Southern Gap
Southern Gap High School is a brand-new 9–12 grade school in Buchanan County, Virginia. Four high schools (Council, Grundy, Hurley, and Twin Valley) were consolidated in the fall of 2026 to create the new school.
The Problem
This project combined four high schools spread throughout Buchanan County into one state-of-the-art facility. As the high school was to serve the entire county, reflecting the whole population was crucial for success.
The Solution
With a stakeholder committee comprised of the school board Chairman, school board members, the county Superintendent, and principals, we set out to find what makes Buchanan County, VA unique.
Logo Design
Our first exercise for the Southern Gap team was to reflect on the key identifiers of the county from both a historical and social perspective. By examining the county’s history, we found that the mining industry was a great representation of the resilient nature of the community. As the county grows, looking at educational symbols and images of soaring eagles could inspire the stakeholders’ vision for the future.
Sports Logo
As part of the new high school’s process, the school district opened the naming of the mascot to the Buchanan County, VA, community. They chose the Eagles as the school moniker to reflect the community’s high aspirations for its future.
The Eagles Take Flight!
