RHS grad submits winning design for Chamber’s ‘Hometown Christmas’ campaign

by Jo Anne Embleton news@thecherokeean.com
Sophie Philibert creates winning design for 2021 'Hometown Christmas event. 

Photo courtesy of the Rusk Chamber of Commerce Sophie Philibert creates winning design for 2021 'Hometown Christmas event. Photo courtesy of the Rusk Chamber of Commerce

Using a splash of color to promote the local “Hometown Christmas Experience,” 2020 Rusk High School graduate Sophie Philibert took the top honor of creating artwork for this year’s campaign.

“The inspiration behind the design was me trying to really tie together Rusk and Christmas,”she said. “Then, I remembered that a lot of traditional Christmas trees have a toy train going around the base of their trunks and I connected the dots between the Rusk’s depot for the Texas State Railroad and the toy train which fit this year’s theme of ‘Rusk Around the Christmas Tree.’”

Philibert – a Rusk TJC PROMISE scholar – recently graduated magna cum laude from Tyler Junior College with an associate’s in general studies. Her goal is to study neuroscience and attend medical school.

The contest, which Rusk Chamber of Commerce Director Leilani Sales said drew 16 design submissions, caught the teen’s attention, as she remembered the excitement created the previous year by events on the downtown square, where her family owns a business.

“I was excited with the logo contest as our family was just getting our store, The Cherokee Parcel Post, ready to open during last year’s tree lighting,” she said. “This year’s contest gave me opportunity to get more involved in our community and give back a bit of that holiday spirit.”

Familiar with design from watching her mother create them for others, “I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to try my hand at graphic design as well!” she said.

Sales said Chamber officials “were very pleased with the outcome of the submitted designs from all of the participants; Sophie’s chosen designs, however, carried out our Christmas vision for this year’s Hometown Christmas Experience.”

The Hometown Christmas Experience: “Rusk Around The Christmas Tree” will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27.

“We’ll have different types of Vendors including food vendors, a car and bike show, caroling, the BIG tree lighting, as well as other fun giveaways and activities,” Sales said, noting the annual Christmas Parade will be held Dec. 7.

“Needless to say, there’s a lot of Christmas spirit at the Chamber,” she said.