Student Success Summit Design Contest

Inspired by our 2024 Student Success Summit theme “Building Caring Spaces & Positive Spaces,” we're calling all creative students to help design and reimagine existing or new physical spaces at HCC!

Participating students are asked to craft original artwork that embodies our event theme and vision in creating caring, positive, and supportive environments on HCC campuses that support the HCC Eagle community.

The top three entries will win a scholarship sponsored by HCC Foundation! The scholarship will be awarded for Summer or Fall 2024; cover tuition and fees for HCC courses; and be non-refundable.

First Prize: $1000 scholarship
Second Prize: $500 scholarship
Third Prize: $250 scholarship

The deadline to enter is March 27 and the steps to participate in the contest are below. Now, bring your vision to life through original artwork! If you have any questions, please email aaron.henry@hccs.edu, misha.turner@hccs.edu, daejan.grigsby@hccs.edu and marlon.anderson@hccs.edu.

Click Here to Submit Your Design

Steps to Submit Design + Contest Criteria

Eligibility

The contest is open to all currently enrolled HCC students who are in good academic standing.

Contest Theme + Submission Prompt

We invite all students, regardless of skill level, to unleash their creativity by crafting a piece of digital art that embodies the essence of the contest theme “Building Caring & Positive Spaces for Tomorrow.”

Below are prompts to give you creative inspiration and greater clarity about the contest goal. These prompts serve as guiding suggestions, not a directive or formula to follow. Let your creativity flow freely!

Learning spaces that spark your creativity and ignite your passion.
Environments that foster connection and collaboration with your peers.
Innovative designs that leverage technology to enhance your learning journey.
Spaces you believe HCC should create to promote focus, mental health and well-being, and or/other ways to enhance your learning environment.

Submission Guidelines + Contest Timeline

Each entry must be submitted/uploaded by March 27.
Artwork Dimensions: 18 inches (width) x 24 inches (height).
File type: High-resolution JPEG, PNG, OR PDF
Submission Form: Please upload your digital file by using the online submission form.
- Please click here to submit your design.
- To submit, you must log in to Microsoft Forms using the same login you use for Eagle Online (Canvas).
  - For password reset help, please call 713.718.8800 (Monday – Friday: 7:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. and Saturday: 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M.).
- Please be sure to spellcheck all text in the entry.

Judging Criteria

Alignment and Relevance: Judges will consider whether the submission is relevant to the contest theme.
Creativity and Originality: Judges will consider how the artwork or design demonstrates creativity and originality.
Artistic Elements: Judges will consider how well the piece includes different design elements such as use of color, shapes, and contrast; and different artistic tools/techniques.
Adherence to Contest Rules: Students must adhere to contest rules below. Failure to do so will result in judges disqualifying the submission.

HCC Non-discrimination Clause: HCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and gender expression, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or Veteran status.

Submission Rules

Failure to adhere to the guidelines below will result in automatic disqualification from the contest.

All digital artwork submissions must be entirely original creations crafted by the participants themselves.
Use of artificial intelligence or any automated tools to create digital artwork is a violation of academic integrity per the Student Handbook policy.
Students must provide a brief description of their creative work alongside their submission, detailing the tools and software used (if applicable) such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite (Express, Photoshop, inDesign, & Illustrator), Procreate, Krita, or any other appropriate design software.
Contest entries must not contain content that could be considered offensive, harmful, or politically biased. This includes language, imagery, or themes that discriminate against individuals or groups based on race, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic.
Entries must not depict smoking, alcohol consumption, vulgarity, profanity, or violence.

Terms & Conditions

Submissions must be original work. Every designer certifies that their submission does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party and that their submission does not violate any trademark or copyright laws.
Every designer assumes the responsibility and legal repercussions for their submission's copyright or trademark infringement.
The winning designer relinquishes all rights to their submission to Houston Community College, including but not limited to the right to modify and publish the design in PR/promotional materials, such as marketing publications, advertisements, promotional items, merchandise, and any College-related publication, without limitation for an indefinite period of time.
The winning designer grants permission to Houston Community College for use of his/her personal name, and image and understands that his/her winning submission may appear in whole or in part, in any of the wide variety of formats and media now available to the College and all that may be available in the future, including but not limited to print, broadcast, videotape, CD-ROM and electronic/online media.
The winning designer will not receive any royalties from the sale of items bearing the winning name and/or design.
Submissions will not be returned to the designers. No responsibility can be accepted for lost, delayed, or damaged submissions.
If a student submits duplicate design submissions with the design, the entry submitted first will be accepted. The date and time of contest submissions will be recorded.
Winning entries may be asked to submit native/source file and linked files.