Motto contest winners awarded
By Matt Caulder
Published in News on November 27, 2013 1:46 PM
The winners of the city motto contest were introduced Tuesday night at Downtown Lights Up, along with the other 18 finalists, bringing an end to the six-month contest.
The winning motto, "Be More, Do More, Seymour, in Goldsboro, NC" was a mix of two top 20 mottos submitted by Savannah Hickman and Julie Harlow. It received the most votes from the public with 13.3 percent of the votes cast, or 135 votes, as well as the marketing team and City Council vote.
Ms. Hickman entered the contest as a joke, spelling out "see more" as "Seymour" in her proposal, "Come Seymour in Goldsboro."
City officials mixed her idea with Ms. Harlow's, "See More, Be More, Do More" to make the winning motto.
Ms. Hickman and Ms. Harlow will receive dinner with Mayor Al King, a one-year membership to the Goldsboro Golf Course, a Paramount Theatre full series package, 100 Downtown Dollars, a free Parks and Registration program registration to an activity of their choice, a one-year membership to the YMCA and will be featured as guests on the WGTV morning show.
"I'm excited to have dinner with the mayor and for the Paramount tickets," Ms. Hickman said "I went to the Paramount once and I just fell in love with it so I'm excited to have an excuse to go back."
Ms. Hickman plans to spend her $100 Downtown Dollars at Thistle Bee Quilt Shoppe.
Ms. Harlow is excited for the one year membership to the Goldsboro Family YMCA as well as dinner with the mayor.
The motto will be used around Goldsboro on buildings, vehicles and flags along Center Street, as well as other locations.
A banner will be in place in front of City Hall advertising the city's new motto for the next few weeks.
The next closest motto, "Soaring To New Heights," garnered 90 votes.
"After the first two entries, the voting dropped off significantly and the council only wanted to hear two or three proposals so we did the top two," said Kim Best, city public information officer. "The motto can be broken up and stand by itself or be put together and it works both ways," Mrs. Best said. "They are all action words, which is great for marketing."
The top 21 submissions will receive two passes to the Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course, two tickets to a Paramount Theatre movie, a "Do It Downtown" T-shirt and a city of Goldsboro bag.
The top five finishers will receive two rounds of golf with a cart at the Goldsboro Golf Course, two tickets to an event in the Paramount Theatre Performing Arts Series, a gift card to a downtown restaurant selected by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. and a Goldsboro restaurant voucher.
The rest of top 20 finalists:
Lynne Waddell - Crossroads of the Carolinas (Top 5)
Lynecia Carraway- Small Town Charm, Big City Aspirations (Top 5)
Chretien Dumfound - Celebrating our Past, Celebrating Our Future (Top 5)
Wendy Mitchell -Soaring To New Heights (Top 5)
Lula Powell - The City with Wings
John Woodlock - Where Tomorrow Takes Flight
John Clark - The City with A Heart of Gold
Hope Jones - Watch Us Fly
Tyler Knox - Shining Bright
John Albert - At Home with History and Heroes
Stacie Holloman - Where Freedom Soars
Victoria Lucas - The City That Never Stops Flying
Julia D Best - City of Golden Opportunity
Julie Krout - Truly A Treasure
Pat Yates - From River, To Rail, To Air
Kristy Mason - Where Goodness Is Gold
Ronrico Ayers - Military Might and BBQ Nights
Sandra Merritt - Come For the History, Stay for the Hospitality