Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks to the three youth finalists of the City of Soldotna’s “I Voted” Sticker Design Contest at the Soldotna Progress Days Block Party in Parker Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks to the three youth finalists of the City of Soldotna’s “I Voted” Sticker Design Contest at the Soldotna Progress Days Block Party in Parker Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Winners named for Soldotna’s ‘I Voted’ sticker design contest

The set of community-created voting stickers will be available at Soldotna polling locations during the Oct. 1 municipal election

Soldotna city officials on Saturday named the winners of the “I Voted” Sticker Design Contest during the Progress Days Block Party.

The set of community-created voting stickers will be available at Soldotna polling locations during the Oct. 1 municipal election.

Hadley Kornelis, 12-year-old Soldotna Montessori student, won the “Future Voter” category with a depiction of a sockeye salmon against mountains at sunset.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Isla Crouse, 15-year-old Kenai Central High School student, won the youth category with her image of a sockeye salmon moving along the riverbank.

Addie Nelson won the adult prize with her image of a tent overlooking an ice field.

Crouse said her design, centering salmon, was intended to capture an impression of “where we’re from.” Salmon, she said, are something most people who live on the Kenai Peninsula can relate to.

“I’m very honored,” she said of being chosen as a winner of the contest. “It’s great to feel that support.”

Kenai Peninsula artists across three categories — “Future Voter,” youth and adult — last month submitted their designs for the stickers. Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney said during the block party that 34 submissions were received across all categories.

A set of three finalists were in July named for each category by a panel of judges that included Whitney, Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, Rep. Justin Ruffridge and Soldotna High School art teacher Chris Jenness.

In the future voter category, Kornelis was joined as a finalist by Elyse Lundberg, 12, of Kenai Middle School; and Marietta Kornelis, 9, of Soldotna Montessori.

In the youth category, Crouse was a finalist alongside Anika Jedlicka, 17, of Soldotna High School; and Elizabeth Adams, 18, of Connections Homeschool.

Adult finalists were Nelson, Tracie Sanborn and Trinity Godfrey.

The public was invited to vote for their favorite stickers by a July 21 deadline. Whitney said 446 responses were received.

More information about the contest can be found at soldotna.org, under the City Clerk’s office. Photos of the winning designs and other finalists can be found at “City of Soldotna” on Facebook.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks to the three “Future Voter” finalists of the City of Soldotna’s “I Voted” Sticker Design Contest at the Soldotna Progress Days Block Party in Parker Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks to the three “Future Voter” finalists of the City of Soldotna’s “I Voted” Sticker Design Contest at the Soldotna Progress Days Block Party in Parker Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Isla Crouse stands with her award for winning the City of Soldotna’s “I Voted” Sticker Design Contest at the Soldotna Progress Days Block Party in Parker Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Isla Crouse stands with her award for winning the City of Soldotna’s “I Voted” Sticker Design Contest at the Soldotna Progress Days Block Party in Parker Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A graphic by the City of Soldotna shows the three winning stickers, by Addie Nelson, Isla Crouse and Hadley Kornelis. (Photo courtesy City of Soldotna)

A graphic by the City of Soldotna shows the three winning stickers, by Addie Nelson, Isla Crouse and Hadley Kornelis. (Photo courtesy City of Soldotna)

More in News

Member Tom Tougas, far right, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Tourism Industry Working Group in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tourism working group rejects bed tax, recommends seasonal sales tax adjustment

The document includes a section that says the borough could alternatively leave its tax structure exactly as it is.

The rescued sea otter pup looks at the camera in this undated picture, provided by the Alaska SeaLife Center. (Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Stranded otter pup rescued from Homer beach

She is estimated to be around 2 months old and was found alone by concerned beach walkers.

Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks to graduates during the 55th commencement ceremony at Kachemak Bay Campus on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Kenai Peninsula College leadership sees temporary transitions

KPC Director Cheryl Siemers is serving as interim UAA chancellor, while former KBC director Reid Brewer fills in her role.

Ash-Lee Waddell (center) of Homer is one of six recipients of the 2025 First Lady’s Volunteer Award at the Governor’s Residence in Juneau, Alaska, on May 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor
First lady honors Alaska volunteers

Volunteers from Homer and Nikiski were recognized.

The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Middle schooler reported missing found after 24-hour search

The student was seen leaving Kenai Middle School at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The Oceania Riviera stands out against a bluebird sky at the Homer Harbor on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Over 1200 passengers from aboard the boat explored Homer throughout the beautiful day. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer tourism season kicks off with arrival of cruise ships

The first cruise ship of the season arrived April 28 with 930 passengers.

tease
‘Tomorrow — remember you are still a learner’

Kachemak Bay Campus graduated 49 students during its 55th annual commencement hosted on May 7.

Mt. Redoubt rises above Cook Inlet and the Anchor River drainage as fireweed is in bloom, as seen from Diamond Ridge Road on Friday, July 22, 2022, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Native plants provide lifeline for local songbirds

Shorebird Festival talk highlights importance of native plants.

Sterling Elementary School students collect trash from the banks of the Kenai River near Bing’s Landing in Sterling, Alaska, during the 10th Annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cleaning up the mess that’s left behind

Students from six local schools combed for litter during the 10th Annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup.

Most Read