The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship is hosting its annual competition for the artwork to be featured on the 2025 Student Scholars Day abstract book cover. The Student Scholars Day Committee will select the artwork. The winner will receive a $500 scholarship which will be applied to the 2025 Winter semester.

Submissions should be representative of scholarship, research, and creativity at GVSU. See examples of past covers on the Abstract Book Archive webpage.

All GVSU students are eligible to participate in the competition. The competition deadline is Friday, December 20, 2024. Artists will be notified by Friday, January 10, 2025. Questions and inquiries can be directed to [email protected].

*Pictured: 2024 SSD Abstract Book Cover Design by Naomi Strait, Artist.

Submission Details

All entries must adhere to the following specifications. Any submission that does not meet these specifications will not be considered:

• Finished size must be 8.5 x 11 inches vertical (portrait) orientation.
• All images should be vectored, or non vectored images need to be at least 300 dpi.
• The artist must incorporate the title of the event and the date in their entry. It is expected that the title will have emphasis in their cover art.
  • Student Scholars Day
  • April 9, 2025
  • 29th Annual (this is optional text)
• The artist must also include their name in the submission. The committee requests that artists place their names in an inconspicuous area that will not distract from or conflict with the main information. A good recommendation is to utilize one of the corners of the page, in a small font size.
  • Examples of past covers can be seen on the Abstract Book Archive webpage.
• If using an image/design that is not your own as part of the work, you must include permission from the primary source. 
• If AI tools are used in the design, their use must be disclosed at the point of submission. Artists must clearly identify which part(s) of their work was generated or significantly influenced by AI and provide proper citation and attribution where appropriate.

Submit your entry via email to [email protected].

Submission must include:

• Source file compatible with Adobe Creative Suite (include packaged files so that we will have your fonts, images, etc.)
• PDF file
• Artist statement describing the artwork in no more than 100 words
• Artist photo or self-portrait

One artist may submit up to three separate entries for consideration.

Please note: while we welcome many art mediums, keep in mind that the final product is printed on stock paper for the cover.