Vans is giving back to budding artists all over the country in a huge way. The
Vans Custom Culture Contest
has enlisted the talent of high school students from all 50 states to custom design a pair of Vans with the chance to win $50,000. In its second year, Vans (the shoes you likely wore in high school) has opened the contest to the public. As of today, you will be able to view all Vans submissions online and help determine the top five designs. The $50,000 grand prize will go toward supporting the underfunded art department of the talented artists, and the winning design will also be sold nation-wide in 2012. We can't help but represent our hometown and recognize the talented high schoolers in NYC, Brooklyn, and our neighbors in New Jersey for their unique, artistic, and abstract creations that are anything but amateur designs. With educational funding taking major hits, there's no better way to support the programs that usually get the brunt of the axe. Browse the website for all the awesome submissions and vote for your favorites before May 2.