Welcome to the Paint the Plane contest!


THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN!

In 2009, the state of Alaska marks its 50th anniversary of statehood! We’re celebrating by having an Alaskan student’s art painted on a real Alaska Airlines 737 jet!

You can see all the wonderful designs from the grand prize winner, runners-up and finalists in the art gallery. To see the design as it will appear on the plane, click here. Thank you to all the students throughout Alaska who shared their Spirit of Alaska art with us.

Hannah's Winning DesignGrand Prize Winner - Hannah Hamberg, Grade 11, Sitka Highschool, Sitka

WHAT INSPIRED HANNAH'S WINNING DESIGN?

Hannah Hamberg¨Growing up in a small town in Alaska, I've seen how Alaskans work together and help each other. My design was inspired by the way that we all ‘pull together.’

I made my first rough sketch on the ferry riding from Juneau to Sitka, where after lots of thinking, I came up with the idea of a musher being pulled by several sled dogs. I looked at my sketch and thought about all the amazing things that surround me every day; the wild animals, the people and culture, and I realized that there was something missing. I thought my design would be better if I replaced some of the dogs with symbols of things that make Alaska the special place it is: the ferries, the native people and their culture, the bears and the whales, and of course the head sled dog to lead us to the finish line. I can't wait to see the finished plane land at the Sitka airport!¨

— Hanna Hamberg, Grand Prize Winner
    (Grade 11, Sitka High School)





SEE HANNAH'S WINNING DESIGN AS IT WILL APPEAR ON THE PLANE!

Here’s what Hannah’s design will look like when it’s painted on the plane:

*Some changes to Hannah′s original design were necessary for its application to the airplane. Those changes include the addition of the Alaska Airlines signature and the change from a colored nose and engines to white due to better readability and maintenance upkeep. Other additions include the U.S. flag and an emblem celebrating the 50th anniversary of statehood.

With so many great entries from such a wide range of ages, we wanted to recognize a design from each grade. So we’re proud to award each runner-up (one from each grade, minus the winner’s grade) his or her own trip for four to the Disneyland®   Resort.

View Art Gallery

There were so many wonderful designs, our judges had a hard job! And after deciding on a winner and the runners-up, they wanted to make sure the honorable mentions were featured. We said, “Yes!” Click below for the finalist gallery.

View Art Gallery

To see all of the wonderful designs from our winners, runners-up and finalists, check out the gallery. And to all Paint the Plane participants — thanks for helping us celebrate 50 years of statehood and the Spirit of Alaska!