BUTLER TWP — Butler Township officials are once again using the skills and talents of Slippery Rock University students to find out what residents are thinking.

Communications Department students created three sample logos included in a survey on the township website and Facebook page. Township officials encourage residents to vote before Nov. 16 for one of the three to become the next official logo.

The logo adorns the municipal building as well as official letterhead and business cards. Many residents didn't know the township had one, according to Dave Zarnick, chairman of the township commissioners.

He said the existing logo was created in 2004 when the municipal building was built, and admits he had to do some digging to learn about its origins.

“The current logo, 67 percent didn't know we had one or know what it looked like,” Zarnick said, referring to responses to a previous student project.

It is important to get students to undertake public projects, he said.

“As you look around the township, you see changes,” Zarnick said. “Businesses are getting facelifts, housing is improving and the township must keep up. We want to get younger people involved,”

Previously, Slippery Rock students helped the township inform residents about changes in garbage collection and to recruit volunteers for the fire department through the use of surveys and focus groups.

Patrick Sennott, a senior majoring in integrated marketing communications, managed the logo campaign. He said the project involved three other students.

“Nine residents looked at logos and gave us ideas,” Sennott said. “We asked them about colors, what they would like to see. We were looking for family oriented ideas. We want to gear it toward the next generation of residents.”

Sennott said the selection of a new logo will ultimately be up to the commissioners.