Carson High School CTE graphic design student creates Carson City Parkinson’s Advocacy & Awareness logo

Brian Reedy, Carson City Parkinson’s Advocacy & Awareness co-director, said he knew exactly who to approach to design a logo for his support group.

Having spent 20 years working at Carson High School, with the tail end of his career in the Career and Technical Education program, he knew Patricia Ababio’s graphic design III and IV students would be the perfect choice.

“When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s I wanted to learn everything I could about the disease,” Reedy said. “In my quest to gain knowledge and improve my health I realized that other people in Carson City with Parkinson’s were seeking education and awareness too. In October 2016 my wife, Lily, and I formed the educational support group. The more we know, the more we control. Knowledge is the key.”

With the group growing by two or three participants per month, and in an effort to bring more recognition within the community, Reedy knew he had to create a logo to help identify the organization.

“While I answered questions, I didn’t give the graphic design students guidelines, instead I wanted to give them a voice and allow them to use their imagination and skills to guide them in the process,” Reedy said.

The students presented Reedy with 29 logos which he presented to his organization. The group voted to narrow the entries to five and then voted again, selecting Alex Camp’s design.

“Working on the project was challenging,” Camp, a junior in the CTE program, said. “I wouldn’t have made it as far as I did without the help of my class. I thank the support group for even considering my design let alone picking it as the winner.”

Besides bragging rights, Camp received $100 for her winning design, which was presented to her on Nov. 14 by Reedy, his wife and the support group. Reedy also plans to provide a pizza party for all the graphic arts students to say thank you for their hard work.

“Alex’s logo embodies the relationship between the brain, the disease and the hope that this organization offers to those in need,” Ababio said. “We are blessed as a class to be part of the endeavor to educate anyone impacted by Parkinson’s.”

Upon graduation in 2019, Camp plans to attend Western Nevada College for two years then transfer to The University of Nevada, Reno, to study graphic design.

Reedy’s group meets every month at Sierra Place Senior Living, 1111 West College Parkway in Carson City.

For information about Carson City Parkinson’s Advocacy & Awareness support group, please contact Brian Reedy, co-director, at 287-7856.

For information about Carson High School CTE, contact Michele Lewis, vice principal and CTE administrator, at mlewis@carson.k12.nv.us.