Scholarship FAQs

What types of designs are permitted?

Original art, photograph or computer graphics can be submitted online as a JPEG (.jpg), thru the entry page. Original art can be sent by taking a digital photograph or scanning it.

Should there be wording or a greeting on the card?

Wording is not necessary but can be incorporated into the design if you would like. We are more interested in the art to appear on the outside front of the card. We are not looking for a sentiment for the inside greeting of a card.

Since all designs will be tested extensively with different stocks, foils, colors, type solutions and cropping variations, the winning submission could possibly be only an illustration or photo that we eventually add text to for the final product. For your reference, some of our current designs incorporate wording such as "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Birthday" on the front while other designs simply have a picture.

What themes are acceptable for card designs?

Anything that is consistent with our current card line. Christmas cards are our biggest sellers, but Birthday and Anniversary cards are also an important part of our business. (The anniversary cards are generally used in business to thank employees for their service on the anniversary of their hire date). Sympathy and Get Well cards are additional themes you can work with. Please browse our website to get an idea of the possibilities, keeping in mind that our cards are targeted to a corporate clientele.

What size should my design be?

All card designs are 5 1/2" x 7 7/8". While the design itself would need to fit within those dimensions, it is not necessary for you to submit in this exact size. Designs can be vertical or horizontal.

What forms of artwork can I submit?

All forms of artwork, uploaded as a JPEG (.jpg). Maximum file size is limited to 2 megabytes.

Can I embellish my design with stamping, fabric or other material?

The use of rubber stamps, images from the internet, or quotations is not allowed - everything in your design must be your own original work. Items such as wire, sequins, fabric or other 3-dimensional embellishments would also not be suitable for our product line.

How can I enter the contest?

Online entry is required. Please visit http://www.gallerycollection.com/greetingcardscontests.htm. The online application must include a .jpg image of the original work of art or photograph, the applicant's first and last name, date of birth, phone number, mailing address, email address, grade level, name of school currently attending and school's website address. Maximum file size is limited to 2 megabytes.

Who is eligible?

This contest is open to all high school, college and university students enrolled during the time period of the contest in an academic program designed to conclude with the awarding of a diploma or a degree are welcome to participate in our scholarship competition.

Students home-schooled under the auspices of an accredited high school are considered high school students for this purpose and are eligible.

All legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, as well as American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. International students who have a student visa to attend school in the U.S. are considered legal residents and are therefore eligible.

How old do I have to be to enter?

Students must be 14 years of age or older at the time of entry.

How will work be judged?

The Gallery Collection employs several experts in the area of Greeting Card Designs. A panel of objective judges selected from these employees will score all eligible contest entries based on the following criteria:

  1. Overall aesthetic appeal
  2. Quality of execution
  3. Creativity and Originality
  4. Successful incorporation of design elements
  5. Appropriateness for use as a greeting card
  6. Attractiveness to The Gallery Collection's corporate and consumer customers
  7. Suitability as a design in Prudent’s Gallery Collection greeting card line (see http://www.gallerycollection.com to browse current designs)

How will prize be paid?

The applicant with the winning entry will receive a cash scholarship of $10,000 plus a $1,000 prize for their school. If the winner is enrolled in an educational institution, the scholarship will be paid directly to the institution so far as is necessary to complete payment of the winner's tuition, fees, and books and supplies expenses. Any remainder of the scholarship will be paid directly to the winner. Where the winner is a minor, the scholarship will be awarded to the winner's parent or guardian, as custodian for the winner, or to his or her educational institution as above, if the parent or guardian so prefers. No substitution or transfer of prizes is permitted. Any taxes due are the sole responsibility of the winner and/or his or her parent or guardian. Prudent Publishing will issue an appropriate 1099 form to the winner (or his or her parent or guardian). Payment of awards will be contingent upon receipt of verification that the applicant meets all of the eligibility requirements.

What happens to non-winning entries?

In the event that we do decide to publish a non-winning entry as a greeting card or otherwise, it is our intention to compensate the student in the usual and customary amount as we would compensate our regular contributing artists. All original artwork including but not limited to digitally uploaded images and otherwise submitted material will not be returned to the entrant.

Where can I find the complete rules for the contest?

Please click here for the Official Scholarship Rules.

Should my school add a scholarship link to your website?

Yes! By adding a link to our competition, you can get the word out and give every eligible student the opportunity to participate in this inspirational and simple-to-enter contest. Request that a link to this contest appear on your department or school’s website. Please link to http://www.gallerycollection.com/greetingcardscontests.htm.

What else can I do to get the word out about this contest?

  1. Communicate to students: Let students know however you can!
  2. Notify other school officials: Tell administrators, teachers, professors, counselors and even parents about this contest.
  3. Provide us with names of other school officials: Tell us who else we can send this information to so that more students hear about the Scholarship Contest (email addresses are preferred).
  4. Add a MySpace, Facebook, Twitter or blog link: If you have your own blog, MySpace or Facebook page or website, feel free to post a link to our scholarship competition.

If I have a question, who can I contact?

Please feel free to send questions, suggestions or comments to scholarshipadmin@gallerycollection.com

How does the voting work?

Every month our judges will put 100 entries for voting on our site. The top 10 entries with the most votes from each session will automatically move on to the Finalist Round. Our judging team will have 1 "Save" available to them each month, which will allow them to pick a design outside the top 10 in voting, to move onto the Finalist Round.

What happens to the Monthly Finalists?

For the Finalist Voting Round the top 10 entries from each monthly voting session along with any "saved" entries will be put up for voting. The top 5 entries with the most votes along with 5 entries that the judging team selects will be the official Top 10 Finalists. The judging team will select the winner from these 10 Finalists.