Gallery • 4 Photos

Abby Santos

On any given day, any random person could walk onto PPCHS grounds and learn exactly what school spirit is with just one single look. From years-old club shirts to modern-style class quarter-zips, most Pines Charter students find a way to dress up their Jaguar Pride—all whilst abiding by the dress code. As each new year comes along and the classic Charter color palette stays the same, the addition of more and more PPCHS merchandise has stretched the possibilities of what Jag Pride can look like. For this year’s seniors, this takes the form of two new spirit shirts designed by the heart of the Class of 2024: the students.

A yearly fundraiser for the Class of 2024, selling merchandise has always been in the hands of their student leaders. For their senior year, however, the eight officers decided to open up the discussion of design to the 428 classmates around them.

For $2 each, the seniors were given the chance to compete in a shirt design contest that took place from September 7 to September 15. After four days of voting (September 29 to October 2) and intense campaigning for six different designs, the results were announced by one excited class sponsor, Mrs.Brandt: Alan Schwartz’s shirt design won first place in the contest!

Despite all the artistic potential his classmates see in him, the senior took the win lightly. “I figured that now that I have the chance to make [a shirt design], I should make one that everyone likes,” Alan explained. Along with Alan’s first place design, the first and second runner-ups—Daniel Garcia and Kent Feng for their jacket design—also earned a spot on the Class of 2024’s merchandise line.

As the class officers prepare to sell and distribute their new apparel, the winning designs officially become extensions of the Class of 2024. As Alan affirms, all old and new spirit shirts “serve as memorabilia and being able to actually distinguish your class.” Whether t-shirt, sweatshirt, jacket, or quarter-zip, the seniors’ new merchandise is just their way of showing off Jag Pride for one last run.