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Ken Tom wearing his winning West is Best T-shirt.

The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu Bookstore unveiled a new West is Best T-shirt designed by Ken Tom, a humanities student at the university. Tom’s design won an online poll in November 2014.

Following in the tradition of UH Bookstores’ annual HI Pride T-shirt contest, the West is Best contest was open to UH student designers only. Tom first heard about the contest from his creative media instructor Sharla Hanaoka.

“Because of our campus’ creative media program, I thought it would be wonderful to have a contest that could give students design experience and also create buzz,” said UH West Oʻahu Bookstore Manager Kory Uramoto-Wong, who worked with Hanaoka to get student entries.

UH West Oʻahu students are vibrant, prideful and are meeting their academic goals,” said Uramoto-Wong. “That is why we chose the theme ‘West is Best’!”

Tom, a Leilehua High School graduate from Wahiawā, researched typography and recruited feedback from family and friends before submitting his design to the bookstore’s contest. In addition to seeing his design worn by fellow students on-campus, he received the first West is Best T-shirt printed and a $100 UH Bookstore gift card as a grand prize.

The West is Best T-shirts are available exclusively at the West Oʻahu Bookstore, located on the second floor of UH West Oʻahu Campus Center, and online on the UH West Oʻahu Bookstore website. UH students receive a discount on their first West is Best shirt purchased with valid student ID.

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