Creating a brand for an educational initiative is rarely straightforward, and the development of LIFT (Leaders Innovating For Tomorrow) for Mattoon CUSD #3, Mattoon, IL, was no different. What started as a vision to expand the district's local technology program transformed into a Regional Innovation Center with a bold, meaningful identity.

​​​​​​​Agriculture is a staple of the rural education curriculum, and while a majority of students are involved in those programs, there is often little funding and inadequate spaces to support them. The future farmers and agribusiness leaders are frequently taught in regular classrooms or modified shop rooms, without access to the tools and resources they need.