Austin Community College District (ACC) student Gillian Renner created the winning design for the 12th annual Eco Bag Design Contest. The 2024 design is now available for purchase online and will be displayed on each campus for one year. 

This year’s theme was “Planet v. Plastic”. Gillian’s design features endangered species native to Texas due to loss of habitat or pollution, such as plastic. 

To order a bag, click here.

Gillian, pursuing her English degree, says the original design listed all the native species pictured, but she had to edit it after the list became too long. 

“I was inspired to showcase native Texas species on the threatened and endangered lists provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. There were so much more than I had expected, I resolved to fit as many as I could,” says Gillian. “Finding ways to make our lives more sustainable is so important because not only does it help us out in the long run, but it also helps ensure that our unique native plants and animals live and thrive. I am so happy to have won the EcoBag design contest this year. Creating art for a bigger cause inspires me to keep creating.”

More than 1,000 Riverbats voted in the design contest this year, helping to select the winning art.

The second-place design winner was Donna Toutin. 

The contest is sponsored by ACC’s Office of Energy & Sustainability. For more information about the office and ACC’s environmental efforts, visit austincc.edu/sustainability.

Tags: earth week, Eco bag, Eco Bag Design Contest, sustainability