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Economics Poster Contest
Rules, Guidelines and Awards

Teachers:

DuPage County Districts 203 and 204 compete in the NIU regional contest. To see the regional competition for your school, view the How to Enter web page.

• Stimulate interest in the fundamentals of our economic system
• Help your students learn about the economy and have fun doing it
• Give your students an opportunity to creatively demonstrate their understanding of the economy

Teachers should:

• submit only one entry per student in grades 1-8 to the regional contest
• submit entries to your school's regional competition.  See How to Enter to identify your regional contest. Entries sent to an incorrect region cannot be judged there.  Contact Econ Illinois if in question about your regional competition.
• include one completed entry form for each teacher submitting entries. Download the regional contest flyer and entry form on the page How to Enter.
• submit contact information for each student on the reverse of each entry, as specified by the regional contest's host, and as shown on the regional contest flyer.
• adhere to regional contest's entry deadline

Students

Illustrate in poster form one of these six concepts (must follow the guidelines of the chosen concept):

• Scarcity
• Opportunity Cost
• Goods and Services (must show both on one poster)
• Specialization
• Producers and Consumers (must show both on one poster)
• Productive Resources

Rules

In order to be judged, entries must be in compliance with the following rules. Entries will be disqualified if they do not meet these specifications.

Each entry must:

• be original and hand-drawn horizontally on an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of white paper
• be in bright color - not predominately in black and white
• be an illustration of one of the six economic concepts listed above
• display concept title and artwork at least 1/2" from the edge of the paper. Leave outside border blank.
• include the entire economic concept being illustrated in large letters, near the top of the drawing (not the middle, side or bottom of the drawing.) Make sure each word is written clearly, and is correctly spelled. Incorrect spelling will disqualify entries from State awards.
• include student information on a paper or card gently attached by tape to the reverse of the entry: student name, home address, school name, grade of student, teacher name.

Hot tips:

• Judges favor colorful, simple, straightforward drawings with minimal text. (Do not allow the students to explain the concept in text - rather they must draw it.)
• Judges prefer drawings that relate concepts to humans and not animals.
• Avoid dark backgrounds, as they do not display best on the calendar.
• Simple drawings display best on the calendar - that is, drawings that are not "busy".
• Student writing of the concept should be their own writing. Younger students should probably avoid writing additional text if their handwriting is not going to be very clear or legible.
• View the Winners page for past state winners. Remember that state winners were the best twelve depictions for that year when equal distribution was made by geography and grade levels. 

Awards

Regional Competition

• Twelve regional winners will each receive a certificate of award and a monetary award.
• Second Place and/or Honorable Mention winners will each receive a certificate of award.
• Teachers of award-winning students will receive recognition.
• The hosting Center for Economic Education may offer an awards reception for winners, parents and teachers, if funding or support is available.
• Winners in each of the regional competitions will automatically compete for statewide recognition.

Statewide Competition

• Twelve Statewide winners will each receive a colorful personalized certificate of award, a monetary award and a medal
• Honorable Mention winners will each receive a colorful personalized certificate of award
• Teachers of award-winning students will receive recognition.
• Econ Illinois will provide a press release template which teachers can edit for their local media 
• Twelve Statewide winners will be published in a 12-month calendar, if funding is available. Calendars will be sent to all winning students' home addresses; to participating teachers and to their principals and district superintendents.