Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal
Allison Abbott high-fived her principal Friday when she learned her drawing had won a schoolwide contest and will be featured on the seal for the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Weights and Measures.
"I like to draw because I have creative imaginations," the Seeliger Elementary School second-grader said.
Each year, the Bureau of Weights and Measures selects one Nevada school to host the contest to select a drawing to be featured on its seal.
"We thought this would be a mechanism to really involve the communities of Nevada," said Andy Westby, deputy state sealer. "It's an attempt to get children involved in state government and to let people know of our organization."
Allison, 8, was notified of her win during a schoolwide assembly. She received a framed copy of her drawing of a scale next to the Nevada flag, with the American flag in the background.
"I'm going to hang it on my wall," she said.
The drawing will be featured on the seal, which is displayed on scales in grocery stores, weigh stations and gas pumps for a year beginning in January.
Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell presented the school with a plaque for participating, and he let the students in on a secret now that he's no longer serving on the school board: "I love Seeliger Elementary School. It's one of the best we've got."
Allison was among about 400 students at the school who participated. Students voted on the winner.
"We didn't even know she did this until we got a call from the principal," her dad, Larry Abbott, said. "We're very proud."