“The chance to represent a city, a community, a nation, is a chance not to be denied. Youngstown is a city whose steel manufacturing industry played a large part in building our great nation. The use of semi-precious metals in my design is intended to show our historical wealth, the wealth that we still possess as a strong and diverse community, and the wealth I personally feel as an alumnus of Youngstown State University. The power conveyed by such metals will speak to the conscience and soul of all who see it…forever. In my design, the pedestal is transformed into a block of stone, representing our strong future. The Youngstown of my eyes, the eyes of a Penguin, is the ‘Empire’ I see coming.”