Coloma High School students get unique chance to design SRO car

COLOMA, Mich. -- Students at Coloma High School had the unique chance to help design the car for their School Resource Officer! 

It’s all thanks to a grant from the Berrien Community Foundation, first set into motion by the school’s former resource officer back in 2021.  

But it wasn’t just pen to paper immediately; students spent time learning about the steps to a professional design process. They also researched vinyl wraps, and the history of Coloma to pick out different things about the city to potentially add to the car. 

The final design, wrapped in green, gold and white, represents a little bit of all that the city has to offer. 

One side of the vehicle shows off different clubs and sports at Coloma Schools like Metal Works, Spanish Club and Robotics.  

The other side features pictures of Loma Theatre, Randall Park and Paw Paw Lake, combining key community staples with the school programs highlighted. 

The front hood is dedicated to The Glad Peach Festival, a Coloma tradition since 1967.  

Painted on the trunk is the signature Comet, the school’s mascot. 

Contributions were made by 6th graders through seniors in high school, but 2 students, Savannah Hamilton and Selene Ramirez are the ones who sketched and colored the design. 

Hamilton called the whole thing “one of the coolest art experiences” she’s ever had. Ramirez says seeing it in person was a “whole different experience”. 

Coloma Police Sargeant and SRO, Andrew Ulleg is proud to drive the car around the city. He says, “it represents the school as a whole and that’s what we wanted, a great relationship with our school and our students.”