The schools of USD 265 are full of creative energy, expressed in a multitude of mediums throughout the school year. This was kicked into high gear when the district's Police Department launched a project called, "Your Vision, Our Wheels: Patrol Car Wrap Contest," during the spring semester of the 2024-25 school year. Students across the district were presented with a unique opportunity to leave their mark on community and school safety. USD 265 Police Department invited individual 5-12th grade students, or entire elementary classrooms, to submit a design for the department's police vehicles. Taylor Harrington, a Class of 2025 Eisenhower High School (EHS) graduate, won the contest, with her design now proudly displayed on four of the department's vehicles as they work toward wrapping their entire fleet.
The project embodied USD 265's Strategic Plan commitment to providing connected and advanced opportunities for all students, challenging participants to meet specific design criteria while showcasing their creativity. Students were tasked with clearly displaying "POLICE" on the vehicle sides and back, incorporating both the Goddard and the Eisenhower branding/logo, using designated district colors, and potentially including "Goddard USD 265 POLICE" or "USD 265 POLICE" text at Chief Camp's discretion. Taylor first discovered the opportunity through her Graphic Design class at EHS, explaining, "I was inspired with the idea of having my design put someplace that everyone could see. I thought 'why not just submit something'." The contest required submissions by May 9th at 3:00 p.m., with officers selecting the top four designs, before all USD 265 students voted on the final winner.
Taylor's winning design drew inspiration from extensive research into the district's values and identity. "To come up with the design itself, I looked specifically at the Goddard Public Schools’ website to see what things were important to the district," she shared. "My favorite parts that I incorporated would have to be the cat scratches on the side of the car and the district's motto on the back." Her thoughtful approach to understanding the district's mission before designing demonstrates the kind of critical thinking and research skills that USD 265 strives to develop in all students. Another pillar that this reflected was the district's commitment to providing a safe, caring, and connected learning environment to educate the whole child, as students were encouraged to think about how their artistic expression could contribute to community safety and school pride.
The contest served multiple educational purposes beyond artistic expression, helping students understand the role of school district police while building positive relationships and trust within the school community. Officers Shannon Heath and Ryan Lamar collaborated to coordinate the contest, providing support and answering questions throughout the submission process. This initiative aligned perfectly with the USD 265 Police Department’s goal of humanizing law enforcement and creating meaningful connections between officers and students. Taylor's journey through various art programs within Goddard Public Schools is a perfect example of how educators along the way nurture student talent. "I started doing graphic design at the start of my senior year, but before that I was in lots of other creative art classes," Taylor mentioned, crediting her comprehensive arts courses for preparing her for this achievement.
For Taylor, the police car wrap contest represents more than just a winning design - it stands as her proudest portfolio piece, alongside her Eisenhower Improv T-shirt design, where she incorporated handwritten "Improv" text from each team member into a digital design that "represented the individuality that each member brought to the team." Her advice to fellow students includes, "I would tell other students to just have fun with their projects. In my opinion you can tell which designs were made with a lot of thought and care. I would recommend taking Graphic Design One, so they can get a good feel for the software. It also does not hurt to take some hands-on art classes like Drawing, or Painting. Those classes allow for a more creative visual eye."
The success of the Police Car Wrap Contest demonstrates USD 265's innovative approach to student engagement and community building, transforming routine police vehicles into rolling showcases of student talent and school pride. As these wrapped patrol cars travel throughout the district, they serve as visible reminders of the positive relationships between USD 265 law enforcement and students, while celebrating the creative excellence fostered within the walls of the school buildings. Initiatives like this continue to provide students with real-world applications for their skills, while strengthening the bonds between schools, police, and the broader Goddard community.