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Brady Senatra holding mock-up of flag he designedA flag designed by a Black Hawk College student could be the next Illinois state flag.

Brady Senatra of Rock Island is one of 10 finalists in the Illinois Flag Commission’s State Flag Redesign Contest. His blue-and-white design was selected from more than 4,800 entries.

“I was very excited and also surprised given how many there were,” he said.

The commission solicited public submissions in the fall of 2024 and selected the designs based on how they reflect the identity of Illinois.

Senatra submitted this description of his design:

“The flag is divided into seven stripes, in a pattern of white and blue alternating. The biggest blue stripe represents Lake Michigan while the smaller blue stripes represent the state’s various rivers such as the Mississippi and the Illinois. The center blue stripe contains 20 smaller stars surrounding a center star, which represent Illinois as the 21st state. The small white stripes represent the state’s industry and commerce while the bigger white stripes represent the state’s agriculture.”

The public can vote on the designs once every 24-hour period through Friday, Feb. 14.

After the public voting period has ended, the votes will be counted and the results will be sent to the Illinois General Assembly. The assembly will decide later this year whether to adopt a new flag or retain the existing flag.

Senatra is a lifelong Illinois resident who graduated from Alleman High School in Rock Island in 2024. He plans to earn an Associate in Arts at Black Hawk College then transfer to a four-year school to pursue a degree in city planning. His long-term goal is to work in a major city like Chicago.

Read more about his entry in this story from WQAD.