Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 • Cristal Gonzalez : contact

As part of its yearlong 130th anniversary celebration, The University of Texas at Arlington sought the artistic help of students in creating a unique and commemorative tartan design that captured the spirit of the milestone anniversary through a Student Tartan Design Competition.

A panel of judges, selected by the Department of Art and Art History, carefully reviewed all the eligible entries and selected Rachel Chen’s as the winning tartan design.

“This has been an exciting way to celebrate 130 years of UTA, bringing our community together to showcase our depth of talent, tradition and school pride,” said President Jennifer Cowley. “All of the entries were incredibly creative and thoughtful, but the winning design was a true standout—a distinctive and lasting tribute to our legacy. I appreciate the Art and Art History Department for lending its expertise in selecting a design that truly represents the University, and I’m grateful to everyone who took part in this special celebration.”

Chen, a sophomore art history major, said she was immediately drawn to the idea that a simple pattern of lines and squares could unite people and foster a strong sense of community.

“This strongly influenced my own approach when I thought about my design and expressing the spirit of UTA and its 130th anniversary visually through the blues and oranges,” she said. “I feel very grateful to have been chosen as the winner and have the opportunity to express the passion I have for design. It fascinates me how the tradition of the tartan can be traced so far back, yet students like me are still actively participating in it by designing a tartan pattern that, at its core, links us all together.”

As the winning designer, Chen will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The runner-up, Kara Johnson, will receive a $500 scholarship.

“We received dozens of entries, and it was great to see such student interest in helping to celebrate UTA's 130th anniversary through designing a limited-edition commemorative tartan,” said August Davis, chair of the Department of Art and Art History. “There was a wide range of interpretations about what a tartan can look like; the strongest designs found ways to bring traditionalism and modernism together in the pattern.”

The winning design will be used on a range of University merchandise that will be sold in the UTA Bookstore later this year.

For more information on UTA’s 130th anniversary celebration and events, please visit uta.edu/130.