Calling All Young Artists and Designers!

Attention Creative Students!

We’re excited to share an amazing opportunity for student artists and designers. Michigan Central is looking for a talented young person to design the official poster for Girls Summit, our big STEM and arts event for girls happening this March. Here’s what you could win:

• First place: $1,000
• Second place: $500
• Third place: $250

Plus, imagine seeing your artwork on posters around Detroit, on social media, and at schools across the city. How cool is that?

What Is Girls Summit?

Girls Summit is Michigan Central’s one-day event on March 14, 2026, where girls get to explore their interests in science, technology, engineering, math, and art—all in one place. Students participate in hands-on workshops, meet inspiring mentors, work on creative projects, and connect with other girls who share their passions.

The event shows that STEM and art aren’t separate subjects—they work together in creative and unexpected ways. Think: coding that creates visual art, mathematical patterns in design, robotics that requires artistic thinking. Pretty neat, right?

What We’re Looking For in Your Design

We need a poster that will make girls excited to register for this event. Your design should be eye-catching, colorful, and welcoming to girls of all backgrounds and interests. It should feel creative and energetic—sophisticated enough for middle and high schoolers but still fun and inspiring.

Some design directions to consider:

• Visual mashups where different subjects connect (circuits becoming art, code creating colors, math making beautiful patterns)
• Bold, contemporary illustration styles
• Images that show discovery, experimentation, and those “aha!” moments
• Girls actively engaged in hands-on activities

Required Text for Your Poster

Your design must include these specific text elements:

Event Name: Girls Summit
Your Original Tagline: Create a compelling tagline for the event. Some examples: “Where STEM Meets Art,” “Discover. Create. Innovate,” “Build Your Future”—but come up with your own!
Date: March 14, 2026
Location: Newlab at Michigan Central

Technical Requirements

Here’s what you need to know about the file specifications (and please ask your parent or art teacher if you have questions about any of this):

• Dimensions: 18″ × 24″ in portrait (vertical) orientation
• File Format: PDF, JPG, or PNG
• Resolution: At least 300 dpi (high quality for printing)
• File Size: Maximum 25 MB
• Optional: You may include the Michigan Central logo (available at michigancentral.com/brand), or we can add it to the winning design later

Your poster should be designed for full-color printing and be versatile enough to work across different formats—printed posters, digital displays, social media, flyers, etc.

Eligibility Requirements

Who can enter:

• Elementary and middle school students
• Must be under 14 years of age

Who cannot enter:

• Students whose immediate family members (living in the same household) work for Michigan Central or Ford Motor Company

Important Contest Rules

Here are some important things to keep in mind:

• Original work only: Your design must be 100% your own creation. No copying or tracing other people’s artwork, no using images you don’t have permission to use.
• Rights: If you win, Michigan Central gets to use your poster to promote Girls Summit (including making minor adjustments for different formats and using it for future events). You keep the right to show it in your portfolio and get credit as the designer.
• Decision is final: Michigan Central will select the winner based on visual impact, creativity, relevance, inclusivity, and how well it communicates the event. Our decision is final.
• Taxes: The winner is responsible for any taxes on the prize money (your parents/guardians can help with this).

How to Submit Your Entry

Submit your entry through the online form.

Timeline—Mark Your Calendars!

• Contest Opens: November 24, 2025
• Submission Deadline: December 19, 2025 (no exceptions—late entries won’t be accepted)
• Winner Announced: January 15, 2026

Questions?

If you have questions about the contest, technical requirements, or anything else, email info@michigancentral.com with “Poster Contest Question” in the subject line.

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Our Advice to You

This is a fantastic opportunity to create something meaningful, challenge your design skills, and potentially win a significant prize. Don’t overthink it—let your creativity shine. Think about what would make YOU excited to attend an event like this, and design something that captures that energy.

We encourage you to brainstorm ideas, sketch out some concepts, and really think about how to visually represent the connection between STEM and art. And remember: the best designs often come from taking risks and trying something unexpected!

Good luck, designers! We can’t wait to see what you create.

Michigan Central is committed to protecting your personal information. By submitting an entry, you and your parent/guardian consent to the collection, use, and storage of your name, contact information, and other provided details solely for the purpose of administering the contest, contacting the winner, and promoting the winning design with appropriate credit. Personal information will not be shared with third parties except as necessary for contest administration or as required by law.