In January 2024, The City of Fargo invited middle and high school students to submit original artwork with the chance for their design to be featured on a local MATBUS bus. Students were encouraged to create artwork with the theme of environmental stewardship and climate resiliency. A review panel judged submissions based on how well the artwork reflects the theme, tells a story or message, incorporates ties in the Fargo community and provides an eye-catching design that translates well to a bus wrap.
The highest‐scoring submission belonged to seventh-grader Kaylee Trana. With the slogan of Far “Go” Green, Kaylee’s design features red pandas (well-known residents of Fargo’s Red River Zoo) enjoying the city and its environment. Her artwork will appear on a MATBUS bus for one year, and she will receive $500. The second‐highest scoring submission will receive $300, and the third‐highest scoring submission will receive $200. To be eligible, students had to live in Fargo, or be homeschooled or enrolled in a school within Fargo during the 2023‐2024 school year.
The top three submissions were:
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Kaylee Trana, age 12
Slogan: Far “Go” Green!
Grade: 7
School: Ben Franklin Middle School -
Mya Houston, age 14
Slogan: Conserve, Protect, Create
Grade: 9
School: Fargo Public Schools Virtual Academy -
Elizabeth Toomey, age 14
Slogan: Grow Wild Together
Grade: 9
School: Homeschool
The call for submissions for bus wrap artwork was a collaboration of the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee, Fargo Youth Initiative and Arts and Culture Commission. On March 27, the Arts and Culture Commission affirmed the review panel’s top three selections, and the City Commission unanimously approved those selections on April 15. Production and installation of the bus wrap will be made possible by using renewable energy revenues through the Solid Waste Utility.
All 20 submissions of student artwork are currently on public display on the first floor of Fargo City Hall (225 4th St. N.) and will be available for viewing through early May.