Holiday Card Design Contest
President Michael Amiridis and First Lady Ero Aggelopoulou-Amiridis invite you to enter your original artwork for a chance to be featured on the president’s official 2024 holiday card.
The contest is open to all University of South Carolina undergraduate and graduate students, and contest entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. Artwork must be submitted electronically with the completed entry form.
The grand prize winner will receive $500, and the two runners-up will receive $250
each. The winner’s name will appear on the back of the card, and all three winners
will be invited to the President’s House to be recognized. The winning artwork will
be shared digitally and in print with the campus community, alumni, donors and friends
of the university. Winners will be notified by email on or before Oct. 31, 2024.
Contest Details
Contest Theme
Original artwork should combine the winter break spirit with one or more of the following themes:- University of South Carolina life.
- College life in general.
- South Carolina.
- The winter season.
Who May Enter
Any University of South Carolina undergraduate or graduate student from any major or discipline — and from any USC system institution — can enter the contest. Multiple entries from the same artist are acceptable. Submissions without the entry form will not be considered. Submitted entries must be the original work of the student who is submitting the work.
How to Enter
Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. Artwork must be submitted electronically with the completed entry form.
Design Specifications
- Artwork should fit standard card dimensions: 5 x 7 inches, will mail in an A7 envelope. The file size limit is 14 MB.
- Acceptable file types are JPG, PNG, PDF and EPS.
- If creating digital art using the university’s garnet, the official color is CMYK: 9,100,64,48.
- No photography, religious themes, AI artwork or stock images may be submitted.
Reproduction Rights
Artwork files may be edited to reflect final language, messaging and university brand standards. The university also reserves the right to alter the submitted artwork to ensure it meets accessibility standards and other parameters. The university will retain all reproduction rights to submitted artwork, with credit given to the artist. The University of South Carolina agrees not to sell any of the artwork or any reproduction of the artwork. Artists warrant that they are the sole proprietor of the artwork and agree to assign all copyright and other intellectual property rights in the artwork to the university. Entries must be original work and must not infringe on the protected rights of other artists or violate any copyright laws.
Judging
All entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by the Office of the President. Artwork will be judged on creativity, artistic expression and merit, and how it applies the contest theme(s). The winner will be notified by email on or before Oct. 31. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Past Winners
FAQ
Do the dimensions of my art matter? Does it have to be in a horizontal or vertical
format?
There are no restrictions on the size or orientation of submissions. The image will
be reproduced on a 5"x7" card.
Can I create a design without any words, or should I include any specific messaging?
What you submit is entirely up to you. It can include words, but many submissions
each year do not. If you include words, make sure they are readable. The artwork will
be featured on the front of the card. All of the card's messaging will be determined
at a later date.
I am supposed to ensure that the work I submit is my own, but can I use university
logos and/or symbols in my design?
Yes, you are welcome to use any of the university's marks and logos in your personal
design for the front of the card. You are not required to do so, however. The back
of the card will include the official university logo.
Are online USC students eligible to participate?
Yes! As our criteria above state, the contest is open to all University of South Carolina
undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of how you attend the university.
May I submit artwork on behalf of someone else?
No. Submitted entries must be the original work of the student who is submitting the
work. Any design that is created by an artist other than the student who is submitting
it will be disqualified. All designs submitted must be the work of current USC students.
2024 Submissions are closed
Entries are under review.