how to unite and, like, work together and win.”

It’s a beautiful sentiment, one that she went into greater detail for her contest submission:

“It represents the theme because, in rowing, everyone needs to work together if you want to move forward. It can apply to anyone who comes from different backgrounds and places. In my picture, it shows people of different genders and races, but all on the same team and all working together. We need to ensure that we include everyone because we need everyone to function and get along in a community. That’s all, thanks!”

With students like Brooke, we’re sure our youth will find their swing to propel us all into a more united tomorrow. It’s an idea worth sharing, and we thank Brooke for designing such a lovely pin.

While this is a written piece, we recommend you hear Brooke’s reasoning for the design in her own words. Listen to the six-minute podcast, available on our website and on Apple and Spotify.