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 2023 holiday card.
The contest is open to all University of South Carolina system students, and contest entries will be accepted until midnight on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Artwork must be submitted electronically with 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 university community, alumni, donors and friends of the university. Winners will be notified by email on or before Oct. 31.
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
- Artwork should fit standard card dimensions: 5 inches by 7 inches, will mail in an A7 envelope. The file size limit is 14.6MB.
- 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.
- 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.
Submit Your Design