The USS New Mexico Committee, under the New Mexico Council of the Navy League of the United States, operates to support the ship’s pre-commissioning crew with public relations and fund-raising. One of the most recent endeavors of the committee has been the sponsorship of a statewide contest for the design of the ship’s crest.
NEW MEXICO’s Commanding Officer, CDR Robert Dain, recently announced that, after reviewing 180 contest entries, his officers and crew have selected the entry of Emilee Sena as the winning design. The crest will be the ship’s logo and will be reproduced as patches and decals, emblazoned on everything from coffee mugs to T-shirts, and printed on everything from stationery to bumper stickers.
Emilee is a senior at St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque. With her winning design, she claims the contest prize, a trip to the USS NEW MEXICO Christening Ceremony for herself and her parents, Patrick and Kerrie Sena. Emilee was the honored guest at the New Mexico Navy League’s annual Christmas Party.
USS New Mexico Committee Vice-Chairman Damon Runyan,
contest winner Emilee Sena and Committee Chairman Dick Brown
While Emilee’s design has been transformed into a digital graphic, her original artwork, an oil painting, will be framed for permanent display on the submarine.
In addition to producing the ship’s crest design, the contest served to educate the crew about New Mexico. They now know about roadrunners, Zia sun symbols, red and green chile, and many other features of our beautiful state. And just as important, the contest has raised awareness among New Mexicans of a new submarine with our name on it.
Congratulations to Emilee Sena. Her design will serve as an inspiration to all who serve aboard USS NEW MEXICO.