Young Designers' Scholarship Competition
The Young Designers' Scholarship Competition is a house design contest for high school students interested in drafting, architecture or home building. The competition is open to any student enrolled in a public or private secondary school from the Cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, and the counties of Accomack, Gloucester, Ise of Wight, James City, Mathews, Northampton, Southampton and York.
You do not have to be a senior to participate!
The 2027 YDC Scholarship Competition criteria and 2027 YDC Student Info Sheet are available now.
The 2027 Judges Feedback Form will be used to evaluate the entries and determine the winners.
This sample entry board layout must be used. When opened, boards should measure no more than 36 inches tall by 90 inches wide.
For digital submissions:
Each pdf uses a 16:9 ratio and each package is contained to only four pages:
1. Floor plan(s)
2. Front/rear elevations
3. Site plans/Green building practice(s)/design rational
4. 3-D renderings (optional)
It is recommended that you use Canva, as it allows for pdfs downloaded from Revit/AutoCAD, etc. to be uploaded directly into the presentation. Feel free to use these blank Canva layouts.
Click here for sample digital entries from our 2026 competition.