"Say it in 6" virtual competition

Communication in the 21st century relies heavily on visual messaging. The "Say it in 6" competition helps graduate students develop visual communication skills, by requiring contributions limited to six words and a single image. 

The 2023 competition theme is My Community. 

What does community mean to you? Is it other students? Co-workers or family members? Those you will serve in your future career? How does a sense of community impact your life as a graduate student?

• Competition opens - Monday, October 16, 2023
• Submission deadline - Tuesday, November 7, 2023
• Online voting open - Thursday, November 9 - Wednesday, November 15, 2023
• Winners announced - Monday, November 20, 2023

Entries must include:

• An original image.
  
  • Your own photography or a photograph of your original artwork. A student may use a photo of themselves, with photographer permission.
• An original six-word statement 
  • Statement must be embedded within the image file (see details below for hints on how correctly format and submit your entry).
    • A hyphenated word counts as two words, but common acronyms will be treated as one word (e.g. UWL, ASAP).
    • If using hashtags, each word following # will be counted (i.e., #willbecounted would count as 3 words).
• Entries should incorporate this year's theme:
  • My Community 
• Entries should connect in some way to the student's field of study.
• One entry permitted per individual. 
• In addition to the requirements indicated above, Graduate & Extended Learning reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not meet university code of conduct standards (e.g., use of hateful, violent, attacking language/images; violation of FERPA or HIPAA protections; depictions of safety violations; plagiarism). Entries must reflect an appropriate level of professionalism in language and images as appropriate to promoting higher education and a state organization (e.g., correct spelling, clean language, non-sexualized images, etc.).

If you don't regularly use graphics software, we recommend this approach:

• To get started, use a blank PowerPoint slide
  • For correct sizing, in Powerpoint select - Design > Slide size > Widescreen (16:9)
• Create your submission
  • Include your image/s and six words. 
  • Images must be 5.0 MB or higher quality; maximum file size is 16.0 MB. If your file is too big save it at lower resolution.
  • Photo collages are permitted.
• Save your entry
  • When you are finished, save the PowerPoint slide as a JPEG. Include your name as part of the file name. 
  • This JPEG will serve as your entry.
• Submit your entry
  
  • One submission allowed per person
  • Entries must be submitted via the link on the website 
  • Be sure that your name is part of the file name you submit!

After the submission deadline, all entries will be viewable on the Graduate & Extended Learning website.

Judging Criteria

Originality & Creativity

• Overall professional appearance
• Unique or surprising
• Effective connection to theme: My Community

Storytelling & Impact

• Captures viewer's attention
• Tell a stimulating, moving, or memorable story
• Connects in some way to your field of study
• Words and image work together to create a message

Evaluation Process

Entries will be reviewed by a committee of five individuals selected by the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning to represent a diversity of perspectives on graduate education. The committee will select the top three place-winners.

Online voting will be open to the general public for one week to determine the People's Choice award winner. Votes will be submitted via Qualtrics (one vote per email address). Competitor names and graduate programs will be shared during the online voting. A single competitor may be selected as a place winner by the selection committee and also be awarded the People's Choice.

Award winners will be announced on the Graduate & Extended Learning website.

Our fourth "Say it in 6" competition resulted in 47 graduate student entries from 12 different graduate programs! Grab a cup of coffee and scroll through these interesting and thoughtful contributions.