A Heartfelt Triumph: Gordon McKernan Billboard Design Competition Winner Pays Tribute to a Little Hero
We’re delighted to announce that the first-place winning design of our Billboard Design Competition has now graced billboards across the state. Moreover, the heartfelt story that inspired its creation is heavy on our minds as we observe Epilepsy Awareness Month this November.
First-place winner, Madisyn McLean, crafted the winning design on her iPad. The design features Gordon McKernan and sidekick Penny donning superhero gear. This imaginative depiction caught our attention from the start, standing out among the impressive entries we received. Little did we know, this design holds a meaningful story that makes its impact even more profound.
Each winner in our competition was given the opportunity to choose a charity for us to make a charitable donation toward as a part of their prize. When we asked Madisyn about her charity of choice, she chose to honor Jack Stone McIntosh—a six-year-old superhero in his own right,
At the end of August, Jack tragically passed away at six years old due to a rare form of genetic epilepsy called malignant migrating partial seizures of infancy, which is linked to mutations in his KCNT1 gene. Madisyn, whose mother had been his nurse since birth, felt compelled to honor his memory. After all, it was Jack’s love for superheroes that had inspired Madisyn’s initial submission.
The Power of Art
Madisyn had always planned to donate her winnings in Jack’s name, and what struck us as incredibly touching was the timing. The competition culminated at the beginning of September, and Madisyn’s winning design happened to go up on billboards in November—Epilepsy Awareness Month.
In line with Madisyn’s wishes, we made the charitable donation to the KCNT1 Foundation in Jack’s name. This heartfelt tribute reminds us that art has the power to tell meaningful stories and create connections that go beyond the canvas.
We extend our gratitude to everyone who participated in our Billboard Design competition and congratulate Madisyn McLean on her outstanding contribution and well-deserved victory.
