Senior Olivia Dotson won this year’s annual bookmark contest. Dotson submitted a bookmark she designed that has colorful insects and books on it. Rancho Cucamonga High School hosted its eighth annual bookmark contest this year, which was announced by RCHS teacher-librarian Ms. Connie Joyce on Sept. 10.

Dotson said she didn’t expect her bug interest to win a school art contest, but that’s exactly what happened. Her bookmark design was inspired by her love for insects. 

“I’ve always been a big fan of insects. I just wanted to include that in my design,” Dotson said.

She said the idea came from a phase when she was researching insects nonstop. 

“At the time, I was really obsessed with bugs. I’d been learning a lot about them because one day I want to have some as pets,” Dotson said.

When Dotson found out she won, she said she was very surprised. 

“I kind of forgot about the competition after I submitted it. So when my teacher told me I won and showed me the email, I was pretty shocked,” Dotson said.

Dotson explained that the hardest part of the competition was finding the time to finish her bookmark. She worked on her design using the iPads in the school’s graphics room since she couldn’t use her own at home. It took her a week to complete.

Each year, one winning design is chosen and printed as the official school bookmark. Copies are distributed to everyone at school, including teachers and staff. The back of the bookmark also includes helpful information, including how to log into Chromebooks, databases, and other useful tips.

Main trends from past winners include creating bookmarks with strong images and messages about learning or the joy of reading. According to Joyce, during quarantine, the contest was almost canceled. However, even when students were in remote learning, the competition remained as students asked for it to continue. During the lockdown, Joyce said that more than 15 designs were submitted. One featured Zoom and learning from home, making it a memorable design for that time.

This year’s rules were the same: Bookmarks must have a reading or learning image attached to a theme, including the 2025–2026 school year, and the artist’s name for credit. Students can create their bookmarks at home or use art supplies in the library, with free creative expression. The judging process is simple; entries are judged by staff, district members, and even the superintendent.

Junior Jolin Wang, last year’s first-place winner, also shared her experience. She shared that it was her first time joining any contest like that. Since she’s good at art, she decided to give it a try, and she thought it was a nice experience.

When she found out she won, she was elated. Her advice to future contestants is to just try their best and not second-guess themselves. She said if you want it, go for it, because you never know what might happen.

The competition, which provided students with a chance to promote reading and show off their art skills, has the main goal of encouraging reading.