Winning essay caps off contest

   I recently asked readers to suggest a symbol for what makes Gwinnett great. Of the 13 people who replied, four proposed the chainsaw. One suggested dirt because “Gwinnett’s dirt is so valuable that developers and our commissioners can’t grab it fast enough.” But Dave Roselle, of Talmo, held up the giant red oak tree at I-85 and Pleasant Hill Road as fitting symbol since “Its roots run as deep as Gwinnett’s noteworthy history and its awesome branches reach to the sky in the same way Gwinnett’s spirit soars.” Considering Gwinnett is a two-time winner of the National Arbor Day Award and a finalist for the National Recreation and Park Association’s Gold Medal, a tree maybe could the cut.

   Other writers, however, pointed out that Gwinnett’s success is based not on the concrete, but on the conceptual. Business, sports and shopping ranked among the possible “things” that drive the economy.

   Each writer presented a different take on what makes Gwinnett great and I thank all who responded to my request. All ideas were thought-provoking, but it was the research, imagery and personal connection that kept me coming back to this one by Patti-Jo Shapiro, who’s lived in and loved Lilburn for 30 years. When you get to the last line, tell me if you don’t smile!

   Gwinnett is Great, Success Lives Here…. words on a water tower - words that epitomize the goal toward which Gwinnettians strive. It is what contributes to our success and greatness that should be the symbol for our county. We are great because the foundation of our success is our emphasis on education. The symbol of our success is bigger than a water tower.

   The fact that the Gwinnett County Public Schools is Georgia’s largest state employer furnishes us with our symbol. Gwinnett citizens highly value the role education plays in building thriving communities and strongly support GCPS’s pursuit of excellence. The 2006 graduating class earned more than $51 million in scholarships (not including the HOPE scholarship). 86% of all graduates planned on attending college/post secondary schools. Gwinnett’s total SAT average is 23 points above the national average. A higher percentage of students take the SAT in Gwinnett than in the state or in the nation. I recently witnessed my daughters, Alaina and Laurel, carry the symbol of success in their hands and wear it on their heads. They shared this experience with many of their peers, community leaders and educators. Gwinnett grows “graduates”. We wear the symbol of success as graduates with caps on our heads and diplomas in hands. Dress the water tower with a graduation cap and wrap it in a diploma for all who pass by to view and wonder what it implies or smile…. because they know.

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