Road to 250: NJ TRANSIT Student Art Contest

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary this July, NJ TRANSIT invites New Jersey high school students to help celebrate this historic milestone through creativity and historical storytelling. This statewide competition challenges students to design original artwork for a full NJ TRANSIT bus wrap that reflects America’s 250 years and New Jersey’s contributions to our nation’s history.

Two winning designs will be selected:

• One from North Jersey
• One from South Jersey

The winning schools will have their student-created artwork featured on an NJ TRANSIT bus traveling across New Jersey throughout the anniversary year.

Competition Overview:
Who Can Participate

• New Jersey high school students, working through their History and Art departments.
• Submissions may be created by an individual student or a collaborative student team
• Each school may submit only one final design to the competition. Schools are encouraged to host internal competitions to select a final design

Theme:
“New Jersey’s Role in America’s 250 Years of History”

Designs may highlight:

• Important moments in American history
• Revolutionary War events connected to New Jersey
• New Jersey’s innovation, culture, and diverse communities
• The connection between America’s past and its future

Artwork Submission Requirements

• Students should use attached template to submit their final design. Bus wrap template available here
• Designs must incorporate:
   
  • NJ TRANSIT logo with required NJ TRANSIT branding elements (asset packet provided here)
  • “America 250” or “250th Anniversary” text
• Editable, working ai/psd file with text outlined and images/links embedded or editable, packaged, high res PDF

Key Judging Considerations

• Visual impact from a distance
• Historical relevance and accuracy
• Clear and compelling storytelling
• Ability to scale to a 40-foot bus

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Submission Guidelines: 

Schools Must Submit:

Three separate files should be attached:

• One Final Artwork File (the school’s single official entry). Editable, working ai/psd file with text outlined and images/links embedded or editable, packaged, high res PDF
• 1–2 Paragraph Artist Statement explaining the historical inspiration and artistic approach
• One list of participants (names, grades, school, teacher advisor)
   

Submission Method:

Entries must be submitted by the school’s designated teacher advisor via email or through the official NJ TRANSIT submission portal (link provided separately).

By submitting artwork, entrants agree that their submission becomes the property of NJ TRANSIT, which reserves the right to use the artwork across the NJ TRANSIT system.

Deadline: March 22
Late submissions will not be accepted.

Disclaimer: All submitted bus design artwork is subject to review, modification, and final approval at the sole discretion of NJ TRANSIT. Final designs may be revised to ensure full compliance with NJ TRANSIT’s brand standards and guidelines.