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"Say it in 6" winners

A page within Graduate Education

1st place, Student Affairs Administration MSEd Hleeda Vang 1st place, Student Affairs Administration MSEd
2nd place and People's Choice, Biology Danielle Hudson 2nd place and People's Choice, Biology
3rd place, Medical Dosimetry Allison Wright 3rd place, Medical Dosimetry

Thank you to all who participated!

FINAL AWARD SELECTIONS - 2023

1st Place |  $400
Submitter: HLEEDA VANG
Program: Student Affairs Administration MSEd
Submission Title: Fostering Identity and Belonging in Students

2nd Place |  $300
Submitter: DANIELLE HUDSON
Program: Biology
Submission Title: Building Community Through Outreach and Advocacy

3rd Place |  $200
Submitter: ALLISON WRIGHT
Program: Medical Dosimetry
Submission Title: Cancer-Killing Coworkers Create Compassionate Communities

People's Choice | $300
Submitter: DANIELLE HUDSON
Program: Biology
Submission Title: Building Community Through Outreach and Advocacy

Our 2023 "Say it in 6" competition featured 47 graduate student entries from 12 graduate programs! Grab a cup of coffee and scroll through these interesting and thoughtful contributions. 

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.

Prizes will be awarded as scholarship payments to student accounts. If there is no balance due, a refund will be issued. 

SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS

1st Place: $400

2nd Place: $300

3rd Place: $200

People's Choice: $300