Following a highly successful first round with over 85 entries from high school students nationwide, Ringling College of Art and Design is opening the gates on the second annual Theme Park Design Competition this September—as last year’s grand-prize winner arrives on campus this fall as a full-time Entertainment Design degree student. Held in partnership with Universal Creative in Orlando, Florida, the competition challenges high school juniors and seniors to solve a real-world design challenge; this year, entrants will conceive an original parade float worthy of a major theme park boulevard parade.
The competition’s three 2025 winners took full advantage of their prize packages.
Woodcock, Assistant Director for Graphic Design, Fabrication and Implementation.
Tied for Runner-up, Stellan Pearson of Sierra Madre, California, and Ava-Marie Willie of Austin, Texas impressed judges with inventive mobile cart designs—last year’s challenge. Pearson’s cart was space-age and futuristic, inspired by Mars rover missions; Willie’s was whimsical and circus-themed, built to resemble a working carousel.
Assistant Director for Graphic Design, Fabrication and Implementation.
The First Place winner was Ella McGinely, a high school senior from Belle Isle, Florida. Her cart, called Frost & Fizz’s Fruity Drinks, was tropical and bright, featuring a conveyor belt of animatronic dragons who make the drinks and “frost” them with their breath.
“Ella’s entry really stood out and wowed us,” said Jamie DeRuyter, Entertainment Design Department Head at Ringling College. “She thought through every detail—the cart, the characters, the drinks, the swag. It was so easy to see her vision and want to bring it to life, and that’s what we do as entertainment designers.”
Universal Studios Florida.
All three winners enjoyed a VIP experience at Universal Orlando Resort, where they were treated to behind-the-scenes tours and special access. Additionally, all three students jumped at the chance to experience Ringling College and the Entertainment Design program in more depth.
Competition Runner-up Stellan Pearson.
Pearson and Willie attended different versions of Ringling’s PreCollege program: a 1- or 4-week residential program where high school students select core classes and immersions for a deeper investigation of the College’s creative degrees.
McGinely plans to enroll at Ringling College this fall to pursue a degree in Entertainment Design. Winning the contest awarded her a $20,000 tuition scholarship.
“Ringling College was always a dream for me, but winning this competition made it more real,” said McGinley. “The competition gave me the chance to try new things and pursue my passion for creating a concept that I was able to develop for the real world. Before entering the competition, I hadn’t really considered pursuing entertainment design as a career, and now I can’t wait to start classes at Ringling College in the fall!”
This year’s competition will open and accept entries on September 1, 2026, and will run through November 30, 2026. The winners will be announced in January 2027. The concept around the competition is the same; however, this year, the challenge is different.
The 2026 Challenge: to conceive an original parade float—one worthy of a major theme park boulevard or world-famous city parade route.
Dates and deadlines, the full project brief, FAQs, and more can be found at:
