Creative Expressions 2026

Scholarship Awards for Each Category

• 1st Place: $400
• 2nd Place: $250
• 3rd Place: $150

General Rules

1. All submissions must be original work created by the participant or participants and must meaningfully reflect the Voyage of Faith theme.
2. Participants agree to allow their submitted work to be displayed, presented, screened, or performed as part of Creative Expressions and related university activities.
3. All entries must uphold the principles and expectations of the Honor Code.
4. The Office of Honor reserves the right to disqualify any submission that does not appropriately reflect the Voyage of Faith theme or does not meet the principles and expectations of the Honor Code.
5. The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to generate, create, or substantially alter any part of the submitted work is not allowed. Entries that violate this requirement may be disqualified.
6. Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions for materials, music, images, footage, or other content created by someone else.
7. Each entry must meet the submission requirements for its selected category.

Category Guidelines

Musical Composition

• Compositions must be original work created by the participant(s).
• Compositions must be no longer than 3 minutes.
• Submissions should be provided in MP3 or WAV format.
• Lyrics must be included with the submission, if applicable.
• Compositions may be instrumental or include vocals.
• Participants may perform individually or with a group.
• If a group participates, the names of all performers or contributors should be included with the submission.
• Participants are responsible for obtaining permission to use any approved third-party materials included in the composition.
• The submitted audio should be clear, complete, and ready for judging or presentation.
• Include a title and a brief description explaining how the composition connects to Voyage of Faith.
  

Art

• Entries may use any visual art medium, including:
  
  • Painting
  • Drawing
  • Sculpture
  • Photography
  • Digital art
  • Textile art
  • Mixed media
  • Other visual art forms
• All artwork must be original work created by the participant.
• Physical artwork must not exceed 36 inches in any dimension.
• All artwork must be ready for display.
• Paintings, drawings, photographs, and other flat artwork should be framed, mounted, or otherwise appropriately prepared for exhibition.
• Digital artwork must be printed and prepared for physical display.
• Printed digital artwork should be high quality and accurately represent the original work.
• Participants are responsible for safely preparing and delivering their artwork for display.
• Artwork requiring special display arrangements should include clear setup instructions.
• Include a title and a brief description explaining how the artwork connects to Voyage of Faith.

Short Film

• Films must be original work created by the participant(s).
• Films must be no longer than 2 minutes and 30 seconds (2:30), including credits.
• Submissions should be provided in MP4 or MOV format.
• Films must meaningfully reflect the Voyage of Faith theme.
• Participants may create the film individually or as part of a team.
• If submitted by a team, the names of all team members and their roles should be included with the submission.
• A signed consent form is required for each identifiable person appearing in the film.
• If a person under the age of 18 appears in the film, consent must be provided by a parent or legal guardian.
• Participants are responsible for obtaining permission before filming in locations where permission is required.
• Participants are responsible for obtaining permission to use any music, images, footage, or other third-party materials included in the film.
• Approved third-party materials should be properly credited.
• Dialogue, music, and other audio should be clear enough for judges and audiences to hear.
• The video should be submitted in a quality suitable for judging and screening.
• Include a title and a brief description explaining how the film connects to Voyage of Faith.

Scoring Rubric

Each category will have a designated judge who will score students' work based on the following criteria:

Musical Composition

Art

Short Film

Resources

Explore Voyage of Faith

Voyage of Faith represents the lifelong journey of becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. Inspired by Iosepa, this theme calls us to honor our ancestors, trust God, discover who we are, and serve others. Like traditional Wayfinder's who navigate by faith in the stars rather than by sight of land, we move forward with confidence in the Lord, knowing that the journey transforms us as much as the destination.

Prepare

Ready for the journey.
Preparation begins before we know exactly where the journey will lead. We strengthen our faith, discover and develop our gifts, understand who we are, and prepare ourselves to recognize and answer God’s call.

Consider

• What experiences have prepared you for where you are today?
• What have you learned from those who came before you?
• Who has helped strengthen or prepare you?
• What gifts and abilities are you developing?
• How does understanding your divine identity influence your choices?
• What habits help build your spiritual foundation?
• How can you prepare faithfully for opportunities and challenges you cannot yet see?

Suggested Resources

• Preparing Ourselves for Greater Things — Chad Yuen
• Your Enduring Identity — John S. K. Kauwe III
• Prepared for Your Finest Hour — John S. K. Kauwe III
• Begin With the End in Mind — Michael Tejada
• Choose Excellence — John S. K. Kauwe III
• Purpose, Consecration, and Excellence — John S. K. Kauwe III
• Strengthening Our Foundation — Monica S. Kauwe
• Gaining and Retaining Spiritual Knowledge — Ruth L. Renlund
• Practice, Practice, Practice — Kenneth Kalama
• The Blessing of Work — Colleen Andersen

Navigate

Follow Christ through uncertainty.
We do not always see the entire path or know exactly where it will lead. Like Wayfinders who recognize signs along the journey, disciples learn to seek God’s direction, listen for personal revelation, trust Jesus Christ, and continue forward with faith.

Consider

• What helps you recognize God’s direction?
• When have you had to move forward without knowing the outcome?
• What does it mean to trust Christ when the path ahead is unclear?
• How do prayer and personal revelation help you find direction?
• Who or what has helped guide you through difficult decisions?
• How have challenges changed the course of your journey?
• What keeps you moving when you feel uncertain?
• How can you recognize God’s hand even when things do not go according to plan?

Suggested Resources

• Navigating Life’s Challenges: Insights from a Journey of Faith — Jan E. Newman
• Don’t Back Up: Move Forward With Faith and Trust in Jesus Christ — Rebecca L. Craven
• The Ultimate Road Map — Connie Haws
• A Perfect Brightness of Hope — Stephanie Robertson
• Behold, I Will Lead Thee by My Hand — Monique Saenz
• How Do You Know...? — Kikiana Hurwitz
• Trusting God With the Rest of Your Story — Morgan Pearson
  

Become

Grow into who God calls you to be.
We do not always see the entire path or know exactly where it will lead. Like Wayfinders who recognize signs along the journey, disciples learn to seek God’s direction, listen for personal revelation, trust Jesus Christ, and continue forward with faith.

Consider

• What helps you recognize God’s direction?
• When have you had to move forward without knowing the outcome?
• What does it mean to trust Christ when the path ahead is unclear?
• How do prayer and personal revelation help you find direction?
• Who or what has helped guide you through difficult decisions?
• How have challenges changed the course of your journey?
• What keeps you moving when you feel uncertain?
• How can you recognize God’s hand even when things do not go according to plan?

Suggested Resources

• Trusting God’s Plan — Monica S. Kauwe
• Faith That God Is in the Details — Sheena Alaiasa
• The Lord’s Path—Line Upon Line — Scott Bleak
• Seeking Personal Revelation — Amy A. Wright
• The Blessings of Personal Revelation — Ken Niumatalolo
• Practice the Principle of Revelation — John S. K. Kauwe III
• Allow the Lord to Nudge You — R. Kelly Haws
• Anchoring Yourself to Christ — Holly Mendenhall

Heritage, Belonging & Service

Voyage of Faith is not only about an individual's journey. The theme statement also talks about ancestors, identity, community, and service.

Suggested Resources

• Building On Our Heritage — D. Todd Christofferson
• Creating ʻOhana — Isaiah Walker
• Cultivating Generations Through Small and Simple Things — Caryn Lesuma
• Remembering...and Forgetting Not — Brent Green
• Heartfelt Helping — John H. Groberg
• Carrying Burdens Together — Patricia S. Hicken
• Focusing Outward and Upward Part 1 — Nicea Walker
• Focusing Outward and Upward Part 2 — Jacob Walker
• Temples and Family History — Monica S. Kauwe
• Children of the Covenant — John S. K. Kauwe III

Featured Inspiration

Navigating Life’s Challenges: Insights from a Journey of Faith

Jan E. Newman
Read the devotional
Its focus on navigating challenges through faith connects especially closely with the language and imagery of Voyage of Faith.

Invite Christ to Author Your Story

Laura Tevaga
Read the devotional
Consider how inviting Jesus Christ into your life can shape the direction and meaning of your personal story.

Your Enduring Identity

John S. K. Kauwe III
Read the devotional
Explore how divine identity, heritage, gifts, purpose, and discipleship can shape the person you are becoming.

Find Your Own Interpretation

Your submission does not need to address every part of Prepare · Navigate · Become.
Your creative work may focus on one moment, one experience, one relationship, one challenge, one decision, one person who influenced you, or one part of your own voyage of faith.

Start With a Question

If you are unsure where to begin, ask yourself:
What has prepared me?
Who came before me?
What guides me?
When have I had to trust without seeing the outcome?
What am I learning along the way?
Who am I becoming?
Who can I help along the journey?