Holiday Card Design Contest

President Michael Amiridis and First Lady Ero Aggelopoulou-Amiridis are excited to share this year's winning holiday card artwork and encourage you to enter your original artwork next year for a chance to be featured on the president’s official 2024 holiday card.

The contest is open to all University of South Carolina system students, and contest entries are typically accepted until early October each year. Artwork must be submitted electronically with completed entry form. Check this page later for more information about the 2024 contest.

Each year, the grand prize winner receives $500, and the two runners-up receive $250 each. The winner’s name appears on the back of the card, and all three winners are invited to the President’s House to be recognized. The winning artwork is shared digitally and in print with the university community, alumni, donors and friends of the university. Winners are notified by email on or before Oct. 31.

 

Contest Winners

Thank you to everyone who submitted artwork to this year's USC holiday card design contest, and congratulations to the winners.
 
Winner: Renee Herzer, pursuing the integrated information technology degree online

 

Contest Details

Contest Theme

Original artwork (no photography, religious themes, AI artwork or stock images) should combine the winter break spirit with one or more of the following themes:

• University of South Carolina life.
• South Carolina.
• Winter.
• College life.

 

Who May Enter

Any University of South Carolina student — from any major or discipline, from any campus, whether attending online or in person — can enter the contest. Multiple entries from the same artist are acceptable. Submissions without the entry form will not be considered.

 

How to Enter

Entries will be accepted until midnight on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Artwork must be submitted electronically with completed entry form.

 

Design Specifications

1. Artwork should fit standard card dimensions: 5 inches by 7 inches, will mail in an A7 envelope. The file size limit is 14.6MB.
2. Acceptable file types are JPG, PNG, PDF and EPS.
3. If creating digital art using the university’s garnet, the official color is CMYK: 9,100,64,48. 
4. 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.

 

Reproduction Rights

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 gaddism@mailbox.sc.edu. 

 

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. 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 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.

 

Submissions for the 2023 contest are closed.