Unlabeling Potential: The "You Can't Label People, but You Can Label Products" Essay & Label Design Scholarship
In a world increasingly driven by labels and quick categorizations, the "You Can't Label People, but You Can Label Products" Essay & Label Design Scholarship offers a refreshing perspective. Sponsored by Sttark, a custom packaging company that believes in investing in young creatives and innovators, this scholarship challenges students to explore the crucial distinction between labeling products and labeling individuals. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the scholarship, its requirements, and its underlying philosophy.
The Core Concept: People vs. Products
The scholarship's central theme revolves around the idea that while labels are essential for identifying and marketing products, they can be detrimental and limiting when applied to people. Sttark recognizes the harm in mislabeling and encourages applicants to approach ideas with a "fresh slate, without prejudices or preconceptions". The scholarship aims to tap into the innate originality and creativity of students through writing and design, urging them to forget any limiting labels they may have received in the past.
Eligibility and Requirements
The "You Can't Label People, but You Can Label Products" Essay & Label Design Scholarship is open to a wide range of students:
- Educational Level: High school seniors, undergraduate students, and graduate students are all eligible to apply. High school seniors must provide proof of college acceptance or a current transcript. Undergraduate and graduate students need to provide proof of attendance from their college or university at the time of submission.
- Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens (with a valid US postal address).
- Field of Study: While Sttark is in the labels & packaging industry, the scholarship is available for students pursuing any field of study. The company is looking for innovators and people who think outside the box.
The application requires the following submissions:
- A 1,000-word Essay: The essay is the cornerstone of the application. Applicants are asked to write a creative essay of approximately 1,000 words showing how they relate to the statement "You can't label people, but you can label products" and why it matters. The essay should demonstrate originality, creativity, quality, and competency.
- Essay Prompt & Guiding Questions: The prompt is "You can't label people, but you can label products." To spark creativity, applicants can consider the following questions (though answering them is not mandatory):
- Has consumerism influenced the way we view people?
- Do people try to market themselves for acceptance?
- What effect do labels have on creativity? How might it differ between products and people?
- Is there a distinction between negative and positive labels? Is labeling yourself or another individual ever beneficial?
- Essay Prompt & Guiding Questions: The prompt is "You can't label people, but you can label products." To spark creativity, applicants can consider the following questions (though answering them is not mandatory):
- An Original Label Design: In addition to the essay, applicants must design a label related to their essay topic. The label should be something they would use for a product but not for a person. The label design will be evaluated based on its originality, creativity, quality, and competency. Tools like Canva can be used to design labels online for free.
- A Brief Biography: Applicants must submit a brief biography (no more than 250 words) with their application. This bio should specify the applicant's intended field of study and their current grade or degree level. It should also explain the applicant's future goals and why they deserve the scholarship.
- Proof of Education: If chosen as the scholarship winner, applicants will need to provide proof of education documents before the funds are sent to their school. This includes a college acceptance letter or current transcript for high school students, and proof of attendance for undergraduate and graduate students.
The Application Process
The application process is designed to be straightforward:
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- Prepare Submissions: Review the submission requirements for the essay, label design, and biography.
- Create an Account: Create an account (if required by the application platform) to save your profile and keep your scholarship list in one place.
- Submit Application: Submit the completed application, including the essay, label design, and biography, through the designated platform.
- Shareable Link: When adding the shareable link to your PDF file within the application, ensure that it is shared publicly if using a service like Google Drive or Dropbox. The team will need viewer access to your file to consider your submission.
Judging Criteria
Essays and product designs will be evaluated based on their originality, creativity, quality, and competency. The scholarship committee seeks applicants who demonstrate a clear understanding of the scholarship's theme and can articulate their ideas effectively through both writing and design.
Sttark: The Scholarship Provider
Sttark is a custom packaging company in Greenville, South Carolina, offering product labels, folding cartons, and graphic design services. Giving is fundamental to their business, and they want to invest in young creatives and innovators. Sttark believes that people are uniquely packaged, and labels can limit ingenuity. Their purpose extends beyond labeling products. They want to invest in young innovators because they’re certain their success will lead to big ideas that bring a better future for everyone.
Why This Scholarship Matters
The "You Can't Label People, but You Can Label Products" Essay & Label Design Scholarship is more than just a financial award; it's an opportunity for students to engage with critical questions about identity, perception, and the impact of labels on society. By encouraging students to think outside the box and embrace their originality, the scholarship promotes a more inclusive and understanding world. It encourages students to recognize the pitfalls of misleading labels and embrace their inherent creativity and uniqueness through writing and design. The scholarship challenges students to think critically about how labels affect creativity and whether there is a distinction between negative and positive labels.
Tips for Applying
- Understand the Theme: Thoroughly grasp the scholarship's core concept - the distinction between labeling products and labeling people - and reflect this understanding in your essay and label design.
- Be Original: Strive for originality and creativity in both your essay and label design. Avoid clichés and common misconceptions.
- Showcase Your Creativity: Use the essay and label design to showcase your unique perspective and creative abilities.
- Proofread Carefully: Ensure your essay is well-written, grammatically correct, and free of errors.
- Follow Instructions: Adhere to all application instructions and requirements.
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tags: #sttark #labels #scholarship #requirements
