Evan Kelly, a Morgan Hill resident and a student of graphic design, produced the winning logo for the City of Morgan Hill’s 120th anniversary celebration.
City officials said Kelly’s design is “celebratory, professional, inviting and timeless.” The logo features elements such as El Toro Mountain, the downtown Morgan Hill skyline, the changing golden and green colors of the city’s open spaces and a bright sun signifying the community’s growth and evolution.
The logo will be featured throughout the year-long anniversary celebration in collaboration with local partners, city staff said.
Morgan Hill will formally mark its 120th anniversary on Nov. 10. The celebration kicked off earlier this year when the city announced a logo contest for the milestone.
The contest invited designers to capture the spirit and identity of Morgan Hill while drawing inspiration themes that include nature and beauty; heritage and agriculture; community and future; and local landmarks.
The call for logo designers sparked a wide range of creative submissions from across the community, city staff said. After a thoughtful review, the Library, Culture, and Arts Commission announced Kelly’s logo as the winning submission.
“The City of Morgan Hill’s 120th Anniversary Logo Design Contest was open to the public to encourage engagement from all facets of the community, bring awareness to the anniversary year, and generate a design that felt truly local,” said Morgan Hill Economic Development Coordinator Brittney Sherman.
Kelly is a junior at Chapman University, where he studies graphic design. In his free time, he captures the world through photography and cheers on his favorite Bay Area teams—the Sharks, Warriors and 49ers.
The city’s 120th anniversary campaign will include year-round events and activities designed to bring the community together and showcase what makes Morgan Hill special.
The recent launch of Visit Morgan Hill’s inaugural Morgan Hill Destination Guide and Morgan Hill Foodie Month were a few of the ways to celebrate in January. During February, a campaign titled “My love letter to Morgan Hill” will aim to celebrate the City’s 120th anniversary by flooding social media with love, memories, art, music and stories highlighting the city, staff said.
Residents are encouraged to participate by submitting content in any of the following categories to be promoted on social media: Visual Arts, Literature, Photography, Music Composition, Dance Choreography, and/or Film Production.
The city will announce more events and additional ways to participate as the 120th anniversary date approaches.
