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ToysPeriod Sponsors LEGO Design Scholarships

ToysPeriod has pledged a program of scholarships to Linda Christas College, a premier online academy and college.

The competition involves designing and documenting a prototype of an unique high-tech gadget, consumer electronics or useful robotic creation utilizing LEGO components in whole or in part.

ToysPeriod is sponsoring winners for a $1000/year academic scholarship applicable towards a Linda Christas College Bachelor's Degree.

This project is ideal for next generation industrial designers and engineers.

The reason for the program, over and above creating opportunity for young people, is to brainstorm original ideas for commercial products that ToysPeriod might then be able to manufacture and distribute.

For example, there are many LEGO-based products currently on the market that are phenomenally clever, and the marketplace has room for more of them. Well-known examples: LEGO Ipod Dock, LEGO USB Thumb Drive.

Should the competition judges determine that the submission is substantial enough, the inventor having submitted complete diagrams along with his or her idea (a business plan would help as well), that person will receive the promised scholarship. There are ten (10) scholarship spots available this year.

If ToysPeriod does bring one or more of the competition products to market, there will also be consideration given to hiring the inventor as a consultant in the future, should a second generation design be produced. (No promises for the job, though -- the inventor will simply be the first person to be considered.) ToysPeriod would handle all of the construction and marketing of any products produced.

Currently, of course, all of this is just speculation, since the competition has just been announced. How it will actually work out for everyone is still a bit up in the air. The only thing for certain at this time are the scholarships.

ToysPeriod wants to create a win-win situation in this tough economic climate, and believes that genius still has its place in the world.

Simply Googling the words "Lego Gadgets" will give you an idea of how smart Lego inventors can be.

The next step beyond smart though is to find markets for products, markets where people are willing to part with their hard earned cash to own the offering. Often that is the hard part.

Since ToysPeriod relies on quality of product and service instead of high powered sales, there is no pulling the wool over the customer's eyes.

Either ToysPeriod delivers or it doesn't, and the ownership of ToysPeriod, geeks all, have no idea how to do the job any other way than with attention to detail, so that customers will by default find no one as good with whom to do business.

The scholarships are to be awarded in January of each year in perpetuity and, once awarded, are guaranteed at $1,000 per year for four years at Linda Christas College.

If you wish to participate in the program, please follow the instructions below.

All entries must be in by December 31, 2009 to qualify. Otherwise they will automatically be entered December 31, 2010 for the 2011 scholarships. Winners for this year's competition will be announced on January 10th, 2010.

The email address to send submissions: LegoGuy64@toysperiod.com

Please send as much detail as possible about the prototype, including photographs, plans, and essay describing the concept in detail. Include circuit board design and layout if applicable.

Judges for the scholarship competition will consider the marketability of the design, thoroughness of presentation and uniqueness of the concept on the marketplace.

ToysPeriod looks forward to helping deserving students obtain a first-rate online education.

Happy Designing,

Ron - Toy Tech

The necessary disclaimer -- All submissions become property of ToysPeriod with no payments due to the inventor. Scholarship winnings are not redeemable for cash and are only applicable toward defraying yearly tuition at Linda Christas College. Applicable programs: Online Bachelor's Degree - four year traditional.

Image credit: Rich Downey for the great USB Hub design and pic (Rich's work can be seen over at mocpages.) The LEGO Group for the Mindstorms NXT robot.

Sunday, 9:30 pm | June 7th, 2009

Comments

Stanley Cramer on Sunday, 4:47 am | June 14th, 2009

As a high school principal, I am so happy to see this.

We have several students who have been seriously considering Linda Christas College, so this comes at a very convenient time for them.

Ben - Toy Tech on Monday, 10:08 am | June 15th, 2009

Mr. Cramer - Excellent! Let me know if your students have any questions about the competition. There is a contact form in the sidebar of this blog as well if they have any detailed queries. Best of luck to them! -Ben