FINAL ROUND OF VOTING ENDED! 

Here are the 12 finalists that went up for voting through the public and our trained panel of judges. Keep an eye out for announcements soon!

Round 2 voting finished... 

Voting for Round 2 has finished and the winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 16th.  After that the Final Round public vote of the 12 winners from the 2 rounds will take place May 16th through June 24th.  Be sure to stay connected with the project through our Facebook page and Instagram!

Winners of Round 1 Announced, Design Round 2 open now until Jan. 19

With the first round of our Flag Redesign Contest wrapped, we're pleased to announce the top three finishers in the public vote and the judges vote! With this announcement also comes the launch of Round 2 of the design contest. A great opportunity if you didn't get a design submitted in the first round or a great way to submit an additional design. Click here to read the full press release.

Public Vote Winners:

First Place, #50, Leo Ariemma, Woodbridge, ON, Canada

Design statement: ‘The principle behind the design was to draw on the current flag and modernize it to better represent the City of Rochester today. The blue band across the middle represents the Zumbro River, which runs through the city. In the center of the flag, is a circle similar to the current design representing Silver Lake with a Canada goose flying
ahead. Flanking the symbol are two stars to signify the city's past and its future. The colors are also symbolic: Blue represents freedom, yellow happiness and prosperity, and white peace and honesty. The simplicity of the design allows for easy use of the flag at city events and on merchandising.’

Second Place, #27, Joe Uessem, Dusseldorf, GDR

Design statement: ‘I, myself, am not from the city. My girlfriend though can't stop talking about her old home. The misfortune that burnt down her family's house and the possibility to start over again in Rochester are the most defining points of her life. The support that her family got from the good citizens of Rochester gave her strength to not lose hope.
Hope, Support, Love: this is what the City of Rochester stands for and what I want to show in my flag design. The design consists of three colors: The silver (white) lining separates the green ground (Which traditionally stands for hope.) and the blue sky (Blue stands for happiness and serenity.). The white goose does not only stand out on the darker background, it also flies towards freedom which the viewer expects out of the flag's boundaries. Geese and Rochester have a special connection, and whenever I see a Canada goose, I think of the city. I am sure that many people feel the same way about
those beautiful animals.’

Third Place, #10, Jeff Bell, Rochester, MN

Design statement: ‘The letter R stands for the city of Rochester while at the same time the R’s intersecting strokesrepresent the two rivers (Bear Creek and South Fork Zumbro) that meet in the heart of the city. The two stars representtwo seminal events in the city’s history. The first star represents the city’s founding in 1854. The second star represents
the tornado of 1883 that decimated much of the city yet set into motion events that would lead to the creation of St. Mary’s Hospital and the lasting relationship forged between Mayo Clinic and the Sisters of St. Francis. Separately, the color blue represents sky and endless possibility. White represents winter and the resilient spirit of the Northern Plains.
Red represents blood and the common humanity we all share as citizens. Finally, the gold borders represent the Golden Rule which remains a noble framework for life and citizenship.’

Judges' Board Vote:

First Place, # 12, Brandon Hundt, Minneapolis, MN

Design statement: ‘If Rochester is known for anything, it’s for being the home to the best medical facility on earth, the Mayo Clinic. This is represented in the form of the the Greek cross, a symbol frequently associated with medical care. The quadrisection represents the crossroads Rochester sits on, from the founding of the city on a wagon trail to the highways of today. The two shades of blue represent the Zumbro River and the companies that call Rochester home -- like IBM (Think Blue), that help to drive the city’s modern economy.’

Second Place, # 30, Donald L. Buske, Rochester, MN

Design statement: ‘Star: Rochester is a Minnesota star city. Blue: A symbol for industrial/manufacturing. Red: A symbol for education/performing arts. White: A symbol for medical/faith.’

Third Place, #1, Masao Okazaki, Tokyo, Japan

Design statement: ‘The red heart and open white hand, in caring unity, symbolize the relationship of the Rochester health care system to the city’s residents and visitors. The 10-point star combines 5-point stars representing Minnesota and the United States and symbolizes Rochester’s importance to both of them. The medium-blue background symbolizes the sky and waters of our great state.’