Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar - VCUQ, Doha - Gallery news: VCUQatarDesign Competition Challenges Young Minds

VCUQatarDesign Competition Challenges Young Minds (23.10.2009)

VCUQatar Announces Design Competition For Secondary School Students in Qatar

Winners will receive cash awards in addition to a chance to secure a full four-year scholarship to attend VCUQatar

Doha, Qatar - Providing young talents an opportunity to showcase their creativity and seeking to foster a spirit of social responsibility amongst the next generation of regional innovators, the Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar has announced the 2010 edition of its annual Design Competition for secondary school students in Qatar.

A premier high school-level design contest, the VCUQatar Design Competition invites senior secondary school students from all over the world including Qatar to present their ideas to reduce waste and design alternatives to simply throwing things away.

14 billion pounds of trash is dumped into oceans annually around the world and this waste represents a huge economic burden on all the countries and the environment. This year's competition is an exciting opportunity for students to better understand and think of ways to reduce waste and re-purpose some of what we throw away while making beautiful and useful objects.

Based on this year's theme 'Everything is Useful', students the world over will get a chance to express their creative solutions to re-use more of what we throw away thereby helping create a smarter, safer and more sustainable environment. Along with the prospect for 40 students to win cash prizes, two qualified students can apply for and earn the full four-year Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned Scholarship for Creativity to study design or art at VCUQatar.

Peter Chomowicz, the Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs at VCUQatar challenged the audience full of students to think about what is the most important skill that they will need. "When I was your age typing gave me an advantage over many others." The students responded by mentioning "communications," or computer software. Peter explained, "the most important thing that people of your generation will need to know is the ability to ask the right question."

"As you work on the competition and consider an education in design I'd like to ask you another question. Why is an American university, based in Qatar asking you to work with trash? There are many answers to this question, of course. But the thought I wish to leave with you is our belief in the designer's critical role to shape our future. Our world is facing serious challenges and there really isn't anyone better to address these issues than us, the creative thinkers. I also believe that through the vision of VCUQatar and all our partners at the Qatar Foundation we will lead the way because designers are the ones who bring together the expertise of many professions. I hope you will consider joining us in this important endeavor," concluded Peter Chomowicz, Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs at VCUQatar.

Dr. Saif Al Hajari mentioned welcome the students and guests on behalf of the Qatar Foundation. "We welcome you and we encourage you to participate with VCUQatar." He mentioned, "as our societies grow and advance technologically we seem to be facing more and more problems and challenges. The student's creative ability to think is very important and it will allow us to solve problems of the world."

Instituted in 2003, the VCUQatar Design Competition has so far offered the Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned Scholarship for Creativity to 13 students residing in the Arab world including four students from Qatar.

Sultana Jesmine, the winner of the 2008 scholarship said that in the beginning winning the Design Competition was very surreal to her, "but now I realize that it was not only real but also the best thing that happened to me that steered me to my destiny so I could discover my strengths. VCUQatar has been my biggest challenge as design principles were alien to me. But I am glad that I gathered enough courage to accept this challenge. To me what matters in the end is loving what you do and challenging yourself rather than challenging others," said the enthusiastic Fashion and Interior Design double major sophomore.

"Design is about inspiring other people with wonderful ideas. We hope students give the crisis the world is facing today a fresh perspective as they come up with design solutions that will help improve the environment. This design competition is aimed at the innovators of the future who can think of original and creative ways in which discarded items could become useful products so nothing is wasted," explained Moamer Qazafi, Director, Marketing and Public Relations at VCUQatar.

Students interested in the competition can visit the Design Competition link from www.qatar.vcu.edu to get the rules and details for the competition.

The competition offers students eight first prizes of $700, 10 second prizes of $500 and 22 third prizes of $300. All the winners can compete for a chance for a full four-year Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned Scholarship for Creativity to attend VCUQatar. The scholarship includes, tuition, housing and academic expenses for students applying to VCUQatar. The deadline to submit the entry online is January 10, 2010.

The competition is open to all students who are in their senior year of high school who will graduate in May/June of the calendar year 2010 and be ready to enter university in the August of the same year. Students may email VCUQADMISSIONS@qatar.vcu.edu or call +974 492 7238 for more information.

About Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar:
Established in the US in 1838 and in Qatar in 1998, Virginia Commonwealth University offers students from all over the world the opportunity to earn Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in fashion, graphic, interior design and painting & printmaking and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design studies. A team of highly skilled professors provide rigorous curricula that prepare students to assume leadership roles in the professional design field of their choice. VCUQatar regularly organizes and hosts exhibitions, gallery events, world-class conferences and holds an annual fashion show. The documentary entitled "VCUQatar", which highlighted the 10 year anniversary of Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar's rich history and the education the students are receiving, won a Capital Emmy at the 51st Emmy Awards in April 2009. VCUQatar is supported and funded by the Qatar Foundation. For more information please visit www.qatar.vcu.edu

Images:
Dr. Saif AlHajari Vice Chairman of the Qatar Foundation speaking at the launch ceremony.

Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs talking with students as Moamer Qazafi, Director of MPR and Dr. Saif Al Hajari look on

Dr. Saif AlHajari Vice Chairman of the Qatar Foundation speaking to students and the audience

Left to Right, Moamer Qazafi Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Dr. Saif Al Hajari, Vice Chairman of the Qatar Foundation and Peter Chomowicz Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs at VCUQatar.