The Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) will now accept entries for the Building a Logo contest.

Students may submit their entries to [email protected] until 11:59 pm on November 22, 2024. Official contest rules and guidelines for distribution are included below and within the attached Design and Release document and which can also be found on the MSBA’s Building a Logo webpage. We have provided an additional page that includes the submission requirements to the attached informational poster.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions

Contest Rules and Guidelines for Distribution

Please instruct students to read through the Design and Release document for specific details and forms to complete:

1. Eligibility: The contest is open to all public school students currently enrolled in grades 10, 11, or 12 in Massachusetts. Employees of the MSBA and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate. Participants can enter individually or as a group, with a maximum of three members per group.

1. Submission Guidelines: All entries must be the original, unpublished, and previously unproduced work of the participant(s) and must not infringe on any existing copyrights, trademarks, or any other rights of any third party. Each participant or group may only submit (1) one logo design. 

Submissions must be accompanied by a short essay, no more than 150 words explaining: How does your artwork reflect the work accomplished at the MSBA.

Submissions must be submitted in .PDF format, with a maximum file size of 150 MB. Entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form, including participant(s)’ name(s), grade(s), school(s), and contact information. ZIP files will not be considered.

Each participant must sign a release form to be eligible for the contest. For those participating as a group, each individual in the group is required to sign a release form. Failure from a participant of a group to submit a release form will result in automatic disqualification of the entry submitted on behalf of the group.

For any participant who is under the age of 18, the release form must also be signed by a parent or guardian.

1. Submission Deadline:The submission period opens Monday, September 16, 2024. The deadline for submission is Friday, November 22, 2024 at 11:59 pm. Late entries will not be considered. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]

1. Judging: Entries will be based upon: (1) How well the essay explains the design and relevance to the work accomplished at the MSBA, (2) Creativity and originality in executing such design, and (3) Quality of the design.

The judging panel will consist of multiple representatives from the MSBA. Submissions will be judged in multiple rounds by MSBA staff. Judgment of a winner shall be in the sole discretion of the MSBA and will be final and binding.

The winner will be contacted by the MSBA according to the contact information provided by that entrant.  If a potential winner cannot be contacted or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, that potential winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner may be selected.

1. Prizes:The first-place winner will receive $300. The second-place winner will receive $200. The third-place winner will receive $100. If a group places in either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place, the prize amount for their placing must be split among the group members accordingly. The MSBA reserves the right to not select a winner if no entries meet the required standards. The first-place, second-place and third-place winners will be honored at an awards ceremony at the Massachusetts State House. The first-place winner(s) will also have their artwork featured on the cover of the upcoming MSBA School Survey report and hereby agree to provide their logo in a format agreed upon with the MSBA. Winners will be contacted directly and their names, artwork and essays, will be posted on the MSBA’s website.

1. Ownership and Use of Entries:By submitting an entry, participants agree that if their design places 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, they will be giving all rights, including but not limited to intellectual property rights, to the design to the MSBA. This means the MSBA can use, change, and share your design in any way the MSBA wants, anywhere in the world, without additional compensation. Participants further allow the MSBA to use their design for any purpose related to the MSBA’s work. Additionally, all participants must ensure that their entries do not include any third-party trademarks, copyrighted material, or any other intellectual property. Any entry found to be plagiarized or infringing on the rights of others will be disqualified.

1. Privacy: Personal information collected from participants will be used solely to administer the contest and will not be shared with third parties without the participant’s consent.

1. Consent:By entering, participants and their guardians’ consent to the use of the participant’s name, likeness, and submitted work in any promotional materials without further compensation.

1. Release:By participating in the contest, participants agree to release and hold harmless the MSBA, its officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability, claims, or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages, or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the submission or use of any entry, or otherwise arising in connection with the contest. Participants (and their parents/guardians if under 18) must sign a release form to be eligible for the contest.

1. General Conditions:The MSBA reserves the right to modify or cancel the contest at any time without prior notice. Participants agree to abide by these        terms and conditions and by the decisions of the MSBA, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this contest. Any dispute arising from or      relating to this contest shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the courts of Massachusetts shall have exclusive            jurisdiction over any such dispute.

1. Contact Information:For any questions or concerns regarding the contest, please contact [email protected]