40th Anniversary Art Contest

Submit a piece of art representing connections made through cultural exchange for the chance to win $300 and have your art featured on special edition merch! Please be sure to read all the rules and regulations below.

Submission Deadline: January 12, 2026

WINNER

Congratulations to Eduardo S. from Portugal! Eduardo is currently doing his exchange year in Missouri.

Note from the artist: "This artwork describes a little bit of my Exchange year as well as my friends around the globe and the US. My local coordinator is represented holding the globe, guiding us to our maximum international potential. The other Exchange students represented are referencing cultures i have interacted with during this year. Multiculturality is the key aspect of this piece."

Honorable Mentions

_

Ismail M. from Nigeria

"My artwork symbolizes diversity and unity, showing how people, regardless of their origin, language, or culture, can come together as one and learn from one another in a world rich with differences. The plane represents individuals from various backgrounds, carrying hope, curiosity, and the desire to both learn new cultures and share their own. The surrounding flags emphasize global connection and mutual respect. The clouds represent warmth, optimism, and the welcoming future that awaits them, while the destination reflects the opportunity, freedom, and cultural exchange found in the great nation of America."

Shiyrin K. from Uzbekistan

"In this artwork, I wanted to explore cultural exchange as a space where different traditions and symbols come together. The sun represents shared beginnings: light, warmth, and values that connect cultures and create strong connections."

Rules & Regulations

Who can participate?

The contest is open to all current and past STS Foundation exchange students.

What medium can I use?

STS Foundation welcomes a variety of mediums – designs produced by hand and computer graphic design are accepted.

Your artwork must be at minimum 8 1/2 inches wide and 11 inches tall, and have a resolution of at least 300 ppi. We recommend you talk to your school art or technology department about how to submit the artwork in the correct resolution.

Your artwork must be submitted in one of the following format: PNG, JPEG or PDF.

What should I include / not include in my artwork?

Your artwork should be your own original creation and should represent the connections made through cultural exchange.

There should be no reference or depiction of sports or high school graduation in the artwork submitted.

Please avoid emphasis on specific countries in the artwork.

The artwork should not incorporate the STS Foundation logo.

You may not use photo images or artwork that is not your own.

How do I submit my artwork?

Use the form at the bottom of this page to submit your artwork.

A physical printed/hard color copy of the design will not be accepted.

More than one entry is permitted.

Please re-name your file submission(s) to be your first and last name. (ie Jane Doe.png). If you submit more than one artwork, please put a number after the last name. (ie Jane Doe2.png)

Deadline to submit your artwork is Sunday, January 11, 2026, at 11.59 pm.

How is the winner selected?

The winner will be selected by a blind jury composed of STS Foundation’s National Team.

The winner will be contacted directly by STS Foundation.

You must have the ability to submit your artwork in at least 300 ppi high resolution in order to be eligible to win the contest.

Submissions are now closed