New Colors, New Canvas – A Conversation with Nya Reebe, Our 35th Anniversary T-Shirt Design Contest Winner

For the celebration of our 35th year of bringing news, culture and NPR to Sullivan County and beyond, Radio Catskill put out a call to all local creatives in May 2025 – help us design a logo that will be featured on T-shirts, thank you cards to our listeners, and all of our merchandise. The winning designer was also promised a feature on Radio Catskill.

We are so excited to announce that Nya Reebe of Parksville, New York is our winner! Her unique take on the past, present and future of radio, along with her intriguing use of color and our signature lightning bolt stood out and captured Radio Catskill’s energy.

Nya is a graphic designer and small business owner who is currently based in Woodridge, New York. While she’s loved drawing since childhood, it was during her time at SUNY Sullivan where she decided it was going to be her livelihood. In 2024, she graduated from the school’s Graphic Design program where she fine-tuned her use of technology to draw.

”I did start off with traditional drawing pencil on paper,” said Nya. “And then I got an iPad for the first time and I was like, ‘Oh, I can do digital art. Cool!’ So I do a mixture of both.”

She used this knowledge to create her submission for the 35th Anniversary T-Shirt Design Contest. After seeing an email from Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, she took a leap of faith that would push her as an artist.

“I saw this opportunity and I was really interested,” said Nya, “I wanted to challenge myself. I’ve never really created a design for a shirt.  I came up with this and I was like, ‘Listen, I might not win. Who knows? Take a shot in the dark.’”

Nya is passionate about using graphic design, illustration and marketing to help out small businesses and other artists in New York and Florida. Still, she is looking to continue taking risks as she makes a name for herself, with her dreams extending as far as the television screen. She hopes to one day see her designs as part of an animated show, citing Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel as creative influences on her work.

“ I do want to do a cartoony style,” said Nya. “I want to have my drawings on the big screen. I just feel like that’d be so cool.”

Listen for more, and make sure to pick up one of Nya Reebe’s designed T-Shirts at our studio in Liberty or online.

Image: Detail of Nya Reebe’s Winning Design Submission (Credit: Nya Reebe)