PCU Minnesota Launches Logo Contest at Twins Game

By Lt. Jennifer Cragg, Commander Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (NNS) -- The fast attack submarine PCU Minnesota's (SSN 783) commanding officer and several crew members attended a Minnesota Twins game to officially kick off a contest for students in their namesake state to design the sub's logo Aug. 8.

The Minnesota Navy League coordinated a video created by Newport News Shipbuilding and the Minnesota crew that played during the Twins game to a crowd of nearly 40,000.

"The winning logo will shape the ship's identity and be a part of Minnesota history," said Cmdr. John Fancher, Minnesota commanding officer.

Fancher presented Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire a PCU Minnesota baseball cap with "skipper" embroidered in the back of the cap before the game against the Boston Red Sox.

"While skipper is a nautical term used to address the captain of a ship; the manager is also referred to as skipper or the leader of a team," said Fancher.

The Navy League's USS Minnesota Commissioning Committee sponsored the contest, open to students ages 16-22. The winning logo will be used as the primary insignia for a new Navy submarine named after its namesake state, Minnesota. Minnesota crewmembers will select the winning logo. The winning student will earn a college scholarship.

"We want Sailors to be proud of the Minnesota logo every time they put it on and have a good understanding of what that name means," said Fancher. "We are looking for students to help us design a logo that creates a bond between a world-class ship and the world-class state her name represents."

Samantha Matson, from Bloomington, Minn., said one of her hobbies since she could remember has been drawing and, later, designing graphics.

"I have been drawing as long as I can remember, probably ever since I could pick up a pencil," said Matson, who is scheduled to enter the Navy in January.

According to Navy Recruiting District Bloomington, in 2010 nearly 1,200 people entered the Navy from Minnesota. Eighty-seven of these recruits joined the nuclear power program.

Under construction and set for delivery in 2013, Minnesota will be the 10th of 30 projected Virginia-class submarines.