RONKONKOMA, NY--(Marketwire - November 15, 2010) - With college application season shifting into high gear, Sigma Corporation of America is kicking off its second annual Scholarship Contest, seeking talented high school seniors who plan to pursue a photo-related career to compete for $6,000 in total prizes to help further their education.
Sigma announced today that the company is now accepting submissions for its Scholarship Contest, in which high school seniors will compete for a cash gift of $5,000 and $1,000 in Sigma products. Applications, which can be submitted through the Sigma scholarship website, will be accepted from Nov. 15, 2010 until Feb. 28, 2011.
Students pursuing higher education in industries such as photography, photojournalism, graphic arts and design, visual arts and art history are eligible to apply.
Students interested in entering the contest must submit between three and five photos that are thematically tied. These photos must also represent outstanding image quality, a concept that is the foundation of Sigma Corporation's commitment to the photographic industry. In addition, students must complete an essay of between 300 and 800 words that describes their creative process in shooting, selecting and editing their photos.
Each submission will be judged on the creativity of the subject selection, overall technique, and image quality.
"We are thrilled to once again kick off the Sigma scholarship contest," said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, general manager of Sigma Corporation of America. "The images submitted in our first scholarship contest exhibited a high level of skill and passion which was a true pleasure to see. Our support of these talented young photographers has been confirmed and we very much look forward to seeing what this year's competition will produce."
A public, online vote will be held from March 1, 2011 until April 1, 2011, and the top five vote-getters will become finalists. Sigma executives will then choose the Scholarship winner; the winner will be announced on April 18, 2011.
Sigma's first Scholarship winner, Jamie Russell of Cheektowaga, N.Y., submitted a series of photographs depicting poverty in her hometown. A total of 122 students competed in the contest.
For information about the Sigma Corporation of America Scholarship, eligibility, the application process, material submissions and a formal list of contest rules, visit http://www.sigmaphoto.com/scholarship/.
For information on Sigma Corporation of America and its lenses, cameras and flashes, visit www.sigmaphoto.com.
About Sigma Corporation
For nearly 50 years, Sigma Corporation's expertise and innovation has driven the company's core philosophy of "knowledge, plus experience, plus imagination," with an emphasis on producing high-quality, high-performance photographic technology at moderate prices. This family-owned organization is the largest, independent SLR lens manufacturer in the world, producing more than 50 lenses that are compatible with most manufacturers, including Sigma, Canon, Sony, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax. Sigma Corporation also produces digital SLR cameras and high-definition digital compact cameras. The company is headquartered in Japan, with offices strategically located throughout Europe, Asia and North America. For information, please visit www.sigmaphoto.com.
Contact Information:
Christine Moossmann
Sigma Corporation
631-585-1144
www.sigmaphoto.com
Erik Arvidson
Matter Communications for Sigma Corporation
978-499-9250 x 320
elarvidson@matternow.com
www.matternow.com