ROSEVILLE, Minn. - Seventeen-year-old Jakob Bartels was already feeling good about his drawing hobby. After all, earlier this year he won first place in a logo contest sponsored by a local restaurant.
Getting his design on a beer stein was one thing. But a nuclear powered submarine is something else altogether.
On Friday, another of Bartels' designs was unveiled as the crest for the USS Minnesota, a Navy submarine now being built at a shipyard in Virginia and scheduled for commissioning in late 2013.
Bartels design was chosen from more than 100 submitted by Minnesota's students. "One of the most advanced ships in the Navy and probably in the world, it's exciting to have a small part of that," said Bartels.
Bartel's design incorporates a seafaring Viking, the North Star, a blue background to represent Minnesota's lakes, a band of maroon to represent the University of Minnesota and a Latin inscription that translates to "From the North, Power."
Also featured on the crest is a walleye mean enough to scare a Mille Lacs fisherman right out of his boat.
"I think everybody that looks at the crest, it looks aggressive," said Navy Commander John Fancher, who will become the Minnesota's first Captain.
Bartels actually submitted eight crest designs. All the others incorporated loons, as did many of the submissions from other artists. Turns out that wasn't the best choice, especially since the ship's crew did the judging. "Because they didn't want to be known as the 'Loony Boat," smiled Bartels.
For his efforts Bartels was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and a free trip to the Minnesota's commissioning.
The USS Minnesota will be the third navy vessel named for the state, and the first since 1907.
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