Trading pin design by Deer Lakes senior Morgan McCloskey among top 3 in state

Deer Lakes senior Morgan McCloskey was tasked with drumming up an advertising design to best represent Pennsylvania, and her first thought was a bright yellow chick.

Specifically, she chose a marshmallow confection chick better known as a Peep, manufactured by the Just Born company in Bethlehem.

“It’s bright and colorful, and I like it,” said McCloskey, of West Deer.

The design landed her in the top three finalists in the SkillsUSA Pennsylvania trading pin competition, run through A.W. Beattie Career Center where McCloskey is in her third year studying advertising.

Hers is among 49 entries from across the state that competed for the top spot.

Voting is live on social media through Feb. 3 at facebook.com/skillsusapennsylvania.

Trading pins are usually small, decorative pins that represent a sports team, a club or an organization. They sometimes have a logo or mascot, or other representative design, and are used not only for fun but to build a social network and camaraderie at large events.

“It’s really exciting,” said McCloskey, 17. “There’s a lot of other great designs that I’ve seen.”

She’s telling everyone she sees to get online and vote, McCloskey joked.

She also placed first at the district-level competition in the T-shirt design category and will compete against four others for the SkillsUSA title during the annual conference in April in Hershey.

The sketch is top secret, according to the contest guidelines.

SkillsUSA is a career and technical student group that aims to build a skilled workforce. It serves nearly 400,000 people across the country.

Beattie teacher Heather Brown said the competitions do more than hone technical skills.

“For someone like Morgan, who is naturally more shy, this project has opened her up a lot,” Brown said. “She’s someone who maybe wouldn’t have stood up and given a public presentation. But for this, she worked with the Peeps branding and marketing people on developing her campaign.

“It’s awesome to see her develop and grow.”

Brown is no stranger to steering a winning design. Last year’s state winner was also a Beattie student who rose to the top with a replica of an old-fashioned Heinz ketchup packet.

“You want to find a subject that represents the state in a positive light, and the fun ones always seem really popular,” she said.

Idaho’s winning pin, for example, was a baked potato.

This will be McCloskey’s second consecutive trip to states. She earned second place in last year’s Trading Pin contest with a similar Peeps design that illustrated a bunch of chicks in a package.

“I really liked the idea and I thought I could improve on it,” she said. “I definitely think I did.”

A member of the Lancers swim team, McCloskey also is in the National Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society and is the SkillsUSA treasurer.

An artist at heart, McCloskey tools around with clay and painting but hopes to pursue a career in graphic design or photography. She plans to attend LaRoche University.

To take the top prize in Hershey would be a dream, McCloskey said. Winning pins are manufactured so students can trade them at the April conference.

“I’d love to be able to have one,” she said.

“I wasn’t nervous when I found out it was a contender. I’m excited. I was hoping to get another chance.”