Northeast Ohio Girl Wins Art Contest For New State License Plates

A Northeast Ohio middle school student has won a statewide art contest to determine the design of a new license plate promoting anti-bullying efforts.

Brooke Balser, 11, took her passion for art to the next level, submitting the winning design for the new "Stop Bullying" Ohio license plate. Balser is a student at Independence Middle School.

“Bullies gain power when the people around them look the other way, stay silent or ignore the problem,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “Each time we see Brooke’s colorful ‘Bully-Free Car’ design on an Ohio license plate, we’ll be reminded to treat others with respect and to stand up against bullying behaviors.”

Westlake State Representative Dave Greenspan was one of the key forces behind 2018 legislation that led to the "Stop Bullying" license plates. He introduced a bill last year that paved the road for the contest.

In May of 2019, Yost and the Ohio Education Association announced the design competition for the new license plate. School children enrolled in grades kindergarten to fifth grade were invited to submit entries.

In all, 171 submissions were received. The Ohio Education Association then convened a panel of judges to review the art, scoring it based on creativity, reflection of the anti-bullying theme and originality of design.

Balser, a soon-to-be sixth grader with straight A's, was selected as the winner.