Elementary Category

Dustin Sihotang: 1st place

5th grade, Woodcrest Elementary (RUSD) incoming 6th grader

Artist Statement: “My submission flag for Riverside represents the city well. My flag has 3 colors, Aqua, Orange, and Green. Aqua refers to the Santa Ana River that passes through Riverside. Hence why I colored the Raincross that color (more on the Raincross). The Orange and Green signify our citrusy history. In the middle, I put a horizontal outline of a Raincross, a famous piece of Riverside culture.”

Elliot Gallagher: 2nd place

5th grade, Pachappa Elementary (RUSD) incoming 6th grader

Artist Statement: "The orange is for the citrus and the blue is for the Santa Ana river. Also- the rain cross bell because it is a big part of Riverside’s history."

Javier Ferreira: 3rd place

1st grade, Phillip M Stokoe Elementary (AUSD), incoming 2nd grader

Artist Statement: "My flag illustrates a navel orange and a white flower blossom. Orange trees grow in Riverside. The blue represents the color of the sky and water. The Santa Ana River runs through Riverside. The green represents all the plants that grow in the city."

Honorable Mention Recipients

Please click the slide show to the left to see all the amazing submissions that received Honorable Mention in the Elementary Category.

Middle School Category

Yunshu Zhang: 1st place

7th grade, Riverside STEM Academy (RUSD), incoming 8th grader

Artist Statement: “I chose green on the bottom half of the flag to represent the land that Riverside is on. Before the Spanish arrived, the native tribes used the surrounding land to raise livestock and gather the native plants for personal use. Years after the Spanish settlements, the first Navel oranges were brought to Riverside where the climate allowed them to grow more richly. Together the land (green bottom) and the oranges which represent the orange top are the building blocks of the history of Riverside. In the middle I added the rain cross, the iconic symbol of Riverside which completes the look of the flag.”

Misael Vargas Cabrera: 2nd place

7th grade, Riverside Virtual School (RUSD), incoming 8th grader

Artist Statement: “I chose the gold and the blue because those are the colors of the main universities in riverside and the rain cross is a symbolic sign of riverside.”

August Olague: 3rd place

8th grade, Amelia Earhart Middle School (RUSD), incoming 9th grader

Artist Statement: “I included the colors yellow and blue to relate it to the original flag. The orange tree is because of Riverside’s rich history in the orange industry. The Rain cross is a symbol of Riverside as a city. The roots of the tree represent heritage.”

Honorable Mention Recipients

Please click the slide show to the left to see all the amazing submissions that received Honorable Mention in the Middle School Category.

High School Category

Chloe Ivy-Curwen: 1st place

10th grade, Poly High School (RUSD), incoming 11th grader

Artist Statement: “Utilizing the official colors from the Riverside graphics standard manual, I choose the gold, and dark blue, the gold representing the rich history Riverside was built on. Riverside was the wealthiest city per capita by 1895. In the first design, the gold color hints at the importance of our citrus heritage.The deep blue that surrounds the golden circle symbolizes where we got the name Riverside, which is because of the close proximity of the Santa Ana river, and the famous Gage canal that runs through our city. The choice to use the rain cross as the focus was an easy one, the rain cross has always been a symbol that I can recognize and think, “hey that’s Riverside!’, and I think it is both recognizable to everyone who lives in Riverside and beyond, but also symbolizes the deep history of the mission inn. Anyone who has ever been to Riverside knows the mission inn, whether it’s during the holiday season when they decorate the Hotel in lights, or it’s just another day, the mission inn is our crowning jewel. One of the first naval trees was planted there and many presidents have visited. The second design with the inverse gold and blue symbolizes the different cultures that occupy Riverside. It shows the two different colors coming together to create a beautiful yet simple design, coming back to the rain cross. One of the most important things about Riverside to me personally is the diversity that our city has, so many different cultures, and so many different areas to explore. I tried to incorporate our history into these designs, because I find the history of Riverside very interesting. I learn something new almost everyday, and I think everyone should know something about the history of our city.”

Ruo Xu: 2nd place

10th grade, King High School (RUSD), incoming 11th grader

Artist Statement: “The flag’s background is orange because it interprets the idea of Riverside produce wonderful oranges (which people would think of us) and the symbol of our Riverside’s bell, that identifies Riverside. It’s in a navy color because it represents unity which for residents of Riverside to support each other. It’s a simple design so it’s easy to recognize without getting it confused with the other city flags and simple for little children to learn.”

Julia Thompson: 3rd place (tie)

11th grade, King High School (RUSD), incoming 12th grader

Artist Statement: “In the Canton of the flag is the Raincross symbol, an important part of the original flag that represents the Navajo rain prayer, as well as a bell from Father Junipero Serra's California missions. The Raincross is also commonly associated with one of Riverside's famous landmarks, the Mission Inn (founded by Frank Augustus Miller). Stretching diagonally across the Canton is a blue strip, which represents the Santa Ana river, and its general orientation to Riverside itself. The Santa Ana river runs northeast to southwest, and is located northwest of Riverside, so that is where is located on this flag. The Santa Ana River is important because it is the namesake of this city. The last piece of the Canton is the orange circle which encompasses the Raincross. This represents the navel orange industry which was sparked by Eliza Tibbets, and has brought wealth to Riverside in the early days of its establishment. In the field of the flag lays another diagonal strip of blue, representing the Gage canal, which runs in the same direction as the Santa Ana River. Built by Matthew Gage, this canal was designed to transform the desert area into a fertile place where oranges would be able to grow. To this day, the Gage Canal helps Riverside have water independence of their own which greatly reduces costs for growing and irrigation. The remaining orange color on the bottom right of the flag represents Riverside's beginnings, and how it used to have the most extensive orange groves in the world. Even now, the Citrus Park grows a spectacular amount of fruit that is important to the environment and Riverside's roots. The strip of white in the middle represents the arid desert color that is so commonly found on Mount Rubidoux, a historical landmark in Riverside that has washed out white-toned brick structures, staircases, and even a white cross at the peak. On top of Mount Rubidoux being a popular hiking spot, it has important historical roots that include the dedication of the Peace Tower to Frank Miller and the fact that it is a Riverside City Landmark.”

James Kim: 3rd place (tie)

11th grade, King High School (RUSD) incoming 12th grader

Artist Statement: “The element in the middle of the flag, the Raincross Symbol, symbolizes the rich and vibrant history of Riverside, and its place in the center of the flag symbolizes how this emblem has dug its way into the center of Riverside City. The semicircular design that wraps around the Raincross Symbol to the right signifies the inclusive, tight-knit community that Riverside offers, while the golden rays that seem to extend out endlessly show the far-reaching influence Riverside has in the nation. The choice of the colors, Blue and Gold, are the primary colors that decorate much of Riverside's own treasures, including UCR, CBU, and La Sierra University.”

Honorable Mention Recipients

Please click the slide show to the left to see all the amazing submissions that received Honorable Mention in the High School Category.