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WINNERS OF THE $120,000 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Apr 14, 2021

This is why we partnered with Saweetie this past April when we launched our second Education is Quay Scholarship Program. We received thousands of entries, and due to the unprecedented number of essay applications (and incredible videos submitted), we decided to award money to even more winners.

$120,000 USD to help fuel the dreams of 12 scholars because we believe your vision has the power to change the world.

Our 12 winners wrote an essay on how the money would help fuel (and further) their education. Then semi-finalists were asked to create a video on what self-expression means to them. Meet our scholars and see some of what they had to say:

DIAMOND B.

The ability to express myself has allowed me to cultivate this experience and transform into the confident warrior that I am today.

HEIDI T.

I would use this scholarship towards gaining additional knowledge and experience aimed at advancing healthcare accessibility and quality of care through courses at my university as I complete my biochemistry degree.

VIENNA S.

self-expression is key to my well-being. It's the way I tell the story of who I am, how I feel and what I believe.

LILIANA G

 

I aspire to earn my Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience and earn my Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Social Psychology before I turn 26. I yearn to investigate how group behavior and human cognition influence public policy.

GABRIEL S.

Self-expression is like the soul's fingerprint. It is in the way that we speak, the way that we dress, it is even in the way that we move.

FEBIE L.

Anyone who is willing to dedicate their life to nurturing another life should have every opportunity to do so. I wish to educate myself on assisted reproductive technologies that help couples overcome infertility.

KEANU C. 

Possessing a selfless attitude, good problem-solving skills, good communication skills, and commitment to patient advocacy are all the things that have led me to choose nursing.

ENRICO D.

One day, I stared at myself in the mirror, told myself I was enough, and burst into tears. I am my own person. I am valid... I’m loving myself, living in the moment, and embracing love and support from people who offer it.

MAE J.

I plan to someday go beyond advocating, learning, and researching; I’m determined to become a clinical psychologist who provides direct support to individuals who struggle with mental health issues.

LAIBA Z.

I believe that people shouldn't have to hide themselves to blend in with the crowd. I finally gained the confidence to not let the opinions of others stop me from expressing myself.

VANESSA S.

My self-expression is constructed by little dots of my cultural experiences that have created the person that I am today.

MYRA J.

I will graduate with my Bachelors at the age of 19 due to my persistence in high school and I have begun my Master’s degree program. I also started a company named “Mexituras” to help bring awareness to Artisans in Mexico who make $1 for every hour worked.

 

SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA

• Must be located in the US, District of Columbia, Australia, New Zealand 
• Must be at least 16 years old at the time of application  
• Applicant's educational goals have a clearly defined purpose + mission, plus a specific use for the funds as explained in your application  
• Applicants must attend or plan to attend a two-year or four-year college, university or vocational/technical school

TIMELINE

• April 14th Scholarship open for applications
• June 9th Scholarship application period ends 
• July 1st  Semi-finalists are notified + given their video prompt 
• July 15th Final due date for video entries 
• On or around August 2nd Recipients will be notified + announced

SELECTION PROCESS

• First-round written submissions are reviewed + semi-finalists will be invited to a second round, where they will create a one-minute video submission. The Quay team will review the group of finalists from the second round to select final winners.  
• Twelve (12) winners will each receive $10,000 USD for a total of $100,000 USD in scholarships. All fifty (50) semi-finalists will also receive merchandise gift cards, redeemable for one (1) pair of sunnies or blue light glasses ($85 value).

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Semi-finalists Answers will be evaluated in the following proportions: use of funds (20%), writing ability (20%), creativity (20%), originality (20%), and overall excellence (20%).

WRITTEN APPLICATION QUESTIONS

• Full name  
• Email  
• Phone number 
• Physical address, including country 
• Anticipated high school graduation date 
• Birth date  
• Annual household income 
• Ethnicity  
• Essay 1 (250 words or less): What are your educational goals, and how would you use this scholarship to support those goals?  
• Essay 2 (250 words or less): Self-expression is a core value at Quay. What does self-expression mean to you? 

Submissions are now closed, and the winners have been notified. Thank you to everyone who participated.

Have more questions? Contact quayscholarship@educationdynamics.com

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THE HISTORY BEHIND THE SAUCE

Feb 26, 2021

It goes by many names—Black excellence, Black joy, the sauce, etc.—whatever you call it, it’s threaded throughout our Black History Month features, and we’re ending our Drip Series by highlighting the history behind the sauce. 

We spoke with Dr. Robert P Robinson who has served as a K-12 educator for 11 years, teaching at public high schools. His field of study is in Africana Studies & History of Education with a focus on the Black Freedom Movement, Curriculum, and Instruction. 

We’re using our platform to amplify the causes that are important to our community internally + externally, donating $25,000 in honor of Black History Month to: 

• The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.: America's premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. 
• Therapy for Black Men: An American organization working to help change the narrative around Black men seeking mental health support, helping them find the resources they need. 
• Therapy for Black Girls: A US-based online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls. 
• Plus, we provided 300 pairs of blue light glasses to Black Girls Code, an organization based in New York + the Bay Area dedicated to teaching girls ages 7-17 about computer programming and digital technology. 

COMMUNITY IS QUAY 

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DESIGN IS QUAY: FESTIVAL 2020

Mar 9, 2020

Quay was born roadside on the festival circuit, surrounded by artists and attendees who inspired us to create affordable, well-constructed, cool sunnies. So it's only fitting we kick off this new blog series during the launch of this year's lineup. Design Is Quay takes people behind-the-scenes of new collections.

Making the perfect festival 'play'list is an art. Our secret? Quay's in-house product designers—the people behind the statement-making sunnies and buzz worthy blue light glasses everyone will be wearing this festival season.

CREATING THE COLLECTION

The design process starts by identifying key runway trend and deconstructing them for the Quay customer based on what they see on their feed, in stores, and on the streets.

Cyborg Chic is all about structural shapes that shout 'look at me now' while Vintage Oasis features softer, romantic lenses and lines that say something's in the air.

From trend-spotting and color forecasting to making mood boards and sketching, each pair is thoughtfully designed knowing they are an extension of expression that enhance the vibe. Festival looks are edgier, riskier—people are going there to be seen—so our range of styles is a little more extra.

FRAMES FOR EVERY FESTIVAL 'FIT'

Our focus this year was on electric neons, retro rounds, statement shields, and sunset lenses sure to take any festival outfit center stage. You'll be ready to face the music in new styles and extended colorways of fan favorites.

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featured q/a

ORIGINAL VS. MINI SUNGLASSES: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Jan 10, 2020

Whether you’re looking to add an everyday pair of sunnies to your wardrobe or you have a smaller face, you don’t always have to go big. Learn about our minis today!

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featured q/a

Boss Talk with Quay CEO Jodi Bricker

Dec 20, 2019

 

Jodi + her daughters

Q/A has been a mark of the Quay Australia brand for years. And it’s more than just our initials—it’s what we stand for. So, we’re checking in with some of the coolest people we know to walk a mile in their shades + get a fresh perspective on some of the topics we think are worth talking about.

This time around, we’re chatting with someone who inspires us daily. Meet Jodi Bricker, CEO of Quay Australia. We’re lucky enough to soak up inspiration from her on the reg, and we want to send a little bit of that magic your way.

 

Who are you?

First and foremost—I am a mom of two teenaged daughters, and I live in the Bay Area. I’m originally from the Midwest, but I’ve been in California since college, and I’m a hybrid of both places. I grew up as a competitive athlete, so I love pushing myself and reaching for personal bests. And I am the CEO of Quay, which is quite possibly the most fun I’ve ever had at work, and I’m so grateful to be a part of the brand.

 

We love a boss, let’s talk more about that. What’s the most important thing that you do at work?

I set the vision, mission, and overall direction of Quay. I try to inspire our teams to create and deliver in a way that solves problems for our customers and makes them happy!  My background is in product, branding, retail, and digital—but I spend most of my time with people. Listening to our customers in our stores and on social media, coaching the teams at Quay, and connecting the dots along the way. I work to create and maintain a culture and working environment at Quay that inspires everyone to become their best self and do their best work.

 

Quay team members

 

And where do you seek inspiration?

I find inspiration everywhere. Not just in eyewear, fashion, or retail—I see the world from a consumer perspective everywhere I look, and I always have my antennae up. I try as much as possible to be in different cities and environments observing people, patterns, and trends. LA and Miami are amazing for sunnies attitude and lifestyle inspiration. Merci in Paris is one of my favorite retail spots because it’s a hybrid store—part café, part vintage art installations, fashion, and home décor.

 I’m currently obsessed with Glossier and Outdoor Voices—of-the-moment brands founded by women. I am also 100% drawn to the outdoors—my favorite places in the Bay Area are Stinson beach, Mt. Tam in Marin, Hayes Valley and the Mission neighborhoods in San Francisco, and local restaurants and shops in Berkeley and Oakland.

 

Stinson Beach—one of Jodi’s favorite places to soak up inspiration

 

What exactly do you like to read?

Anything involving a story and storytelling. Books, articles, news, and Twitter everyday to get mentally sparked and stay on top of what’s going on.  I’m currently reading the book Sapiens…A Brief History of Humankind. I love documentaries and podcasts and am currently listening to “How I built this” on my commutes.  

In general, I’m someone who’s really curious and interested in what people think, what people do, and how they behave. All of this informs how we think about our products at Quay and the role our brand can play in people’s lives.

 

Self-expression is such an important part of Quay’s brand identity. What does that mean to you?

Self-expression is having a certain sense of who you are at your core, and owning that, and being willing to be vulnerable with sharing that with the world. I also don’t believe there is a finish line in life. Humans are constantly evolving, so for me, self-expression and exploration are tools for accessing personal growth.

 

Self-expression can feel easier said than done sometimes. What piece of advice would you give to someone trying to manage beauty standards and expectations online while owning their self-expression?

l feel grateful that I’d already developed my sense of self and had my value system in place before social media blew up. While I think it can be an incredible source of inspiration, it can also be mean-spirited and cause anxiety. My advice would be to make sure that you aren’t letting social media be a part of forming your sense of self. Go form that on your own, use social media as an amplifier.

 

How do you continue to express yourself personally?

The biggest thing is pushing myself out of my comfort zone—trying new things and going to new places. It can be as small as wearing a bold pair of red glasses to turn up my outfit or much bigger—like trying fly fishing for the first time (I loved it) or taking a leap into a new job. I believe that every time we try something new and push the edge a little bit, we realize we have more depth, range, and ability than we give ourselves credit.

 

Expressing her selflie with different sunnies style

 

Do you consider yourself a role model, and how do you handle that responsibility?

I don’t wake up every day thinking, “I’m going to be a role model today,” but I’m conscious of the fact that many people in my life count on me to do the right thing and want to be inspired. I hold myself to high standards—particularly as it relates to my roles as a mom and a female leader.

It’s very important to me that I walk the talk for my daughters, so through that filter I ask myself—am I showing up as a kind person? As someone who is learning, evolving, taking risks, and being open minded and vulnerable?  It’s a journey, and I am a constant work in progress.

 

We agree—you are a role model and a total boss. How do you balance your own self-care, being a mother, AND having such a big career?  

I try to think about it more as a concept of flow vs balance. I find it’s easier when I integrate my work and life instead of strictly thinking in terms of balance, which feels like a relentless scorecard. Life is incredibly dynamic and always evolving. Some weeks, work requires more of my time, and other weeks, my family needs me, or I need to put myself first. I start with being clear on what’s important: my health and wellbeing, my kids, partner and family, friends, work, learning and growing, contributing to the world.  With this in mind, I try to make work a holistic part of my entire life.

 

Jodi + her two daughters at high school graduation

We’ve talked a lot about education at Quay this year. What does it mean to you that Quay is giving back to our community with our Education is Quay scholarship program?

Having two teenagers and watching the process of getting into college compared to my experience growing up—it’s clear that education has become too exclusive and overwhelming, and that many people simply can’t get access to it. The ability to gain an education is an important part of our society, so I love that Quay can use our platform to help open that door up for a few more people while we figure this out as a larger society.

 

Can’t get enough? Check Jodi out on Instagram @jodi.bricker for inspiration, behind-the-scenes at Quay, and more.

 

Xo,

Quay

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