CGS MULTIMEDIA CONTEST

A backlit stage with vibrant lighting, featuring text about the CGS Voices multimedia contest, including details about the submission window and extended deadline.

The College of General Studies (CGS) in partnership with the CGS Student Government (CGSSG) is excited to announce the "CGS Voices: The Future is Closer Than You Think" multimedia contest. We invite all CGS students—traditional and nontraditional alike—to participate by submitting creative projects that explore how their CGS educational experience is helping them achieve their future personal, academic, or career goals.

CONTEST OVERVIEW

At CGS, we believe in offering flexible and interdisciplinary programs that empower students to succeed on their terms. This contest celebrates the diverse stories and experiences of our students by highlighting their unique educational paths, challenges, and achievements. It is your opportunity to showcase how your journey at CGS is helping you bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.

THEMES

A Day in the Life: Bridging the Past and Future

Share how you manage the balance between your current responsibilities—whether it’s work, family, or other commitments—and how your journey at CGS is helping you work toward a more fulfilling future.

Empowerment through Knowledge

How has your education at CGS empowered you with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to pursue your dreams?

Community, Connection, and Growth

How have relationships formed at CGS—whether with fellow students, faculty, or mentors—have contributed to your personal and professional growth?

Redefining Success on My Terms

What does success mean to you? In what ways has CGS helped you pursue success on your own terms, whether in your personal life, career, or academic path?

Make Your CGS Program Known

Are you pursuing a CGS degree or a non-degree certificate program? If you are and you love your program, make this known to your peers! Why did you choose this program, what do you enjoy about your program, and what do you want your peers to know if they’ve never heard of your program before?

ELIGIBLE SUBMISSIONS

Participants can submit multimedia projects in the following formats:

Short Videos (1-3 minutes)
Podcasts (up to 5 minutes)
Digital art or graphic design
Photo essays
Creative Writing such as short stories or poems

JUDGING CRITERIA

Submissions will be judged on:

Authenticity: How well does the submission reflect your unique journey through education?
Creativity: How unique and engaging is your presentation?
Relevance: Does your submission align with one of the sub-themes and CGS’s mission to provide flexible, interdisciplinary learning?
Impact: How moving or inspiring is your story to others who may be following similar paths?

PRIZES

Winners will be announced at the CGSSG Excellence Reception in the spring and have the option to choose between the listed prize items or their equivalent value in cash:

First Place: Camera and Tripod Set OR $500
Second Place: Beats/Sony Headphones OR $300
Third Place: Mini JBL speaker OR $100
Honorable Mention: CGSSG gift bag (up to $50 value)

Submissions will be featured on a CGS Digital Exhibit Wall as part of CGSSG’s theme of the year CGS Visibility.

ELIGIBILITY

The contest is open to:

Traditional and nontraditional CGS students, including those enrolled part-time, in CGS degree or non-degree certificate programs.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The deadline for submission was 11:59 PM Sunday, March 9th, 2025. We are currently reviewing all entries.

All submissions must be original works.
Submit submissions via our Qualtrics form. Accepted formats: PDF, WORD, JPG, PNG, GIF, MOV, MP3, MP4, WAV. Uploaded files can be up to 50MB.
Include a brief artist statement (200 words) explaining your project and how it ties to one of the contest sub- themes.

NEED MEDIA EQUIPMENT? BORROW FROM HILLMAN LIBRARY!

If you do not have the necessary media equipment for the contest, you can use the Media Equipment Lending Program at Hillman Library. Make sure to check availability and request in advance if possible.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions, reach out to cgssg@pitt.edu

Join the Contest