Northwest-Shoals Community College sophomore student Clay Hodge was recently notified that he won the 2017 Phi Theta Kappa International Convention T-shirt design competition.

Hodge’s design will be used for the official event T-shirt, and he will receive a $500 scholarship.

Hodge, a native of Tharptown, also placed in the top ten of the PTK International Convention pin design competition. According to Hodge, he got the inspiration for his two designs from the location of this year’s convention. “With the convention being in Nashville, I knew I wanted to do something music-related,” said Hodge. “I looked at some of the winners in the past, and they used the city as the basis for their design. So, I just started there.”

Hodge currently serves as the vice president of fellowship for the Alpha Zeta Iota chapter (Phil Campbell campus) of PTK at NW-SCC. He plans to graduate in May and transfer to the University of Alabama in Huntsville or the University of Alabama and pursue a degree in animation or graphic design and web development.

Hodge has a clear passion for design, and he said winning this competition affirms his career plans. “Knowing I was able to design something that won a competition of this magnitude is so gratifying,” said Hodge. “It helps reassure me that I am going into the career that is meant for me.”

While at the PTK International Convention, he will also be running for vice president of Division 2, which covers the southeastern states. The PTK International Convention will be held in Nashville, Tenn., April 6-8.