Doha, Qatar- High school students across the Middle East have been challenged to come up with the most imaginative idea for improving our living environment. The challenge comes in the form of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ) 5th Annual Design Competition. This year's competition, "If it was up to me", gives students the opportunity to share their visions of what an ideal future would be like whilst considering ways to improve our living environment.
Two entrants will win full four-year Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned Scholarships for Creativity at VCUQ and there are also cash prizes for the top three high school students from each of the twelve countries. The competition is open to all students in their final year of high school residing in Qatar, Bahrain Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, Turkey and Jordan.
VCUQ Dean Christina Lindholm noted, "VCUQ always looks forward to the annual design competition because it gives us the opportunity to see the creative efforts of so many students in the region. There is a lot of talent out there and it is really exciting to be able to offer the best of that talent a Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned Scholarship for Creativity and the chance to work with us to take their skills to the next level."
VCUQ's 5th Annual Design Competition will be sponsored by Sasol Chevron who will provide cash prizes of $1400 for first place, $800 for second place and $600 for third place for the top three designers from each country. Sasol Chevron is part of the world-leading alliance of companies developing new high performance, low emission gas to liquids diesel for the global transport fuels market. It is an exciting high tech industry in which Qatar is the world leader following the inauguration of the ORYX GTL plant in July of this year.
Sasol Chevron's Country Manager for Qatar, Pat Butcher said, "Sasol Chevron is delighted to be supporting VCUQ's 5th Annual Design Competition. A better, cleaner, future is at the heart of what we as a company are striving to deliver and to focus some of the best young creative talent in the region on that objective has got to be a good thing. The fact that the two best entrants will get to benefit from the opportunities that VCUQ can offer is a further incentive. Everyone will benefit from taking part whether they win a prize or not."
Sasol Chevron joins DHL as competition sponsor. For the fifth year running, DHL is providing free shipping to regional students. Donna Duffett, VCUQ Events Project Manager, said: "We are ever grateful for their continuing support of VCUQ and the 5thAnnual Design Competition."
DHL Country Manager David Wilson commented on DHL's involvement, "DHL is pleased to support this scholarship program, as we have for the past five years. Our regional network gives us the ability to fully support the program, allowing students from across the entire Middle East region to submit an entry in Qatar. By employing our Import Express service we ensure that the students' entries arrive in Qatar rapidly and safely. DHL is committed to innovation and we see this competition as highly complementary to the innovative environment we constantly strive for."
All competition entries must be posted by 15 January 2007. For more information students can visit prospective students' scholarship section at www.qatar.vcu.edu or call +974 492 7213, or email AAZAGHMOUT@QATAR.VCU.EDU
