Final answer:
Benny Benson designed the Alaska state flag when he was just 13 years old, featuring the Big Dipper and Polaris. He later worked as an airplane mechanic and lived on Kodiak Island, continuing to create miniature versions of his iconic flag design.
Step-by-step explanation:
The state flag designed by Benny Benson is that of Alaska. In 1926, when the territory wanted its own flag, they held a competition which Benny, a 13-year-old seventh grader of Swedish-Alutiiq descent, won. His design features the Big Dipper constellation and Polaris, the north star, symbolizing the vast Alaskan sky and the state's northern position.
Benny was raised in the Jesse-Lee Memorial Home for Orphans in Unalaska before moving to Seward, Alaska. He is commemorated in Seward with a monument, and his legacy includes crafting miniature versions of the flag throughout his life.
After winning the competition, Benny pursued a career as an airplane mechanic and continued to live in Alaska, spending a significant period of his life on Kodiak Island.