High School Student Honored for Designing Rock Springs' New City Flag

Brandon Swigart's flag design was selected as the winner of a city-wide contest.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Brandon Swigart, a junior at Rock Springs High School, was recognized by the Sweetwater County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees for designing the new official flag of the City of Rock Springs. Swigart's flag design, which features a five-sided star, a six-sided star, and a trapezoid representing Pilot Butte, was selected as the winner of a city-wide contest hosted by the mayor and city council.

Why it matters

The new city flag represents an opportunity for Rock Springs to unify around a common symbol that celebrates the city's diverse population of 56 nationalities. Swigart's design was chosen for its simplicity, symbolism, and adherence to modern flag design principles.

The details

As part of the contest, Swigart's winning design was awarded a $250 prize from Rock Springs Mayor Max Mickelson. Swigart said he incorporated feedback from both supporters and critics of his design, noting that constructive criticism is crucial for an artist's growth.

  • The flag design contest was hosted by the City of Rock Springs and Mayor Max Mickelson.
  • Swigart's winning design was recognized at the Sweetwater County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, February 10, 2026.

The players

Brandon Swigart

A junior at Rock Springs High School who designed the winning flag for the City of Rock Springs.

Max Mickelson

The mayor of Rock Springs who hosted the flag design contest and provided the $250 prize for the winning design.

Rick Milonas

A Rock Springs City Councilman who provided feedback on Swigart's flag design.

Joseph Libby

The superintendent of Sweetwater County School District No. 1, who recognized Swigart's achievement at the board meeting.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's really crucial to have people critique your work. I think it's really crucial to have that just to be able to push yourself because if you're not having people critique your work, you're not really going to progress.”

— Brandon Swigart, High School Student (SweetwaterNOW)

What’s next

The new Rock Springs city flag will be officially unveiled and raised for the first time at a public ceremony in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Swigart's flag design demonstrates how student creativity and civic engagement can come together to create a unifying symbol for a community. His willingness to incorporate feedback highlights the value of constructive criticism in the design process.