Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge writes:
“Amid the devastation of Hurricane Sandy and the political tension that’s floating around, I feel incredibly fortunate- and excited- to have a bright spot to focus on today: The 2012 Design*Sponge Scholarship is here! Since 2007 I’ve been organizing this scholarship as a way to celebrate and support the next generation of up and coming artists and designers. These are the people who are destined to inspire us for years to come and I want to do everything I can to help these talented young people across the globe follow their dreams and have the funds and support they need to make their biggest visions a reality.

This year, with the help of our sponsors, we’re offering $10,500 in no-strings-attached financial awards to Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students and….High School Students! This year I felt it was important to reach out a little further and try to tap into the incredible well of talent that has yet to enter higher education. And, with the reality of a tough economy and high art school costs looming over everyone, I thought it was more important than ever to support and celebrate students who may not have the option to go on to study at the college level. So I’m thrilled to invite not just graduate and undergraduate students to enter this year, but high school students across the globe as well. Here are this year’s details:

We will be awarding NINE prizes:

Undergraduate Student Awards: 1st Place ($2,500), 2nd Place ($1,500), 3rd Place ($750), and 4th Place ($250)

Graduate Student Awards: 1st Place ($2,500) 2nd Place ($1,500) 3rd Place ($750) 4th Place ($250)

High School Student Award: A $500 award will be given to the most promising High School Applicant.

The scholarship is open to any art & design students (international students are welcome!) that are currently enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program or a high school program (Proof of enrollment is required). Please note: all payments will be made in US dollars.

TO ENTER– PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM HERE

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILLED OUT IN FULL BY NOVEMBER 27TH, 2012 AT 10PM EST (please note this is EASTERN STANDARD TIME)

A big thank you to our sponsors this year: O’More College of Design (Donating $5,000), West Elm (Donating $3,00), Brika(Donating $2,000) and Parsons (Donating our $500 High School Student Award)

Scholarship logo by David Saracino”