The seventh eagle in Georgia Southern University’s public art project, Eagle Nation on Parade, was installed at William James Middle School last Friday.

The statue is a 6 ft fiberglass eagle with stars and stripes providing the background for the Statesboro Courthouse and Averitt Center for the Arts on either wing.

Kelsey Fallin, a risingeighth grader at William James Middle School, submitted the application that was chosen to be the design of the statue.

“I was very surprised and shocked when I won,” Fallin said.

Fallin, along with her parents and classmates, watched as her eagle “Statesboro Nation” was placed on the front lawn of William James Middle School.

“This is something to look back on. It’s a really big memory,” Fallin said.

Fallin’s statue is the first Eagle Nation in Education eagle, Cinnamon Dowd, outreach coordinator in the art department, said.

“This is going to become a landmark for William James,” Mike Yawn, principal of William James Middle School, said.

Out of 464 entries, the winner and two runners-up were chosen from William James Middle School.

This is a true testament to the art department, Yawn said.

“We are extremely proud of Kelsey and the runners-up,” Yawn said.

Fallin, along with Janet Suarez, a GSU master of fine arts candidate, worked on the statue for more than four months, including part of her spring break.

“It was very wonderful working with Janet and just seeing how she works,” Fallin said.

The art department will come back and place a bronze plaque with Fallin’s name and the title of the eagle on it, Stephanie Neal, assistant to the chair of the art department, said.

“Kelsey worked really, really hard on this project,” Dowd said. “We are so proud of her and the way the eagle turned out.”