Rick Merluzzi Student Design Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Aluminum Extruders Council
Participation and Eligibility
Eligibility: The Student Design Competition is open to students currently enrolled in a two-year, four-year, trade, or technical school, including graduate students. High school students are also eligible. Entries in the 2027 International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition must be unique and original and feature at least one aluminum extrusion.
- Eligible participants include high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.
- Designs must include at least one aluminum extrusion.
- Explain the advantages of extrusion in the design materials.
Submission Requirements
Submission materials: Provide enough detail for judges to evaluate the design and understand what it is, how it is used, and why aluminum extrusion was selected over other processes and materials. Submissions may include renderings, drawings, models, samples, images, marketing materials, CAD files, videos, written explanations, design boards, or design report books. Use the materials best suited to clearly present the design.
- Include materials that communicate the design and its use.
- Explain why aluminum extrusion was chosen.
- CAD drawings may be submitted as PDF or JPG files.
Evaluation and Judging Criteria
Judging: A panel of aluminum extrusion industry professionals will evaluate competition entries in Spring 2027. The listed criteria will guide the judges’ assessment. Entries will be considered for creativity, practicality, product or process advantage, and market impact or potential.
- Creativity
- Practicality
- Product or process advantage
- Market impact or potential
Awards
Total prizes: The competition offers $29,000 in prizes across its categories and classes. A total of $15,500 in student scholarship awards is available for top designs, and $10,000 in cash awards is available for the best professional designs. A $3,500 Grand Prize is awarded across all categories and classes.
- $15,500 in student scholarship awards
- $10,000 in professional cash awards
- $3,500 Grand Prize across all categories and classes